Latest news with #Reinhardt
CNET
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Overwatch 2 Season 17 Adds Map Voting and Rounds Out Stadium's Roster
The next season of Overwatch 2 is pretty packed with content compared to other odd-numbered seasons, and developer Blizzard is going all-out with its investments into Stadium mode and player choice for the game. Season 17 is chock full of charming retro vibes, featuring a mythic skin for the resident gamer hero, an 8-bit Reinhardt skin and new heroes for Stadium, the most important mode in Overwatch. A new map is also arriving for one of the game's most underutilized core game modes, although you can choose not to play it if you don't want to thanks to the debut of the map voting system. As always, Season 17 will also introduce a suite of new events and ways to earn free cosmetics. Here's what you have to look forward to when the update launches on June 24. Players will have equally-weighted votes to choose their next competitive map. Blizzard/Screenshot by CNET Map voting is the next way to empower players during matchmaking The Overwatch 2 developers have been hard at work the past few seasons, fine-tuning the game to make each individual match feel more fun. Between tinkering with a limited return to the 6v6 match format by adding back the second tank player, adding hero perks that personalize Overwatch's cast of characters and implementing competitive mode hero bans, Blizzard is creating more ways for you to feel like you have a substantial impact on the outcome of your games. The Season 17 update will further empower you by letting you exercise some influence over what map you'll play on. That doesn't mean you'll be able to choose a map before you queue for matchmaking, but it does mean you won't necessarily get stuck playing on Havana five times in a row. Starting in Season 17, you'll be presented with three maps before the game starts. Each player has an equally-weighted vote for which map they want to play on -- once everyone has voted, the game randomly picks one of the votes and then locks in that map. You won't have complete control over what maps you play on, but you're going to have some choices now -- Blizzard's matchmaking is starting to skew toward giving you more power to choose what maps and heroes you want to see in your games. Sigma will unlock even more ways to mitigate damage and take to the skies in Overwatch 2's Stadium mode. Blizzard/Screenshot by CNET More heroes make the jump to Stadium Stadium's roster of characters grows closer to encompassing the whole cast from the core game. Sigma, Junkrat and Zenyatta are making their debuts in Overwatch 2's MOBA-like mode, giving you a chance to pick up a fresh character no matter what role you enjoy playing. New versions of Esperanca (a Push map) and Samoa (a Control map) will be coming to Stadium, letting you duke it out in bite-sized rounds in a wider variety of colorful environments. The Stadium Forge will also launch at the beginning of Season 17, allowing you to create and save item loadouts in order to test the effectiveness of certain hero builds in the late game. No longer will you have to roll the dice on buying up items and hoping they synergize well together -- now you can test them out before bringing them into the heat of battle. Season 17 will start everyone on equal footing with the first Stadium rank reset, ensuring that you have the most competitive experience possible when these new heroes and maps launch. Morocco looks lush and green in the new Overwatch 2 map, Aatlis. Blizzard/Screenshot by CNET A brand-new core map for an underutilized game mode Overwatch 2's new map, Aatlis, will see players fighting from lush gardens to train stations in Morocco. It's a Flashpoint map, so fights will move from one control point to another in one of Overwatch's largest combat arenas. Flashpoint launched with two maps (New Junk City and Suravasa) all the way back in Season 6, and no new maps have been added to the pool since then. While Flashpoint isn't exactly a fan-favorite game mode, it'll be nice to get a new map to spice up the pool after almost 10 seasons of playing on the same two massive battlefields. In the Season 17 blog post, Aatlis is described as being "built for tighter fights, cleaner rotations and fast paced momentum," so there's a chance the map's design makes fights flow quicker than in previous Flashpoint offerings. Reaper's mythic weapon skin is launching alongside mythic mech. Blizzard/Screenshot by CNET Double mythic skins at launch, alongside the opportunity to earn some free loot While the mythic hero skin usually comes out at the beginning of the season, the mythic weapon skin usually comes out later. This isn't the case with Season 17. Horang skin blends Siberian tiger imagery with special visual effects to give her and her mech unique customization options. Reaper's Steel Death shotgun skin is appropriately edgy, adding razor-sharp scythe blades to the barrels of the hero's guns. Both mythic skins will be available at the launch of Season 17, though players will have to choose only one to invest their mythic prisms into -- there's only just enough of the currency in the battle pass to afford one of these new skins. The launch of Season 17 will also kick off with the chance to earn new rewards in the Powered Up event, where players who complete 17 matches in Quick Play, Competitive or Stadium modes will earn four epic loot boxes (and subsequently, a free legendary skin). Sombra is the star of the show. Again. Blizzard/Screenshot by CNET Hacks and Hijinx limited-time mode hones in on what makes Overwatch so fun Blizzard really loves theming their events around Sombra, it seems. First we had Quick Play: Hacked experiments -- now the computer genius anti-hero is the star of Hacks and Hijinx, a new mode that begins on July 15. This limited-time experience is a 6v6 playlist that will see you square off in core Overwatch modes while new match modifiers come into play during each round. One round might implement low gravity while the next might change health packs scattered around the map into ultimate ability-charging power ups. With this mode, Blizzard wants to hone in on the chaos and confusion that differentiates Overwatch 2 from other games. Each round will have a new modifier that will force players to adapt with strategies and hero picks that can take on the challenges ahead. It's almost time to get powered up in the new arcade game-themed season. Overwatch 2 Season 17 will be released on June 24.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Best builds in Overwatch 2 Stadium
Image via: Blizzard Entertainment Overwatch 2's Stadium mode was a breath of fresh air into the fast-paced realm of hero shooters. In this best-of-seven format, players get Stadium Cash, which they use to purchase upgrades and improve their hero abilities between rounds. Since there are 17 playable characters plus a shifting meta, one of the main points to keep in mind are the builds now prevalent in the meta, as climbing ranked for those shiny cosmetic rewards is a worthy endeavor. So, let's spring into action and analyze the best builds and strategies pulling riders on the Stadium map. Game Changers: S-Tier Builds With the tank that meets the Stadium, we get a new hybrid in high mobility brawlers. Her upgrades allow her to do burst damage and self-heal colossally: Heavy Missiles through her Matrix and self-healing-all that enhances her sustain and threat-level presence. Self-Destruct is in essence a map wipe under tight confines, and those are very common in Stadium maps. Ana : Ana appears almost downright broken from the support perspective. She converts into a long-range command helicopter, capable of healing through walls, giving overhealth, and shutting down fights with never-ending grenade uptime. Her Nano Boost travels through walls for reliable clutch plays almost from anywhere on the map and rewards good positioning and timing, which veterans will do to the fullest advantage. The BEST Stadium HERO BUILDS For Overwatch 2 Powerful Contenders: A-Tier High-Impact Though not as all-encompassing as the top picks, some heroes still have game-winning potential. Reinhardt : With a barrier-centric build, Reinhardt shines in durability and utility for the team. Upgrades that let him regenerate his shield while spamming Fire Strikes make for an aggressive, yet safe frontline. Reinhardt's Charge even carries a little bit of air time into the mobility execution of an otherwise grounded playstyle. Mei : Mei has also made her home in Stadium. Her build renders her an absolute menace to enemy movement, with piercing freeze effects, endless ammo, and area denial tools to lock down objectives. While she doesn't rush enemies with damage, her healing loops coupled with zoning ensures she's a fantastic pick for an organized team. Reaper : Reaper capitalizes best on the skirmish-heavy nature of Stadium. His AoE lifesteal comes with cooldown resets and increased damage bonuses when flanking, rendering him almost unkillable in clustered engagements. In brawls, especially, he's frightening, but he's far less useful in open or vertically oriented spaces. These are the BEST Builds in Overwatch 2 Stadium Skilled but Risky: B-Tier High Reward Genji : Genji does well with his mobility and over health stacking to harass that can duel most heroes. However, if he doesn't get either an Ana Nano Boost or some peeling from the team, he's as fragile as they come. Either way, his effectiveness depends largely on the player's skill and knowledge of the map. Juno : Juno, one of the newest supports, thrives when her team sticks together. Her AoE healing zones, cooldown resets, and ability to loop over health make her an invaluable asset in grouped pushes. Unfortunately Struggling to Shine: C-Tier Builds That Need Work Junker Queen: Not every hero flourishes in the Arena mode. Though the Junker Queen is quite resilient, she feels more like a bruiser than a true tank here. Her Wounds mechanic scales very, very poorly, and she cannot apply pressure at range. She is okay-secondary choice for maps allowing close engagements-but ultimately falls far behind other, more impactful picks. This ONE SHOT ANA BUILD Is BROKEN In Stadium (Overwatch 2) More than an evening pastime, Stadium tests flexibility, creativity, and strategic expenditure. While meta heroes like and Ana tread on a higher bar, there is enough room for innovation. Whether you'll be zoning, healing loops, or burst flanks-the best build is the one that fits both the map and your playstyle. Just prepare yourself to improvise-right now is always just moments from the next round in Stadium. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I opened our curtains and found a random naked man relaxing in our garden hot tub'
Police responded to a call from shocked homeowners to find a recently-released criminal fully naked in their hot tub, and he was quickly arrested on multiple charges Anyone breaking into someone else's home is taking liberties with their refuge, but one burglar may have taken the biscuit. Not content with thieving alone, the bold criminal decided to make a day of his break-in and treat himself to some self-care time. In an event equal parts terrifying and eyebrow-raising, stunned residents called the police after finding a trespasser on their property. Trespassing aside, the man took a break from his crime to strip down completely, and was found completely naked in a private hot tub. The crime happened in New York, in the quiet, sought-after village of Saranac Lake. On April 30, homeowners at a house on Ampersand Avenue called the police after finding a naked man in their hot tub. The man was identified as 28-year-old Achilles Reinhardt from Phoenix, New York, which is around a three-hour drive away. According to KEYT, the Saranac Lake Police Department said that Reinhardt must have somehow found his way into the residents' fenced back garden, and from there broken into the secure building that held the hot tub. That was where the homeowners found him, and cops arrested him at the scene. They also found that Reinhardt had stolen an e-bike from the area before treating himself to a hot tub relaxation session. According to My NBC 5, Reinhardt was already fresh out of prison, having recently been released from the Clinton Correctional Facility - a maximum security prison - after serving a sentence for criminal contempt. After being found in the hot tub, police arrested him on charges of burglary, criminal mischief, grand larceny, criminal trespass, and criminal possession of stolen property. Reinhardt then appeared before a judge, who sent him on to Franklin County Jail. While the poor homeowners might now look at their hot tub in a new light after the discovery of a naked stranger in it, criminal interlopers aren't the only thing to fear as we head into summer. It's the time of year that health officials begin warning of the risks of hot tubs, as rising temperatures encourage Brits to start sprucing up their outside spaces. Expert Susan Griffin spoke to the Mirror, and outlined some reasons why a soak in a hot tub might not be as idyllic as you'd like to think. "In badly maintained tubs, the warm, swirling water makes the perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria, putting people at risk of all sorts of nasty illnesses, including Legionnaires' disease,' she detailed. "According to the NHS website, it's caused by breathing in tiny droplets of water containing bacteria, so something to think about when you're inhaling that 'spa fresh air' during your next dip.' The holiday expert added: "Other delights can include folliculitis that gets into hair follicles and causes a rash, which can cause stomach pain and diarrhoea, crypto, which is caused by a microscopic parasite, and even the herpes virus. "And just because you're on top of your personal hygiene and shower before you hit the bubble jets, doesn't mean your fellow bathers are. They can be bringing all sorts with them in the way of sweat, flaky skin and other bodily 'matter.''
ABC News
02-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
The Atlas of Drowned Towns wants to recover lost stories buried underwater
They are among humankind's most impressive constructions, yet deep beneath the surface of some of the world's biggest dams lie the remnants of forgotten towns. Once home to vibrant, remote communities, many of these towns were submerged underwater to make way for vast 20th-century infrastructure projects. Houses, town centres, petrol stations and theatres were moved or lost, stirring mixed feelings in the neighbourhoods that stood in the way of large dams. Sunday Extra presents a lively mix of national and international affairs, analysis and investigation. The wave of building was not limited to America, but took place in Australia too. And when locals moved elsewhere to make way for construction, the towns they lived in flickered out of existence. Eventually they passed out of memory and into myth. But now a small team of people is posing the question: could those lost stories be brought back? Forgotten communities submerged underwater Bob Reinhardt, an associate professor of history at Idaho's Boise State University, is the founder of The Atlas of Drowned Towns, a special project dedicated to mapping communities that have been buried underwater in the US and around the world. What started as a personal interest in submerged towns turned into professional study and eventually a mission to restore them to living memory. His research began in the American west, where massive hydro-electric, irrigation, and flood control dams have been built. Before: A birdseye view of Detroit, Oregan before it was inundated to make way for a dam. . . After: In the 1950s, the town was submerged under water. . . Instructions: Use left and right arrow keys to control image transition Before and after images SLIDE A birdseye view of Detroit, Oregan before it was inundated to make way for a dam. / In the 1950s, the town was submerged under water. Spurred on by New Deal funding and the Hoover Dam's completion in 1935, the era of From Sacramento to Columbia and Colorado, Dr Reinhardt says dam building agencies went to great lengths to "scrape the ground clean", a process that resulted in towns in their path being deliberately moved or eliminated. "They didn't want stuff to float up or they didn't want boats to hit them," he tells He estimates hundreds of communities in America and globally were displaced in the process and hopes that recovering their stories will reveal the historical significance of these marginalised places. America's drowned towns Detroit might conjure up images of Cadillacs or Motown Records, but it also happens to be the name of a former town in western Oregon. Reportedly settled by pioneers from Michigan in the 1890s, "Old Detroit" was a tiny, one-street village with a boarding house, local theatre and petrol station. Before: The petrol station in Detroit, Oregon before it was demolished. . . After: Little remained of the town after it was moved. . . Instructions: Use left and right arrow keys to control image transition Before and after images SLIDE The petrol station in Detroit, Oregon before it was demolished. / Little remained of the town after it was moved. In 1953, it was cleared, along with over 3,000 acres of land, by the US Army Corps of Engineers to make way for the construction of the Approximately 60 buildings were relocated, along with the town's entire population, to a settlement nearly 1 kilometre northwest. The town's remains are still Old Detroit was cleared, along with over 3,000 acres of land, in 1953. ( Supplied: The Atlas of Drowned Towns ) Dams are critical to supplying power and fresh water for neighbouring communities. But like all infrastructure projects, they come at a cost to the people in their path. The impression Dr Reinhardt and his team were left with, after collecting oral histories from elderly folks who'd lived in Old Detroit and their descendants, was one of loss. "[In Detroit, Oregon], which is my wife's grandmother's hometown, the spectrum of responses [to the dam project] ranged from disgruntled grumbling … to enthusiasm," says Dr Reinhardt. "Often in many, many cases, there are people saying: 'Well, this is a sacrifice that we're making for the greater good. This needs to be done. And we understand our role'.'" Recollections were punctuated by romantic notions about what the community used to be like and a sense of being part of something bigger. "We [invited] people to come in and bring photographs and diaries and journals and newspaper articles and artefacts that they have, and then we scan all of it, and then we eventually upload it to the database for the website," he says. "The sense that I got from all of those things that people brought in was … [that] this place was a complex community. "Some people didn't get along with each other … It was a real community." While the town still physically existed, residents explained how intangible qualities like memories, feelings and certain sights were lost in the move. First Nations communities displaced by dams American Falls in Idaho is another forgotten town that was submerged to make way for a dam. The first recorded permanent settlement in 1800 was located on the west bank of the Snake River, which stretches from Wyoming through to the Idaho-Oregon border. Then in 1888, the town was moved to the opposite riverbank. In 1925, American Falls moved again after construction began on a dam of the same name. In 1925, American Falls became the United States' first town to be entirely relocated. ( Getty: Keystone View Company/FPG ) An estimated But the biggest impact was on the Shoshone-Bannock people and the Fort Hall Reservation, which sits between the cities of Pocatello, American Falls, and Blackfoot. "They gave up some of their land for the construction of the American Falls Dam," Dr Reinhardt says. In newspaper articles and other period documents that he found in his research, the Shoshone-Bannock people are portrayed as "pleased to be giving up more of their reservation", he says. "[But] reading between some of the lines and some of the speeches from the dedication of American Falls, there's a real sense of loss, and I would say buried betrayal. "We're talking about the 1920s so it's not as though the Shoshone-Bannock could get up and say, 'We've been betrayed by the American government, this is a gross violation of our rights'." Photo shows Image of Dr Karl on a pink background and Listen app logo Dr Karl knows the best app for free podcasts, radio, music, news and audiobooks … and you don't need to be a scientist to find it! An ongoing consequence of the dam's construction is that whenever the reservoir is close to full, it impacts other parts of the Fort Hall Reservation. "Fort Hall is where some Shoshone Bannock continued to do their ranching, and so even to this day, they're continuing to give up land," he says. "That's a big part of the story of the construction of large dams in the American West in the 20th century. And it's part of a bigger story of this longer history of displacement [and dispossession], whereby these places were seen by the government and dam-building agencies as [empty] because native peoples were forced to leave." Today, a 60-metre grain silo deemed too difficult to move is one of the few physical reminders of old American Falls. "You can go to Google Earth and you can see the shadow of this thing in the water. It's pretty spooky and fascinating," Dr Reinhardt says. Australia's forgotten towns While the Atlas is focused on America, it has recently broadened its brief to include other countries. Australia features on the map five times. In the 20th century, Adaminaby, Jindabyne and Talbingo were submerged to create large reservoirs as part of the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme. The agricultural town of Old Adaminaby in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains was inundated in the 20th century. ( Supplied: Anne Kennedy ) Residents displaced by the scheme were compensated financially, but locals say the experience of getting kicked out of their home was like nearly being "torn apart". "You often think about where you were brought up, but it's different than moving a house," Bruce Stewart, who grew up in Adaminaby, "Getting kicked out of your own town, it's a different feeling altogether." Photo shows A historic photo of a house on wheels. The nation-building Snowy Hydro scheme came at a huge cost for the people of Old Adaminaby, some of whom are still lamenting their loss more than 65 years later. The rural town of Bonnie Doon, north-east of Melbourne, is another example. In 1953, houses and buildings from the original town site were moved to higher ground after the damming of Lake Eildon. "Going across the bridge in Bonnie Doon after really dry summers in the 80s and 90s, you can still see the old road outlines [below the water]," Why explore the history of lost towns? The erasure of towns to make way for large reservoirs is often viewed by dam-building agencies as a clinical process, but Dr Reinhardt says there is an inherent spookiness to their disappearance. More stories from Sunday Extra: "I was attracted to this [project] in part because of my wife's grandmother's story [and] I continue to be attracted to it because of some of the questions, the intellectual and academic questions. But there is a mystery [and] a romance [to these submerged towns]," he said. Delving into their history recalls "the value of inundated communities and the perspectives of people who call them home" as well as the "persistence of such places and people", Dr Reinhardt "For me, it really is a question of, how did people leave a place they loved?" When former residents of submerged towns or neighbouring communities get together to make sense of dam displacement, the answers they give to this question are far from simple. Each person's experience is unique, as is their relationship to the old communities. "To create a space where people can have those kinds of connections, and for their stories to be valued is really cool," Dr Reinhardt says. Want to go beyond the news cycle? Get a weekly dose of art, books, history, culture, technology, politics and more with the ABC Radio National newsletter Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ness City schools seeks $24M bond for safety upgrades
NESS CITY, Kan. (KSNW) — Ness City Schools is moving forward with a $24 million bond proposal aimed at addressing longstanding facility issues, safety concerns, and outdated infrastructure, following years of temporary fixes and community discussions. The proposal includes the construction of new locker rooms, a gymnasium, and a connector between the district's elementary and high school buildings, which currently sit across the street from each other. 'Currently, our elementary kids walk across the street every day for lunch,' Derek Reinhardt, USD 303 Superintendent, told KSN. 'We have high school kids that work in elementary classes as aides … so they're crossing the street and out in the weather.' The plan also features a new weight room designed to double as a certified storm shelter, along with ADA upgrades and improvements to school entrances for enhanced security. The current bond proposal stems from planning that began over a decade ago. Similar efforts in 2013 and 2014 were shelved due to a downturn in the oil-based economy, Reinhardt said. Since then, the district has made limited upgrades with capital outlay funds, but many fixes have been temporary. 'We've done some things, but we've also had to put a bunch of band-aids on things,' Reinhardt said. 'Our aging equipment is quickly reaching a point where a band-aid isn't enough to fix it.' Kapaun Mt. Carmel chaplain runs Boston Marathon in prayer for Pope Francis A recent study found that the district's aging buildings are structurally sound, prompting a focus on remodeling rather than rebuilding. A community committee reviewed options and recommended a plan, which the school board narrowly approved for a bond election. Reinhardt said the district is now at a crossroads. The previous proposal from a decade ago would have cost about $14–15 million, but inflation in construction and repair costs means today's scaled-down version is roughly $10 million more expensive. 'There is a lot of deferred maintenance, a lot of band-aids, and we're really at that point where… we're throwing a lot of good money after bad solutions,' he said. He also highlighted the financial constraints rural districts like Ness City face. A broken heating or cooling system can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. 'We had an [air system] go down in the high school this winter, and the cost to get it up and running was $60,000–$70,000,' he said. 'I don't have that money just sitting around.' The goal of the bond, Reinhardt said, is not only to address critical repairs but to build for the future. 'We want good, solid buildings that are still good to go [in] 50 years,' he said, emphasizing the importance of creating a school system that meets the needs of the local community and encourages families to stay. The issue will go before voters on May 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
