Soft-spoken but brimming with confidence, Dev Shah asked precise questions about obscure Greek roots, rushed through his second-to-last word and rolled to the Scripps National Spelling Bee title Thursday night.
Dev, a 14-year-old from Largo, Florida, had his spelling career interrupted by the pandemic, then didn't make it out of his regional bee last year. He got through his highly competitive regional this year for his third and final try at the national title, and he ended up holding the trophy over his head as confetti fell.
His winning word was “psammophile,” a layup for a speller of his caliber.
“Psammo meaning sand, Greek?” he asked. “Phile, meaning love, Greek?”
He soaked up the moment by asking for the word to be used in a sentence, something he described a day earlier as a stalling tactic. Then he put his hands over his face as he was declared the winner.
Charlotte Walsh, a 14-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, was the runner-up.
The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of felony child neglect, seven months after her son used her handgun to critically wound the educator in a classroom full of students.
Ahead of National Roller Coaster Day on Wednesday, Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International, spoke with Cheddar News about the park's history and recent expansion.
Many children have already started returning to school around the country. Trae Bodge, smart shopping expert, joined Cheddar News to provide tips on when and where you can find the best deals to save some money for you and your family.
One of the most iconic outings in New York is located in Coney Island. Cheddar News spoke with Alessandro Zamperla, president and CEO of Central Amusement International, about the ins and outs of Luna Park, where thousands visit daily for its rides, food and entertainment.
