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The cryptocurrency platform Coinbase has now shed five percent of its employees over its policies preventing employees from bringing their activist agendas into the workplace.

Brian Armstrong, the companys CEO, announced that 60 of the 1200 employees of his company had agreed to take an exit package after he directed his employees to separate politics from work.

In a post titled, A follow up to Coinbase being a mission focused company, Armstrong shared an email that he sent to his employees. He said that the company could have done a better job bringing the Operating Group and managers along on this clarification of our culture so everyone was prepared before it went to a wider group.

He also said that some more employees were in conversation and may also exit the company after their policy about politics was made official.

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It is worth noting that Coinbase had lost some of its employees a few months ago when the company refused to declare its stance on the Black Lives Matter movement. Added to that is the new policy to separate politics from work, persuading a greater number of activist employees to quit the company.

Armstrong, talking about the current wave of employees quitting the company over the latest policy, said that minority groups havent disproportionately quit their positions when compared to other communities. It was reassuring to see that people from under-represented groups at Coinbase have not taken the exit package in numbers disproportionate to the overall population.

Answering several questions about the company and its approach towards politics, Armstrong said that he wouldnt mind being political about anything related to crypto, considering its related to their mission and inherently political.

He said that he trusts his employees to display their judgement and steer clear of politics. We recognise its a blurry line and ask that employees use good judgement. Our goal is not to look for violations, but rather to support employees in adapting to these clarified expectations.

Coinbase, on the whole, doesnt see parting ways with a significant number of employees as a bad thing. Armstrong says that the company will be more aligned.

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Coinbase sheds 60 activist employees after refusing to bring politics into the company - Reclaim The Net

A report released by data analytics firm Niko Partners sheds light on trends and developments from the world of mobile gaming in Asia. The report estimates that Asia has more than 1.2B mobile gamers, which is more than half of the total mobile gamers in the world. This report is the final part of a series of reports on the gaming and esports industries in Asia published by the firm.

China: The Biggest Mobile Gaming Market in Asia in 2019.

The report suggests that China was the biggest mobile gaming market in Asia with over 657M mobile gamers. Approximately $18.5B was the estimated revenue from the mobile gaming market in China, nearly half of the total mobile gaming revenue from Asia. Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Strategy Edition were the three highest-grossing titles in the country in 2019. While mobile MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games) such as Asktao and New Ghost were popular in the country, they have been replaced by competitive titles such as Honor of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite (A reworked version of PUBG MOBILE for China).

Japan and South Korea:

Japan was the second biggest mobile gaming market in Asia, generating $11.6B in revenue. Titles that are more popular among mobile gamers in Japan are RPG (Role Playing Games) titles. Eight out of the top 10 mobile games in Japan were licensed versions of existing titles on the PC or console.

South Koreas adoption of 5G technology has resulted in greater adoption of mobile titles and the country generated $5.34B in revenue. The countrys existing gaming and tech-friendly culture has allowed videogames on all platforms to thrive and for the mobile, RPGs were the dominant genre.

India:

India has the second-largest mobile market in the world and has slowly but surely adopted the video gaming culture. Trends point to more and more gamers shifting from hyper-casual titles to more complex competitive ones. PUBG MOBILE, a game that is now banned in India and Free Fire were the highest-grossing titles in the country. Because of the higher penetration of phones with lower technical specs, lite versions of games such as PUBG MOBILE and low requirement games such as Free Fire have seen success, while high requirement titles such as Fortnite Mobile arent as popular. The popularity of PUBG MOBILE has paved the way for the shooter genre and titles such as Free Fire and Call of Duty: Mobile are reaping the benefits. Esports-friendly titles are also appearing in top 10 most played games lists indicating that the sector is showing steady growth and development.

Southeast Asia:

Southeast Asia has the most engaged mobile internet users in the world with 90% of internet users accessing it via their phones. The report touches on the impact and influence of religion and culture and how it translates to video games. For example, local culture inspired in-game events and regional holiday-based activations have been a big hit in the region.

Southeast Asia is also a region where esports has driven popularity for mobile titles and names such as Free Fire, PUBG MOBILE, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Arena of Valor all feature in the list of most played games. Estimates suggest that prize pools in esports grew by 244% from 2018 to 2019 with help in terms of government support and policy.

You can learn more about the report here.

Shounak Sengupta is a staff writer for AFK Gaming.

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Niko Report Sheds Light on Mobile Gaming in Asia - TEO - The Esports Observer

(The Center Square) Months before Tuesday nights debacle of a debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, finger pointing had raged in the wake of policy failures that exacerbated state-reported death counts associated with COVID-19.

Set aside for a moment that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has radically dropped its estimate of COVID-alone deaths to about 6% of the more than 200,000 Americans who have died during the pandemic. Instead, focus on the decisions that may or may not have exacerbated the overall attributable death count numbers that are shared widely across media.

Governors in California, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington have been singled out as having made conscious decisions to return elderly and infirmed residents back to state-operated congregate care settings. These decisions made early on during the outbreak, in hindsight, are now clear policy disasters.

Michigan and its governor, Democrat Gretchen Whitmer, havent been exposed to the same level of criticism for decisions to return COVID-19-stricken nursing home residents back to their congregate care settings for recovery after seeking treatment outside of those settings. However, it appears that Whitmers policy was no different than those of her fellow Blue State leaders.

Data show COVID-19 has killed 2,154 nursing home residents in Michigan, many who were elderly and had preexisting conditions that compromised their immune systems about 33% of the states total deaths attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The Center Square clarified newly available data to distinguish that those deaths resulted from the designation of long-term care facilities as Care and Recovery Centers (CRCs) by an executive order issued by Whitmer, which resulted in infected patients returning to nursing homes occupied by the elderly and infirm.

Despite efforts from the Michigan Legislature to force the governor to reverse her order, she resisted. It was not until this week, heeding a recommendation from the Michigan Nursing Homes COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force, that the governor reversed her previous policy with her 191th executive order.

Clearly, our ability as a nation to aggregate correct data amid COVID-19 has led to confusion among lawmakers and citizens alike. This data, though it remains the product of individuals interpreting local, state and national standards for reporting accuracy and categorization, is improving.

Nonetheless, best available estimates as aggregated by the CDC suggest that about 40% of all COVID-exclusive and COVID-related or -complicated deaths have occurred within nursing homes. That statistic could rise or fall as we push ahead.

Elsewhere in Michigan, The Center Square reported on the failure of two mid-Michigan dams last May that resulted in an estimated $200 million in property damage, and prompted the evacuation of 11,000 people. The dams were privately owned and nearly a century old. Michigans Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE; formerly known as the Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ) had been engaged in a confrontational relationship with the owner of the dams, Boyce Hydro, which exacerbated the maintenance neglect on the dams.

Rather than working with Boyce Hydro by assisting it with grants and low-cost loans in order to protect public safety and the environment, EGLE and the state Attorney General instead opted to litigate against the private company even after an EGLE inspection two years ago rated one of the dams in fair condition.

* * * *

NATIONAL

As many public schools across the country decided to go with remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, families with working parents struggle to balance their jobs with helping their children navigate through the distant learning process. This has led to a significant increase in support for school choice options, and The Center Square highlighted this in a report on a new poll gauging parents' opinions.

ILLINOIS

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan should answer questions about a bribery scheme in a case where federal prosecutors have already secured one guilty plea. The governor's comments came after the chairman of the committee investigating Madigan's involvement defended using Madigans influence to get jobs for people he knows. State Rep. Chris Welch, D-Hillside, defended asking Madigan in the past to help him get jobs for people he knows as a way to fight for diversity. He said advocating for qualified candidates was the correct thing to do even if one of those people was his mother.

Elsewhere in Illinois, the Center Square reported that education advocates said its imperative to get students back in classrooms because virtual learning is negating months of education and could cost students nearly a years earnings in adulthood, according to one analysis. Advance Illinois president Robin Steans pointed to a June study by McKinsey and Co. that estimated the economic losses if students don't return to in-person learning by January 2021. McKinsey said that, even with remote learning, the average student could lose $61,000 to $82,000 in lifetime earnings (in constant 2020 dollars), or the equivalent of a year of full-time work, solely as a result of COVID-19-related learning losses.

NEW YORK

The states of Texas and Florida, with a combined population of about 50 million people, have about 128,000 public sector employees who make more than $100,000 annually. New York City, by comparison, counts about 8.4 million people in the five boroughs but nearly matches those states with 114,000 city employees making six figures or more. As New York Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo continue to demand federal assistance to bail out their ailing budgets, a report from OpenTheBooks.com shows that the trend of workers in the city making $100,000 a year has skyrocketed in recent years. The number of city employees crossing that threshold increased about 50 percent in the past three years. Overtime pay has been a significant driver in the rise, with city employees putting in 32 million extra hours at a cost of $1.9 billion.

NEW JERSEY

The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released what looked like good news for the economy of New Jersey this week when its reporting showed a 63 percent jump in wage growth for the state in the second quarter of 2020. But Dr. Charles Steindel, former chief economist for the state, told The Center Square that those numbers dont reflect a sudden strengthening rather, they merely reflect the impact of federal stimulus checks. Theres no question most of this was stimulus, Steindel said. Wage income just collapsed in New Jersey. The states economy could be in for more speed bumps as a new budget goes into effect with $4.5 billion in borrowing and a new millionaires tax that will increase the states progressive tax income bracket on people earning between $1 million and $5 million to 10.75% from 8.97%. Only Hawaii (11%) and California (13.3%) have higher upper-tier state rates for select income earners. In the third quarter, we are going to see a terrible number, Steindel said.

OHIO

The Center Square reported that the Ohio Legislature failed by an Oct. 1 deadline to act on a bill that would repeal House Bill 6, legislation that led to the indictment of former House Speaker and four others in a $60-million bribery and racketeering scandal. Missing the deadline makes it more difficult to stop an increase to electricity bills across the state.

The current state of healthcare may become permanent in Ohio, and thats a positive thing according to research and a report from The Buckeye Institute. A bill in the Ohio Senate increases accessibility and expands telehealth services in the state.

PENNSYLVANIA

The Center Square reported on the issue of creating a commission that oversees election integrity to ensure fair elections, which sparked tensions in the Pennsylvania legislature. Republicans are pushing for greater post-election transparency authority ahead of the Nov. 3 election through the creation of the new committee, which would have subpoena power and consist of a five-member panel composed of three Republicans and two Democrats. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf called the legislation a partisan attack on the integrity of Pennsylvania elections.

VIRGINIA

Businesses in Virginia already hit hard by the restrictions placed on them by Gov. Ralph Northam in the state's attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic now have to worry about regulations that were meant to be temporary becoming permanent. The Center Square reported on the Virginia business community's concerns with making regulations such as face mask, social distancing, training and record-keeping requirements permanent in the face of economic uncertainty. Business leaders called for flexibility and cautioned that making COVID-19-era regulations permanent would put businesses out of business.

ARIZONA

In Arizona, election returns aren't just late because of their western timezone. The state has taken hours, sometimes weeks, to finalize county election totals due to large provisional ballot numbers and a poor track record of technological glitches. Should the state be a major decider in the presidential election, it could mean the entire nation waits on Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes to announce the final vote tally. This prompted Gov. Doug Ducey to tell reporters "I want to manage expectations that we will likely not be declaring a winner, possibly at the state level and certainly nationally, on the evening of November 3rd and whoever wins that electoral college will be declared President of the United States.

CALIFORNIA

The Center Square reported that California public health officials are predicting an 89% increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in October despite the states positivity rate sitting at only 3%. However, the forecasted increase in hospitalizations would fall far short of peak-pandemic hospitalization totals. Based on current numbers, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said the state projects 4,864 coronavirus hospitalizations by Oct. 25, a nearly 90 percent increase from the current 2,578. That would still be well below peak hospitalizations, which occurred for California in July, when its total reached 7,100.

COLORADO

Colorado voters are deciding on a whopping 11 ballot measures this election season, with several being taxpayer-related measures. One of those measures, Proposition 116, proposes a modest cut to the statewide income tax rate. The measure is hailed as taxpayer relief by fiscally conservative policy groups in the state, and despised by left-leaning organizations since the measure would reduce revenue for the state government.

WASHINGTON

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan did not exercise a veto of the Seattle City Council as part of a rebalanced city budget. As a consequence of the councils decision, The Center Square reported that the defunding of the Seattle Police Department would include a reduction in force of 70 officers, and a dismantling the citys homeless sweeps unit, which is anticipated to set off contentious contract bargaining with the Seattle Police Guild and the Seattle Police Management Association.

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The Sunday Read: Data sheds new light on Michigan Gov. Whitmers handling of nursing home illnesses amid COVID-19 - The Center Square

Modified Tata Safari. (Image source: Cartoq)

The Tata Safari is a moniker that will remain in the hall of fame of SUVs in India. After years of selling in the Indian market Tata recently pulled the plug on the car. However, a few units that customers have preserved since inception has become a ground for mind-boggling customisation and modifications. A prime example of which is what you see above.

The car that you see above is a Safari Dicor that has been extended from the back to accommodate an extra axle. And needless to say, the work looks pretty neat. Decals on the car suggest that the modifications were primarily inspired by the Ladakh Expedition Edition of the car that was unveiled at the 2014 Auto Expo.

Starting with the modifications, the car gets a new grille that has been updated to be all-black. Rest of the design continues to be in its stock form except for a few additions like the stone deflector that substantially changes the stance of the vehicle. Also new on the car are the LED auxiliary lamps that are mounted on the cars roof.

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The main party piece, however, remains the extended body which is now longer than the stock Safari. To accommodate the bigger body, the car gets new windows and a longer tweaked chassis. The added axle is, however, not functional.

The overall modifications cost around Rs 8 lakh. However, the car is not road legal and might get you fined. But whats the harm in keeping it in your garage right?

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This Modified Tata Safari Inspired by Ladakh Expedition Concept Can Take on Anything You Throw at It - News18

After decades of planning, Champlin will have a new place for people to live, play and gather along a stretch of the Mississippi riverfront that forms the suburbs northwest border.

Construction is underway on the first market-rate apartments in several decades in the city, a mostly residential northwest suburb across the river from Anoka. A restaurant, event center and pavilion are up next. Its all part of Mississippi Crossings, a sprawling $100 million riverfront redevelopment project that will also include a public dock, river walk and plaza.

The riverfront in Champlin used to be a source of commerce in the logging and mill days, said Bret Heitkamp, Champlins city administrator. This will provide opportunities for people who dont live on the river or have access to the river.

The project has been on the drawing board since the late 1990s when residents and city staff started talking about how to make its woodsy riverfront more accessible to residents. This month, Minneapolis-based Greco Real Estate Development and Property Management broke ground on the Bowline, a 214-unit apartment building that will include an outdoor pool and two public pickleball courts.

In addition to the apartments, the project will include an expanded green space with nearly 20,000 square feet of new outdoor community amenities including a city park and a 600-person riverfront amphitheater. Plans call for a pavilion with restrooms and gathering space that can be rented, a public plaza and open space that will have play equipment and an outdoor performance area. To expand recreational opportunities, a public boat landing is planned along with expanded docks to improve access to a 6-mile pool in the river thats popular with recreational boaters.

Heitkamp said with no official downtown area or commercial district, dining options are lacking in the city, so plans also call for a waterfront restaurant thats expected to be completed in 2021. Called Dock 21, a nod to Champlins location 21 minutes from Minneapolis, it will include indoor and outdoor dining options, and there will be a grab-and-go food component that will make it easy for people visiting the public docks. Abrinas on the River, a 19,000-square-foot event center with a 6,000-square-foot rooftop space, can be reserved by residents and visitors for weddings, community groups and other gatherings.

The project was first proposed in February 1999. Its been a long time coming and its nice to see it becoming a reality, said Heitkamp.

Over the decades, planners have been developing private partnerships and assembling additional land, including acquiring some aging apartment buildings and single-family houses. Heitkamp said eminent domain was not required to make those acquisitions.

A succession of mayors, council members and city staff have been focused on improving and adding infrastructure, including the multimillion-dollar reconstruction and cleanup of the Mill Pond Dam. In 2018, the city and MnDOT completed reconstruction of the Hwy. 169 corridor from Hayden Lake Road to the Anoka-Champlin bridge. And last year, United Properties completed construction of Applewood Pointe at Mississippi Crossings, a $30 million, 85-unit senior cooperative community near the Anoka-Champlin bridge.

Last year, Greco was named the master developer for a 12-acre portion of the site, which is part of the Mississippi Crossings Tax Increment Financing District. Grecos president, Josh Brandsted, said the firm will tackle other aspects of the project involving the public infrastructure, such as the public parking facility. Greco recently started working with the Cohesion Group, a Twin Cities-based hospitality and entertainment consultancy that will help bring the dining and event center space to life.

Until recently, the firm has focused much of its work on urban rental projects including several North Loop warehouse conversions. But with apartment vacancy rates in many parts of the Twin Cities on the rise, the company has been pursuing more projects outside the central cities. In the 2000s, the company developed a retail center in Bloomington, and in 2018 focused its efforts on a 400-plus-unit apartment project on a redevelopment site in Shoreview.

In the last four years we have shifted our focus to the suburbs, said Brandsted. Being a local owner/operator, we felt the shifts in the market as they started to transpire.

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Construction is underway on first phase of Champlin riverfront revival - Minneapolis Star Tribune

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Winter is coming...and this year with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is much more to fear than White Walkers. But don't fret, because you can still dine out in the cold, as the city is preparing for new, innovative outdoor dining options.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday the winners of the Winter Design Challenge a first-of-its-kind competition for community members to reimagine the winter outdoor dining experience in Chicago.

After receiving over 600 submissions, a team of judges that included architects, designers, chefs, restauranteurs and servers selected three ideas that not only capture the spirit of Chicago, but can provide feasible and safe options for Chicagoans to enjoy dining out as temperatures drop.

The winners of the Winter Design Challenge are:

Amy Young, ASD | SKY, Cozy Cabins: Small modular, adjoining cabins that fit within the footprint of a standard parking space.

We are honored that our concept was chosen for the Chicago Winter Dining Challenge. Our Cozy Cabins idea focused on creating a warm, welcoming experience to encourage Chicago residents to safely dine in rather than take out, said Amy Young of ASD | SKY. We wanted to create an outdoor destination centered around new experiences, neighborhood connections, and a sense of communityelements lost while dining at home. We hope this idea helps support small businesses and safely bring people together during this difficult year.

Neil Reindel, Block Party: A flexible approach to outdoor dining that is adaptable and easy to implement for many different sites and street configurations.

We are excited to have had the chance to reimagine our public spaces and provide Chicagoans an opportunity to experience the city in a fun and unique way. Chicago has always been a resilient city when faced with difficult times," said Neil Reindel. With Block Party we wanted to provide a warm place for people to reconnect as we move forward through the winter and into 2021.

Ellie Henderson, Heated Tables: Modify the Japanese Kotatsu, an economical way to keep warm and cozy in cold months.

I want to thank the City of Chicago, IDEO and the Illinois Restaurant Association for choosing my winter dining idea, said Ellie Henderson. My hope is that my proposal for using heated tables will help restaurants adapt, providing a novel open-air dining experience for their patrons that is safe and comfortably warm through colder months in 2020 and beyond.

The winners of the Winter Design Challenge will each receive a $5,000 cash prize. Additionally, the IRA will be selecting local construction firms that will start the process of bringing these ideas to life. The process will include design development and technical refinement. Once complete, the firms will be able to construct prototypes that can be tested at Chicago neighborhood restaurants in the coming weeks. The IRA will choose those pilot restaurants, and the construction will be paid for with funds that BMO Harris has previously contributed for this purpose, the Mayor's Office said.

"As we approach the winter months and adapt our COVID-19 response accordingly, we owe it to our restaurants to make sure they have what they need to continue keeping their doors open and serving their communities," said Mayor Lightfoot. "Thanks to IRA and the outstanding creativity of our Winter Dining Challenge winners, we will be able to not only make this a reality, but do so in a way that is safe and showcases our City's innovative spirit. I extend a huge congratulations to each of our Winter Dining Challenge winners."

MayorLightfoot also announced in collaboration with the Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA), DoorDash will be providing $500,000 in financial support to Chicago restaurants to help cover the costs of winterizing their outdoor dining areas.

As winter weather looms on the horizon, Chicago area restaurants will be able to apply to receive a $5,000 grant to defray winterization expenses such as the cost of heating equipment, additional safety materials to improve indoor dining, upgrades for air filtration systems, bulk orders of blankets for patrons, and more. Applications open on Oct. 16, and recipients will be notified by the end of December.

To qualify, restaurants must be located in Chicago with three or fewer locations operating currently, 50 employees or fewer in 2019, and $3M or less in 2019 annual revenue per store.

Restaurants not only entertain us. They employ a lot of people. They are critical, not just to the employees in the individual restaurants themselves. But think about the supply chain that goes into supporting the restaurant industry in our city. Its vital that we do everything that we can to uplift them to give them a fighting chance, Lightfoot said.

To help restaurants and bars operate outside, the city will be holding webinars next week on safe outdoor operations. To register and learn more, visitwww.chicago.gov/businesseducation.

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Lightfoot announces winners of the Winter Design Challenge: cabins, blocks, and heated tables - RADIO.COM

ELMONT, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) Despite delays because of the pandemic, theres hope construction on the new Belmont Park arena will be completed and ready for hockey next year.

Friday marked a milestone in the march to deliver thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity to Nassau County.

It was the topping off ceremony for the New York Islanders UBS Arena at Belmont Park.

RELATED STORY: Islanders, UBS Agree To 20-Year Deal For Arena Naming Rights

Stanley Cup greats John Tonelli, Butch Goring and Clark Gillies were at a topping off ceremony for the New York Islanders UBS Arena at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, 2020. (Credit: CBS2)

The hoisting of the highest steel beam brought emotions from Stanley Cup greats of old: Tonelli, Goring, Gillies.

So much joy as we go and try to create the environment thats necessary to win that fifth ring, Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky said.

There was evidence everywhere that the $1.5 billion site is taking shape, hoping to grow a beloved homegrown franchise while building up the Elmont community for generations to come.

Thousands upon thousands of jobs, its close to the airports, its next to the city, and its really a shot in the arm for the economy, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran said.

RELATED STORY: At Long Last, Islanders Officially Break Ground On New 19,000-Seat Arena At Belmont Park

Its being touted as the last great arena built in New York of our generation, where people wont just come to a game, there will be live entertainment in a complex where people will park, eat, play and cheer.

We designed this building specifically to be perfect for the Islanders and perfect for music. This will be one of the busiest music venues in all of the world, said Oak View Group Chief Executive Tim Leiweke.

Its all privately funded. So, too, is a brand new Belmont LIRR station.

The highest steel beam was hoisted into place at the new UBS Arena at Belmont Park on Oct. 9, 2020. (Credit: CBS2)

Civic groups opposed the size and the scope of the project, worried it would worsen traffic, noise and pollution. Their lawsuits were eventually thrown out.

Now, many are rallying around it.

Its definitely gonna bring more revenue to the area in a way thats gonna attract more people, barbershop owner Emmanuel Eugene told CBS2s Jennifer McLogan.

RELATED STORY: New York Approves New Entertainment Complex Near Belmont Park, Bringing Islanders Back To Long Island

One more year? Yeah, think the best, I hope a lot of people coming, restaurant manager Julia Bichaido said.

This represents what will be a return to normalcy for this area, National Hockey League President Gary Bettman said.

The NHL hopes to drop the puck at the arena in November of 2021.

You can get the latest news, sports and weather on our brand new CBS New York app.Download here.

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Topping Off Ceremony Held As Construction Progresses On New Belmont Park Arena - CBS New York

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The Reno Ice Rink is under construction in South Reno on Oct. 8, 2020.(Photo: Andy Barron/RGJ)

After five years, the goal is in sight.

The first phase of the Reno Ice indoor rink in south Reno is nearing completion and expected to open in early December.

Construction superintendent Brad Richter said the rink construction should be complete in late November. The ice rink will be NHL-size, 200-feet-by-85 feet. There will be a mezzanine level capable of holding a restaurant in the future.

The Jennifer M. O'NealCommunity Ice Arena rink is at 15500 Wedge Parkway near the intersection with Arrowcreek Parkway and is easy to see from the highway.

"Every day it's fun coming to work because you get to see progress being made," Richter said. "For a skater like myself, it's exciting to be on site every day."

Construction superintendent Brad Richter is shown at the Reno Ice rink in south Reno.(Photo: Provided to the RGJ)

Richter said it is a little unusual to be working on a big construction project in front of so many people driving by and that several people have stopped to ask him about the rink.

"We see three to four visitors stopping by each week asking about figure skating, hockey leagues and public skating," Richter said. "Once we started erecting the structure, we are seeing those numbers increase and so far, all the comments have been positive with some even asking where they can make a donation and for those who do not know, Reno Ice is a non-profit with a 501(3)C exemption associated. So yes, the pressure is on to deliver."

Shown is the The Reno Ice Rink under construction in South Reno on Oct. 8, 2020.(Photo: Andy Barron/RGJ)

Those interested in donating can go to renoice.org.

Reno Ice will have private lessons, public ice skating sessions, hockey leagues, broomball, curling, trade shows, tournaments, performances and figure skating.

Richter said the rink will be using a reverse osmosis system,which provides pure ice, free of bubbles, particles and cracks, and reduces the overall amount of water used in maintenance on the top sheet. It willprovidea faster skating surface due to less friction.

The Reno Ice Rink is under construction in South Reno on Oct. 8, 2020.(Photo: Andy Barron/RGJ)

The electric Zamboni ice re-surfacing machine will utilizea Level-ice system laser. It will haveautomated precision blade control to createconsistent, level ice,saving energy, water and time between skating sessions.

Richter, 49,is from Waunakee, Wisc., and he moved to Reno three years ago. He was part of the Waunakee Hockey Association where he helped build an ice rink facility. He played hockey since he was a child and playedwith the Madison Capitals of the USHL.

Reno Ice is building a year-round ice rink in south Reno.(Photo: Provided by to Jeff Frame- Frame Architecture, Inc.)

He is still playing hockey in an adult league at the South Lake Tahoe rink.

"Growing up and being exposed to hundreds of different types of rinks has provided me with the insight to help Reno Ice make the correct decisions in regard to operational features, functionality and getting the best product for their money," Richter said.

Richter looks forward to seeing youth hockey grow in Northern Nevada and said getting a hockey team here is alsoa possibility, although nothing has been decided on that.

"It will be great to see kids get out there and Reno grow a youth program from its infancy," he said.

Jim Krajewski covers high school and youth sports for the Reno Gazette Journal. Follow him on Twitter @RGJPreps. Support his work by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.

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Reno Ice rink nearing completion; construction expected to wrap up in late November - Reno Gazette Journal

MANALAPAN Representatives of an applicant that is proposing to construct a Taco Bell restaurant at the corner of Route 9 south and Taylors Mills Road are expected back before the Manalapan Zoning Board of Adjustment on Oct. 15.

Yum & Chill TB Holdings, LLC, is proposing to demolish a Shell gas and service station at the corner and to construct a Taco Bell. The applicant is represented by attorney Peter G. Licata, of the firm Sonnenblick, Parker and Selvers, Freehold Township.

Initial testimony regarding the Taco Bell was presented during the boards July 16 meeting. Testimony resumed on Aug. 20 before the application was carried once more.

Yum & Chill TB Holdings is seeking preliminary and final major site plan approval with bulk variances and use variance relief to permit the demolition of the Shell station and the construction of a 2,578-square-foot Taco Bell.

The Taco Bell is proposed to have dine-in and drive-up service. The 0.8-acre property is owned by PMG New Jersey, LLC, and is in the Office Park 3 zone. The construction of a fast food restaurant and drive-up is not permitted in the OP-3 zone, according to a legal notice published by Licata.

Access to the restaurant would be provided from one driveway on Taylors Mills Road and one driveway on Route 9 south.

During the Aug. 20 meeting, traffic consultant Jay Troutman presented information regarding the number of vehicles that could be in line at the drive-up window at any given time. He said he observed vehicles at a Taco Bell on Route 9 south in Howell for 135 minutes (noon to 2:15 p.m. on a Wednesday in July).

Troutman said that for 75 of the 135 minutes he observed the restaurant, there were between zero and three vehicles on line. For 52 minutes, there were between four and six vehicles on line. For eight minutes, there were between seven and 10 vehicles on line, he said.

Once the line reaches a certain point, people will choose other options. People will not join a line where the wait is going to be too long, he said.

Troutman said the peak times at the Taco Bell would be weekday lunch and weekday dinner. The lowest use would be on Sunday, he said.

Planner John Chadwick testified on behalf of the applicant and sought to make the case that the granting of the use variance would be a benefit to Manalapan.

He said, among other aspects of the plan, that the applicant is proposing to reduce the impervious coverage at the site from 90% to 70% (65% impervious coverage is permitted).

At present, there are two driveways at the site on Taylors Mills Road and two driveways at the site on Route 9. The applicant is proposing to close one driveway on Taylors Mills Road and one driveway on Route 9. Chadwick called that aspect of the plan an advancement of public safety.

The proposed development is a good fit for the Route 9 corridor, Chadwick said.

Jennifer Beahm, the boards planner, did not take issue with the proposed reduction in lot coverage or the closing of the driveways, but did question certain aspects of Chadwicks testimony regarding the advancement of the municipalitys zoning.

Previous testimony offered by project engineer Marc Leber, of East Point Engineering, Marlboro, indicated that left turns from the Taco Bell property to Taylors Mills Road would be prohibited.

During the Aug. 20 meeting, zoning board member Mollie Kamen said she was concerned some people would turn right out of Taco Bell onto Route 9 south, turn right into the neighboring Wendys restaurant, use an access road that connects Wendys to Taylors Mills Road and then turn left onto Taylors Mills Road where that movement is permitted.

Kamen expressed concern that people making the cut-through at Wendys after leaving Taco Bell would come into conflict with motorists waiting on the drive-up line at Wendys.

Concern was also raised that people who want to travel west on Taylors Mills Road upon leaving Taco Bell will turn right onto Route 9 south and then drive through a nearby residential area (Briar Hill Drive, Country Lane, Princeton Drive) to get back to Taylors Mills Road to turn left and head west.

Troutman said most of the vehicles entering the Taco Bell site will be pass-by traffic that will not drive through the neighborhood, but he said he reviewed the issue and estimated that during a peak hour, approximately five vehicles leaving Taco Bell would drive through the Briar Hill Drive neighborhood to return to Taylors Mills Road and head west.

When the Aug. 20 meeting was opened to public comment, many residents expressed concern about the application.

Some residents who addressed the zoning board said they live in the Briar Hill Drive neighborhood and were concerned about vehicles passing their homes; some speakers lamented the closing of the Shell service station; and some residents took issue with having a driveway on Taylors Mills Road.

Resident Salvatore Viscusi said, We have more than we need with fast food restaurants. Keep Manalapan a beautiful little town and dont turn it into a circus.

Resident Rex Lazewski said, I dont think you should change the use of the property.

Resident Karen Eastman said, We dont need two fast food restaurants (Wendys and Taco Bell) on top of each other. I do need a service station.

After the residents finished speaking, the zoning board members took a straw poll to determine where the Taco Bell application stood.

Due to various concerns with the proposed use, the indication was that the application might not receive the five yes votes it needs for the use variance to be granted. The key concern for some board members was the traffic situation at the location.

Licata, who represents the applicant, acknowledged traffic at the site is the key issue, but said the consensus of the applicants professionals is that the project as designed would improve the situation.

Licata asked for the application to be carried to determine if there is a way forward, and the board carried the application to the Oct. 15 meeting.

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Discussion about proposed Taco Bell in Manalapan expected to resume - centraljersey.com

Sports & Social construction is currently underway. The $12 million addition is expected to open in Winter 2021.

Live Casino & Hotel at Arundel Mills is converting its Center Stage performance venue into a sports-themed lounge, restaurant and pending Maryland voter approval a sports betting venue.

Sports & Social construction is currently underway. The $12 million addition is expected to open in Winter 2021.

The 212-seat Sports & Social will include more than 100 linear feet of LED screens, including a 47-foot wide main screen. Live! says every guest will be able to watch at least 10 games at once.

It will also include two main bars, VIP lounges, tiered viewing lounge chairs, casino games and other games, including mini-bowling and foosball.

Pending approval of Question 2, a referendum question on Marylands Nov. 3 ballot that, if approved by voters, would allow sports and events betting at licensed facilities, Sports & Social will also include sports betting through a partnership with FanDuel. It would include both self-service betting kiosks and retail windows.

Live! Casino owner The Cordish Companies already has Sports & Social venues at the Atlanta Braves Truist Park, the St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium, the Texas Rangers Globe Life Park and the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium.

Another one opens later this year at the new Live! Casino Pittsburgh. Another opens at Live! Casino & Hotel in Philadelphia next year.

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Live! Casino adding sports-themed lounge, restaurant and potential betting venue - WTOP