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Which portable air compressor is best?
Portable air compressors are versatile tools that can help you take on your project list with power and provide emergency support in a potentially dire situation. Whether you’re framing a client’s house or need to fix your flat tire in a pinch, you can rely on a quality air compressor to get the job done.
Air compressors tend to be optimized for one of two things, inflation or power delivery. However, the best air compressors draw a bridge between these two worlds and can easily blow through both tasks. If you’re interested in a powerful, portable and practical all-in-one solution we recommend considering the DeWALT portable air compressor.
What to know before you buy a portable air compressor
Storage capacity
The most important thing to consider when purchasing a portable air compressor is what you intend to use it for. If you’re looking for something to carry in your car, you don’t need a compressor with storage capacity. If you’re looking to power pneumatic tools in addition to robust inflation capabilities opt for a compressor with at least 1 gallon of storage.
PSI (pound force per square-inch)
Like most power tools, choosing the appropriate amount of power to deliver is key to achieving successful results. Getting a compressor with too much PSI increases the likelihood of blowouts and misfires. Most compressors put out 125 PSI, which is enough to pump a car tire, power a nail gun or even a paint sprayer. If you’re looking to pump commercial tires or run multiple pneumatic tools at once, consider a pump with 150 PSI or more. Check out the full portable air compressor buying guide from BestReviews to learn more about how to choose the right PSI.
Weight and Size
If you want to carry your compressor everywhere you go, pay close attention to the dimensions and weight. The more portable you go, the less versatility you have in terms of using it for projects beyond inflation. However, if you’re looking for consistent power on the job site, overall size and weight may not matter as much.
What to look for in a quality portable air compressor
Digital gauge
Although it’s not absolutely necessary, top quality air compressors will come with easily legible digital gauges. Digital gauges tend to be more accurate than their mechanical counterparts so you dial in the right pressure for performance tires and pneumatic tools.
Portability features
While all of the compressors in this guide are portable, some are easier to transport than others. However heavy-duty your compressor may be, it should come with convenient transport features such a cord storage compartment, ergonomic handles and multiple power-reception options (car battery, standard AC outlet or car outlet).
Accessories
Top quality portable air compressors will come equipped with an extendable hose, cable management cleat and built-in LED light to illuminate your workspace. Many air compressors also come with various nozzles for different types of tires or that attach to pneumatic tools.
How much you can expect to spend on a portable air compressor
Expect to spend around $65 for an entry-level air compressor kit and up to $200 for heavy-duty kits that may even come with a pneumatic tool.
Portable air compressor FAQ
Why does my air compressor start-up on it’s own sometimes?
A. Quality air compressors come with automatic shut-off and turn-on capabilities. These prevent over-pressurization while you’re filling the tank and then keep the pressure level consistent to prevent misfires and jams. In most cases, if you leave the air compressor plugged in and switched on it will run through off and on cycles until it’s powered off.
What tools can I use with an air compressor?
A. Most people think air compressors are only good for powering various nail guns and fastening devices when it comes to tool versatility. In reality, those are only the tip of the iceberg. You can hook up a pneumatic sander, paint sprayer, air drill or even air hammer to your portable air compressor.
What ARE the best portable air compressorS to buy?
Top portable air compressor
DeWALT portable air compressor
What you need to know: Capable of pumping out up to 135 psi, this heavy duty air compressor can handle everything from DIY upgrades and tire inflation to structural framing and construction projects.
What you’ll love: Manufactured in America and backed by DeWALT’s stellar customer service and 1-year warranty you can try to find its limit in the most demanding conditions. Although it’s only 9 inches wide and 24 pounds, this compressor’s low-noise 2.6 amp motor and oil-free pump pack a serious punch.
What you should consider: Hose must be purchased separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top portable air compressor for the money
AmazonBasics portable air compressor
What you need to know: Don’t let the brand name fool you, this compressor is loaded with useful features like car battery connectors
What you’ll love: Compact design and portability characterize the AmazonBasics air compressor. Weighing only 7 pounds and capable of pumping out up to 120 PSI it’s performance is hard to beat. It conveniently includes dual alligator clamps to attach to your car battery in case you get a flat tire. This compressor is ideal for those looking to pump things up.
What you should consider: Poor cord storage design makes this compressor a pain to pack-up after use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
GSPSCN Dual Cylinder portable air compressor
What you need to know: Complete with all the bells and whistles, this portable air compressor is versatile, quiet and efficient.
What you’ll love: Made from lightweight yet durable steel and powered by a 12V motor, the Dual Cylinder air compressor from GSPSCN puts out a whopping 150 PSI. Ideal for heavy duty use, this compressor can pump the tire of a loaded truck or van. It also comes with a convenient carry handle, 11.5 foot air hose, spare fuse, built-in led light and numerous nozzle adapters.
What you should consider: Some users reported that the gauge was inaccurate.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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William Briskin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/pumps-presses-compressors-br/best-portable-air-compressors/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:15 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/lawn-garden-br/tools-br-lawn-garden-br/pumps-presses-compressors-br/best-portable-air-compressors/ |
Which Zildjian cymbals are best?
If you’re looking to complete your drum kit, Zildjian cymbals are an obvious choice. With hundreds of years of cymbal-making experience behind them, Zildjian produces cymbals that meet the needs of all styles of drummers.
Still, you may be wondering which Zildjian cymbals are best and how to choose the right ones for you. If you want a full set of basic cymbals, try the Zildjian K Custom Dark Cymbal Pack with its warm, muted tone.
What to know before you buy a Zildjian cymbal
Types of Zildjian cymbals
Your average drum kit uses three types of cymbals: ride, crash and hi-hats. Zildjian makes these three types of cymbals, along with lesser-used offerings, such as splash and China cymbals.
- Ride cymbals are usually the largest cymbals in a beginner kit. They’re positioned above the floor tom and are usually used to play steady patterns, rather than accents. Crash cymbals are the most commonly-used accent cymbals in drum kits. As the name suggests, they make a loud crashing sound that should cut through the mix.
- Hi-hat cymbals sit on a stand with a pedal that you can use to either open or close the hats. Played closed, they’re great for maintaining a steady rhythm, and while played open, they provide a nice accent.
- Splash cymbals are less common accent cymbals that are smaller than a crash and provide a shorter accent with less sustain. China cymbals are thin and have a loud, trashy sound, which has gained them the nickname “trash crash” cymbals.
You can also buy packs containing all the basic cymbals you’ll need, which is ideal for new drummers. For more information, see the guide to drum cymbal sets at BestReviews.
Dark vs. bright
Zildjian cymbals can be divided into two main tonal qualities: bright or dark. Bright cymbals are the most commonly used option. They’re sound, responsive and punchy with a short decay, so they don’t usually ring out for too long after a hit. Dark cymbals have drier, warmer and more mellow tones. They’re popular in jazz and fusion, though they’re versatile and have a place in most types of music, especially when recording in a studio.
What to look for in a quality Zildjian cymbal
Size
Cymbal size depends on the type of cymbal. Ride cymbals usually measure between 20 and 24 inches, for instance, while crash cymbals are generally 14 to 20 inches in diameter. Typically, a larger cymbal is louder with longer sustain and a lower pitch.
Series
Zildjian makes various series or ranges of cymbals. Popular ranges include the A series, which is versatile with a bright, sweet sound and the K series, which is warm, rich and dark.
Hammering
Today, Zildjian cymbals aren’t hand-hammered. Instead, they’re hammered using a high-tech computer-controlled machine that can accurately recreate hand-hammering.
How much you can expect to spend on a Zildjian cymbal
Basic single Zildjian cymbals start at between $50-$100 but can cost as much as $500-$800, while Zildjian cymbal sets can cost as much as $1,000-$1,500.
Zildjian cymbal FAQ
What are the origins of Zildjian?
A. The very first Zildjian cymbals were made all the way back in 1618 by Avedis Zildjian, who worked for the court of the Sultan of the Ottoman empire. He was eventually given permission by the Sultan to leave the employ of the court and start his own company. That company is still run by the same family today, though it now produces cymbals in Norwell, Massachusetts.
Are Zildjian cymbals the best?
A. There’s no single best cymbal company out there, so this is impossible to answer. You can find higher-end cymbals on the market that are arguably better, but Zildjian is one of the most popular and well-respected cymbal manufacturers in the world. It makes quality cymbals that are in a price range within reach of most drummers. A huge number of famous musicians use or have used Zildjian cymbals over the years, from The Beatles’ Ringo Starr to Blink 182’s Travis Barker.
What’s the best Zildjian cymbal to buy?
Top Zildjian cymbal
Zildjian K Custom Dark Cymbal Pack
What you need to know: A great set for new drummers and those wanting to replace their existing cymbals.
What you’ll love: The dark tone is warmer and more muted, while still cutting through the mix. These cymbals are extremely versatile and can be used in a range of musical genres.
What you should consider: Because they come in a set, it isn’t possible to customize your sound in the same way you could if you chose your cymbals separately.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Zildjian cymbal for the money
What you need to know: A great crash for new or casual drummers.
What you’ll love: The thin weight of this cymbal provides a washy sound that some drummers love. It’s extremely bright with moderate sustain. The low price makes it easily accessible to drummers with tighter budgets.
What you should consider: It isn’t the most durable choice and won’t stand long to heavy use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Zildjian A Zildjian Sweet Ride
What you need to know: A classic bright ride cymbal that’s one of the most popular in the world.
What you’ll love: This cymbal is extremely versatile, as it can be used as a standard ride or with more of a crash to accent the beat. It works well for many musical genres, but especially rock, pop and punk.
What you should consider: Some drummers find this ride a little too bright, but that’s mostly down to personal preference.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Lauren Corona writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/music-br/percussion-instruments-br/best-zildjian-cymbals/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:22 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/music-br/percussion-instruments-br/best-zildjian-cymbals/ |
Which desk calendar is best?
A desk calendar is a valuable tool for seeing the bigger picture of your schedule. A smartphone calendar app is great when you’re out and about, but it’s not ideal for seeing your entire month at once or for planning a long-term goal. Digital calendars also encourage distraction. You may open your phone to check your calendar but end up getting distracted by your email.
Desk calendars for home offices organize your life in the place where you’re most productive. Our top pick, the Cranbury Large Desk Calendar, includes a set of 234 reminder stickers for important events.
What to know before you buy a desk calendar
Size
The two standard sizes for desk calendars are 22 by 17 inches and 17 by 12 inches. Measure the space on your desk where the calendar will go. You’ll want to give your calendar a little breathing room. If you put a bunch of stuff on top of it, it’s going to be a pain to move everything when you need to tear off the sheet every month.
While most people put their desk calendars on their actual desks, some people prefer to hang them above or next to their desks. Most calendars have holes in the top for easy hanging.
Design
Some desk calendars are black or blue and would look great in any professional setting. Other desk calendars feature colorful designs like flowers along the margins. These designs may stay the same all year or change every month. A desk calendar with a fun border can be an easy way to personalize your desk.
Consider whether you want ruled or unruled squares underneath each day of the month.
Number of months
Some desk calendars are for a single calendar year, but most include an extra four to six months to encourage you to buy early and get started. These extra months typically are in the current year, beginning with either July or September.
Keep in mind that these extra months are often not the same size as regular months. There might be two, four or all six months on a single page. This may not be useful if you have a busy schedule or large handwriting. Every model is different, so be sure to check.
What to look for in a quality desk calendar
Corner protectors
Corner protectors keep your desk calendar flat. Without them, the paper might curl or catch on something.
Corner protectors use clear plastic, leather or faux leather. Leather and faux leather look more sophisticated but they also block the view of the calendar space underneath. Clear plastic is cheaper but it can wear quickly and scratch up your hand if you brush up against it the wrong way. Try running your hand over the corner protectors if you’re buying in-store to test the product.
Paper quality
Paper quality isn’t too important if you only plan to use black or blue ink on your desk calendar. You could probably get away with an inexpensive model and be fine. If you’re someone who likes to color-code their schedule, you’ll want a desk calendar with thick, high-quality paper. Markers or highlighters will bleed through to the following months if the paper isn’t thick enough.
If you want to keep your monthly pages after you tear them off, look for desk calendars with archival-quality paper that tears off easily. Most low-range models start to curl up as soon as you remove them.
Room for notes and starting day
Some desk calendars have an extra section on the left or right of the calendar grid for general notes. This additional space can be a great way to remind yourself of goals, events or important things set on a specific day.
Most desk calendars start the week on Sunday but some models geared toward professional use begin on Monday. If you prefer one over the other, check. Also, keep an eye out for calendars that double up on Saturday and Sunday with a single square.
How much you can expect to spend on a desk calendar
You can find small, no-frills desk calendars for $5-$8. Midrange desk calendars with better paper or nicer designs are available for $10-$16. High-end, top-quality desk calendars are in the $20-$28 range.
Desk calendar FAQ
Do you really need an 18-month calendar?
A. It depends on what your goals are. If you’re saving for that dream vacation and you know it will take focus and determination to get there, an 18-month calendar can be a fantastic tool. Same with keeping to a fitness regimen or launching a small business. The only caveat is that if your calendar ends in the middle of the year, it may be challenging to find a replacement that starts on the correct month.
Can you recycle your desk calendar when you’re done with it?
A. Of course. Most desk calendars use partly or entirely recycled materials. Feel free to recycle each month as you tear it off. When the year is over, keep in mind that the non-paper components of your calendar, like leather corner protectors, likely can’t be recycled. Consult local guidelines for further guidance.
What’s the best desk calendar to buy?
Top desk calendar
What you need to know: This bright and clean desk calendar is available in professional blue or decorative floral designs.
What you’ll love: The ink won’t bleed through this calendar’s high-quality paper, and it includes 234 reminder stickers for appointments, birthdays and travel.
What you should consider: The binding is thick and difficult to hang above your desk if that’s your preference.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top desk calendar for the money
What you need to know: This option gets the job done for less than $10.
What you’ll love: It has leak-resistant paper, is pre-marked with holidays and has a notes section on the side of every month to allow for customization.
What you should consider: Many buyers report their calendars arriving bent or warped.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Indeme 18 Month Desk/Wall Calendar
What you need to know: It comes in two sizes with a floral-inspired design for each month.
What you’ll love: It has extra space on the side for notes, is easy to tear off each month and uses archival-quality paper.
What you should consider: This option is smaller than other models, and some buyers reported difficulty getting the calendar to lie flat due to bending during shipping.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Frank Paiva writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/office-br/office-supplies-br/best-desk-calendar/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:29 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/office-br/office-supplies-br/best-desk-calendar/ |
Which Jade yoga mats are best?
Yoga is a wildly popular activity and rightly so. It offers a myriad of physical, mental and spiritual benefits while welcoming participants of all ages, shapes and sizes to practice alone or in a group. Yoga is accessible to those who are just starting off and diverse enough to continually challenge dedicated yogis who engage daily.
All you need is a yoga mat. Jade yoga mat, one of the leaders in yoga accessories, offers a few different options to cater to all your yoga needs. The Harmony Mat is their signature option, a quality all-around product designed for regular use. Finding the right mat for your body and activity level is crucial to success in yoga.
What to know before you buy a Jade yoga mat
Size
The standard yoga mat is 68 inches long and 24 inches wide. This typically suits most users across most poses. Jade also offers a 71-inch mat and a 74-inch mat for taller individuals.
Additionally, Jade boasts extra large mats that are 80 inches long and 28 inches wide. Extra width comes in handy not only for wider poses, but users can also roll the mat onto itself for extra padding. The yoga mat buying guide at Best Reviews includes more information on sizing and how to find the best fit for your needs.
Material
Most Jade yoga mats are made from natural rubber. This is an alternative to the more common variety of synthetic materials used in mats. Rubber is a terrific choice for environmentally-friendly and eco-conscious consumers, as it is a sustainable, long-lasting resource. Rubber mats are durable and easy to clean, although rubber is more expensive than synthetic alternatives. Keep in mind that rubber is not advised for outdoor use.
Jade does offer two options that are not made from rubber. One mat is made from organic cotton, offering a comfortable spot for a variety of practices, while another comprises organic cotton and Dharba grass, a tropical plant native to India. Both options are better suited for those who may want to practice outside. Although these mats lack the thickness and support for intense practices, they can be used on top of another mat.
Color
Jade yoga mats are available in a variety of bright and bold colors, including blue, purple, pink, slate and jade green. Color does not influence the quality of the mat but offers users a chance to find a color that may be a personal favorite or match their home decor. Some users may also want to match the color to a type of practice they prefer or frequent. Darker shades may be more suited to meditative and restorative practices, while those who work up a sweat with physical sessions may opt for something light and eye-catching.
What to look for in a quality Jade yoga mat
Thickness
The thickness of a yoga mat determines both the potential support and convenience offered. Thicker mats are ideal for those who need extra padding and support during more intense, frequent practices. However, thicker mats are harder to travel with since they are heavier and don’t fold as easily. Alternatively, thinner mats are ideal for taking to class and on the go, but they can lack the comfort some may desire.
The most popular Jade mat is 3/16 of an inch thick, which is about the average thickness. They also offer a thinner mat at 1/16 of an inch, as well as a thicker option at 5/16 of an inch.
Color causes
Jade Yoga features three yoga mat colors that are aimed to raise awareness for health issues, with a portion of the purchase donated in support. Teal mats are in support of ovarian cancer research, saffron mats support autism causes and pink mats raise money in support of breast cancer causes. Teal is offered year-round, while saffron and pink run for a limited time.
How much you can expect to spend on Jade yoga mat
Most Jade yoga mats cost between $65-$100, depending on size and thickness.
Jade yoga mat FAQ
How do I clean my Jade yoga mat?
A. Jade yoga mats are fairly easy to clean. For regular usage, your mat can be wiped with a damp towel every week. For more intense practices, users may want to wipe clean after every session. Owners may opt for Jade’s plant-based mat wash to wipe away any dirt or odor. Harsh chemicals and cleaning products should not be used, as it may damage the materials. Essential oils may also damage the rubber.
What accessories do I need to supplement my yoga mat?
A. With a yoga mat, you’re ready to stretch, meditate and work out as you wish. If you plan on taking your mat to a class or on vacation, it may be worth investing in a convenient bag or carrier so that the mat stays protected. Some yoga enthusiasts may want to acquire blocks as well to assist with certain positions. Bolsters are also another useful tool to integrate into practices, as are yoga blankets.
What’s the best Jade yoga mat to buy?
Top Jade yoga mat
What you need to know: Jade’s most popular yoga mat.
What you’ll love: This comfortable and durable mat caters to a wide range of practices and poses. Available in a variety of exciting colors, this mat boasts average length and width to suit most people in most practices. It sticks to the floor and offers stability, as well as comfort. Longer options are also available
What you should consider: This mat is more expensive than competitors and not ideal for outdoor use.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Jade yoga mat for the money
What you need to know: A thin and lightweight mat, this option is ideal for yogis on the move, helping save space, energy and money.
What you’ll love: The thinnest mat available by Jade at 1/16 of an inch, the Travel Mat offers a convenient and intimate yoga session. It’s available in a variety of colors and among the cheaper options available.
What you should consider: It may not be supportive enough for larger individuals or intense practices.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
What you need to know: An extra-thick mat that provides longevity and proper support for intense practices and physical activities.
What you’ll love: At 5/16 of an inch thick, this mat offers both comfort and stability for lunges, squats, planks and other intensive exercises. It’s available in various colors and there are two longer options also available for taller persons.
What you should consider: This mat is quite expensive and not ideal for traveling.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Anthony Marcusa writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/yoga-pilates-br/best-jade-yoga-mat/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:36 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/sports-fitness-br/yoga-pilates-br/best-jade-yoga-mat/ |
Which VR headset for iPhone is best?
Sifting through the options to find the best VR headset for iPhone can be tricky, especially with so many models available today. Fortunately, it’s hard to go wrong with most of the cheaper VR headset options, so long as they’re compatible with your particular iPhone.
While there are a number of affordable options available, many buyers go with the Pecosso 3D VR Headset for iPhone and Other Smartphones, since it’s fairly lightweight and offers a clear, immersive goggle display – on top of being affordable and super user-friendly.
What to know before you buy a VR headset for iPhone
VR headsets for iPhone vs. full VR systems
VR headsets for iPhone use the phone as a display, often through goggles or a headset of some sort. This is unlike full VR systems, which use a console or PC to run the games or VR experiences while featuring an actual high-resolution display built into the included goggles.
If you elect to go with a VR headset for iPhone, you’ll likely choose from the best VR headsets. It’s important to note that smartphone VR experiences have become commonplace and affordable. They are very easy to gain access to, which makes them a simple entry into the virtual reality world for newcomers and budget-friendly consumers.
Headset compatibility
One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a VR headset for iPhone is whether the VR headset is compatible with the size of your phone. Most smartphone VR headsets include a range of sizes of phones that the goggles fit, so be sure to check that the size fits your particular phone before making a purchase.
Preferred media types
The type of media you plan to consume could affect your choice of VR headsets for iPhone. If you want a quick VR experience, you may be able to find something cheaper with goggles that you need to hold. However, if you plan to watch movies, play games or use VR experiences that work with a controller, you’ll want something a little higher end with goggles that you can strap to your face.
What to look for in a quality VR headset for iPhone
Lightweight and adjustable fit
It’s important a VR headset is comfortable to wear for long periods of time – especially if you plan to play longer VR games or experiences or watch movies that require you to wear the headset for a couple of hours. A headset that’s lightweight, adjustable and comfortable is the best choice.
Clear, immersive goggle view
Since your phone screen is your display, there’s only so much your VR headset view can do. However, VR headsets that include goggles or lenses of some sort offer varying levels of view quality. So find one that offers crisp, clear views to your phone screen to make your VR experience as immersive as possible.
Controllers or other remote controls
Another feature many users find fun is getting a VR headset with a controller or other remote control options. This adds a layer of immersion to certain virtual reality games and apps that are compatible with a controller since it often lets the user directly control their environment.
How much you can expect to spend on a VR headset for iPhone
VR headsets for iPhone have a wide range of prices, but you can generally find cheap smartphone VR headsets for around $15, with more expensive models costing as much as $80.
VR headset for iPhone FAQ
Do VR headsets need a PC?
A. While many high-tier VR headsets use a PC to run their VR games and experiences, you can also find VR headsets for PlayStation consoles, or extremely affordable entry-level VR headsets that use iPhones or other smartphones as their display.
Do VR headsets for iPhone work with Android phones or other smartphones?
A. In general, you can make most iPhone VR headsets work with smartphones of a similar size, though you’ll want to double-check on the individual product listing to see what phones they’re compatible with.
What’s the best VR headset for iPhone to buy?
Top VR headset for iPhone
Pecosso 3D Virtual Reality Goggles VR Headset for iPhone
What you need to know: This iPhone VR headset is compatible with iPhone and other smartphones between 4.7 and 6.53 inches, offering a simple and affordable VR solution for those who can’t afford to get an actual virtual reality system.
What you’ll love: With its fairly low price, this smartphone VR headset works particularly well with iPhone, and the goggles give you a clear, immersive VR experience. It’s also lightweight despite being a goggle-style VR headset, making it more comfortable than most.
What you should consider: Some users have trouble getting this model to work with other devices and apps that don’t support VR, like drones that use smartphones as their display and certain media apps.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top VR headset for iPhone for the money
What you need to know: This super-affordable VR headset works with iPhone and offers a good, cheap first step into the world of virtual reality.
What you’ll love: This model is perfect for VR beginners and offers a simple, three-step setup. It includes a phone sucker, head strap, nose pad and forehead pad, giving you all the pieces you need for the full VR experience.
What you should consider: It is made of cardboard, so it may not be a long-lasting option.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Pansonite Virtual Reality Goggles VR Headset for iPhone
What you need to know: If you can afford to spend a few extra bucks, this powerful VR headset for iPhone and other smartphones also comes with a handy controller, which can make compatible VR games and apps even more versatile – at a fraction of the cost of a full-scale VR headset.
What you’ll love: Buyers of this model love using the controller, which is shaped like an old console controller. It has four buttons on the right, two at the top middle and two at the bottom middle and it has an analog stick on the left-hand side. This headset also features a robust and comfortable strap system, plus clear, crisp goggles for viewing the phone screen.
What you should consider: This model is more expensive than most iPhone VR headsets. Users report the controller doesn’t work with every app.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Zachary Visconti writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/electronic-toys-br/best-vr-headset-for-iphone/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:43 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/electronic-toys-br/best-vr-headset-for-iphone/ |
Which Infinity Gauntlet toys are best?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe comprises over two dozen films with iconic characters and unforgettable moments. Fans young and old can embrace the story through a myriad of toys. While there are action figures and collectibles modeled after all the heroes and villains, one item represents the culmination of years of storytelling: the Infinity Gauntlet.
The powerful weapon is a focal point of two of the most successful movies ever made, making it a terrific toy for interactive play as well as showing off. The top pick, this LEGO Infinity Gauntlet, is a detailed build that produces a stunning creation. There are Infinity gauntlet toys for all ages and interests — but with great power comes great responsibility.
What to know before you buy an Infinity Gauntlet toy
What is the Infinity Gauntlet?
The Infinity gauntlet is a device that can safely hold and wield any or all of the six infinity stones; the story is part of Marvel Comics and was later adapted for the screen. These stones are powerful entities that control an aspect of life and made frequent appearances throughout the films before becoming a focal point in “Avengers: Infinity War.” It is wielded by the Mad Titan Thanos, though a later version is made by Iron Man, known as the Power gauntlet or Nano gauntlet.
Thanos and company are part of Marvel’s series of stories, which comprise the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men and many other superheroes and villains.
Wearables
With a large fan base comprising a wide range of ages, toys inspired by Marvel films are quite varied. For younger fans, there are role-playing toys. Kids can don their own Infinity gauntlet and act out their favorite scenes and moments. These gauntlets are typically one-size-fits-all and made from either plastic or rubber-like synthetics. For kids interested in a Thanos or Iron Man costume, the gauntlet is an important component, but a completed look will require a mask as well.
Action figures
Some fans may be more interested in action figures featuring Thanos wearing his gauntlet. These may be simpler toys appealing to youngsters with various points of articulation or more detailed figurines designed for display. While Thanos is the primary wearer of the gauntlet, both Hulk and Iron Man put on the Nano Gauntlet, so some toys may depict them wielding the Infinity Stones as well.
What to look for in a quality Infinity Gauntlet toy
Interactivity
While some wearable Infinity gauntlets may be just one complete piece, some higher-end options may add an element of interactivity. For example, there are certain products where the stones are affixed using magnets, allowing kids to remove them and put them back in a dramatic fashion, just like Thanos.
Some Infinity gauntlets may be battery-powered, offering stimulating sights and sounds for users. Because the gauntlet is populated with six colorful stones, some options may light each gem individually.
Collectibles
Older fans may be interested in collectible items that are solely intended to be put on display. These will be more detailed and typically made of higher-quality materials. The collectibles may be simply the gauntlet or a character wearing it.
Specifically, Hasbro and Funko make quality collectible action figures. Hasbro’s array will be a detailed, authentic representation standing anywhere from 6 to 12 inches tall. Meanwhile, Funko boasts a line of uniform vinyl figurines with exaggerated heads and stand under 4 inches tall. Their extensive lineup of Marvel figurines includes Thanos, Iron Man and Hulk, all wearing the gauntlet.
Reputable seller
An Infinity gauntlet toy in particular and Marvel toys, in general, are highly popular, which unfortunately invites fabrication. Always buy Marvel toys from trusted, reputable sellers.
How much you can expect to spend on an Infinity Gauntlet toy
Simpler Infinity gauntlet toys for younger kids, as well as some action figures, may cost from $10-$20, but more advanced toys, including LEGO sets and options that light up, may cost from $50-$100.
Infinity Gauntlet toy FAQ
Is an Infinity Gauntlet an appropriate toy for a child?
A. Marvel films and comics appeal to a wide age range, including many adolescents. While the films and stories can sometimes be violent, they’re often bloodless and tempered. The movie in which the gauntlet takes center stage is particularly dark and sad, however, the sequel is more inspiring. Parents are the best judge as to whether their children should watch the movies, all of which are rated PG-13.
What other Marvel toys go with the Infinity gauntlet?
A. The Infinity gauntlet is just one weapon from a specific villain; kids may be eager to collect other role-playing accessories and toys to recreate their favorite moments and use their imagination. Thor’s hammer Mjolnir as well as Captain America’s vibranium shield are among two of the most popular accessories. Giant Hulk gloves are also sought after by kids who want to embrace Bruce Banner’s green alter ego.
What’s the best Infinity Gauntlet toy to buy?
Top Infinity Gauntlet toy
What you need to know: This beautiful LEGO set appeals to both kids and adults alike and culminates in a stunning display piece.
What you’ll love: This cleverly designed LEGO set comprises almost 600 pieces, welcoming youngsters and adult fans to build alone or together. Includes a stable base and a plaque, and the fingers even move. Stands at 12.5 inches tall.
What you should consider: Quite expensive. Build may not be challenging enough for adults.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Infinity Gauntlet toy for the money
What you need to know: A simpler toy, this Nano gauntlet will delight youngsters with its sight and sounds.
What you’ll love: This Iron Man gauntlet appeals to aspiring young heroes; it lights up and makes noise. Infinity stones are bright and eye-catching. Fits most kids’ hands comfortably. Affordably-priced.
What you should consider: Fingers don’t move. Requires batteries.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Marvel Legends Endgame Gauntlet
What you need to know: A high-end Nano gauntlet, this interactive option is fun to play with as well as put on display.
What you’ll love: This gauntlet fits snugly on most hands and moves and flexes in order to recreate popular moments from the film. Stones light up and glow, and the gauntlet plays sounds. It can also lock into a fist to be put on display.
What you should consider: Considerably expensive. Some fans may prefer Thanos’ gauntlet.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Anthony Marcusa writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Baby Shark costumes are best?
If you have a kid or grandkid, chances are pretty good you’ve heard the Baby Shark song more times than you can count. For kids who can’t get enough of the adorable sharks, Baby Shark will make a perfect costume for Halloween or even just to wear around the house.
If you’re looking for a top-notch Baby Shark costume for your kid, you can’t go wrong with the Rubie’s Kid’s Baby Shark Costume with Sound Chip, but there are options for nearly every other age group as well.
What to know before you buy a Baby Shark costume
What is Baby Shark?
“Baby Shark” is an internet video featuring a song and dance about a Baby Shark and its family members. The video went viral in 2017, and by 2020 it was the most viewed video on the entire YouTube platform. Kids can’t get enough of the little shark and its family, and many parents can’t seem to get the song out of their heads, either.
Costume age groups
Because Baby Shark is a video about a family of sharks, Baby Shark Halloween costumes make sense for any age. There are Baby Shark costumes for babies, Baby Shark toddler costumes and adult Baby Shark-themed costumes to fill the role of “Mommy Shark” and “Daddy Shark,” meaning you have the option to do matching family costumes.
Costumes for everyday wear
Baby Shark Halloween costumes are sure to be popular for quite some time. Still, many kids may enjoy pretending to be a character from their favorite YouTube video while singing along with the song. Luckily, there are several Baby Shark costumes that are easy to slip in and out of, making them perfect for throwing on before singing along. Some Baby Shark merchandise is designed as hoodies or footie pajamas.
What to look for in a quality Baby Shark costume
Materials
Kids can be tough on clothes and costumes. If you’re buying a Baby Shark Halloween costume for your child, especially if they’ll likely wear it past Halloween, it goes without saying it needs to be able to withstand rough play. Getting a costume made of thick polyester or another durable fabric ensures your child gets the most out of it. If your kid will play in their costume often, it isn’t a bad idea to get one with a slightly loose fit to help prevent rips and tears as well.
Design
Due to the immense popularity of the Baby Shark video, there are no shortage of knock-off costumes on the market. As you’re shopping for Baby Shark Halloween costumes, you may notice designs with eyes and other features that look nothing like the characters from the popular internet video. To make the most of your costume purchase, it’s a good idea to either buy officially licensed merchandise or compare the costume to the actual character from the video before buying.
Additional features
Some Baby Shark costumes have added features that make the outfit feel more special. One of the most popular additional features for Baby Shark costumes are built-in sound chips that play the song when pressed. Other costumes feature hats or hoodie-like designs that can be worn year-round.
How much you can expect to spend on a Baby Shark costume
Baby Shark costumes for infants tend to range between $10-$35, whereas Baby Shark costumes for toddlers, kids and adults can cost around $20-$55.
Baby Shark costume FAQ
Do they make Baby Shark costumes for pets?
A. Yes, believe it or not, your dog can join in on the Baby Shark fun as well, although the quality may not be as high as the costumes for humans.
Who came up with the Baby Shark song?
A. The Baby Shark song used to be a popular campfire song before becoming an internet sensation. The Baby Shark song as we know it today was popularized by a South Korean animation studio called Pinkfong.
What are the best Baby Shark costumes to buy?
Top Baby Shark costume for toddlers
Rubie’s Kid’s Baby Shark Costume with Sound Chip
What you need to know: This durable Baby Shark costume comes in three different sizes and features a sound chip that plays the Baby Shark song when pressed.
What you’ll love: This costume’s materials are sturdy enough to last. This option features a loose-fitting design that’s comfortable and helps prevent the outfit from ripping. The added sound card makes it easy for kids to sing and dance along in the Baby Shark costume without needing a laptop or tablet.
What you should consider: Although most buyers felt the materials were sturdy, some customers felt the material was cheap.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Baby Shark costume for infants
Rubie’s Baby Shark Costume One-Piece Bodysuit
What you need to know: This officially licensed Baby Shark one-piece is perfect for your littlest shark.
What you’ll love: The included hat is an excellent addition, and many babies will prefer it over a hood or mask. The costume’s vibrant yellow color looks just like the shark from the video.
What you should consider: This option’s sizes tend to run small.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy’s
Top Baby Shark costume for adults
Markest Onesie Unisex Adult Shark Pajamas
What you need to know: Although this product isn’t officially licensed, its design is spot-on, and its quality is top-notch.
What you’ll love: These roomy pajamas are incredibly comfortable. The costume’s design looks nearly identical to the sharks in the popular video. This option comes in Baby Shark, Mommy Shark and Daddy Shark designs.
What you should consider: If you’ve never worn this style of pajamas before, you may be disappointed with how droopy some of the features are.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/holiday-costumes-br/best-baby-shark-costume/ | 2022-04-11T14:40:57 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/holiday-costumes-br/best-baby-shark-costume/ |
Which Halloween game is best?
As Halloween approaches, you may be looking for a fun way to get into the holiday spirit. Luckily, there are numerous Halloween-themed games that are great for parties, families or even just hanging out by yourself. For example, the Ravensburger Horrified: Universal Monsters Strategy Board Game is fun for children 10 and up and supports up to five players at a time.
What to consider before you buy a Halloween game
Types of Halloween games
Halloween is a holiday many people look forward to all year. Due to its popularity, there are Halloween-themed games in nearly every format you could think of. Some of the most popular Halloween games come in the form of Halloween board games that allow you to strategize and play with multiple players using spooky pieces and themes. Halloween trivia games are another favorite for those who love to learn about all things Halloween, and console and PC gamers alike will be excited to learn there is no shortage of Halloween video games available as well.
Age range
Halloween is a great time for getting scared, but many kids may not want to be scared in the same way as adults. For this reason, it’s a good idea to look at a game’s recommended age range before purchasing so you don’t accidentally buy something too scary for younger audiences.
Halloween games for teens
Scavenger hunts, mystery boxes and bobbing for apples can all be tons of fun, but many teens may feel like they’re too old for these types of games. Many teenagers prefer playing video games and role-playing games that they can play with their friends. Luckily, spooky games like “Luigi’s Mansion 3” feature fun, two-player co-op modes that teens are sure to enjoy.
What to look for in a quality Halloween game
Replay value
When buying any game, one of the first things you should consider is whether or not it will be a fun, replayable game. Some Halloween-themed games, such as pin the tail on the donkey style games, will likely lose their appeal after only one or two play sessions. On the other hand, fun Halloween video games, board games and trivia games are likely to be enjoyable for quite some time after Halloween is over.
Spooky thematic elements
Thematic elements are essential when it comes to Halloween games. You’ll often get the most bang for your buck if you buy a game that is undoubtedly Halloween-themed without being so on the nose that it isn’t fun outside of Halloween. Some good examples of spooky thematic elements include ghosts, monsters, murder mysteries, fear of the dark and witchcraft.
Interesting design
Because Halloween is a holiday aimed at all ages, there are numerous design styles to represent the various ghouls, ghosts and other creatures commonly associated with Halloween. If you’re buying a Halloween game for teens, they aren’t likely to be impressed by cartoonish takes on ghosts and monsters. On the other hand, some teens and even adults prefer games that don’t take themselves too seriously or try too hard to be scary.
How much you can expect to spend on a Halloween game
Many Halloween board games will run you about $10-$25, whereas Halloween-themed video games tend to cost around $50-$60.
Halloween game FAQ
Are there any Halloween games I can make myself?
A. There are several fun Halloween games you can make yourself, such as bobbing for apples, haunted scavenger hunts and number guessing jars that use candy corn.
How can I incorporate Halloween games into my Halloween party?
A. One of the best ways to incorporate Halloween games into your party is by having a contest where the players with the highest scores receive fun, Halloween-themed prizes or candy for winning.
What’s the best Halloween game to buy?
Top Halloween board game
Ravensburger Horrified: Universal Monsters Strategy Board Game
What you need to know: This Halloween board game has players work together to defend the town against monsters such as Dracula, a mummy and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
What you’ll love: This cooperative board game is a nice break from the usual competitive play that most games are built around. Fans of classic monster movies will get a kick out of the many references to vintage horror films.
What you should consider: Some of the pieces are flimsy and may bend after a few uses.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Halloween video game
What you need to know: This Nintendo Switch title puts players in control of a frightened Luigi as he solves puzzles and catches ghosts to save his friends.
What you’ll love: “Luigi’s Mansion 3” features top-notch graphics, and the puzzles and gameplay are fun for players of all ages. Once players beat the first set of missions, they unlock a Luigi-clone named Gooigi and a 2-player co-op mode that makes the game even more fun.
What you should consider: “Luigi’s Mansion 3” doesn’t feature Y-axis inversion, which is essential for many players.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Kohl’s
Top Halloween trivia game
What you need to know: This in-depth horror trivia game features tons of questions from both mainstream and obscure horror films.
What you’ll love: This trivia game can be played either one-on-one or with teams. The Horror Trivia Card Game has 150 different cards with 300 trivia questions. A wide range of cards are featured and even include questions about lesser-known horror movies.
What you should consider: If you aren’t a horror movie buff, you may find this game to be too challenging.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2022 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved. | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/holiday-costumes-br/the-best-halloween-game/ | 2022-04-11T14:41:05 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/reviews/br/toys-games-br/holiday-costumes-br/the-best-halloween-game/ |
Which bounce houses are best?
A bounce house set up at your party will definitely make a statement and amaze both parents and children. Most people rent a bounce house for a special occasion, as they want to save up or avoid cluttering their storage room or garage. While buying a bounce house can be a significant investment, the margin between buying and renting is smaller than you’d think. There are several high-quality models out on the market that can be enjoyed 365 days a year.
The perfect bounce house is fun and engaging for kids and easy to use for adults. Particularly, the Bounceland Royal Palace has a compact footprint but can still accommodate five children. Here’s what to consider when shopping for a bounce house.
What to know before you buy a bounce house
Residential vs. commercial
When most people think of bounce houses, they think of giant unwieldy commercial models. The type that you might find at a county fair or a neighborhood block party. These commercial bounce houses are meant for heavy use by dozens of children over a long period of time.
This guide focuses on residential bounce houses. They’re just as fun, but they’re considerably smaller and intended for private use by a few children at a time. The other big difference is price. Commercial bounce houses cost several thousands of dollars, while residential bounce houses cost several hundreds.
Dimensions
Residential bounce houses can be used both indoors and outdoors. If using outdoors, be sure to secure your bounce house to the ground with stakes to prevent it from blowing away in the wind. In addition, measure the space where your bounce house will go before you buy. Make sure you have a few extra feet beyond that for the air blower.
If buying in-store, note the size of the box as well. This will give you a ballpark idea of how much storage room you’ll need. If buying online, you should be able to find the dimensions of the box somewhere in the item description.
Inflation method
Basic bounce houses use an air pump to inflate just like an air mattress. Like larger commercial models, mid-range and high-end bounce houses use an air blower that constantly runs to ensure proper inflation. While air blowers can be noisy, they’re the better option because they ensure your bounce house won’t deflate during play.
You may notice very small holes around the seams of your bounce house. This is normal and not a sign of a manufacturing defect. These holes let out a tiny amount of air so your bounce house doesn’t explode while attached to the air blower.
What to look for in a quality bounce house
Bounce floor size
Bounce floor size is the amount of space your children will have to play within the bounce house itself. This is different from the overall dimensions of the bounce house. A bigger bounce house does not necessarily mean a bigger bounce floor size.
Most bounce houses are suitable for kids up to 12 years old. If you buy a bounce house when your children are young enough, they can enjoy it for years. However, if you have older children, it may make more sense to rent for a single occasion than to buy if you have older children, knowing they’ll soon grow out of it.
Weight limit and capacity
Bounce houses have an overall weight limit that varies by manufacturer and design. Residential models can generally support 250-500 pounds. Also, keep an eye on overall capacity. Residential bounce houses can be used by anywhere from 2-5 children at one time.
It may be tempting to try out your child’s bounce house for yourself. Yet, don’t. The material used to make residential bounce houses is not as thick as the material used to make commercial bounce houses. They are not meant to support individual jumpers with adult weights.
Design and extras
Bounce houses are colorful and fun, but some models go beyond that with actual designs like a castle, a pirate ship or a tropical jungle. Some may contain one or more slides, and some of these slides can be used with water. Other bounce houses will have games or other interactive features built into the walls.
For adults, some models will come with a carrying or storage case for added convenience. What’s more, keep an eye out for bounce houses that come with their own air pumps.
How much you can expect to spend on a bounce house
Small bounce houses for toddlers that inflate like an air mattress can be found for $50-$150. Most residential models for children up to 12 years old fall between $200-$500. High-end residential bounce houses that approach the size of commercial models can easily fetch $1,000-$2,500.
Bounce house FAQ
How long does it take to inflate and deflate a bounce house?
A. Inflation time will depend on the size of your model. Most take 2-5 minutes to fully inflate. Be sure to tether your bounce house to the ground if using outside. Deflation should take 4-10 minutes. Some models have zipper compartments you can open so the air escapes faster. Make certain there are no children or pets in your bounce house before deflating.
How should I store my bounce house?
A. You should store your bounce house in a cool, dark place after each use. A hard plastic storage box in the garage is perfect. Leaving your bounce house deflated in the backyard leaves it open to sun and water damage that will decrease its service life. It could also become a tripping hazard.
What’s the best bounce house to buy?
Top bounce house
What you need to know: This bounce house includes a slide and can accommodate up to five children.
What you’ll love: Adorable castle design. Features a safety net and removable sunshade. Long slide for the overall size of the unit.
What you should consider: Fabric weakens easily in the sun. Needs to be tied down with stakes so it doesn’t fly away.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top bounce house for the money
ACTION AIR Inflatable Bounce House Jumping Castle with Slide
What you need to know: A basic bounce house at a fair price.
What you’ll love: Wide slide that spans the length of the entire house. Accommodates up to three kids and 250 pounds total.
What you should consider: Fabric feels thin compared to more expensive models. On the smaller side.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Wayfair
Worth checking out
Costway Inflatable Jungle Bounce House Kids Dual Slide Jumping Castle
What you need to know: A unique jungle-themed bounce house with two separate slides.
What you’ll love: Five children up to 300 pounds can play at the same time. Design features palm trees and cute kangaroos.
What you should consider: Doesn’t come with its own air blower, a drawback considering the price.
Where to buy: Sold by Home Depot
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Frank Paiva writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Which Nintendo Switch fitness game is best?
Nintendo Switch is the system that gets players moving, but did you know it can boost your activity level even more with fitness games? That’s right. These days, you can get a full-body workout from video games.
There is a broad range of Nintendo Switch fitness games, including low-impact dancing games as well as intense, heart-pumping boxing and sports games. If you’re looking for a well-rounded, head-to-toe workout, a top choice for many is Nintendo “Ring Fit Adventure”.
What to know before you buy a Nintendo Switch fitness game
Regular games vs. fitness games?
The Nintendo Switch uses motion-sensitive Joy-Con controllers, which deliver immersive gaming experiences that go beyond button-mashing. In many Nintendo Switch games, players manipulate Joy-Con controllers to go fishing, swing a sword or block hits. Despite hand and arm engagement, most of these games can be played entirely from seated positions.
Fitness games for the Nintendo Switch, however, get players on their feet and keep them moving. In these games, Joy-Con controllers are manipulated to simulate true-to-life exercise moves, like punching, disco dancing or stretching. Some Switch fitness games come with accessories, like gloves or rings, to make gameplay more realistic. All things considered, most players break a sweat with most of these games.
Get in shape with Nintendo Switch fitness games
Nintendo Switch fitness games may help some individuals reach their activity and exercise goals. According to Mayo Clinic, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity every week. If you play some of these games a few times a week, it’s easy to meet or exceed 150 minutes. Moving around playing Nintendo Switch games also contributes to daily step count goals.
What to look for in a quality Nintendo Switch fitness game
Levels of difficulty
Nintendo Switch fitness games offer several difficulty levels, typically ranging from beginner to expert, to accommodate all players. In most games, the more you progress through the game or win challenges, the sooner you’ll level up and unlock new content or features. Some games allow players to adjust difficulty levels between rounds or challenges.
In-game tutorials
To keep Switch fitness games as user-friendly as possible, many of them feature in-game tutorials. Almost all games have opening tutorials explaining how to use Joy-Con controllers or accessories when you begin the game. Other games have on-screen guidance during every challenge or board, such as dancing figures demonstrating choreography.
Multiplayer modes
Some Nintendo Switch fitness players are single-player-only, like “Ring Fit Adventure,” whereas games like “Just Dance” or “Fitness Boxing” offer multiplayer modes. Certain games let you play with up to six players who can take turns using Joy-Con controllers. Other games also have online multiplayer modes, where players compete with others virtually.
Downloadable content
If you’re playing Switch fitness games online, you may be able to enjoy downloadable content, or DLC. This refers to additional content you can add to existing games, including new characters, skins, extra levels or specialty items. There is free DLC available for certain games, whereas for others, you’ll need to purchase DLC either through game-specific marketplaces or subscriptions.
How much you can expect to spend on Nintendo Switch fitness games
Nintendo Switch fitness games range in price from $19-$70. Older versions of certain games cost $30 and below, whereas new releases run closer to $50. Games that come with additional accessories arrive at the top of the price range.
Nintendo Switch fitness game FAQ
Can I use my smartwatch or fitness tracker while playing Nintendo Switch fitness games?
A. Yes, and some of these devices may have preset programs for certain types of exercise, like dancing or strength training, for more accurate tracking. Playing one of these games also keeps you on your feet and contributes to your step count.
What ESRB ratings do Nintendo Switch fitness games have?
A. ESRB ratings inform adults about the age appropriateness of video game content. The rating is located in the lower left corner of game boxes and features content descriptors, like comic mischief or mild lyrics, that explain why the game has received a particular rating. Most Nintendo Switch fitness games are rated E or E10, both of which are considered kid-friendly.
What’s the best Nintendo Switch fitness game to buy?
Top Nintendo Switch fitness game
What you need to know: This unique game comes with a Pilates-inspired ring and leg strap that holds Joy-Con controllers to offer in-depth full-body workouts.
What you’ll love: The game lets players run through a fantasy world fighting bosses using true-to-life exercises. It offers a diverse variety of workouts to accommodate players of all fitness and skill levels. The challenges include tutorials to guide users through basic movements.
What you should consider: It’s more expensive than most Switch games, and some players feel challenges are repetitive.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top Nintendo Switch fitness game for the money
“Just Dance 2021” for Nintendo Switch
What you need to know: Ideal for all-ages fun, this popular dance game invites players to rock, head-to-toe, to popular songs.
What you’ll love: The game offers multiplayer modes for up to six players. The choreography is easy to follow, but it’s still challenging enough to make players sweat. The well-rounded song assortment includes picks across all genres, including some Disney tunes and radio hits.
What you should consider: Several players were disappointed to learn they had to subscribe to unlock the full song library.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Nintendo “Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise”
What you need to know: While this boxing game is often thought to be geared toward upper-body exercises, it actually offers a full-body workout.
What you’ll love: The boxing challenges are suitable for beginners as well as experienced fighters. It incorporates dance moves into boxing for dynamic workouts that involve more footwork and movement. It has a small learning curve and is considered a user-friendly option.
What you should consider: Some players reported the game has occasional glitches that detract from gameplay.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Sian Babish writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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Baseball, Easter fun and more: 5 things to do around Peoria this week
April is full of activities. Here are five events you might want to check out in the Peoria area.
Bradley music recitals
The Bradley University music program is hosting a variety of student recitals this week. The SAI Spring Recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 11; the Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 12; and Kelsey Schrac will perform at 7:30 p.m. April 16. All recitals will take place at Dingeldine Music Center, 1417 W. Barker Ave. Admission is free.
Chiefs baseball home opener
The Peoria Chiefs will play their first home game of the 2022 season against the Great Lakes Loons at 6:35 p.m. April 12 at Dozer Park. Tickets start at $9 and can be purchased at the gate or online at www.milb.com/peoria. All fans will receive a 2022 season schedule magnet.
Carver Community Center outdoor market
The George Washington Carver Community Center will be hosting an Outdoor Local Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 16 at 710 W. Percy Baker Jr. Ave. The event will include food and drinks, kids activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., an Easter egg hunt at noon, egg decorating and photos with the Easter Bunny. In the case of inclement weather, activities will be held inside.
Egg hunt at the library
Children of all ages can visit with the Easter Bunny and participate in a community Easter egg hunt from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 16 at the Peoria Public Library Lincoln Branch, 1312 W. Lincoln. For more information, call 309-497-2600.
Enjoy an Easter Sunday brunch
An Easter Champagne brunch will be served from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 17 at Barrack's Cater Inn, 1224 Pioneer Parkway. The buffet will include prime rib, honey-baked ham, chicken, shrimp, omelets, waffles, pastries, assorted salads, vegetables and a dessert table featuring a chocolate dipping fountain. Cost is $27.95 for adults and $12.97 for children. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/lifestyle/things-to-do/2022/04/11/things-do-peoria-illinois-week-april-11-2022/9499387002/ | 2022-04-11T14:42:57 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/lifestyle/things-to-do/2022/04/11/things-do-peoria-illinois-week-april-11-2022/9499387002/ |
2 pedestrians die after being hit by vehicle in East Peoria
Andy Kravetz
Journal Star
EAST PEORIA – Two people died Sunday night when a vehicle struck them, according to police.
The pedestrians were hit around 10:15 p.m. Sunday evening. East Peoria Police Chief Rick Brodrick said his department handled the initial investigation near the 3300 block of North Main Street.
He said that his officers processed the driver of the vehicle for driving under the influence. No further details were available.
From fatal wreck to bringing in new life:How 2 Limestone firefighters delivered a baby
Accident reconstruction and further investigation is being handled by the Illinois State Police, with assistance from the East Police Police Department and the Tazewell County Coroner's office. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/11/fatal-vehicle-accident-kills-two-pedestrians-east-peoria/7274498001/ | 2022-04-11T14:43:03 | 1 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/11/fatal-vehicle-accident-kills-two-pedestrians-east-peoria/7274498001/ |
Q&A: MLB veteran from Chillicothe talks injuries, finding joy and Cardinals red
Cardinals red will look good on Zach McAllister.
Last month, the Chillicothe native signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals and was assigned to Triple-A Memphis as a reliever. He had spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs, pitching in 11 games.
McAllister, 34, made his 2022 season debut on Wednesday, pitching an inning of relief with two strikeouts and a walk, while giving up two hits and a run. Memphis is in the 10-team International League's West Division and is scheduled to make stops this season in Iowa, Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville.
As a 2006 third-round pick of the New York Yankees, the Illinois Valley Central grad has rehabbed through a pair of injuries — a 2019 torn latissimus dorsi muscle and a fractured right humerus in 2020. He's healthy and back throwing professionally where he's logged over 1,400 innings in his 17-year career that includes a trip to the World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 2016.
Baseball:Jerry Rashid remembers IVC’s run to the 2006 baseball title
In this Q&A, McAllister talks with the Journal Star's Adam Duvall about his road to recovery, joining the Cardinals organization, leadership and how he defines personal success.
How are you feeling?
"Good, good. I finally feel really healthy, just kind of like a new self, so everything's healthy. (I’m) happy with things are at.
What have you done to get back to where you are?
"A lot. It was a long road. I think when I tore my lat in ’19. Surgery went well, and I was happy with everything, and everything was smooth, then COVID happened. We got shut down and (I) had a freak injury, had another surgery with a broken arm and a plate and screws and all that put in there to fix it. That was probably one of the toughest years that I've probably had to go through.
"I'm just thankful to have friends, family and Kamerin, my wife there to kind of help get me through everything because it wasn't easy. It was hard. It was a lot of rehab every single day. A lot of positive thoughts and positive attitude trying to bring it out every day to tell myself I'm going to get through it and get back to something that I believe I can do and that's play baseball."
What have you learned about yourself as a pitcher from 2019 to now?
“You have to evolve. As a player, you're evolving. I think if you don't evolve, you fall backwards. For me, it's the same thing. I know before I was always a guy that I could really throw fastballs, and I was fortunate enough to have one that was able to get guys out with successfully for the most part.
"Now, it's like I still believe in my fastball, but I know I have other pitches and able to use those to make me even more successful and just a better understanding of the game in general and just how to prepare.”
How did you react when you heard from the Cardinals?
“I was on cloud nine (laughs). It was crazy. I think everyone knows what happened with baseball with the lockout. It affected pretty much every player almost. It was a stressful offseason of everybody wanting to get a job and sign.
"To be able to get that call and say hey, ‘You're going to be a Cardinal.’ I couldn't be happier. I mean, it's close to Peoria. Family, friends that are able to come and watch hopefully, and hopefully, be a part of it. But like I said, it was just a call that made my day that's for sure.”
MLB:Misfortune again visits Zach McAllister — just as he was ready for a baseball comeback
What was it like being around some of those guys at Spring Training?
“Oh, it was fantastic. You talk about just the professional, really, good group of guys and good people. It's one of the coolest clubhouses that I've been a part of with those players. It's very business oriented, but they do it the right way. It's super fun. It's work hard and then, kind of, reap the rewards of all the hard work that you do. It's fun to watch them work because there's hall of famers in that locker room and just to be able to watch guys like that, I'm thankful to be able to do that.”
You’re a veteran guy with big-league experience. What advice have you been able to give those younger guys in the clubhouse?
“For me, that's something that's actually been a lot a lot of fun. When I was coming up, I had guys that would help me out and kind of teach me things along the way of kind of what to do, what not to do and how to prepare and all that. So, to be able to give some of that advice back is something I really enjoy.
"It's a great group of guys here. I'm excited to be able to help them with whatever questions they may have, or thoughts that they have that they want to bounce off me. I'm just excited to be back and playing again. It's been a very long road, but definitely exciting to get back out there and help the team and help players in any way that I can."
Baseball's best:7 Baseball Hall of Famers with ties to the Peoria area
At this point in your career, how do you measure individual success?
“Number one is health. If I can stay healthy, I know that's a successful day, honestly, right there with the things I've been able to go through. But it's enjoyment — getting enjoyment out of it. You're not going to be perfect every day. I understand that. Before it would have been hard to accept some of those failures as far as giving up runs and things like that. And right now, it's like, ‘Yeah, obviously you never want to give up runs or throw bad or pitch poorly,’ but at the same time, it's enjoyment. I know that I’m enjoying the game.
"To me, that's the biggest thing — if I can have enjoyment and confidence and belief in what I'm doing, then the success is going to be there."
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall. | https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/04/11/q-a-chillicothe-native-zach-mcallister-pitcher-st-louis-cardinals/9493616002/ | 2022-04-11T14:43:08 | 0 | https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/04/11/q-a-chillicothe-native-zach-mcallister-pitcher-st-louis-cardinals/9493616002/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Police are investigating a stabbing in Shockoe Bottom that resulted in two men being hospitalized.
At 2:56 a.m. on Sunday, April 10, Richmond Police officers responded to a reported stabbing on the corner of Main Street and North 18th Street.
Upon arrival, the responding officers located two adult male victims.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital; one for life-threatening injuries and the other for non-life-threatening injuries.
This was the second stabbing to take place in Richmond this weekend.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000 or use the P3 Tips app for smartphones. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous. | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/police-investigating-after-two-hospitalized-in-shockoe-bottom-stabbing/ | 2022-04-11T14:43:56 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/police-investigating-after-two-hospitalized-in-shockoe-bottom-stabbing/ |
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Richmond Police are investigating a shooting on Broad Street that happened Sunday.
At 4:37 p.m. on April 10, police responded to the 00 block of E. Broad Street for the report of a shooting. Officers on scene found an 18-year-old male victim with a gunshot wound.
He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
This is the fourth teenager shot since Saturday night. Two died from their injuries.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000. | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-police-investigating-life-threatening-shooting-on-broad-street/ | 2022-04-11T14:44:02 | 0 | https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/richmond-police-investigating-life-threatening-shooting-on-broad-street/ |
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Two people are displaced after their log cabin home went up in flames in the early hours of Monday morning.
Just before 4:00 a.m. on Monday, April 11, Stafford County Fire units responded to a house fire in the White Oak area.
First responders reported smoke and fire coming from the front side of a log cabin-style residence.
The limited rural water supply was a challenge for the fire crews who were required to dedicate additional resources to bring water to the scene because no hydrants were available.
The fire was marked as under control approximately 20 minutes later.
While the residence was occupied by two people, only one of them was home at the time and was able to escape through a window without injury.
Two pets were unable to make it out of the house during the fire and were later found deceased.
Both occupants have been displaced from the home and have requested assistance from the American Red Cross.
Smoke alarms were present and activated at the time of the fire.
Stafford County Fire and Rescue teams were assisted at the scene by Fredericksburg Fire Department, Quantico Fire and Emergency Services and King George Fire and Rescue.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is currently under investigation by the Stafford County Fire Marshal’s Office. | https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/log-cabin-house-fire-leaves-two-displaced-in-stafford-county/ | 2022-04-11T14:44:08 | 1 | https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/log-cabin-house-fire-leaves-two-displaced-in-stafford-county/ |
Hamilton High School intro to agriculture students Madison Jones, left, and Rylee Flanery clip dead stems from a hanging basket in the school's greenhouse. Hamilton, Hatley and Smithville currently have plant sales going to raise funds for Future Farmers of America competitions and greenhouse needs.
The county’s three attendance centers are teaching horticulture and entrepreneurship through ongoing plant sales to benefit their Future Farmers of America programs.
Hamilton High School’s greenhouse is open from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. on school days. Available plants include tomatoes, peppers, hanging plants, Boston and Kimberly ferns, bedding plants, herbs, succulents and coleus.
Hatley High School’s plant sale includes tomatoes, jalapeños, ghost peppers, bell peppers, marigolds, zinnias, succulents, ferns and mixed petunia baskets.
The plant sale is being held during regular school hours weekdays.
Smithville High School has tomatoes, peppers, Kimberly and Boston ferns, petunias and begonias for sale from 12:30 until 3 p.m. during school days.
Greenhouses opened for plant sales in mid-March.
The plant sales benefit needs such as greenhouse supplies and upcoming FFA competitions for the schools.
For more information about Hamilton’s plant sales, check out www.facebook.com/hamiltonmsffa; for Hatley’s, search Hatley Attendance Center on Facebook; and for Smithville’s, search for Smithville Seminole FFA on Facebook. | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/living/ffa-programs-benefiting-from-greenhouse-plant-sales/article_6f0660a9-8155-566e-8739-6b716623f7b6.html | 2022-04-11T14:44:52 | 1 | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/living/ffa-programs-benefiting-from-greenhouse-plant-sales/article_6f0660a9-8155-566e-8739-6b716623f7b6.html |
AMORY – Last August, Dr. Greg Yarbrough, a WIOA career coach through Itawamba Community College at the Monroe County Government Complex, was part of a network making phone calls and social media posts to get his former deployment interpreter out of Afghanistan before the withdrawal of U.S. troops and subsequent Taliban takeover of the country.
In 2005, Yarbrough served with the U.S. Marines as an embedded advisor with the Afghan National Army and continued a relationship through the years with his interpreter and local cultural expert, Daud. As thousands of refugees were fleeing Afghanistan last August, Yarbrough and his wife, Kelly, coordinated with local congressional leaders and other military families to get Daud on a flight out of the country.
Roughly seven months later, Daud now lives in Dallas working towards obtaining his driver’s license and Social Security card so he can start his new life and try getting his immediate family moved to the United States.
While in Afghanistan, Daud and his nephew owned a large excavation business but had to leave it all behind when fleeing the country.
“They had to give up all the equipment and he literally, when he got to the airport, had everything he had in his pockets. His brother got his entire family out, and that goes with the subjective nature of dumb luck. Some people can get their entire family of 25 people out because they hit the wicket at the right time. Daud was telling me he had to go through four or five different shakedown points between his house and the airport in Kabul, so it’s a good thing he didn’t take his family because there’s a number of things that could have gone wrong,” Yarbrough said.
Daud’s brother, who worked as a political advisor for the Afghan government, and his family left on one of the first flights out of the country and ultimately relocated to San Diego, where he is working towards obtaining his documentation and teaching credentials in Southern California.
“The interest thing about the first ones here is they’re the ones who have resources and money. They’re not going to be ditch diggers. They’re going to be the people who work the higher echelon jobs,” Yarbrough said.
It will require money for Daud to get his immediate family out of Afghanistan and to the United States, and he wants to go through the proper process to legally work.
“He wants to get back into business. That’s what he did in Afghanistan. It doesn’t really matter what kind of business, as long as it’s legal and as long as he’s able to make enough money to support him and his family,” Yarbrough said.
After flying out of Kabul, Daud went to the United Arab Emirates and onto Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Kosovo, Philadelphia, Fort Dix and ultimately Dallas, with stays sometimes lasting for weeks at a time different places.
Yarbrough added everyone from FBI to immigration officials he and Kelly worked with were helpful in the process of securing Daud’s new life.
“Everyone has been very sympathetic from the government’s side and doing their absolute best to push through to get him where he needed to be, but a person can only do so much,” Yarbrough said. “The refugees get to pick two or three different places they want to go, and it’s dependent on what kind of services they have, how many people have already settled there and if it’s actually viable for them to go there.”
Yarbrough is working with officials at ICC and his Alma mater to find out how to correlate Daud’s academic records so they’re viable in the United States. It’s posing a challenge since his college records in Afghanistan aren’t accessible.
Going by information Daud has heard from family in Afghanistan, Yarbrough explained the conditions in the country as chaotic and unsettled.
“Nobody can go to work and make money because there’s no money to be generated,” he said, describing needs for bartering. “One of the issues they’ve got is health care. If you have any kind of higher echelon issue or need medications, it’s catch if catch can and most of the time, you’re going to do without because it doesn’t exist there.
“One thing is the Taliban knew how to tear up stuff, but they didn’t know how to govern at all.”
The Yarbroughs and Daud plan to visit after he gets settled. | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/news/marine-veteran-wife-help-in-securing-a-new-life-for-afghan-refugee/article_f790cd00-13f8-5231-b4ed-1b211dc465b9.html | 2022-04-11T14:44:58 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/news/marine-veteran-wife-help-in-securing-a-new-life-for-afghan-refugee/article_f790cd00-13f8-5231-b4ed-1b211dc465b9.html |
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People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/news/monroe-county-sheriffs-office-makes-arrests/article_bcc0e338-cdba-5436-8c31-d71017848182.html | 2022-04-11T14:45:04 | 0 | https://www.djournal.com/monroe/news/monroe-county-sheriffs-office-makes-arrests/article_bcc0e338-cdba-5436-8c31-d71017848182.html |
Strong winds and high fire danger expected to impact New Mexico on Monday and Tuesday
Much of New Mexico will be dealing with difficult weather, including strong winds and high fire danger, making Tuesday a weather impact day.
Strong winds start on Monday for some areas as wind advisories and high wind warnings are in effect in many parts of New Mexico. High wind warnings and wind advisories continue into Tuesday.
The strongest winds are expected to impact New Mexico, including Albuquerque, on Tuesday.
Wind concerns
Albuquerque and Santa Fe
Strong winds, likely to be as strong as 55 mph, will sweep through Rio Grande Valley, including Albuquerque and Santa Fe, through much of Tuesday until around 9 p.m. Those areas will be under a wind advisory, including the Albuquerque area.
With the strong winds come property damage and high fire danger. Much of the area could see tree limbs fall and objects not tied down to be blown away.
There is also a concern for blowing dust and strong crosswinds impacting travel on roadways.
Central and Eastern New Mexico
Winds as high as 50 mph will sweep through the area on Monday, with even stronger winds, up to 65 mph, expected to impact central and eastern New Mexico on Tuesday.
A wind advisory is in effect on Monday for these areas, and a high wind warning is also already in place for Tuesday.
On Tuesday, strong winds have the potential to blow down trees, cause power outages, and lead to extreme fire danger. Any wildfire that sparks could spread rapidly. Travel will be extremely difficult on roadways with blowing dust and crosswinds.
Wildfire concerns
Any fire that sparks on Monday and Tuesday has the potential to spread fast.
Red Flag Warnings are in effect for all of New Mexico on both Monday and Tuesday.
Low humidity and the recent lack of precipitation have primed the area for any fire that sparks to spread fast and become a large wildfire.
Fire crews will be monitoring weather conditions as they continue to fight the Hermits Peak Fire. That fire has caused voluntary evacuations in parts of San Miguel County and has burned 540 acres as of Sunday.
Be sure to download the KOAT App to receive customized weather alerts. You can watch our team coverage on the app, too.
>> Check Live, Interactive Radar
>> Live Weather Conditions, Watches and Warnings
>> Download the KOAT App on iPhone | https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-new-mexico-weather-strong-winds-fire-danger/39689208 | 2022-04-11T14:47:06 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-new-mexico-weather-strong-winds-fire-danger/39689208 |
Police are looking for a man they say punched a 67-year-old woman in the head at Port Authority and grabbed her purse as she tumbled down the stairs, leaving her with minor injuries during a morning rush last week.
The woman was heading down the stairs into the mezzanine of the transit hub around 7 a.m. Tuesday when cops say a stranger approached and punched her. He yanked her purse away and the woman fell down the stairs.
The suspect then ran off.
The woman was treated at the scene. Cops say the purse thief made off with about $150 cash and credit cards, along with the woman's phone and wallet.
The NYPD shared surveillance footage of the suspect (above). Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Copyright NBC New York | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/67-year-old-woman-punched-in-head-tumbles-down-stairs-in-port-authority-attack-cops/3640011/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:06 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/67-year-old-woman-punched-in-head-tumbles-down-stairs-in-port-authority-attack-cops/3640011/ |
The final hours of the weekend took a violent turn at a Queens nightclub when a 25-year-old was shot in the groin, police said.
Police responded to the club on Austin Street in Forest Hills around 11:45 p.m. Sunday for a shooting.
The preliminary investigation suggests a dispute broke out inside the Lowkey Garden Lounge before someone pulled out a gun and shot the victim, police said.
Officials transported the 25-year-old to Jamaica Hospital with a gunshot wound to his groin. His injuries are believed to be non-life-threatening.
Witnesses in the neighborhood say the victim worked at the nightclub as a bouncer. Police could not immediately confirm his connection to the establishment.
No other injuries were reported, and police have not made any arrests in the case.
The investigation is ongoing. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-25-shot-in-groin-after-fight-breaks-out-at-nyc-nightclub-cops/3640171/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:12 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-25-shot-in-groin-after-fight-breaks-out-at-nyc-nightclub-cops/3640171/ |
Top-rated vacuums on Amazon are having their prices slashed for major savings - Deal of the Day April 11
Did you know that Amazon has a “Deal of the Day” every day on its website? If you didn’t know, now you know.
The online shopping giant does daily deals on a multitude of products and even provides recommendations catered to your recent searches and purchases.
For April 11, Amazon is featuring deals on several items that we wanted to share with you.
With spring cleaning in full effect, you may be in the market for a new vacuum cleaner to help you with your cleaning efforts at home. We found some amazing deals on top-rated vacuums on Amazon.
- Bissell 2747A All-in-One Vacuum and Steam Mop - 16% off
- Bissell 27909 Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Rewind Vacuum - 18% off
- Oreck Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaner - 43% off
- Electrolux Stick Cleaner Lightweight Cordless Vacuum - 14% off
- INSE Cordless Vacuum 4-in-1 stick vacuum - 17% off
In addition to those vacuum deals, the top deals of the day for Monday are toys from Fisher-Price and toys from Mattel and other brands.
- Fisher-Price Harley-Davidson Tough Trike - 38% off
- Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends, Batbot Xtreme - 30% off
- Apples to Apples Junior - 49% off
- WWE Performance Center Playset - 35% off
There are plenty of deals to choose from. You can view all of the deals by visiting Amazon’s “Deal of the Day” page.
Can't see the products above? Click here for the best viewing experience. | https://www.koat.com/article/amazon-vacuum-deals/39689309 | 2022-04-11T14:47:16 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/amazon-vacuum-deals/39689309 |
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Activate your digital account | https://www.pjstar.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pjstar.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Fgrandma-peoria-boy-navin-jones-details-events-before-his-death%2F9485669002%2F | 2022-04-11T14:47:17 | 1 | https://www.pjstar.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pjstar.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fcrime%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Fgrandma-peoria-boy-navin-jones-details-events-before-his-death%2F9485669002%2F |
A 37-year-old MTA conductor was attacked by a man she asked to stop smoking on a train in Brooklyn, punched in the face and gashed with some object so sharp she needed stitches to close the wounds, authorities say.
The MTA worker was in a southbound F train at the Church Avenue stop around 2:40 a.m. Saturday, March 19, when she encountered the man and told him he couldn't smoke on the train, police say. The man punched her, causing swelling and cutting her lip, then slashed her hand and leg with an unknown sharp object.
He fled the station with an unknown woman after the attack.
The victim was treated for her injuries at a hospital and received stitches.
Police released a surveillance image of the suspect and the woman with whom he was seen leaving the area (above). Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-conductor-punched-slashed-when-she-warns-man-of-smoking-on-train-cops/3640198/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:18 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/mta-conductor-punched-slashed-when-she-warns-man-of-smoking-on-train-cops/3640198/ |
Juneteenth will be a paid city holiday for New York City workers this year, Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday.
"As the second Black mayor of New York City, I know that I stand on the shoulders of countless heroes and sheroes who put their lives on the line to secure a more perfect union," Adams said.
Juneteenth, on June 19th, marks the day in 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, that enslaved Black people in Texas were told by Union soldiers that they had been freed.
Its profile has risen in the wake of national conversations on racism and inequality, and two years ago, then Mayor Bill de Blasio said it would be “an official city holiday" starting in 2021.
The New York Times first reported that labor negotiations with unions representing city workers had not started in time to designate Juneteenth a holiday last year.
"It’s time for our city to finally do what’s right and officially designate Juneteenth as a city holiday. This decision is long overdue, which is why it will immediately take effect this year," Adams added.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday last year when signed into law by President Joe Biden, becoming the 12th federal holiday and first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
News
New York State will celebrate the holiday for a second time this year. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order in Oct. 2020 to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for state employees. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-mayor-designates-juneteenth-a-paid-holiday-for-city-workers/3640118/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:25 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nyc-mayor-designates-juneteenth-a-paid-holiday-for-city-workers/3640118/ |
With fewer cases and less demand, many COVID-19 testing sites are shutting down
As COVID-19 numbers reach pandemic lows across the United States, many COVID-19 testing sites have begun closing their doors.
Some testing sites have been open for almost two years, many seeing hundreds or even thousands of people a day. Now, home tests are more readily available, and demand for testing sites is falling.
Sarah Henderson, director of the Public Health Services Division of the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency in North Carolina, says most states will see closures soon, if they haven't already.
"We were seeing an excess of 100 patients at our testing site in the first few days [of January], which doesn't sound like a lot, but our community is very small," Henderson said. "The last couple of weeks, we have seen single digits every day. I certainly won't speak for other counties, but I think we're probably heading in that direction where if they're not closing down, they're decreasing hours and staff."
Henderson cited the difficulty of keeping sites staffed as a big part of the decision. Federal funding for COVID-19 has been depleted, leaving many states with no money to keep their testing sites running. Many are operated through a third party, such as Quest Diagnostics or Nomi Health. They provide staff and the means to conduct free on-site tests.
However, with federal money running out, these sites are becoming very expensive for the states who are responsible for them.
Palm Beach County, Florida, Mayor Robert Weinroth spoke about closures in his county on Twitter in mid-March, announcing that with federal funding "exhausted," all noncommercial facilities will close.
States across the U.S., including Texas, Delaware, Washington and Massachusetts, are also closing sites. In January, the Delaware Health and Social Services announced on Twitter that all state service center testing is canceled, and multiple testing sites are closed. Texas closed its Pflugerville site in March after being open for less than two months.
Henderson believes home tests also play a part in the closures across the country. As home testing becomes more popular and with the government offering hundreds of millions of free tests through the U.S. Postal Service, the number of people utilizing on-site testing has decreased.
"We're also in a different place where a lot of the employers and your school systems who were initially requiring tests from a provider are now accepting those home tests, which is good for everybody involved because it doesn't put unnecessary strain on the health care system, either," Henderson said.
She says Americans should be "cautiously optimistic" about the future, as this is not the first time the country has attempted to get ahead of the pandemic. Testing sites began closing in the spring of 2021, when numbers started falling. However, many were forced to reopen as case numbers rose significantly because of the delta variant.
"In public health, we're excited to get back to some sort of normalcy, whatever the new normal may be. But we watched those numbers. We also realize that while test positivity rate is down, we also think about how many people are actually testing," Henderson said. "So we also worry that there's a higher positivity rate out there that we just can't put our finger on."
The importance of testing
But will closing testing sites have troubling consequences? The message from public health experts is clear: While the end of the pandemic appears to draw closer, victory is not guaranteed.
Mara Aspinall is the managing director of the Health Catalysts Group, which provides data and analytics to health care organizations in order to improve the quality of care for patients. She thinks education is the key to preventing another dire situation like when the omicron variant caused a huge spike in hospitalizations.
"We have to be doing education, because some states are closing sites because nobody's showing up for testing. So it's not closing the site that's the issue," Aspinall said. "It's the fact that we need to educate people on the importance of testing. Testing is only one aspect of the bigger issue, which is encouraging testing for essential workers, for people working and interacting with the vulnerable, elderly and the unvaccinated."
Testing matters now more than ever. Although the omicron coronavirus variant is 59% less likely to lead to hospital admissions than the previous delta variant, its subvariant BA.2 accounts for more than 72% of cases in the U.S. With 13 states reporting cases trending upward, many public health officials are worried about what's just over the horizon.
It's almost impossible to get an accurate look at where things stand without a thorough testing program.
"I think it will leave us to repeat the mistakes that we made such a short time ago, which is underestimate the virus," Aspinall said. "Yeah, we all desperately want this to be over, but prematurely ... saying it's over and stopping funding for testing and for treatment is destined to be a problem. I think we have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst."
A Health Catalysts Group newsletter that tracks Covid testing says it has been only 100 days since every state recorded its first omicron case. "It feels like we have been to hell and back," the newsletter says.
The ever-changing nature of the virus is why many sites that are now closing are prepared to reopen if needed.
"The hardest part is getting [a testing site] started," Henderson said. "You know, it's finding a vendor that that can meet the needs of our community, it's finding the employees you know that can staff that testing site. So building that initial relationship is kind of over and done now. So yeah, I think that it would be very easy for us to reopen our site if we needed to."
Where to get tested
Even as some sites close, tests are still widely available.
Commercial testing locations are still, for the most part, open. Places including CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens are offering free Covid tests. Health centers also provide testing, and you can find those locations and more at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's website.
Every household in the U.S. can also get two free sets of four testing kits through the federal government at covid.gov. They are rapid antigen tests that provide results within 30 minutes. | https://www.koat.com/article/fewer-cases-less-demand-many-covid-19-testing-sites-shutting-down/39687975 | 2022-04-11T14:47:26 | 1 | https://www.koat.com/article/fewer-cases-less-demand-many-covid-19-testing-sites-shutting-down/39687975 |
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Local | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-attacked-at-port-authority-during-morning-rush/3640043/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:31 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/woman-attacked-at-port-authority-during-morning-rush/3640043/ |
This father and son share a love for hot wheels and this dad turned it into an instagram hobby using the handle scott wheels. Edinburgh resident ross. Burns has taken a photo of one of his five year old son Daniel's toy cars every day for a year. The reason for the photos was twofold. Burns said I used to love matchbox cars when I was his age and I soon began to become obsessed with his growing collection to make sure I took a walk every day. I started taking a car out and just taking some pictures on my phone. Burns says that the hobby and exercise were good for his mental health and physical well being during the pandemic lockdowns. Now that the lockdowns are slowing, he has a different goal. I'll aim for quality over quantity and hopefully as we become able to travel more, I'll explore some fantastic new settings with some wonderful new cars and when he isn't taking photos, his son will have something to play with on the trips.
Mattel releases its first carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla
Updated: 8:38 AM MDT Apr 11, 2022
Mattel has released its first-ever carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla model made from recycled materials.Related video above: Dad turns his son's toy collection into a hobbyThe new products represent an expansion of the toy company's sustainable offerings, according to a statement from Mattel. The company has pledged to use "100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in all its products and packaging by 2030," the statement said.Mattel's Mega Bloks Green Town Line, a collection of construction toys for preschoolers, are certified carbon neutral by Natural Capital Partners, the statement said.To reach this status, the Mega brand purchased carbon offsets from the Darkwood Forests Conservation project in Canada. In this case, the Darkwoods Forest Conservation project protects 156,000 acres of forest in British Columbia, Canada, according to their website.Carbon offsets allow corporations and individuals to purchase carbon-reducing processes, like planting or protecting a forest, in order to offset carbon-emitting processes, like manufacturing or air travel.The offset schemes have been criticized by climate experts for allowing the continued use of fossil fuels at a time when scientists say the world should be cutting them, as well as for being vague about quantifying the emissions they will reduce.In addition to being carbon neutral, the Green Town toys are also created mostly from plant-based materials, rather than plastic derived from fossil fuels, said Mattel. The packaging is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which "promotes responsible management of the world's forests." And the building block sets themselves feature eco-friendly elements, like a toy electric bus.Mattel's other new sustainable offering is the Matchbox Tesla Roadster — its first die-cast vehicle made from 99% recycled materials. The toy Tesla, which is also certified carbon neutral, is already sold out online.
Mattel has released its first-ever carbon neutral toys, including a Matchbox Tesla model made from recycled materials.
Related video above: Dad turns his son's toy collection into a hobby
The new products represent an expansion of the toy company's sustainable offerings, according to a statement from Mattel. The company has pledged to use "100% recycled, recyclable or bio-based plastic materials in all its products and packaging by 2030," the statement said.
Mattel's Mega Bloks Green Town Line, a collection of construction toys for preschoolers, are certified carbon neutral by Natural Capital Partners, the statement said.
To reach this status, the Mega brand purchased carbon offsets from the Darkwood Forests Conservation project in Canada. In this case, the Darkwoods Forest Conservation project protects 156,000 acres of forest in British Columbia, Canada, according to their website.
Carbon offsets allow corporations and individuals to purchase carbon-reducing processes, like planting or protecting a forest, in order to offset carbon-emitting processes, like manufacturing or air travel.
The offset schemes have been criticized by climate experts for allowing the continued use of fossil fuels at a time when scientists say the world should be cutting them, as well as for being vague about quantifying the emissions they will reduce.
Mattel via CNN
Mattel released the Matchbox Tesla Roadster, its first die-cast vehicle made from 99% recycled materials and certified CarbonNeutral.
In addition to being carbon neutral, the Green Town toys are also created mostly from plant-based materials, rather than plastic derived from fossil fuels, said Mattel. The packaging is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, which "promotes responsible management of the world's forests." And the building block sets themselves feature eco-friendly elements, like a toy electric bus.
Mattel's other new sustainable offering is the Matchbox Tesla Roadster — its first die-cast vehicle made from 99% recycled materials. The toy Tesla, which is also certified carbon neutral, is already sold out online. | https://www.koat.com/article/mattel-first-carbon-neutral-toys-matchbox-tesla/39690328 | 2022-04-11T14:47:37 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/mattel-first-carbon-neutral-toys-matchbox-tesla/39690328 |
2022 WNBA Draft: How to watch, top prospects, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
The Atlanta Dream are on the clock, and it won’t be long before their pick is in.
The team will kickstart the 2022 WNBA Draft after trading for the No. 1 pick. After going just 8-24 in the 2021 season, Atlanta now gets its first choice of a player from the incoming draft class.
Top prospects from across the country got to audition for the pros during March Madness as South Carolina won its second ever NCAA title. Which player will get their name called first by commissioner Cathy Engelbert and head to Atlanta?
Here’s everything you need to know for the 2022 WNBA Draft:
What time is the 2022 WNBA Draft on?
This year’s draft begins at 7 p.m. ET on Monday, April 11.
U.S. & World
The event will be held at Spring Studios in New York City after going virtual for two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What TV channel is the 2022 WNBA Draft on?
ESPN will televise the 2022 WNBA Draft. The draft is also available to stream on Watch ESPN and the ESPN App.
How many rounds are in the WNBA draft?
There are three rounds in the 2022 WNBA Draft with 12 picks in each round.
Who won the 2022 WNBA Draft Lottery?
The Washington Mystics were set to select first in the 2022 WNBA Draft after being awarded the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft lottery. The lottery result was an upset, as the Mystics had a 17.8% chance of landing the top pick compared to the Indiana Fever’s 44.2% chances.
Less than a week before the draft, the Mystics dealt that pick to the Dream. In turn, Washington got back the picks Nos. 3 and 14 in Monday’s draft, as well as the rights to a first-round pick swap in 2023.
Indiana, which has never had the No. 1 selection and finished with the WNBA’s worst record in 2021, will settle for the No. 2 pick. After the Mystics make their pick at No. 3, the Fever will be up again at No. 4 with a pick they acquired from the Dallas Wings. In total, the Fever have four top-10 selections this year.
Full 2022 WNBA Draft order
Here is the order for the 2022 WNBA Draft:
First round
- Atlanta Dream (from Washington)
- Indiana Fever
- Washington Mystics (from Atlanta)
- Indiana Fever (from Los Angeles, via Dallas)
- New York Liberty
- Indiana Fever (from Dallas)
- Dallas Wings (from Chicago, via Indiana)
- Las Vegas Aces (from Minnesota, via Phoenix, New York and Seattle)
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Seattle)
- Indiana Fever (from Minnesota)
- Las Vegas Aces
- Connecticut Sun
Second round
- Las Vegas Aces (from Minnesota, via Indiana)
- Washington Mystics (from Atlanta)
- Atlanta Dream (from Los Angeles)
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Washington)
- Seattle Storm (from New York)
- Seattle Storm (from Dallas)
- Los Angeles Sparks (from Chicago, via Dallas)
- Indiana Fever (from Phoenix)
- Seattle Storm
- Minnesota Lynx
- Las Vegas Aces
- Connecticut Sun
Third round
- Indiana Fever
- Phoenix Mercury (from Atlanta)
- Los Angeles Sparks
- Minnesota Lynx (from Washington)
- New York Liberty
- Dallas Wings
- Dallas Wings (from Chicago)
- Phoenix Mercury
- Seattle Storm
- Indiana Fever (from Minnesota)
- Las Vegas Aces
- Connecticut Sun
Who are the top prospects in the 2022 WNBA Draft?
Rhyne Howard, Guard, Kentucky: Howard brings it all: playmaking, defense and versatility. The senior guard averaged 20.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. After finishing seventh in the SEC regular season standings, Howard and Co. went on a surprise run to the conference tournament title before bowing out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
NaLyssa Smith, Forward, Baylor: Smith is a force down low. She finished the year top-10 in the nation in points (22.1) and rebounds (11.5) per game, compiling 25 double-doubles in her senior season. Smith also came off the bench for a national championship team her freshman year. If anyone is going to bump Howard out of the No. 1 slot, it’s going to be Smith.
Shakira Austin, Center, Ole Miss: After spending her first two years at Maryland, Austin dominated over her final two collegiate seasons at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-5 center averaged 15.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 2021-22, joining Howard on the All-SEC first team.
Naz Hillmon, Forward, Michigan: Hillmon was the best player on a Michigan squad that reached the Women’s Elite Eight for the first time in program history this season. She nearly averaged a double-double per game with 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds to go along with 1.2 steals, showcasing dominance on both sides of the floor during her collegiate career.
Elissa Cunane, Center, North Carolina State: Cunane led the Wolfpack with 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game as the team earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Her combination of offensive skill and quality defense could make her one of the top five players taken in this year’s draft.
Nyara Sabally, Forward, Oregon: Sabally has a chance to join her sister, Wings forward Satou Sabally, as a WNBA lottery pick. Despite being hampered by injuries during her time at Oregon, the younger Sabally sister proved her ability when healthy. She ended her collegiate career with a 31-point, 12-rebound double-double in a first round loss to Belmont in the NCAA Tournament.
Who is eligible for the 2022 WNBA Draft?
To be draft eligible, league rules state that a player must be at least 22 years old during the calendar year in which the draft is held and either has no remaining collegiate eligibility or renounces their remaining college eligibility.
South Carolina junior forward Aliyah Boston, UConn sophomore guard Paige Bueckers and Iowa sophomore guard Caitlin Clark were three of college basketball’s biggest stars this season, but none of them will be in the 2022 WNBA Draft. All three players are currently 20 years old, so none will meet the age requirement for this year’s event.
Boston and Bueckers will both be eligible in 2023, though Bueckers would have to skip her senior season at UConn in order to enter that draft. Clark, meanwhile, will have to wait until 2024 to become draft eligible.
When does the 2022-23 WNBA season start?
The WNBA season begins less than a month from now with four games tipping off on May 5. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/2022-wnba-draft-how-to-watch-top-prospects-more/3640177/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:38 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/2022-wnba-draft-how-to-watch-top-prospects-more/3640177/ |
American citizens are now able to select a new "X" gender marker on U.S. passport applications, even if it doesn't match the gender on their birth certificate or other documents.
The State Department announced last month that beginning on April 11, the agency's public forms will include an “X” gender marker that represents “Unspecified or another gender identity.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the definition “is respectful of individuals’ privacy while advancing inclusion.”
The announcement was part of a number of federal actions unveiled by the Biden administration on March 31 in recognition of Trans Visibility Day. Among other reforms slated to take place this year is an update to U.S. airport security procedures to be more gender-neutral, with changes to body scanners used for screening and the use of an “X” for travelers going through Precheck who do not identify as male or female.
Transportation Security Administration officers will also receive new instructions on screening intended to make procedures less invasive, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
The new technology, set to be deployed in airports nationwide later this year, “will improve the customer experience of transgender travelers who have previously been required to undergo additional screening due to alarms in sensitive areas,” the White House said.
The move is aimed to combat what the Biden administration called “dangerous anti-transgender legislative attacks” that have passed in statehouses across the country.
“DHS is committed to protecting the traveling public while ensuring that everyone, regardless of gender identity, is treated with respect,” Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in the statement. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/us-passport-applicants-can-select-gender-x-starting-monday/3640172/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:45 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/national-international/us-passport-applicants-can-select-gender-x-starting-monday/3640172/ |
One dead after shooting involving Farmington Police
One man is dead following a shooting involving police in Farmington on Saturday.
According to the Farmington Police Department, officers found a man sitting inside a vehicle near the 1700 block of East 20th Street. Police say the man was known to be armed and was wanted for several felonies.
Police say when they tried to make contact with the man, he got out of the vehicle and ran from them. The man was carrying a firearm. The chase ended on Yucca Avenue near Sage Drive. Police say the man refused to drop his firearm and moved the gun toward officers. That's when police say two Farmington Police officers fired their weapons. The man who was shot by police was transported to San Juan Regional Medical Center and died from his injuries.
The two officers involved in the shooting are on administrative leave as the incident is being investigated by a multi-agency task force. | https://www.koat.com/article/one-dead-after-shooting-involving-farmington-police/39689864 | 2022-04-11T14:47:47 | 0 | https://www.koat.com/article/one-dead-after-shooting-involving-farmington-police/39689864 |
How to watch champions league quarterfinals weekend 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The year for international soccer just keeps rolling as the UEFA Champions League draws to a close.
With just over a year separating the Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, soccer fans have had no shortage of entertainment. The Champions League is another opportunity to put on a show as Europe seeks to crown its next champion.
The field -- which opened with 32 teams back in August -- narrowed to eight and is set for another round of cuts after the quarterfinals this week.
Here’s all the information you need ahead of the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Who is playing in the Champions League quarterfinals?
Sports
The English Premier League and La Liga, the Spanish national league, lead the way with three teams apiece. Meanwhile, Bundesliga -- the German league -- and Primeira Liga -- the Portuguese league -- each have a team in the mix to round out the quarterfinals.
The complete breakdown of quarterfinal teams is below.
English Premier League
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Chelsea
La Liga
- Atletico Madrid
- Villareal
- Real Madrid
Bundesliga
- Bayern Munich
Primeira Liga
- Benfica
What were the results from the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals?
- Manchester City def. Atletico Madrid 1-0
- Liverpool def. Benfica 3-1
- Real Madrid def. Chelsea 3-1
- Villareal def. Bayern 1-0
What is the schedule for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals?
Tuesday, April 12 at 3 p.m. ET
- Villareal at Bayern (Villareal leads aggregate goals 1-0)
- Real Madrid at Chelsea (Real Madrid leads aggregate goals 3-1)
Wednesday, April 13 at 3 p.m. ET
- Benfica at Liverpool (Liverpool leads aggregate goals 3-1)
- Manchester City at Atletico (Manchester City leads aggregate goals 1-0)
What channel is the Champions League quarterfinals on?
The UEFA Champions League can be watched on CBS (English) and Univision (Spanish).
How can I stream the Champions League quarterfinals?
The UEFA Champions League can be watched on CBS and Paramount+ in English or Univision and fuboTV in Spanish across streaming services.
How do the two legs work?
Perhaps, the phrase home-and-home might ring a bell for those in the U.S.?
The two legs are simply a two-game series where each team has the chance to host a match and total goals wins out. The round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals are all played in two legs. Whereas, the final is a winner-takes-all match.
How are ties settled in the Champions League?
Prior to this year’s competition, UEFA had relied on away goals to settle a tiebreaker at the quarter- and semifinal stage. For example, if the home team lost the first leg 1-0 and then won the second leg 2-1 on the road, aggregate goals would be tied at 2-2. However, the two away goals would win out and earn them the nod to the next round.
This rule, which had been in place since 1965, was on full display during the 2019 semifinals when Tottenham rallied from down 3-0 on aggregate to rattle off three straight second-half goals in thrilling fashion over Ajax to advance to the Champions League finals.
However, that iconic -- and sometimes controversial -- way of settling a tie is now a thing of the past. Ahead of the 2021-22 Champions League, UEFA announced it was doing away with away goals, opting in favor of two 15-minute overtime periods and penalty kicks if necessary.
What follows the Champions League quarterfinals?
The four surviving teams will advance from the quarterfinals to the semifinals. Finally, the two semifinal champions will face off in a winner-takes-all final.
The dates for the semifinals are not confirmed yet, however, it is believed that the first leg will fall sometime in April and the second leg in May. The finals are confirmed for May 28 at State de Paris in Saint-Denis, a suburb just north of Paris. This is the venue’s third time in tournament history that it’s hosted the finals, most recently having done so in 2006.
State de Paris was actually UEFA’s third choice to host the finals, a reflection of the global events of the past two years.
Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich, originally won the bid to host the 2022 tournament. However, COVID-19 forced the association to move the finals from Istanbul to Portugal in back-to-back years (2020, 2021), therefore shifting all the scheduled bids.
Krestovsky Stadium (Saint Petersburg, Russia) was then set to host in 2022, followed by Ataturk Olympic Stadium (Istanbul) in 2023, Wembley Stadium (London) in 2024 and Alianz Arena (Munich) in 2025.
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, UEFA stripped Saint Petersburg of hosting honors and expelled all Russian teams from the European competition. This came from a wave of sanctions by international governing bodies in sports, including FIFA, which banned the Russian national team from competing at the World Cup in Qatar. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/how-to-watch-champions-league-quarterfinals-weekend-2/3640161/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:52 | 0 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/sports/how-to-watch-champions-league-quarterfinals-weekend-2/3640161/ |
- Sony and KIRKBI, the family-owned investment firm behind Lego, are investing $2 billion in Fortnite maker Epic Games.
- The deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, would value Epic at $31.5 billion.
- It comes after Epic and Lego announced plans to co-develop a "family-friendly" metaverse for kids.
Fortnite creator Epic Games has raised $2 billion in funding from Sony and the Lego family, in a massive deal highlighting the excitement from big businesses about the so-called "metaverse."
Sony will inject $1 billion in the company, Epic announced Monday, while KIRKBI, the family-owned investment company behind Lego, will invest an equal amount. The deal, which is subject to customary closing conditions, would value Epic at $31.5 billion.
The news arrives hot on the heels of a partnership announced by Epic and Lego last week, aimed at co-developing a "family-friendly" metaverse for kids. Lego already has a successful line of video games based on lucrative franchises, including Disney's Star Wars and Warner Bros' Batman.
"A proportion of our investments is focused on trends we believe will impact the future world that we and our children will live in," Soren Thorup Sorensen, CEO of KIRKBI, said in a statement Monday.
"This investment will accelerate our engagement in the world of digital play, and we are pleased to be investing in Epic Games to support their continued growth journey, with a long-term focus toward the future metaverse."
Hype around the metaverse, a proposed network of vast virtual worlds, has taken the corporate world by storm lately. Facebook kicked off the trend by renaming itself Meta, and several big brands including JPMorgan, Samsung and Nike have begun experimenting with the technology.
Money Report
However, companies like Epic and Roblox have long been talking about building a metaverse.
Epic's battle-royale game Fortnite lets up to 100 players fight it out to be the last one standing. But it's been branching out into other forms of entertainment, hosting music concerts from artists like Travis Scott and Marshmello, for example.
Roblox, meanwhile, wants to build a metaverse where millions of people can gather to play games or even work in a virtual economy fueled by Robux, its own in-app currency.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said the fresh funds would help the company "accelerate our work to build the metaverse."
"As we reimagine the future of entertainment and play we need partners who share our vision. We have found this in our partnership with Sony and KIRKBI," Sweeney said in a statement.
While it's best known as the company behind Fortnite, Epic Games is a video game powerhouse. The company developed Unreal Engine, one of the biggest platforms used to create games, and operates its own online games store which competes with Microsoft and Valve.
The company has been at the center of a heated dispute between app developers and Apple over the latter's App Store fees. Last year, a judge ruled that Apple can no longer prevent developers from directing users away from Apple's own payment system. The tech giant typically takes a 15% to 30% cut from all in-app purchases. | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/sony-and-the-lego-family-bet-big-on-the-metaverse-with-2-billion-investment-in-epic-games/3640174/ | 2022-04-11T14:47:59 | 1 | https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/business/money-report/sony-and-the-lego-family-bet-big-on-the-metaverse-with-2-billion-investment-in-epic-games/3640174/ |
Steve Stucker
Created: April 11, 2022 07:02 AM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tell your kids to keep rocks in their pockets because they may blow away today.
Winds are kicking up Monday and prompting wind alerts across the state. Temperatures will be warm and conditions will be sunny but very dusty.
Click the video above to view Steve Stucker's full forecast and what to expect this week.
Copyright 2022 - KOB-TV LLC, A Hubbard Broadcasting Company | https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/steve-stucker-week-begins-with-wind-alerts-posted-statewide-/6443298/?cat=500 | 2022-04-11T14:56:59 | 0 | https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/steve-stucker-week-begins-with-wind-alerts-posted-statewide-/6443298/?cat=500 |
Sara B. Nadeau, owner of Carriage Hill Assisted Living of Madbury, has been named New Hampshire Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration as part of National Small Business Week, which takes plays May 1-7.
Nadeau will compete with the nation’s top small businesses for the honor of National Small Business Person of the Year.
The SBA will co-host along with SCORE, to honor the nation’s 32.5 million small businesses during a four-day series of events including a live virtual summit, educational sessions, and award presentations.
Registration is free at sba.gov/nsbw.
Nadeau grew up in Madbury. After high school, she attended the University of New Hampshire with a dual major in economics and international affairs. She then attended Boston University, earning her master’s in business administration and masters of arts in International Relations. After graduating from Boston University, she was recruited as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps, where she served for nine years.
Nadeau’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2013 after separating from the U.S. Air Force as a major and working for nine years at a local community hospital. She partnered with her husband and brother to design and open an assisted living facility in Madbury.
Carriage Hill Assisted Living opened in 2015 as a 24-bed traditional assisted living residence. The project was financed with a SBA 504 loan from Granite State Development Corporation and third-party lender, Optima Bank & Trust (now Cambridge Trust).
Due to the pandemic the company faced some challenges but was able to sustain its workforce of 44 with a SBA Paycheck Protection Program loan which helped them remain open and achieve $1 million in sales for the past three years.
The SBA programs were vital in this journey, Nadeau said.
“Without the SBA loan for construction, we would not have been able to start the business. It was an instrumental part of our funding for the project,” Nadeau said in a press release last week.
“Then, during the beginning of the pandemic, the SBA loan payments we received was a huge relief in those unsettling months,” she said. “In addition, the Paycheck Protection Program loan allowed us to avoid significant layoffs in early 2021, following a COVID outbreak that significantly contributed to our resident population dropping to under 50%. We were able to sustain operations and maintain staffing through this critical period due to the PPP forgivable loan until our admissions increased by the summer of 2021.”
Nadeau also finds time to work in another family business offering an event venue for weddings and other specials events in a converted church known as The Hall at Great Falls in Somersworth, which opened in 2018.
Nadeau lives in Lee, just next to Madbury, with her husband. She has three stepchildren, a 12-year-old son, and two grandchildren.
“Sara is a perfect example of how through hard work and perseverance a committed entrepreneur can succeed through extremely challenging times,” said Amy Bassett, district director of the New Hampshire SBA office, in a prepared statement.
Award winners will be honored at an annual Small Business Week celebration hosted by the SBA New Hampshire District Office and the New Hampshire Banker’s Association that will be held 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. May 12 at the Manchester Country Club in Bedford.
Other 2022 NH Small Business Week Award Winners:
Home-Based: Lynne Beernaert, Hug Patrol, Newmarket.
Micro-Enterprise: Kelly E. Jewett, Bog Road Designs, Concord.
District Director Award: Steve Kesselring, Your Oil Tools, Hooksett.
Veteran Owned for New Hampshire and New England: Adam ‘AJ’ Jarnagin, Expansia, Nashua.
Woman Owned: Jennifer Legere, A Place to Grow, Brentwood.
Minority Owned: Nizar Jhaver, Global American Sales Inc., Hudson.
Financial Services Champion: Denise Roy-Palmer, Wentworth Economic Development Corp., Wolfeboro.
Small Business Manufacturer: Mark Sullivan, Environmental Devices Corp., Plaistow.
Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Business Award for New Hampshire and New England: Fritz Family Electrical Installations LLC., Moultonborough.
Small Business Champion: Heather Turner, Merrimack Valley SCORE, Manchester. | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/assisted-living-center-owner-named-small-business-person-of-the-year/article_b7a5225a-7505-5a8c-a5eb-286e29b563a6.html | 2022-04-11T14:57:05 | 0 | https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/assisted-living-center-owner-named-small-business-person-of-the-year/article_b7a5225a-7505-5a8c-a5eb-286e29b563a6.html |
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — The Three Rivers Festival will welcome national artists CeeLo Green, Ginuwine and The Why Store.
The festival released its concert lineup Monday. The festival runs July 8-16.
“We believe we have put together a lineup that hits many different genres, and will give everyone a reason to come out and celebrate together,” said TRF executive director Justin Shurley.
The lineup features:
- Friday, July 8th: From Nashville, TN. Hillbilly Casino takes the stage! With Fort Wayne front-man Nic Roulette, they combine the American blues with hardwood Honky Tonk, Rock N’ Roll, Rockabilly, and topped it off with a healthy DIY Punk Rock attitude and work ethic.
- Saturday, July 9th: National Recording Artist and The Voice Superstar CeeLo Green takes the stage with local favorite Fort Wayne Funk Orchestra & Los Galaxy!
- Sunday, July 10th: New this year is a Regional Showcase featuring talented musicians throughout the region! Also, don’t miss the local house band from School of Rock! Stay tuned for more information as to how to be selected to participate.
- Monday, July 11th: The much-anticipated return of the Three Rivers Festival’s Waiter & Waitress Contest featuring the best and fastest servers in the Fort! Also, returning this year – the Three Rivers Festival Drag Show! An entertaining evening for all ages!
- Tuesday, July 12th: Brand new this year – Beer, Bands, & Bingo! Featuring The Why Store & Swimming into View!
- Wednesday July 13th: It’s the return of The Bed Race! And, fan favorite – Trivia Night with a chance at the $1,000 Grand Prize! Presented in partnership with Tincture of Trivia.
- Thursday, July 14th: R&B Superstar singer-songwriter, actor and dancer Ginuwine will be in the house! With Music Lovers Lounge & Fatima Washington.
- Friday, July 15th: Rock & Roll phenomenon & the first heavy metal band to top the pop charts at #1 on Billbord Magazine, from LA – Quiet Riot will be rocking the stage with Cougar Hunter.
- Saturday, July 16th: Here Come The Mummies; An eight-piece funk-rock band of 5000 year-old Egyptian Mummies with a one-track mind. Featuring performances by The Sweetwater All Stars and U.R.B. | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/ceelo-green-ginuwine-to-perform-at-three-rivers-festival/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:32 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/ceelo-green-ginuwine-to-perform-at-three-rivers-festival/ |
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Country star Kelsea Ballerini is making a last-minute pivot to co-hosting the CMT Music Awards remotely after testing positive for COVID-19 days before the show.
Ballerini and actor Anthony Mackie were set to host the Monday night awards show airing on CBS from Nashville. But on Monday morning, CMT and CBS announced that Ballerini will remain home. She is asymptomatic, and Ballerini said CMT is setting it up so she can perform and co-host from her house.
“It has been set it up in a way where I can safely still co-host the Awards and perform on the show tonight,” Ballerini said in a statement. “This is not what we had planned for, but I am ready to make lemonade out of these lemons.”
In addition, the leading nominee for the night, Kane Brown, has been tapped to help Mackie — who starred in Marvel’s ‘’The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” — with in-person co-hosting. Brown has twice hosted the fan-voted show, including with Ballerini last year.
“I’m honored the team at CBS and CMT asked me to step in as a co-host and I am so glad to be back again hosting for a bonus third year,” said Brown in a statement. “Everyone has been working hard to put on an amazing show for the fans and I’m excited to get to work with Anthony and Kelsea and have a great night that celebrates country music.”
The CMT Music Awards will feature performances by Kenny Chesney, Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. The Judds are also reuniting at the CMT Music Awards for their first major awards show performance in over two decades.
Underwood is the most awarded artist in CMT history with 23 prior wins and has a chance to extend her lead with nominations for music video of the year and collaborative video of the year for her duet with Jason Aldean, “If I Didn’t Love You.” | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/kelsea-ballerini-to-host-cmt-music-awards-from-home/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:38 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/entertainment-news/kelsea-ballerini-to-host-cmt-music-awards-from-home/ |
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — A 3-year-old child died after falling into the water at Whitewater Falls in North Carolina on Sunday.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said Nevaeh Jade Newswanger was visiting with her family when she was swept away by the water and went over the falls.
Emergency crews from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Oconee counties went to the scene to help.
The child’s body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday after she was found trapped in an area of the falls.
The Sheriff’s Office said Nevaeh is from Denver, Pennsylvania. Her family was living in Oconee County while working in the area.
Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall offered prayers and condolences to the family “as they grieve the loss of this precious young child.”
He also cautioned others about the dangers associated with visits to scenic areas such as Whitewater Falls.
“With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls,” Hall said. “While beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to the falls for any reason brings tremendous danger.”
He urged visitors to keep a safe distance away, view the waterfalls from designated viewing areas and follow posted safety precautions and warnings. | https://www.wane.com/news/3-year-old-dies-after-going-over-falls-in-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:44 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/3-year-old-dies-after-going-over-falls-in-north-carolina/ |
PHOENIX (AP) — Karla Finocchio’s slide into homelessness began when she split with her partner of 18 years and temporarily moved in with a cousin.
The 55-year-old planned to use her $800-a-month disability check to get an apartment after back surgery. But she soon was sleeping in her old pickup protected by her German Shepherd mix Scrappy, unable to afford housing in Phoenix, where median monthly rents soared 33% during the coronavirus pandemic to over $1,220 for a one-bedroom, according to ApartmentList.com.
Finocchio is one face of America’s graying homeless population, a rapidly expanding group of destitute and desperate people 50 and older suddenly without a permanent home after a job loss, divorce, family death or health crisis during a pandemic.
“We’re seeing a huge boom in senior homelessness,” said Kendra Hendry, a caseworker at Arizona’s largest shelter, where older people make up about 30% of those staying there. “These are not necessarily people who have mental illness or substance abuse problems. They are people being pushed into the streets by rising rents.”
Academics project their numbers will nearly triple over the next decade, challenging policymakers from Los Angeles to New York to imagine new ideas for sheltering the last of the baby boomers as they get older, sicker and less able to pay spiraling rents. Advocates say much more housing is needed, especially for extremely low-income people.
Navigating sidewalks in wheelchairs and walkers, the aging homeless have medical ages greater than their years, with mobility, cognitive and chronic problems like diabetes. Many contracted COVID-19 or couldn’t work because of pandemic restrictions.
Cardelia Corley, 65, ended up on the streets of Los Angeles County after the hours at her telemarketing job were cut.
“I’d always worked, been successful, put my kid through college,” the single mother said. “And then all of a sudden things went downhill.”
Corley traveled all night aboard buses and rode commuter trains to catch a cat nap.
“And then I would go to Union Station downtown and wash up in the bathroom,” said Corley. She recently moved into a small East Hollywood apartment with help from The People Concern, a Los Angeles nonprofit.
A 2019 study of aging homeless people led by the University of Pennsylvania drew on 30 years of census data to project the U.S. population of people 65 and older experiencing homelessness will nearly triple from 40,000 to 106,000 by 2030, resulting in a public health crisis as their age-related medical problems multiply.
Dr. Margot Kushel, a physician who directs the Center for Vulnerable Populations at the University of California, San Francisco, said her research in Oakland on how homelessness affects health has shown nearly half of the tens of thousands of older homeless people in the U.S. are on the streets for the first time.
“We are seeing that retirement is no longer the golden dream,” said Kushel. “A lot of the working poor are destined to retire onto the streets.”
That’s especially true of younger baby boomers, now in their late 50s to late 60s, who don’t have pensions or 401(k) accounts. About half of both women and men ages 55 to 66 have no retirement savings, according to the census.
Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers now number over 70 million, the census shows. With the oldest boomers in their mid 70s, all will hit age 65 by 2030.
The aged homeless also tend to have smaller Social Security checks after years working off the books.
Donald Whitehead Jr., executive director of the Washington-based advocacy group National Coalition for the Homeless, said Black, Latino and Indigenous people who came of age in the 1980s amid recession and high unemployment rates are disproportionately represented among the homeless.
Many nearing retirement never got well-paying jobs and didn’t buy homes because of discriminatory real estate practices.
“So many of us didn’t put money into retirement programs, thinking that Social Security was going to take care of us,” said Rudy Soliz, 63, operations director for Justa Center, which offers meals, showers, a mail drop and other services to the aged homeless in Phoenix.
The average monthly Social Security retirement payment as of December was $1,658. Many older homeless people have much smaller checks because they worked fewer years or earned less than others.
People 65 and over with limited resources and who didn’t work enough to earn retirement benefits may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income of $841 a month.
Nestor Castro, 67, was luckier than many who lose permanent homes.
Castro was in his late 50s living in New York when his mother died and he was hospitalized with bleeding ulcers, losing their apartment. He initially stayed with his sister in Boston, then for more than three years at a YMCA in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Just before last Christmas, Castro got a permanent subsidized apartment through Hearth Inc., a Boston nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness among older adults. Residents pay 30% of their income to stay in one if Hearth’s 228 units.
Castro pays with part of his Social Security check and a part-time job. He also volunteers at a food pantry and a nonprofit that assists people with housing.
“Housing is a big problem around here because they are building luxury apartments that no one can afford,” he said. “A place down the street is $3,068 a month for a studio.” | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/more-of-americas-graying-homeless-population-retiring-on-streets/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:50 | 1 | https://www.wane.com/news/national-world/more-of-americas-graying-homeless-population-retiring-on-streets/ |
Bed recalled after 79-year-old woman died
(Gray News) – Bestar has issued a recall for several models of its beds after a 79-year-old woman died and dozens of others reported injuries.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the woman died in July 2018, after a Bestar wall bed fell on her, injuring her spine.
The company received reports of 60 additional incidents resulting in bruising and other injuries from the wall beds detaching and hitting people, CPSC said.
The recall includes the following full and queen wall beds that were sold from June 2014 through March 2022:
- Nebula
- PUR
- Versatile
- Edge
- Cielo
- Audrea
- Lumina
- Orion
- Novello
The beds were sold online at Wayfair.com, Costco.com, Cymax.com and Amazon.com.
Bestar is contacting all known purchasers directly, and consumers are advised to stop using the recalled wall beds immediately.
People with the recalled beds are entitled to a free inspection, according to CPSC.
If the bed requires reinstallation, Bestar will reimburse for those costs in a range from $170-$207 for Above Top Shelf wall beds or $338-$414 for Below Top Shelf wall beds.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/bed-recalled-after-79-year-old-woman-died/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:55 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/bed-recalled-after-79-year-old-woman-died/ |
(NerdWallet) – Inflation is crushing almost all aspects of Americans’ budgets — including their vacations. Prices rose on average 7.9% for the past 12 months ending in February 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And one major travel expense rose way more than that: Rental car prices skyrocketed 24% year over year.
The Consumer Price Index, which measures prices on items like travel, groceries, clothes and cars, in February 2022 saw the highest inflation reading since 1982.
Annual inflation rates are a common way to understand economic changes. But when comparing 2022 inflation data to 2021, it’s important to acknowledge how unique last year was. In 2021, many people’s work schedules were adjusted or reduced, and daily activities came to a standstill due to ongoing closures at bars, restaurants and gyms. Travel — especially of the international kind — was difficult. But, given such low demand, travel was also generally pretty cheap.
It’s almost certain you’ll pay more for the same trip in 2022 than you did in 2021. But how much more should you expect to pay this year versus past years, when vacations were a bit more normal?
Don’t let the averages guide your travel budget
Several organizations put a tremendous amount of effort into understanding how much people spend on travel.
For instance, according to Expedia’s 2022 Traveler Value Index, which surveyed 5,500 adults worldwide in November 2021, Americans plan to spend, on average, $2,353 on their next trip. Separately, market research firm Destination Analysts’ November 2021 survey of more than 1,200 Americans determined that the average American’s leisure travel budget for 2022 is $3,797.
Even NerdWallet tries to peg a dollar figure to vacation spending. Americans intended to spend $1,814, on average, for travel during the 2021 holiday season, according to a September 2021 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet.
But when it comes to vacation budgeting, using the average can be tricky, as your personal travel preferences often dictate your overall spending.
- Do you often fly first class to another continent or are you taking short-haul flights on budget carriers?
- Do you typically stay in luxury accommodations, like overwater bungalows in the Maldives, or do most trips find you at your grandma’s where you’re staying for free?
- Do you dine primarily at Michelin-star restaurants or are you the type to load up on free hotel breakfast?
Travel styles are highly variable, and you can’t always base your personal budget on a nebulous average sourced from travelers with wide-ranging preferences.
Rather than comparing your spending to averages from surveys, it can make more sense to use your travel budget from past trips and adjust according to today’s inflation rates.
How inflation is shaping travel costs
Especially if you’re building your next vacation budget based on a 2021 trip, expect to pay far more now. But compared to pre-pandemic travel, some expenses might be increasing at roughly similar rates — and one major travel expense will likely cost less.
NerdWallet looked at the costs of common travel expenses over the past 10 years using CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analyzing February’s inflation readings — and pairing those numbers with August data from the same year to account for seasonality — we were able to see which pieces of vacation budgets rose and which ones dropped.
Here’s how those numbers shook out for airfare, travel lodging, rental cars, dining out and entertainment (like movies and concerts).
Airfares are still lower than pre-pandemic prices
One bright shiny light for your travel budget: Airfares haven’t fully recovered.
The average cost of airfares in February 2022 — $222 — is even lower than the 10-year average of $269.72 in February and $263.20 in August. While the February 2022 price is higher than the $197 average from February 2021, it’s still far lower than the $265 average of February 2020, which was the last month before COVID-19-related lockdowns in the U.S.
Even leading up to 2020, airfares had been trending downward. The 10-year high was back in 2013, the only year when average airfare costs surpassed $300 in both February and August.
This is good news considering that airfare and lodging tend to be the biggest chunks of any vacation budget (and there isn’t as much hope for low-cost lodging this year).
Lodging prices are volatile
Hotel pricing is consistently higher in August compared to February, likely due to seasonal travel demand.
The price for lodging away from home, including hotels and motels, saw one of the biggest swings of any price category throughout the duration of the pandemic.
In December 2020, average hotel prices dropped as low as $263.25, kissing their 10-year low of $261.72, which was from way back in December 2012. Yet it didn’t take long for prices to hit all-time highs. By July 2021, lodging rates hit all-time highs, averaging $387.23.
Fast forward to now, and hotel prices have slightly recovered from all-time highs. Even so, February 2022 still recorded an all-time high for just the month of February. Given how much seasonality plays into hotel prices, we can expect that August 2022 might also notch a new record high.
Meanwhile, many hotels are cutting back on amenities including daily housekeeping and room service. Hospitality companies blame factors including high demand, staffing shortages and supply chain issues.
Car rentals have one of the biggest price increases
The cost to rent a car jumped nearly 35% last year.
Rental cars have had one of the biggest price increases, and renters in summer 2021 got especially pummeled. Prices hit an all-time high in July 2021 at $236.80, and while they’ve slightly recovered, they’re still far above the average prices for the 10 years prior.
For the most recent data from February 2022, prices are up 24% since the same month in 2021, and they’re up 38.6% since February 2020. At this rate, be prepared for price increases aligned with summer travel demand. You might want to opt out of the rental car altogether this year.
Restaurant spending consistently rises
The charts show nothing too out of the ordinary when it comes to setting your travel food budget in 2022.
Food prices consistently rise every year, including in the COVID-19 era. In February 2022, the cost of food away from home is up nearly 7% versus February 2021 and nearly 11% versus February 2020.
To that end, foodies on a budget may consider turning to street vendors or fast-casual stops for cheaper meals than sit-down restaurants for their 2022 vacation. Those who have access to a kitchen (say, in a vacation home rental or a hotel suite) might consider stopping by local markets or grocery stores for not just the adventure, but also for the chance to buy ingredients to put together at home.
Entertainment expenditures see price increases, too
There have been some slightly larger-than-average jumps for travel-related leisure expenses.
Like restaurants, entertainment prices see fairly consistent increases — save for a small dip in 2020. Luckily for consumers, price increases here haven’t been as drastic as those for dining out.
In February 2022, the average price for movie, theater and concert tickets is up nearly 5% compared to February 2021 and about 6% compared to February 2020.
Travelers may opt for lower-cost activities rather than paid ones for their 2022 vacation, such as going hiking, checking out free days at museums, aquariums or zoos, playing board games at a brewery or wandering farmers markets.
2022 travel costs vs. pre-pandemic travel costs
On the whole, prices are certainly rising, with rental cars as one of the expenses most likely to give you some newfound sticker shock.
Here’s how average prices have changed since pre-pandemic times:
On the bright side, one major expense — airfares — continues to trend cheaper. February 2022 airfares are down 16% from February 2020. What’s more, today’s prices are around 30% less than their 10-year high, which was in May 2013 when they averaged $326.50.
To account for inflation in your 2022 vacation budget and get a better idea of how much you should expect to spend, you could multiply your trip expenses from past years with this year’s percent changes. So if you spent $100 on a rental car in February 2020, you could multiply that by 38.6% and expect to spend about $140 on the same type of rental this year. If you spent $100 on concert tickets in February 2020, multiply that by 5.7%, and expect to pay about $106 for the same show this year.
And if you don’t have exact numbers from your past trip expenses, realize that expenses like hotels, entertainment and food will likely take a bigger chunk of your travel budget than before the pandemic. Rental cars will likely cost significantly more, and opting out of this expense altogether could be a smart money move. And there’s a good chance that airfares will cost less.
Planning can minimize inflation’s toll on your vacation budget
With airfares still low and rental car prices soaring, perhaps you skip the road trip this year. Fly into a public transit-friendly city like San Francisco, New York City or Boston. If you prefer small-town vibes, ferry to a mostly car-free island like Catalina Island, California, or Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Even though airfares cost more on average today than in the pandemic’s early days, you can take some solace in the fact that you’re more than likely saving on airfare this year than you were pre-pandemic. | https://www.wane.com/news/top-picks/how-to-account-for-inflation-in-your-travel-budget/ | 2022-04-11T14:57:56 | 0 | https://www.wane.com/news/top-picks/how-to-account-for-inflation-in-your-travel-budget/ |
Celebrate National Grilled Cheese Day at these 10 Taunton area restaurants
TAUNTON — On April 12, we celebrate a food icon: the grilled cheese sandwich.
That’s right, grilled cheese gets its own National Day.
Before it assumed its current form — a hot sandwich, consisting of melted cheese between slices of bread — the grilled cheese began as the “cheese dream.”
A “cheese dream” was an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich that became popular during the Great Depression as an affordable meal, although they had been around for some time before that. They are mentioned in a 1918 edition of Good Housekeeping.
The grilled cheese is arguably no less dreamy today.
It remains a comfort food for many, but it has also had a glow-up in recent years.
The classic formula of bread — buttered and toasted — sandwiching several slices of melted cheese, hasn’t really changed.
However, slightly more upscale grilled cheeses have come into fashion as well.
From switching up the kinds of cheese in the sandwich, to packing extra flavor into the bread, or throwing in some creative add-ons, the humble grilled cheese can also be elevated to a culinary event.
Whether you’re looking for something fancy, or the reliable comfort food version, we rounded up a list of places from around the Greater Taunton area to help celebrate all things grilled cheese:
Ugly Duckling Restaurant & Bar (Taunton)
- Where: 47 Weir St.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Closed Sunday and Monday
On the menu: “The Goat” grilled cheese comes with crispy bacon, scallions, and a surprise guest: it’s sprinkled with feta cheese. The Ugly Duckling’s grilled cheese comes with a side of french fries, rice, or a house salad.
What are 'street tacos'?:New Taunton food truck serves authentic Mexican cuisine
Liberty & Union Ale House (Taunton)
- Where: 16 Trescott St.
- Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, noon to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to midnight; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.; Closed Monday
On the menu: The bread in this grilled cheese is a level up: the sandwich is served on garlic Parmesan-encrusted Texas toast. Cheese choices are cheddar, American, or Swiss.
Hungry?:Follow this Taunton woman for Instagram, TikTok reviews of 'hidden gem' restaurants
Riverhouse (Taunton)
- Where: 260 W. Water St.
- Hours: Monday and Tuesday, 4:30 to 10 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
On the menu: At Riverhouse, the grilled cheese goes gourmet. On their brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, they offer lots of different add-ons for their grilled cheese: Buffalo chicken, lobster, BBQ brisket, steak tips, shrimp, or bacon. It’s served on brioche, with fries.
Frates Drive-In (Taunton)
- Where: 1423 Somerset Ave.
- Hours: Sunday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On the menu: When it comes to grilled cheese, Frates keeps it simple and classic: you can order a regular grilled cheese, or one with tomato.
Star Drive-In (East Taunton)
- Where: 205 Myricks St.
- Hours: Sunday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On the menu: The Star Drive-In also keeps things classic when it comes to grilled cheese. They serve theirs with American cheese, melted on your choice of buttered and grilled white or wheat bread. It also comes as a dinner option, with fries.
Barrels & Boards (Raynham)
- Where: 1285 Broadway
- Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday to Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, noon to 11 p.m.
On the menu: Grilled cheese meets BBQ at Barrels & Boards. Whiskey-braised beef brisket is paired with Swiss cheese, creamy American cheese and cheddar cheese, and served on Texas toast. It comes with french fry dippers, or you can add sweet potato or eggplant fries.
Real estate report:Victorian on High Street in Taunton goes for more than $700,000
Slap Shotz Gastropub (Raynham)
- Where: 524 Broadway
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 4 p.m. to midnight; Friday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday and Sunday, noon to 1 a.m.
On the menu: Try a traditional grilled cheese, or get it Italian-style, with prosciutto, pepperoni, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, on grilled sourdough bread. It is, of course, served with fries.
Alice’s Last Stop (Dighton)
- Where: 1901 County St.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 5:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; Sunday, 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On the menu: At Alice’s Last Stop, you can have a grilled cheese your way. You choose the cheese, you choose the bread. The world is your sandwich.
'Monday’s like a Saturday':Taunton's Riverhouse restaurant is a hit with diners
Assonet Roasters (Assonet)
- Where: 59 S. Main St.
- Hours: Wednesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday
On the menu: Nothing goes together quite like a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of tomato soup. Especially when you dip the sandwich into the tomato soup. At Assonet Roasters, you can pick your sandwich and soup combo, with a side of salad or fries.
Panera Bread (Raynham)
- Where: 300 US Route 44, in the Shaw’s plaza
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On the menu: For a fast food option, Panera makes a mean grilled cheese. Pair it with their creamy tomato soup for a classic combination. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try their grilled mac and cheese: creamy mac and cheese made with a fontina and mozzarella blend and parmesan crisps, served on toasted thick-sliced white bread.
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today. | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/lifestyle/food/2022/04/11/national-grilled-cheese-day-ugly-duckling-riverhouse-frates-panera/9501847002/ | 2022-04-11T14:58:01 | 0 | https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/lifestyle/food/2022/04/11/national-grilled-cheese-day-ugly-duckling-riverhouse-frates-panera/9501847002/ |
How the public’s view of Obamacare has changed in the last 12 years
(CNN) - The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by former President Barack Obama nearly 12 years ago and last week, Obama commemorated the anniversary with President Joe Biden at the White House.
“We passed the ACA, I’ve said it before, that was a high point of my time here because it reminded me and it reminded us of what is possible,” Obama said last week.
Today, about 14 million get private health insurance through Obamacare and another 14 million people get insurance through expanded Medicaid programs. That is about 9% of the U.S. population insured because of Obamacare.
Under the law, insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more because of a pre-existing condition, children can stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 and prescription drug costs are lower for nearly 12 million seniors.
However, it was a rocky start for Obamacare.
CNN reporter Elizabeth Cohen tried for two weeks back then to get an account and log in to healthcare.gov.
Obama acknowledged the issues, saying that the website troubles “didn’t help” the program at the beginning.
For a long time, Obamacare was relatively unpopular, but that changed in 2017 when Republicans tried to repeal the law.
“That was the moment when Obamacare became popular,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Former President Donald Trump tried to convince Americans that Obamacare was bad.
“We will repeal and replace Obamacare. You watch,” Trump said.
Efforts to do so failed when three Republican senators voted against repealing it, including the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Levitt says he believes public opinion of the law changed because it appeared that “Republicans were trying to weaken pre-existing condition protections, take coverage away from people, increase the premiums people would pay.”
“That was a very unpopular effort,” he said.
Levitt believes that for now, Obamacare is here to stay.
Last year, Biden expanded financial assistance for people to buy Obamacare insurance through 2022, and he is working on fixing the so-called “Family Glitch” in Obamacare that would help insure more families of working parents.
“Under the current rules, a working mom is told as long as she can afford employer-based coverage for herself, she can’t qualify for premium subsidies to afford coverage for her family. Cover her, but not her family,” he said.
With the fix, an estimated 200,000 more people would gain insurance and nearly 1 million people would pay less for their insurance.
Currently, Obamacare enjoys records enrollment, and Obama says there is a reason it is so popular 12 years later.
“It’s done what it’s supposed to do. It’s made a difference,” he said.
There are still 12 states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid. Biden has tried to clean up that coverage gap for more than 2 million people, but his efforts were thwarted by Congress last year.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/how-publics-view-obamacare-has-changed-last-12-years/ | 2022-04-11T14:58:01 | 0 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/how-publics-view-obamacare-has-changed-last-12-years/ |
Trump endorses Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania’s Senate primary race
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump endorsed Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania’s crowded Republican Senate primary, ending months of jockeying for his support.
In a statement Saturday evening, Trump said his decision was “all about winning elections” as he formally backed the celebrity heart surgeon best known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show.”
“The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to Save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr. Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate,” Trump said, in part. Later, at a rally in North Carolina, he said: “You know when you’re in television for 18 years, that’s like a poll. That means people like you.”
Oz had been competing for Trump’s endorsement in the May 17 primary against former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, whose wife, Dina Powell, served in Trump’s administration. The two had gone to extensive lengths to win over the former president, who remains deeply popular with the Republican base and has been wooed by candidates in primary races across the country.
At a conservative forum in Pennsylvania last weekend, the candidates were asked if they would like Trump’s endorsement and for him to come to Pennsylvania to campaign for them.
“That’s the easiest question we’re going to get all day,” replied one of the candidates, Jeff Bartos, a real estate investor. “Yes. 100%, yes.”
The decision marks a disappointment for McCormick, who met with Trump last week and had hired a litany of former Trump aides for his campaign. Though he was virtually unknown to voters before declaring his candidacy in January, he topped a recent Fox News poll of Pennsylvania GOP primary voters.
Trump had previously endorsed Sean Parnell in the race, but Parnell withdrew his candidacy amid allegations of abuse from his estranged wife. The turnabout raised questions about the vigor of Trump’s vetting process and concerns among Republicans about whether the former president was bolstering candidates who might be able to win their respective primaries but flounder in general elections that will determine which party controls the Senate.
This time, Trump made clear that electability was top of mind. In his statement, he noted that Oz was a well-known quantity who has “lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart.”
“Perhaps most importantly, I believe that Mehmet Oz will be the one most able to win the General Election against a Radical Left Democrat looking to do unthinkable harm to our Country,” he added. “Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel. I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him,” he said.
When Oz interviewed Trump on his show in 2016, Trump told him at one point that his wife, Melania Trump, was “a big fan” of the show.
Oz also has a long personal history with Trump.
Oz said in a recent interview that he had first met Trump in 2004 or 2005 when he asked Trump to use his golf course for an event for Oz’s children’s charity. Trump agreed. After that, they saw each other intermittently at social events before Oz interviewed Trump about his health during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump, in conversations, has often praised Oz for his positive treatment on the show. “He even said that I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!),” Trump wrote in his statement.
McCormick, meanwhile, has made deep inroads with party donors and officials in Pennsylvania, and has landed endorsements from former Trump administration officials Sarah Sanders and Mike Pompeo. But he has had to work to turn himself into a pro-Trump, America First candidate.
McCormick carries strong Republican establishment ties going back to his days in President George W. Bush’s administration. In 2015, McCormick held a fundraiser for Jeb Bush, Trump’s 2016 rival.
That has opened McCormick, who spent a dozen years as an executive at one of the nation’s biggest hedge funds, to charges from some conservatives that he is a “globalist,” a derogatory term as adopted by Trump and others in his orbit to conjure up an elite, international coterie that doesn’t serve America’s best interests.
Meanwhile, McCormick and a super PAC supporting him have spent millions attacking Oz.
The ads pick apart Oz’s long career on TV and as a public personality and accuse him of being a liberal, pointing, for instance, to his repeated public advocacy for “Obamacare,” former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. They also accuse Oz of being too “Hollywood.”
Oz also has taken heat in the race for carpetbaggery. He lived in New Jersey for two decades until just before deciding to run in neighboring Pennsylvania, where his in-laws live.
Trump’s decision drew criticism from some Oz critics, including Parnell, who endorsed McCormick.
“I have enormous respect for President Trump. I was honored to have his endorsement in PA,” he tweeted. “But I’m disappointed by this. Oz is the antithesis of everything that made Trump the best president of my lifetime—he’s the farthest thing from America First & he’d be very bad for PA.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/trump-endorses-dr-oz-pennsylvanias-senate-primary-race/ | 2022-04-11T14:58:08 | 1 | https://www.wnem.com/2022/04/11/trump-endorses-dr-oz-pennsylvanias-senate-primary-race/ |
Need some inspiration for a fun-filled Easter day for the kids? Lifestyle Expert Jennifer Bonner knows a sweet thing or two to bring in all the smiles with HI-CHEW! Find your favorites at Target & Kroger locations nationwide and learn more today at HI-CHEW.com.
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Could your home’s carpets use a deep cleaning? Lifestyle Expert Jennifer Bonner joins us with easy spring cleaniCould your home’s carpets use a deep cleaning? Lifestyle Expert Jennifer Bonner joins us with easy spring cleaning tips to keep your home refreshed and beautiful with Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning services! Schedule online today at OxiFresh.com or call at 1-877-OXI-FRESH.
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Posted: Apr 11, 2022 / 09:31 AM EDT Updated: Apr 11, 2022 / 09:31 AM EDT SHARE For more information go to: tgh.org/heart or call: 813-844-3900 | https://www.wfla.com/daytime/tgh-interventional-cardiologys-minimally-invasive-valve-program-implants-first-in-fl-and-2nd-in-nation-to-implant-transcatheter-tricuspid-valve-replacement/ | 2022-04-11T15:01:38 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/daytime/tgh-interventional-cardiologys-minimally-invasive-valve-program-implants-first-in-fl-and-2nd-in-nation-to-implant-transcatheter-tricuspid-valve-replacement/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A former coach of Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins is planning to speak on his former player’s death in Florida.
The news of Haskins’ death broke out Saturday, when his agent said that the quarterback was killed after being hit by a vehicle in Florida.
The Florida Highway Patrol later confirmed that Haskins was walking along on I-595 when he was hit by a dump truck. He died at the scene.
Ohio State football head coach Ryan Day, Haskins’ coach when he played for Buckeyes, called the former quarterback’s death a tragedy.
““For those who knew him closely, he was much more than a great football player,” he wrote on social media Saturday. “He had a giant heart, old soul and an infectious smile. The Ohio State community and our entire football program are heartbroken.”
Day will be discussing Haskin’s death in a press conference at 10:30 a.m. EDT. You can watch the conference here. | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/former-coach-to-address-dwayne-haskins-death-in-florida/ | 2022-04-11T15:01:44 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/former-coach-to-address-dwayne-haskins-death-in-florida/ |
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two license plates spotted by NBC4i viewers passed Ohio’s censors at the state’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles this year, while other plates with similar sentiments were rejected.
Patricia Ritchie took a photo of the JAN 6 DC plate in Chillicothe. She said in an email to Nexstar’s NBC4:
“I was shocked to see an Ohio vanity license tag clearly supporting the January 6th insurrection, a shameful event that has resulted in many participants being charged with crimes — misdemeanors and felonies –including charges of seditious conspiracy against the United States Government.
“How this could be approved by the Ohio BMV is beyond me. I was also disturbed that anyone would drive around blatantly showing such disrespect for the rule of law, but I guess that’s where we live now.”
A second viewer from Delaware snapped a picture of a truck that had the plate B1DNSUX. He didn’t want to be named but asked: “I would like to know if the BMV still reviews vanity plate requests for inappropriate content?”
The viewer said that he once was asked to sit on the license plate review committee — and although he did not have time to do that, he was shocked this plate got through.
“The committee was so hard-nosed about everything,” he recalled. “Do they even have that committee anymore?”
This isn’t the first time political opinions have circumvented the censors. In 2017, an Ohio woman was able to get a covfefe license plate, based on then-President Donald Trump’s mysterious tweeted typo.
A spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Public Safety confirmed the plates were in circulation. Repeated requests as to how plates are refused or approved did not receive a reply.
There was also no reply as to why these two plates were approved for circulation while hundreds of others, such as FKB1DN, were not. | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/b1dnsux-jan-6-dc-license-plates-on-roads/ | 2022-04-11T15:01:50 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/national/b1dnsux-jan-6-dc-license-plates-on-roads/ |
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Multiple agencies are investigating a motorcycle crash that left a person dead in Sarasota.
The crash happened in the area of Glen Meadow Drive and Forest Hills Circle at about 6:45 a.m. Monday.
There is no word on what led to the collision.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol are investigating the incident.
The intersection is closed, and drivers are being told to avoid the area. | https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/deadly-motorcycle-crash-under-investigation-in-sarasota/ | 2022-04-11T15:01:56 | 0 | https://www.wfla.com/news/sarasota-county/deadly-motorcycle-crash-under-investigation-in-sarasota/ |
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Bloomington man, Jackson County official vie for Indiana House District 62 in GOP primary
A Bloomington man and Jackson County council member will face each other in the Republican primary election to see whose name will appear on the fall ballot for Indiana House District 62. The newly redrawn district includes much of central and southern Monroe County as well as all of Brown County and part of Jackson County.
District 62 is without an incumbent in this election, since its current state representative, Republican Jeff Ellington, has moved to Bloomfield. He plans to run in Indiana House District 45, which now includes all of Greene County as a result of the redistricting.
On May 3, registered voters can go to their designated polling location to cast their votes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Each voter must request either a Democratic or Republican Party ballot to help select their chosen party's candidates for the fall election. Early in-person voting has started as well.
Greg Knott: ban annexation, break up hospital 'monopolies'
Greg Knott is throwing his hat into the race for House District 62 — again.
Knott is an information technology administrator for a Bloomington land surveying company. As part of his platform, Knott proposes better election security, a ban on involuntary annexation and breaking up large health care corporations.
Knott lost against incumbent Jeff Ellington in the 2020 Republican primary race for the same seat. In 2010, Knott unsuccessfully ran for Indiana's 9th District seat as a Libertarian.
Knott said there is a lot of federal overreach on issues that should be settled on a state level, such as gun protections. If elected, he plans to sponsor an Indiana version of the Second Amendment Preservation Act. The act, which is passed in Missouri, posits that any person or entity who knowingly deprives citizens of their right to bear arms will be liable for redress and monetary damages.
Knott proposes a ban on involuntary annexation in Indiana, noting that this impacts many residents in Monroe and Brown counties that have been annexed into Bloomington and Nashville. He also wants to eliminate zoning and development regulations at the local level in order to make home building more affordable.
"All the elected officials in Bloomington like to talk like they're in favor of affordable housing. But everything they do, as far as development restrictions, zoning, and so on and so forth, makes the cost of housing go up. That total cost is passed on to whoever buys the house or whoever rents the apartment," Knott said.
Knott also provides his perspective on recent legislation issues.
This year, the Statehouse passed a bill, HB 1041, banning transgender girls from playing sports in elementary, middle and high schools; Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed it.
Bloomington:Family fights for transgender daughter amid bill banning her from girls' sports
"If I would have been in the Legislature this session, I would have drafted a bill that says we just simply rename the sports, 'Double X chromosome sport' and 'X Y chromosome sport,'" Knott said.
This way, the bill would have been less likely to be overturned in the courts, according to Knott.
On another issue, Knott wants to tackle the affordability of health care by targeting large health corporations. Knott referenced a recent column by Ball State University professor Michael Hicks, who asserted IU Health has become a monopoly of health services in the area.
"IU Health has bought up just about every private practice around Bloomington. All the doctors offices (and) all the doctors work directly for IU Health. You don't have any independence or any competition," Knott said.
According to Knott, this has driven up prices while also reducing patient care.
"Many of these hospitals are not for profit, but they've been the single most profitable industry in Indiana since the 2008 housing crisis," Knott said. "You can't go into the emergency room without a $1,000 bill minimum."
Knott proposes to give hospital systems such as IU Health an ultimatum: have a government-granted monopoly and be subject to regulatory commission oversight or break apart its corporation.
Dave Hall: regional work-release center to help those with mental illness, addiction
Many of Dave Hall's plans for the Statehouse first originated as small-scale projects he'd helped implement on a county-wide level.
Hall is a crop insurance agent and farmer in western Jackson County. He is currently serving a second term on the Jackson County Council after previously serving on a township advisory board. In addition to being anti-abortion and a proponent of Second Amendment rights, Hall's platform focuses on new workforce opportunities, reducing the number of inmates who wind up back in jail and expanding resources.
Indiana:A Monroe County commissioner and a Jackson County council member plan Statehouse runs
Hall said what initially inspired him to run for county council in 2016 was Jackson County Jail's overcrowding. While there were talks of building a bigger place to house the inmates, Hall said he was interested in a different approach.
"We didn't need a bigger jail, we needed less people," Hall said.
In addition to its jail, the county now has the Jackson-Jennings Community Corrections Work Release Center. The center, an alternative to jail and home detention, houses people convicted of nonviolent crimes and allows them to continue to work in the community. Once an inmate is released, they then have some money to use in their search for a new residence and employment. The center is currently funded through user fees.
"There's a sense of accomplishment that those people in that facility feel because they're not asking for a handout. They're not asking for anything free. They're the ones paying," Hall said.
According to Hall, many inmates at the center experience mental health issues or substance abuse disorders. Grant funding can add more programing to the center, such as mental health therapy and substance abuse disorder treatment.
"I know all three counties in our state representative district are very different and have different needs and issues. Drug abuse and mental health is one that crosses every county line," Hall said. "That's something I've had experience with on the council. I want to make sure that we better address it from the state and spend resources appropriately to help people there."
According to Hall, the current center in Jackson County provides an apt model for how a work release center can be implemented on a wider scale at different locations.
In addition to better election security, Hall is also a proponent of wider broadband access. In 2018, Hall was elected to represent District 8 on the Jackson County REMC board of directors. Jackson County REMC serves electric and internet needs of 20,000 members across multiple Indiana counties. While going door to door for his campaign, Hall noticed there are small rural pockets, such as in Monroe, still without internet, which he intends to change.
Hall also said he's interested in tackling involuntary annexation after hearing many complaints from residents in the district.
Early voting's underway: here's how to cast your ballot
Monroe County voters can go to the former NAPA auto parts building, 302 S. Walnut St., to cast their vote in person ahead of Election Day. Voting began April 5.
Early voting hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 11-14, April 18-22 and April 25-29. On two Saturdays, April 23 and April 30, early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, May 2 — the last day for early voting — the hours are 8 a.m. to noon.
Those who are eligible to vote by mail can download and print an application for a ballot at indianavoters.com or call Monroe County Election Central at 812-349-2690 or the Indiana Election Division at 317-232-3939 for an application to be mailed to the voter. They can also visit Election Central at 401 W. Seventh St. to pick up an application in-person. Find all the details at indianavoters.com, where you can also learn about voting through a traveling board.
Contact Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com or @RachelSmithNews on Twitter. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/11/indiana-election-2022-2-republicans-gop-house-district-62-primary-greg-knott-dave-hall/9488480002/ | 2022-04-11T15:04:22 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/11/indiana-election-2022-2-republicans-gop-house-district-62-primary-greg-knott-dave-hall/9488480002/ |
Monroe County sheriff, commissioner face off in Democratic primary race for Statehouse
A Monroe County commissioner and sheriff will face each other in the Democratic primary election to see whose name will appear on the fall ballot for Indiana House District 62. The newly redrawn district includes much of central and southern Monroe County as well as all of Brown County and part of Jackson County.
District 62 is without an incumbent in this election, since its current state representative, Republican Jeff Ellington, has moved to Bloomfield. He plans to run in Indiana House District 45, which now includes all of Greene County as a result of the redistricting.
On May 3, registered voters can go to their designated polling location to cast their votes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Each voter must request either a Democratic or Republican Party ballot to help select their chosen party's candidates for the fall election. Early in-person voting has started as well.
Penny Githens: education incentives, commuter rail expansion
Since she announced her bid for District 62, Monroe County Commissioner Penny Githens has kept a running list of ideas for bills to introduce at the Statehouse. Right now, she's up to 40.
The Democratic Party of Monroe County chose Githens to fill a vacancy on the board of commissioners in 2019. Last year, Githens was elected to a four-year term and she continues to serve as she runs for Statehouse. In 2018, she ran unsuccessfully for the Indiana House seat held by the GOP's Peggy Mayfield in District 60.
Githens completed her undergraduate studies in math and chemistry education at Purdue University. She later earned a master’s degree in educational psychology from Indiana University. This background, as well as her experience as a mother, has motivated Githens to pursue how lawmakers could tackle the state's educational challenges.
Monroe County:A commissioner plans Statehouse run
"I think education is necessary for democracy. It is the foundation on which our democracy is built," Githens said.
Githens supports more funding for rural schools, better access to child care and universal pre-kindergarten.
She is also set to tackle the teacher shortage. Githens said people are currently discouraged from initially pursuing the education field and staying in Indiana once they complete their education. Githens advocates for better incentives, such as more scholarship and better wages, for educators.
"There's been this erosion not only in funding but our respect for the profession — at least at the legislative level. I don't think that's true at the local level," Githens said.
Githens also has big plans for the state's infrastructure, such as expanding broadband access and eliminating barriers on public transit's use of electric vehicles. One of Githens' major proposals is an expanded commuter rail system connecting various cities across the state.
Currently, Indiana has limited passenger rail service that offers roundtrip service between Indianapolis and Chicago three times a week. Githens said the proposed commuter rail could share the current service's stations and greatly expand its services to provide daily, reliable transportation.
"I really feel like if you want to go from Evansville to Chicago, you should be able to do that on a train. If you want to travel from Richmond to Fort Wayne, even if you have to go via Indianapolis, you should be able to do that by train," Githens said.
The rail system would relieve congestion on highways, Githens said. The system would be less stress on the ecosystem, promoting sustainability.
This rail system and other infrastructure improvements, such as the area's sewer system and dams, could be funded through the American Rescue Act Plan and American Infrastructure Jobs Act, Githens proposed. These improvements also could mean more job opportunities.
"We've got a lot of money to use to make a huge change. This does not have to be huge taxes in Hoosiers. This is basically saying we want to have a wise use of the money that's been made available to us," Githens said.
Brad Swain: solar power, broadband to 'revitalize' rural communities
When Brad Swain hangs up his hat at the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at the end of 2022, he hopes to have a new seat waiting for him at the Statehouse.
Bound by a two-term limit, Swain will soon retire as sheriff, marking an end to his nearly 40 years in law enforcement.
Swain first worked at the jail before becoming a patrol officer. Throughout a majority of his career, he was a detective specializing in crimes against women and children. In 2006, Swain ran for sheriff as a Republican; he won the primary but lost in the general election. In 2014, he was elected sheriff as a Democrat and won reelection in 2018.
With his retirement as sheriff, Swain said he is still interested in serving his community.
Swain lives with his wife, Amy, on a cattle ranch in southern Monroe County. As a rural resident himself, Swain said he wants to "change the lifestyle of (rural) America and revitalize small towns," focusing on widespread internet access. Swain said he wants to secure and maintain broadband across rural communities. Reliable broadband will not only provide access to online education for families but could also attract new businesses to those areas, according to Swain.
"We could really change the landscape of rural America. To have rural broadband is just as critical as other utilities," Swain said.
Indiana:Monroe County Sheriff Brad Swain announces bid for Indiana House seat
As a multigenerational farmer himself, Swain said he's interested in supporting legislation that protects the state's natural resources and promotes easier sustainability uses.
He intends to tackle Indiana's limitation on net metering, which creates financial barriers for homes to use solar power. If a home is net-metered, the electricity meter will provide a credit against what electricity is consumed, such as during the night, when the home's electricity use exceeds the output. Swain also advocates for air-filtering technology to be implemented in public buildings for better health practices.
Swain said it's important for lawmakers to support technological advancements through legislation.
"(As a legislator), you're trying to assist society and respond to society's needs," Swain said. "You don't want to be the group that is causing interference. You want to be a partner and leader."
Legislators could also be better at being properly informed about the bills that they propose, Swain said. Swain said he's noticed that legislators often don't consult with experts or the people whose lives will be impacted before submitting their legislation.
"It's been my observation that a lot of times bills are submitted without due diligence," Swain said.
Swain said he would be better educated on the bills he supports as well as lend his own perspective to other lawmakers when appropriate. With his long-term experience as sheriff and service on various law enforcement boards, Swain said he could use his own expertise in law-centric bills.
"I would hope, especially on public safety issues, that I could influence the thought process on the language of a potential law that we will all have to live with," Swain said.
Early voting's underway: here's how to cast your ballot
Monroe County voters can go to the former NAPA auto parts building, 302 S. Walnut St., to cast their vote in person ahead of Election Day. Voting began April 5.
Early voting hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. April 11-14, April 18-22 and April 25-29. On two Saturdays, April 23 and April 30, early voting hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Monday, May 2 — the last day for early voting — the hours are 8 a.m. to noon.
Those who are eligible to vote by mail can download and print an application for a ballot at indianavoters.com or call Monroe County Election Central at 812-349-2690 or the Indiana Election Division at 317-232-3939 for an application to be mailed to the voter. They can also visit Election Central at 401 W. Seventh St. to pick up an application in-person. Find all the details at indianavoters.com, where you can also learn about voting through a traveling board.
Contact Rachel Smith at rksmith@heraldt.com or @RachelSmithNews on Twitter. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/11/indiana-election-2022-monroe-county-democrats-house-district-62-primary-brad-swain-penny-githens/7219550001/ | 2022-04-11T15:04:28 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/11/indiana-election-2022-monroe-county-democrats-house-district-62-primary-brad-swain-penny-githens/7219550001/ |
Bloomington area athletes continue successes in women's college basketball
The first time Grinnell women’s basketball head coach Dana Harrold had a chance to see Erin Lillis play in person, her competitive nature stood out.
If Harrold could land her, she thought, Lillis would have a chance to have an impact right away in her program. She did. And so did Lillis. It just took a year longer than either thought when COVID-19 shutdown last season for many Division III schools.
“It was just seven weeks of practicing, her and three sophomore teammates,” Harrold said. “And I noticed how much it bothered her when she didn’t perform like she wanted. She was hard on yourself. And as a coach, you like that. You want players to want to get better.
“But with Erin, she put so much pressure on herself. Even though it was her first year playing, I knew she’d do well, but I don’t think I expected to get even such big things out of her. She really turned some heads in the league.”
Indeed, the Bloomington North grad had a historic debut, becoming the first Pioneer to earn Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year honors. She was also named to the all-league second team.
Lillis averaged 17.5 ppg, the second highest total for a Grinnell player in her first year and second in the MWC this season. It is 11th all time at Grinnell.
“In recruiting her, we knew there was a window of opportunity to get on the floor right away,” Harrold said. “We knew the type of player she was skillwise, but her drive and commitment level, you don’t see players like that all the time.
“Erin is in the gym constantly. She’s got an incredible commitment and drive that sets her apart from a lot of other players in her league.”
Lillis became one of the sparkplugs for Grinnell’s offense and had several ways she could put the ball in the bucket. She had 11 games of 20 or more points with a career high of 31 on two occasions. Lillis was also second in the league in free throw shooting at 81.8% (81-of-99).
“Erin understands how important it is to play fast,” Harrold said. “Get up the court. Catch and sweep, go to the rim right away. Her ability to get into the lane, hit free throws or finish at the rim was one of her strong attributes.
“She was able to score at other levels, too. She has a nice jumper, but I think she needs to expand her 3-point shot. It’s just not her first thought. So she’s working on being a three-dimensional scorer.
In addition, she also added 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
“When she’s focused on it, she’s a really good defender,” Harrold said. “She’s at her best when Erin rebounds and just pushes the ball up the court. She can find a scoring opportunity or find one for others. We were at our best when the ball was in her hands.
“Later in the season, she understood getting more people going opened up things for her individual game. If we’re down, Erin wants to put the team on her shoulders. She wants to be the person who brings us back. But it’s a lot easier when she gets everybody involved.”
Grinnell graduates four seniors and as a junior, Lillis’ leadership role will grow as will her skillset.
“She’ll have to channel that (drive),” Harrold said, “while making sure she’s taking care of her teammates, too.”
Grinstead moving on
After just one season at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga., Bloomington South grad Brooke Grinstead announced on her Twitter account that she is moving on.
Grinstead appeared in 31 games as a freshman, starting five. She averaged 3.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg to go with 16 assists and 11 steals. She had a career-high 16 points against West Virginia Tech. But her minutes were limited to single digits during the postseason run.
Reinhardt went just 16-14 in the regular season, but then made a four-game run through the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament to make the NAIA playoffs.
The Eagles took a nine-game win steak into the contest at Rocky Mountain College in Montana, but fell, 63-44.
Blackwell flies with Eagles
Addy Blackwell completed her junior season with the Southern Indiana women’s team.
She started all 28 games she played in, averaged 23.6 minutes per contest and finished fifth on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg). Blackwell made 44% of her 3-pointers while sinking a team high 47 and shot a team best 86.4% at the line (76-of-88). She also averaged 3.1 rpg, and finished second on the team with 54 assists and tied for first with 45 steals.
She had a season high of 22 points, vs. Tampa, and posted a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds against Rockhurst.
USI went 23-6 and made an appearance in the NCAA Division II national tournament, where the Eagles fell to Walsh, 75-63.
Friend, Ridner at IUK
South grad Anya Friend has a solid freshman season at IU Kokomo, finishing second on the team in scoring (10.5 ppg), while starting in 16 of 23 games.
She led the team in 3-point shooting, hitting 54 at a 34% clip. She went 14-of-18 at the free throw line and added 3 rebounds per game to go with 27 assists and 26 steals.
Her two best shooting games came against Goshen, going 6-of-8 on 3s for 22 points and 6-of-9 on 3s for 24 points against IU Southeast. She also had a 9-of-11 game, scoring 20 points against Huntington.
Another former Panther, sophomore Kristen Ridner, appeared in 16 games, averaging 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds per game.
The Cougars finished 9-15.
Rousey in Keystone State
Lighthouse Christian grad Hannah Rousey appeared in 17 games at the University of Valley Forge in Pennsylvania.
She went 5-of-12 from the field, hitting a 3-pointer and grabbed 17 rebounds.
The Patriots finished 7-14.
Urbanski at DePauw
North grad Ainsley Urbanski finished up her sophomore season with the nationally ranked DePauw squad that went 23-4 but lost in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Urbanski appeared in nine games, averaging 1.6 ppg. She had a career high six points in a win over Wooster.
Contact Jim Gordillo at jgordillo@heraldt.com and follow on Twitter @JimGordillo. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/2022/04/11/bloomington-area-athletes-continue-excel-college-basketball/9500211002/ | 2022-04-11T15:04:34 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/2022/04/11/bloomington-area-athletes-continue-excel-college-basketball/9500211002/ |
Game of the Week: Bloomington North softball coach reaches a special milestone
Going into Bloomington North's home game against Eastern Greene last Monday, Cougars head coach Geoff Aiken knew he was sitting on the cusp of a milestone.
At the end of last season, after a friend asked him about it, Aiken went through his teams' records through the years and he realized he'd won 97 games at Bloomington North. So after the Cougars picked up their second win of the season on Saturday, March 31 against Columbus East, Aiken told his players what the next win would mean.
"I sent a message out in our big group text that the next game was gonna be my 100th win, and that there was no group I'd rather do it with this one," Aiken said. "I've had some really good teams over the year but this this group is just a special group."
Gallery:Bloomington North softball hosts Eastern Greene in early-season area bout
His team came through, defeating Eastern Greene 14-4. North hosts Martinsville this Friday at 5:30 p.m. in The Herald-Times Game of the Week.
The reaction
The Cougars recognized Aiken's achievement after the game. Public address announcer Curt Simic alerted the crowd to the significance of the victory after the teams shook hands, and the fans cheered.
Aiken's fiancée, Tami Easton, brought a cookie cake for the team to enjoy. She also gave out confetti poppers to the players to accentuate the celebration.
"It was a good night," Cougars senior Paris Stuffle said. "He was definitely surprised about the confetti poppers. But the cake, he was just excited to eat it, I think."
More:Bloomington North standout named to boys Indiana Junior All-Star team
Aiken said it was cooler to reach this milestone at a home game so he could enjoy it with more people. And he was touched by the reaction he got from everyone in attendance after the game.
"You hope you do things the right way, and that kind of proves that, 'Yeah, you have,' because people are happy for you," Aiken said. "It made me think of all the teams over the years. I had a really good group that first year, and then carried on through with these guys. It was a really nice thing to have people congratulate (me) for it."
Stuffle has only played for Aiken for two years, as she transferred to North from Edgewood. But she called him her favorite coach she's had, and she said she and her teammates were very proud and happy for him.
"He's definitely more of a friend than a coach, which is nice to have," Stuffle said. "He makes us all really close and connected, which is nice — as a team and as a coach. So we're all close to him and the rest of our coaches."
Looking back and looking ahead
Aiken's 100th win was a big one. He's not expecting to get to 200.
He said he may not continue coaching for a long enough time to record another 100 wins — though he's not calling it quits anytime soon. Aiken is just glad he got this checkpoint out of the way so he can stay focused on the rest of the season.
"I've been thinking about it for (a while), and now that it's over, it's like, 'OK, now (we) can move on to just doing the games that we got in front of us," Aiken said. "We've got a really good group and I think we can bring together a lot of wins this year."
The victory over Eastern Greene to cross the 100-win mark is one of Aiken's most memorable.
When he thought of other games that stick out, one opponent in particular came to mind.
"The big ones are always winning against (Bloomington) South," Aiken said. "Those are always big games."
More:Bloomington North's Kante finds no pain in the rain in track opener
People stand out
Individual games don't stand out to Aiken so much as individuals, themselves, do. He fondly recalls his former teams and players, and could pick out some of their respective achievements in various games.
"So much of this really centers just around the players and the teams, and what they accomplished, and then who those kids were and what they become," Aiken said.
"It's kind of cool on Facebook to be able to watch these kids I've had over the years, they've moved on and they become mothers and they got families and moved on to doing great things. I'm proud of winning 100 games, but more proud of the players I had and seeing what they turned out to be."
Other games to watch this week
Monday
Eastern Greene at Shoals, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Eastern Greene at North Knox, 5:45 p.m.
Southport at Bloomington South, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Indian Creek at Edgewood, 5:30 p.m.
Monrovia at Eastern Greene, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
Bloomington North at Terre Haute South Vigo, 6 p.m.
Bloomington South at Terre Haute North Vigo, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Mooresville at Bloomington South, doubleheader, 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com. | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/softball/2022/04/11/bloomington-north-high-school-softball-geoff-aiken-ihsaa-record-wins/9464117002/ | 2022-04-11T15:04:40 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/sports/high-school/softball/2022/04/11/bloomington-north-high-school-softball-geoff-aiken-ihsaa-record-wins/9464117002/ |
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Activate your digital account | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldtimesonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Fmonroe-county-property-transfers%2F7225037001%2F | 2022-04-11T15:04:46 | 0 | https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldtimesonline.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F2022%2F04%2F11%2Fmonroe-county-property-transfers%2F7225037001%2F |
1-on-1 with Nebraska senior tight end Travis Vokolek
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Ahead of Nebraska’s red vs white spring game, 10/11 NOW’s Nathan Brennan was able to sit down with one of Husker Nation’s favorite athletes, Travis Vokolek. He touched on leadership, preparing for his senior year and the impact Husker fans have on gameday. Here’s what he had to say.
Nathan: The Nebraska spring game, what does it mean to you?
Travis: “It means being out there with the fans. The feeling we get running out of the tunnel is something crazy that I’ve never felt before. Guys are excited to be around the fans, we’ve been practicing indoor in the practice facility with no one there, so really it’s running out and seeing a bunch of new faces, a bunch of diehard Nebraska fans is very exciting.”
Nathan: Over 40,000 people are expected to be at this, it’ll climb even more. What does that kind of support mean to you, because most other college football stadiums for a spring game don’t have that?
Travis: “It’s crazy, obviously last year things didn’t go as well as we thought they would and we still had a full stadium every time. It’s crazy the fans here they love their Nebraska football and it’s something that the players get really excited about, knowing there’s gonna be a full stadium out there every time, the energy helps us on the field.”
Nathan: You’ve been around the game for a while now, you’re a senior and you’re expected to be a leader this year too, how are you going into the spring game heading into the summer?
Travis: I’m really try to work on being a better leader. “Last year ‘Oz’ [Austin Allen] was in our room, he was a great leader. I was right there with him, but it’s basically my room now and it took a little bit of time for me to really realize that I can be one of the top guys on the team to help lead.”
Nathan: Is there anyone for the spring game that you were maybe trying to get after, is there a one on one you’re looking out for the spring game?
Travis: “Spring practice gets really competitive, physical, hardnose practices. As an offensive guy, we’re always trying to go after the defensive guys. I can’t name one guy, I probably just see the defense as a whole, we want to score on them and we want to make plays.”
Nathan: You’ve seen the support from his fan base, if there’s one thing that you could say to Husker Nation what would it be?
Travis: “We love the support, it’s going to be an exciting spring game and exciting year. There’s always high expectations and we are really working our behind off to meet those expectations.”
Nathan: You know I have to ask you about the flow, are we going to keep it all season?
Travis: “Yep, it’ll be here all season. I’ll get it trimmed up now and then. Nate Boerkircher, one of the other tight ends and I are heading over to our haircut place for to get a couple designs for the spring game, you guys will see that.”
Nebraska’s spring game will be April 9 starting at 1 p.m. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. for fans. Tickets are still available, but if you can’t make it to Memorial Stadium, the game will be streamed on the Big Ten Network.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/1-on-1-with-nebraska-senior-tight-end-travis-vokolek/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:20 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/1-on-1-with-nebraska-senior-tight-end-travis-vokolek/ |
Bed recalled after 79-year-old woman died
(Gray News) – Bestar has issued a recall for several models of its beds after a 79-year-old woman died and dozens of others reported injuries.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the woman died in July 2018, after a Bestar wall bed fell on her, injuring her spine.
The company received reports of 60 additional incidents resulting in bruising and other injuries from the wall beds detaching and hitting people, CPSC said.
The recall includes the following full and queen wall beds that were sold from June 2014 through March 2022:
- Nebula
- PUR
- Versatile
- Edge
- Cielo
- Audrea
- Lumina
- Orion
- Novello
The beds were sold online at Wayfair.com, Costco.com, Cymax.com and Amazon.com.
Bestar is contacting all known purchasers directly, and consumers are advised to stop using the recalled wall beds immediately.
People with the recalled beds are entitled to a free inspection, according to CPSC.
If the bed requires reinstallation, Bestar will reimburse for those costs in a range from $170-$207 for Above Top Shelf wall beds or $338-$414 for Below Top Shelf wall beds.
Copyright 2022 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/bed-recalled-after-79-year-old-woman-died/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:21 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/bed-recalled-after-79-year-old-woman-died/ |
How the public’s view of Obamacare has changed in the last 12 years
(CNN) - The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by former President Barack Obama nearly 12 years ago and last week, Obama commemorated the anniversary with President Joe Biden at the White House.
“We passed the ACA, I’ve said it before, that was a high point of my time here because it reminded me and it reminded us of what is possible,” Obama said last week.
Today, about 14 million get private health insurance through Obamacare and another 14 million people get insurance through expanded Medicaid programs. That is about 9% of the U.S. population insured because of Obamacare.
Under the law, insurance companies cannot deny you or charge you more because of a pre-existing condition, children can stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26 and prescription drug costs are lower for nearly 12 million seniors.
However, it was a rocky start for Obamacare.
CNN reporter Elizabeth Cohen tried for two weeks back then to get an account and log in to healthcare.gov.
Obama acknowledged the issues, saying that the website troubles “didn’t help” the program at the beginning.
For a long time, Obamacare was relatively unpopular, but that changed in 2017 when Republicans tried to repeal the law.
“That was the moment when Obamacare became popular,” said Larry Levitt, executive vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Former President Donald Trump tried to convince Americans that Obamacare was bad.
“We will repeal and replace Obamacare. You watch,” Trump said.
Efforts to do so failed when three Republican senators voted against repealing it, including the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
Levitt says he believes public opinion of the law changed because it appeared that “Republicans were trying to weaken pre-existing condition protections, take coverage away from people, increase the premiums people would pay.”
“That was a very unpopular effort,” he said.
Levitt believes that for now, Obamacare is here to stay.
Last year, Biden expanded financial assistance for people to buy Obamacare insurance through 2022, and he is working on fixing the so-called “Family Glitch” in Obamacare that would help insure more families of working parents.
“Under the current rules, a working mom is told as long as she can afford employer-based coverage for herself, she can’t qualify for premium subsidies to afford coverage for her family. Cover her, but not her family,” he said.
With the fix, an estimated 200,000 more people would gain insurance and nearly 1 million people would pay less for their insurance.
Currently, Obamacare enjoys records enrollment, and Obama says there is a reason it is so popular 12 years later.
“It’s done what it’s supposed to do. It’s made a difference,” he said.
There are still 12 states that have chosen not to expand Medicaid. Biden has tried to clean up that coverage gap for more than 2 million people, but his efforts were thwarted by Congress last year.
Copyright 2022 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/how-publics-view-obamacare-has-changed-last-12-years/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:23 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/how-publics-view-obamacare-has-changed-last-12-years/ |
Little Big Town announces concert in Lincoln
Published: Apr. 11, 2022 at 8:41 AM CDT|Updated: 43 minutes ago
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - On the heels of the CMT Music Awards on CBS Monday, Pinewood Bowl Theater announced another summer concert stop from country music band Little Big Town.
The band is scheduled to perform Thursday, July 28.
The announcement follows several other recently announced performances as part of Pinewood Bowl Theater’s Summer Concert Series.
Tickets to the show will go on sale Friday, April 15 at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster.
An opening act will be announced at a later date.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/little-big-town-announces-concert-lincoln/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:31 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/little-big-town-announces-concert-lincoln/ |
Trump endorses Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania’s Senate primary race
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former President Donald Trump endorsed Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania’s crowded Republican Senate primary, ending months of jockeying for his support.
In a statement Saturday evening, Trump said his decision was “all about winning elections” as he formally backed the celebrity heart surgeon best known as the host of daytime TV’s “The Dr. Oz Show.”
“The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a tremendous opportunity to Save America by electing the brilliant and well-known Dr. Mehmet Oz for the United States Senate,” Trump said, in part. Later, at a rally in North Carolina, he said: “You know when you’re in television for 18 years, that’s like a poll. That means people like you.”
Oz had been competing for Trump’s endorsement in the May 17 primary against former hedge fund CEO David McCormick, whose wife, Dina Powell, served in Trump’s administration. The two had gone to extensive lengths to win over the former president, who remains deeply popular with the Republican base and has been wooed by candidates in primary races across the country.
At a conservative forum in Pennsylvania last weekend, the candidates were asked if they would like Trump’s endorsement and for him to come to Pennsylvania to campaign for them.
“That’s the easiest question we’re going to get all day,” replied one of the candidates, Jeff Bartos, a real estate investor. “Yes. 100%, yes.”
The decision marks a disappointment for McCormick, who met with Trump last week and had hired a litany of former Trump aides for his campaign. Though he was virtually unknown to voters before declaring his candidacy in January, he topped a recent Fox News poll of Pennsylvania GOP primary voters.
Trump had previously endorsed Sean Parnell in the race, but Parnell withdrew his candidacy amid allegations of abuse from his estranged wife. The turnabout raised questions about the vigor of Trump’s vetting process and concerns among Republicans about whether the former president was bolstering candidates who might be able to win their respective primaries but flounder in general elections that will determine which party controls the Senate.
This time, Trump made clear that electability was top of mind. In his statement, he noted that Oz was a well-known quantity who has “lived with us through the screen and has always been popular, respected, and smart.”
“Perhaps most importantly, I believe that Mehmet Oz will be the one most able to win the General Election against a Radical Left Democrat looking to do unthinkable harm to our Country,” he added. “Women, in particular, are drawn to Dr. Oz for his advice and counsel. I have seen this many times over the years. They know him, believe in him, and trust him,” he said.
When Oz interviewed Trump on his show in 2016, Trump told him at one point that his wife, Melania Trump, was “a big fan” of the show.
Oz also has a long personal history with Trump.
Oz said in a recent interview that he had first met Trump in 2004 or 2005 when he asked Trump to use his golf course for an event for Oz’s children’s charity. Trump agreed. After that, they saw each other intermittently at social events before Oz interviewed Trump about his health during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump, in conversations, has often praised Oz for his positive treatment on the show. “He even said that I was in extraordinary health, which made me like him even more (although he also said I should lose a couple of pounds!),” Trump wrote in his statement.
McCormick, meanwhile, has made deep inroads with party donors and officials in Pennsylvania, and has landed endorsements from former Trump administration officials Sarah Sanders and Mike Pompeo. But he has had to work to turn himself into a pro-Trump, America First candidate.
McCormick carries strong Republican establishment ties going back to his days in President George W. Bush’s administration. In 2015, McCormick held a fundraiser for Jeb Bush, Trump’s 2016 rival.
That has opened McCormick, who spent a dozen years as an executive at one of the nation’s biggest hedge funds, to charges from some conservatives that he is a “globalist,” a derogatory term as adopted by Trump and others in his orbit to conjure up an elite, international coterie that doesn’t serve America’s best interests.
Meanwhile, McCormick and a super PAC supporting him have spent millions attacking Oz.
The ads pick apart Oz’s long career on TV and as a public personality and accuse him of being a liberal, pointing, for instance, to his repeated public advocacy for “Obamacare,” former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law. They also accuse Oz of being too “Hollywood.”
Oz also has taken heat in the race for carpetbaggery. He lived in New Jersey for two decades until just before deciding to run in neighboring Pennsylvania, where his in-laws live.
Trump’s decision drew criticism from some Oz critics, including Parnell, who endorsed McCormick.
“I have enormous respect for President Trump. I was honored to have his endorsement in PA,” he tweeted. “But I’m disappointed by this. Oz is the antithesis of everything that made Trump the best president of my lifetime—he’s the farthest thing from America First & he’d be very bad for PA.”
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/trump-endorses-dr-oz-pennsylvanias-senate-primary-race/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:37 | 0 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/trump-endorses-dr-oz-pennsylvanias-senate-primary-race/ |
World Parkinson’s Disease Day: Resources in Lincoln
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - April 11 is World Parkinson’s Disease Day and April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, bringing people together around Lincoln to spread awareness and provide resources to anyone impacted.
Brian Reetz is a Parkinson’s awareness volunteer, and said the month of April is a great time to connect people in Lincoln to resources and make sure they aren’t alone in their journey.
“Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s aren’t talked about as much as a lot of other things that we hear in the community,” Reetz said, “The more that we can talk about them the more I think people will find out and realize the things that are going on and I think more research can take place to help because there’s just no cure for it.”
Below are Parkinson’s resources in Lincoln:
- Private Facebook group for anyone living with Parkinson’s or have a family member impacted.
- The Key, a home care facility that specializes in Parkinson’s patients.
- Hope First Physical Therapy, physical therapy support for anyone who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
- This Google Doc has a complete list of resources throughout Nebraska.
Copyright 2022 KOLN. All rights reserved. | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/world-parkinsons-disease-day-resources-lincoln/ | 2022-04-11T15:09:40 | 1 | https://www.1011now.com/2022/04/11/world-parkinsons-disease-day-resources-lincoln/ |
GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – On Friday night a mother bear and two cubs were killed after being struck by a car on Route 2 in Greenfield.
Greenfield Police officers answered a call reporting the bears around 8:43 p.m. When officers found the mother and two cubs killed by the road there was a squealing which led them to a tree. A third cub appeared to be scared, trying to climb the tree to hide.
Officer Lagoy and Purinton rescued the cub knowing that it was in danger if left there by the road. They put the cub in their cruiser and safely brought it into the station.
The Greenfield Police Department kept the cub overnight on Friday and picked him up by a wildlife specialist to be brought to Tufts in the morning. | https://www.wivb.com/news/cub-rescued-by-greenfield-police-after-mama-and-two-cubs-struck-and-killed-by-car/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:02 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/cub-rescued-by-greenfield-police-after-mama-and-two-cubs-struck-and-killed-by-car/ |
CHEEKTOWAGA N.Y. (WIVB) — The Erie County Sheriff’s Office says it has taken an alleged cocaine dealer into custody following a brief investigation.
Jermaine Turner, a 49-year-old Buffalo resident, was arrested this past Thursday after law enforcement officers stopped him on Route 33 in Cheektowaga. In his possession, the Sheriff’s Office says more than half an ounce of cocaine packaged for sale was found.
Turner has an extensive criminal history, with five previous felony convictions. Three of these convictions were the result of violent crimes.
Following his arrest, the Sheriff’s Office, with help from the FBI, searched a couple of residences — one on Deborah Lane in Cheektowaga and the other on Durham Street in Buffalo.
More than four ounces of cocaine and high amounts of money were found at each residence, authorities say. At the Durham Street residence, the Sheriff’s Office says two loaded handguns were found, while a loaded .22 caliber rifle was found at the other location.
Turner has been charged with the following crimes:
- criminal possession of a controlled substance (two counts)
- criminal possession of a narcotic with intent to sell (three counts)
- criminal possession of a loaded firearm (three counts)
- criminal possession of a narcotic
- criminal use of drug paraphernalia (four counts)
After his arrest, Turner was taken to the Erie County Holding Center pending arraignment.
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/cheektowaga/3-searches-lead-to-multiple-charges-against-alleged-cocaine-dealer/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:08 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/cheektowaga/3-searches-lead-to-multiple-charges-against-alleged-cocaine-dealer/ |
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB) — Most of the places you find inside the Walden Galleria will be closed on Easter, but if you’re looking for a meal, you’re in luck.
The following locations will be open that day:
- Aloha Krab – 1-8 p.m.
- Bravo! Italian Kitchen – 3-9 p.m.
- The Cheesecake Factory – 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Dave & Buster’s – 11 a.m. – Midnight
- Escape the Mystery Room – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Five Guys – 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- P.F. Chang’s China Bistro – 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
- Regal Cinemas – 10 a.m. – Midnight
- The Melting Pot – 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Texas de Brazil – Noon – 9 p.m.
Latest Posts
Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/cheektowaga/galleria-keeping-some-restaurants-open-during-easter/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:14 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/local-news/erie-county/cheektowaga/galleria-keeping-some-restaurants-open-during-easter/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk won’t be joining Twitter’s board of directors as previously announced. The tempestuous billionaire remains Twitter’s largest shareholder.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal tweeted the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting possible changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk as a member. But it, “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
He now has a 9% stake in Twitter, raising questions about how he might try to reshape the social media platform as Twitter’s biggest shareholder.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble, such as when he has used it to promote his business ventures, rally Tesla loyalists, question pandemic measures and pick fights.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and several right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
But what’s really has been driving Musk’s Twitter involvement isn’t clear. Other preoccupations with the service include arguing to make Twitter’s algorithm viewable by the public, widening the availability of “verified” Twitter accounts, and blasting a profile photo initiative involving non-fungible tokens, or NFTs.
Musk has also called “crypto spam bots,” which search tweets for cryptocurrency-related keywords then pose as customer support to empty user crypto wallets, the “most annoying problem on Twitter.”
Twitter’s CEO and other board members have praised Musk, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/elon-musk-not-joining-twitters-board-of-directors-after-all/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:20 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/elon-musk-not-joining-twitters-board-of-directors-after-all/ |
(NerdWallet) – Inflation is crushing almost all aspects of Americans’ budgets — including their vacations. Prices rose on average 7.9% for the past 12 months ending in February 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And one major travel expense rose way more than that: Rental car prices skyrocketed 24% year over year.
The Consumer Price Index, which measures prices on items like travel, groceries, clothes and cars, in February 2022 saw the highest inflation reading since 1982.
Annual inflation rates are a common way to understand economic changes. But when comparing 2022 inflation data to 2021, it’s important to acknowledge how unique last year was. In 2021, many people’s work schedules were adjusted or reduced, and daily activities came to a standstill due to ongoing closures at bars, restaurants and gyms. Travel — especially of the international kind — was difficult. But, given such low demand, travel was also generally pretty cheap.
It’s almost certain you’ll pay more for the same trip in 2022 than you did in 2021. But how much more should you expect to pay this year versus past years, when vacations were a bit more normal?
Don’t let the averages guide your travel budget
Several organizations put a tremendous amount of effort into understanding how much people spend on travel.
For instance, according to Expedia’s 2022 Traveler Value Index, which surveyed 5,500 adults worldwide in November 2021, Americans plan to spend, on average, $2,353 on their next trip. Separately, market research firm Destination Analysts’ November 2021 survey of more than 1,200 Americans determined that the average American’s leisure travel budget for 2022 is $3,797.
Even NerdWallet tries to peg a dollar figure to vacation spending. Americans intended to spend $1,814, on average, for travel during the 2021 holiday season, according to a September 2021 survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet.
But when it comes to vacation budgeting, using the average can be tricky, as your personal travel preferences often dictate your overall spending.
- Do you often fly first class to another continent or are you taking short-haul flights on budget carriers?
- Do you typically stay in luxury accommodations, like overwater bungalows in the Maldives, or do most trips find you at your grandma’s where you’re staying for free?
- Do you dine primarily at Michelin-star restaurants or are you the type to load up on free hotel breakfast?
Travel styles are highly variable, and you can’t always base your personal budget on a nebulous average sourced from travelers with wide-ranging preferences.
Rather than comparing your spending to averages from surveys, it can make more sense to use your travel budget from past trips and adjust according to today’s inflation rates.
How inflation is shaping travel costs
Especially if you’re building your next vacation budget based on a 2021 trip, expect to pay far more now. But compared to pre-pandemic travel, some expenses might be increasing at roughly similar rates — and one major travel expense will likely cost less.
NerdWallet looked at the costs of common travel expenses over the past 10 years using CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Analyzing February’s inflation readings — and pairing those numbers with August data from the same year to account for seasonality — we were able to see which pieces of vacation budgets rose and which ones dropped.
Here’s how those numbers shook out for airfare, travel lodging, rental cars, dining out and entertainment (like movies and concerts).
Airfares are still lower than pre-pandemic prices
One bright shiny light for your travel budget: Airfares haven’t fully recovered.
The average cost of airfares in February 2022 — $222 — is even lower than the 10-year average of $269.72 in February and $263.20 in August. While the February 2022 price is higher than the $197 average from February 2021, it’s still far lower than the $265 average of February 2020, which was the last month before COVID-19-related lockdowns in the U.S.
Even leading up to 2020, airfares had been trending downward. The 10-year high was back in 2013, the only year when average airfare costs surpassed $300 in both February and August.
This is good news considering that airfare and lodging tend to be the biggest chunks of any vacation budget (and there isn’t as much hope for low-cost lodging this year).
Lodging prices are volatile
Hotel pricing is consistently higher in August compared to February, likely due to seasonal travel demand.
The price for lodging away from home, including hotels and motels, saw one of the biggest swings of any price category throughout the duration of the pandemic.
In December 2020, average hotel prices dropped as low as $263.25, kissing their 10-year low of $261.72, which was from way back in December 2012. Yet it didn’t take long for prices to hit all-time highs. By July 2021, lodging rates hit all-time highs, averaging $387.23.
Fast forward to now, and hotel prices have slightly recovered from all-time highs. Even so, February 2022 still recorded an all-time high for just the month of February. Given how much seasonality plays into hotel prices, we can expect that August 2022 might also notch a new record high.
Meanwhile, many hotels are cutting back on amenities including daily housekeeping and room service. Hospitality companies blame factors including high demand, staffing shortages and supply chain issues.
Car rentals have one of the biggest price increases
The cost to rent a car jumped nearly 35% last year.
Rental cars have had one of the biggest price increases, and renters in summer 2021 got especially pummeled. Prices hit an all-time high in July 2021 at $236.80, and while they’ve slightly recovered, they’re still far above the average prices for the 10 years prior.
For the most recent data from February 2022, prices are up 24% since the same month in 2021, and they’re up 38.6% since February 2020. At this rate, be prepared for price increases aligned with summer travel demand. You might want to opt out of the rental car altogether this year.
Restaurant spending consistently rises
The charts show nothing too out of the ordinary when it comes to setting your travel food budget in 2022.
Food prices consistently rise every year, including in the COVID-19 era. In February 2022, the cost of food away from home is up nearly 7% versus February 2021 and nearly 11% versus February 2020.
To that end, foodies on a budget may consider turning to street vendors or fast-casual stops for cheaper meals than sit-down restaurants for their 2022 vacation. Those who have access to a kitchen (say, in a vacation home rental or a hotel suite) might consider stopping by local markets or grocery stores for not just the adventure, but also for the chance to buy ingredients to put together at home.
Entertainment expenditures see price increases, too
There have been some slightly larger-than-average jumps for travel-related leisure expenses.
Like restaurants, entertainment prices see fairly consistent increases — save for a small dip in 2020. Luckily for consumers, price increases here haven’t been as drastic as those for dining out.
In February 2022, the average price for movie, theater and concert tickets is up nearly 5% compared to February 2021 and about 6% compared to February 2020.
Travelers may opt for lower-cost activities rather than paid ones for their 2022 vacation, such as going hiking, checking out free days at museums, aquariums or zoos, playing board games at a brewery or wandering farmers markets.
2022 travel costs vs. pre-pandemic travel costs
On the whole, prices are certainly rising, with rental cars as one of the expenses most likely to give you some newfound sticker shock.
Here’s how average prices have changed since pre-pandemic times:
On the bright side, one major expense — airfares — continues to trend cheaper. February 2022 airfares are down 16% from February 2020. What’s more, today’s prices are around 30% less than their 10-year high, which was in May 2013 when they averaged $326.50.
To account for inflation in your 2022 vacation budget and get a better idea of how much you should expect to spend, you could multiply your trip expenses from past years with this year’s percent changes. So if you spent $100 on a rental car in February 2020, you could multiply that by 38.6% and expect to spend about $140 on the same type of rental this year. If you spent $100 on concert tickets in February 2020, multiply that by 5.7%, and expect to pay about $106 for the same show this year.
And if you don’t have exact numbers from your past trip expenses, realize that expenses like hotels, entertainment and food will likely take a bigger chunk of your travel budget than before the pandemic. Rental cars will likely cost significantly more, and opting out of this expense altogether could be a smart money move. And there’s a good chance that airfares will cost less.
Planning can minimize inflation’s toll on your vacation budget
With airfares still low and rental car prices soaring, perhaps you skip the road trip this year. Fly into a public transit-friendly city like San Francisco, New York City or Boston. If you prefer small-town vibes, ferry to a mostly car-free island like Catalina Island, California, or Mackinac Island, Michigan.
Even though airfares cost more on average today than in the pandemic’s early days, you can take some solace in the fact that you’re more than likely saving on airfare this year than you were pre-pandemic. | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/how-to-account-for-inflation-in-your-travel-budget/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:26 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/how-to-account-for-inflation-in-your-travel-budget/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie-like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good on April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:32 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A COVID-19 patient was in respiratory distress. The Army nurse knew she had to act quickly.
It was the peak of this year’s omicron surge and an Army medical team was helping in a Michigan hospital. Regular patient beds were full. So was the intensive care. But the nurse heard of an open spot in an overflow treatment area, so she and another team member raced the gurney across the hospital to claim the space first, denting a wall in their rush.
When she saw the dent, Lt. Col. Suzanne Cobleigh, the leader of the Army team, knew the nurse had done her job. “She’s going to damage the wall on the way there because he’s going to get that bed,” Cobleigh said. “He’s going to get the treatment he needs. That was the mission.”
That nurse’s mission was to get urgent care for her patient. Now, the U.S. military mission is to use the experiences of Cobleigh’s team and other units pressed into service against the coronavirus pandemic to prepare for the next crisis threatening a large population, whatever its nature.
Their experiences, said Gen. Glen VanHerck, will help shape the size and staffing of the military’s medical response so the Pentagon can provide the right types and numbers of forces needed for another pandemic, global crisis or conflict.
One of the key lessons learned was the value of small military teams over mass movements of personnel and facilities in a crisis like the one wrought by COVID-19.
In the early days of the pandemic, the Pentagon steamed hospital ships to New York City and Los Angeles, and set up massive hospital facilities in convention centers and parking lots, in response to pleas from state government leaders. The idea was to use them to treat non-COVID-19 patients, allowing hospitals to focus on the more acute pandemic cases. But while images of the military ships were powerful, too often many beds went unused. Fewer patients needed non-coronavirus care than expected, and hospitals were still overwhelmed by the pandemic.
A more agile approach emerged: having military medical personnel step in for exhausted hospital staff members or work alongside them or in additional treatment areas in unused spaces.
“It morphed over time,” VanHerck, who heads U.S. Northern Command and is responsible for homeland defense, said of the response.
Overall, about 24,000 U.S. troops were deployed for the pandemic, including nearly 6,000 medical personnel to hospitals and 5,000 to help administer vaccines. Many did multiple tours. That mission is over, at least for now.
Cobleigh and her team members were deployed to two hospitals in Grand Rapids from December to February, as part of the U.S. military’s effort to relieve civilian medical workers. And just last week the last military medical team that had been deployed for the pandemic finished its stint at the University of Utah Hospital and headed home.
VanHerck told The Associated Press his command is rewriting pandemic and infectious disease plans, and planning wargames and other exercises to determine if the U.S. has the right balance of military medical staff in the active duty and reserves.
During the pandemic, he said, the teams’ make-up and equipment needs evolved. Now, he’s put about 10 teams of physicians, nurses and other staff — or about 200 troops — on prepare-to-deploy orders through the end of May in case infections shoot up again. The size of the teams ranges from small to medium.
Dr. Kencee Graves, inpatient chief medical officer at the University of Utah Hospital, said the facility finally decided to seek help this year because it was postponing surgeries to care for all the COVID-19 patients and closing off beds because of staff shortages.
Some patients had surgery postponed more than once, Graves said, because of critically ill patients or critical needs by others. “So before the military came, we were looking at a surgical backlog of hundreds of cases and we were low on staff. We had fatigued staff.”
Her mantra became, “All I can do is show up and hope it’s helpful.” She added, “And I just did that day after day after day for two years.”
Then in came a 25-member Navy medical team.
“A number of staff were overwhelmed,” said Cdr. Arriel Atienza, chief medical officer for the Navy team. “They were burnt out. They couldn’t call in sick. We’re able to fill some gaps and needed shifts that would otherwise have remained unmanned, and the patient load would have been very demanding for the existing staff to match.”
Atienza, a family physician who’s been in the military for 21 years, spent the Christmas holiday deployed to a hospital in New Mexico, then went to Salt Lake City in March. Over time, he said, the military “has evolved from things like pop-up hospitals” and now knows how to integrate seamlessly into local health facilities in just a couple of days.
That integration helped the hospital staff recover and catch up.
“We have gotten through about a quarter of our surgical backlog,” Graves said. ”We did not call a backup physician this month for the hospital team … that’s the first time that’s happened in several months. And then we haven’t called a patient and asked them to reschedule their surgery for the majority of the last few weeks.”
VanHerck said the pandemic also underscored the need to review the nation’s supply chain to ensure that the right equipment and medications were being stockpiled or to see if they were coming from foreign distributors.
“If we’re relying on getting those from a foreign manufacturer and supplier, then that may be something that is a national security vulnerability that we have to address,” he said.
VanHerck said the U.S. is also working to better analyze trends in order to predict the needs for personnel, equipment and protective gear. Military and other government experts watched the progress of COVID-19 infections moving across the country and used that data to predict where the next outbreak might be so that staff could be prepared to go there.
The need for mental health care for the military personnel also became apparent. Team members coming off difficult shifts often needed someone to talk to.
Cobleigh said military medical personnel were not accustomed to caring for so many people with multiple health problems, as are more apt to be found in a civilian population than in military ranks. “The level of sickness and death in the civilian sector was scores more than what anyone had experienced back in the Army,” said Cobleigh, who is stationed now at Fort Riley, Kansas, but will soon move to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland.
She said she found that her staff needed her and wanted to “talk through their stresses and strains before they’d go back on shift.”
For the civilian hospitals, the lesson was knowing when to call for help.
“It was the bridge to help us get out of omicron and in a position where we can take good care of our patients,” Graves said. “I am not sure how we would have done that without them.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:38 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/national/pentagon-plans-for-next-pandemic-as-covid-mission-ends/ |
POTSDAM, N.Y. (WWTI) — The State University at Potsdam announced that they will be relaxing their masking requirements for indoor academic instruction.
Starting on April 11 masks will be optional in classrooms, labs, and studios on campus. According to the university, the decision to ease restrictions comes after receiving input from the community and local health partners.
However, masks will still be required on public transportation and in some healthcare settings including student health services, the college’s counseling center, the community testing site, and the bear shuttle. The college also encouraged those with approved exemptions or who are eligible for boosters to continue to wear masks while indoors.
Additionally, the university stated that some classes may be asked to continue masking to help protect a participant with a documented underlying condition. For this reason, individuals on campus should have a mask with them at all times.
The university also reminded students and faculty that anyone who is within six to ten days of recovering from testing positive for COVID or who has symptoms is still required to continue to be masked around others.
A printable sign is available for individuals to post on their door to request that guests wear a mask. The college stated that they will continue to monitor the data and will update the policy if needed. | https://www.wivb.com/news/new-york/suny-potsdam-makes-masks-optional-indoors/ | 2022-04-11T15:14:44 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/new-york/suny-potsdam-makes-masks-optional-indoors/ |
MARION, Ind. – A substitute teacher is charged with public intoxication after police say he showed up for work drunk at a Marion elementary school.
The Marion Police Department said the incident happened on April 7. The principal at Kendall Elementary School asked an off-duty Marion police officer who was working security to check on the teacher.
Other teachers had brought the substitute’s behavior to the attention of the administrative staff.
Upon contacting the sub, Shawn Spitler, the officer noticed the “strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath,” according to police.
Spitler also displayed other signs of impairment and was given a portable breath test in which he “tested higher than .10%.” Indiana’s legal limit is .08%.
Spitler was taken to an area hospital for “medical clearance” before being transported to the Grant County Jail, police said.
He’s charged with public intoxication, a misdemeanor. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/marion-substitute-teacher-accused-of-being-drunk-at-school/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:13 | 0 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/marion-substitute-teacher-accused-of-being-drunk-at-school/ |
INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers expecting a little extra in their tax refund will have to wait before cashing in.
This year, almost all Indiana taxpayers are due to receive a one-time $125 Automatic Taxpayer Refund from the state. Married couples filing jointly will get $250.
The state is returning $545 million to Hoosiers after ending its fiscal year with a surplus. Under state law, the excess money turns into a refundable tax credit.
Anyone expecting to receive that money with their typical refund will be disappointed: the money is separate from any refund you may get from filing your 2021 state income tax return.
According to the Indiana Department of Revenue, taxpayers will receive one-time direct deposits to their bank accounts beginning in May. The payments will continue throughout the summer.
Some Hoosiers may end up getting a physical check instead.
Hoosiers may need to be patient; the state said taxpayers should allow until Sept. 1 to get their money. Again, individuals will get $125 while married couples filing jointly will get $250.
Who’s eligible for the Automatic Taxpayer Refund?
Residents who’ve filed an Indiana tax return for the 2020 tax year with a postmark date of Jan. 3, 2022, or earlier will receive the money.
Those residents must have filed their taxes using one of the following methods:
- Form IT-40, Indiana Full-Year Resident Individual Income Tax Return
- Form IT-40PNR, Indiana Part-Year or Full-Year Nonresident Individual Income Tax Return, if you were married and filed jointly AND you were an Indiana resident for the entire year (2020)
- Form SC-40, Unified Tax Credit for the Elderly AND you resided in Indiana for more than six months in 2020
How will I get my money?
In most cases, the state said the money will be sent via direct deposit based on information from your tax return.
The Department of Revenue said taxpayers would get their money via direct deposit under the following three conditions:
- They filed an Indiana resident tax return for 2020 before Jan. 3, 2022 AND
- Filed a 2021 Indiana resident tax return by April 18, 2022 AND
- Listed direct deposit checking or savings account information for their 2021 Indiana Income Tax refund
Will everyone receive their money via direct deposit?
While the Department of Revenue said the majority of Hoosiers would likely receive their money via direct deposit, it will also send out checks to some taxpayers.
Hoosiers may receive a physical check from the state under the following conditions:
- They don’t meet the requirements for direct deposit
- They filed for an extension of time to pay their 2021 Indiana resident tax return
- They included direct deposit information for an account associated with refund advance loans or similar arrangements
- Their Automatic Taxpayer Refund could not be otherwise deposited directly into their bank account
The state expects to mail out the checks in “late summer,” although it noted the timeline is “dependent on supply-chain issues affecting the paper industry and is subject to change.”
Do I need to do anything to make sure I get my $125?
The Department of Revenue said no additional action is required for Hoosiers to get their money—there’s nothing special you had to fill out on your return and no place you need to register in order to receive it.
The state did say filing your tax return electronically and getting your individual state tax return refund via direct deposit is the fastest way to get the Automatic Taxpayer Refund. It’s also important to make sure your banking information is accurate.
What if there’s a problem with my bank account?
If the state tries to send your refund to a bank account and it gets rejected, the money will be returned to the state and the auditor will send a paper check instead.
What if I’ve moved or changed addresses?
The state recommends you visit this website to go through the change of address process. It’s also a good idea to send a message through the INTIME secure messaging portal asking the state to send your Automatic Taxpayer Refund check to the new address.
Can I check on the status of my Automatic Taxpayer Refund?
The Department of Revenue’s “Where’s My Refund” portal does not include information about the automatic refund. It only involves refund information for your individual tax return.
If you don’t receive your money from the state by direct deposit, you’ll get a check from the state auditor during the summer.
The state hasn’t yet provided information on what to do if you don’t get the money. The Department of Revenue said that information would be available on its website “on or around Sept. 1.”
Are there any reasons I won’t get the money?
Under certain circumstances, individuals may not receive their money because it’s being withheld for other reasons, including to offset “unpaid state or federal tax liabilities, liabilities to other state agencies, including – but not limited to – unpaid child support or unemployment overpayments, and unpaid tuition to Indiana public colleges and universities.”
If your automatic refund is being withheld for those reasons, the state is supposed to send you a letter informing you of such. | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/wheres-my-money-what-to-know-about-indianas-automatic-taxpayer-refund/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:15 | 1 | https://fox59.com/indiana-news/wheres-my-money-what-to-know-about-indianas-automatic-taxpayer-refund/ |
INDIANPOLIS — General Motors launched a new campaign and social media challenge called, Scream It Out. It’s part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Their research shows driving while stressed can be a distraction, like texting and driving.
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INDIANPOLIS — General Motors launched a new campaign and social media challenge called, Scream It Out. It’s part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Their research shows driving while stressed can be a distraction, like texting and driving. | https://fox59.com/morning-news/scream-it-out-challenge/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:19 | 0 | https://fox59.com/morning-news/scream-it-out-challenge/ |
INDIANAPOLIS — Easter is just around the corner! Indy Maven joins the show with six unique and different Indianapolis Easter treats that are almost too cute to bite into. For more on these sweet treats, and a look at what else Indy Maven has to offer, you can visit the website. | https://fox59.com/morning-news/settle-your-sweet-tooth-with-indy-mavens-easter-basket-treat-ideas/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:20 | 0 | https://fox59.com/morning-news/settle-your-sweet-tooth-with-indy-mavens-easter-basket-treat-ideas/ |
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The guitar played by Kurt Cobain in Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video is being auctioned for the first time in history.
Fans of the grunge rock band can also bid on NFTs of the striped sweater Cobain wore in the 1991 video and a worn pair of Converse shoes.
The collection is part of Julien’s Auction Music Icons event, and a portion will go to the Indianapolis Colts and Irsay Family’s “Kicking the Stigma” mental health awareness initiative. Julien’s says the gesture is in honor of Mental Health Awareness month in May.
Items from the auction include:
- Kurt Cobain’s 1969, Fender Mustang, left-handed guitar in Competition Lake Placid blue finish with matching headstock (used in the “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video)
- NFT of the Fender guitar
- NFTs of Cobain’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video worn green striped sweater and worn converse shoes from the exclusive collection of Kim Cobain
- “Baby Blue” – Cobain’s 1965 Dodge Dart 170 4-door sedan, along with NFT
- Cobain’s personally drawn 1985 Iron Maiden “Killers” skateboard deck artwork featuring the Iron Maiden mascot “Eddie”, plus NFT
- Cobain’s drawing of Michael Jackson wearing a red jacket, single white glove and sunglasses features Cobain’s signature in the lower right corner, plus NFT
The 1969 Fender guitar is expected to have a starting estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It’s been on display at Seattle’s Experience Music Project, now named MoPOP Museum of Pop Culture, for the past 12 years.
Nirvana’s iconic “Nevermind” album celebrated its 30th anniversary this past fall, and its lead single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” played a critical part in making Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl household names.
Cobain, who was famously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and clinical depression as a young person, took his life on April 5, 1994.
According to Julien’s, the Irsays launched Kicking The Stigma in late 2020 to raise awareness about mental health disorders and remove the stigma often associated with these illnesses.
The Music Icons auction will take place May 20-22 both online and live in Beverly Hills. Items will first be on display in a traveling exhibit in Beverly Hills, London, and New York City. | https://fox59.com/news/entertainment/nirvana-collectibles-including-smells-like-teen-spirit-guitar-to-be-auctioned-for-colts-mental-health-initiative/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:21 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/entertainment/nirvana-collectibles-including-smells-like-teen-spirit-guitar-to-be-auctioned-for-colts-mental-health-initiative/ |
JACKSON COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) — A 3-year-old child died after falling into the water at Whitewater Falls in North Carolina on Sunday.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said Nevaeh Jade Newswanger was visiting with her family when she was swept away by the water and went over the falls.
Emergency crews from Jackson, Transylvania, Haywood, Henderson, and Oconee counties went to the scene to help.
The child’s body was recovered around 1 a.m. Monday after she was found trapped in an area of the falls.
The Sheriff’s Office said Nevaeh is from Denver, Pennsylvania. Her family was living in Oconee County while working in the area.
Jackson County Sheriff Chip Hall offered prayers and condolences to the family “as they grieve the loss of this precious young child.”
He also cautioned others about the dangers associated with visits to scenic areas such as Whitewater Falls.
“With the onset of spring weather, we need to be reminded of the dangers associated with many scenic areas of the region such as waterfalls,” Hall said. “While beautiful to view from a safe distance, venturing out closer to the falls for any reason brings tremendous danger.”
He urged visitors to keep a safe distance away, view the waterfalls from designated viewing areas and follow posted safety precautions and warnings. | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/3-year-old-dies-after-going-over-falls-in-north-carolina/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:33 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/3-year-old-dies-after-going-over-falls-in-north-carolina/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie-like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good on April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to three last holdouts, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall and Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T15:18:39 | 1 | https://fox59.com/news/national-world/kmart-down-to-3-stores-in-us-after-nj-closing/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has a book coming out this fall that covers his years in the Trump administration and, according to his publisher, offers “unvarnished appraisals of the deals made and characters encountered along the way.”
Broadside Books, a conservative imprint at HarperCollins Publishers, announced Monday that Pompeo’s untitled book was scheduled for November. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Pompeo “will draw readers deep into the innermost sanctums of government decision-making and reveal the stories and strategic thinking behind key actions regarding North Korea, China, Russia, Iran, Mexico, Israel, Afghanistan, support for international religious freedom, and many other countries and issues,” the announcement reads in part.
Pompeo, 58, is a Republican from Kansas who served three terms in Congress before President Donald Trump appointed him director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2017, then secretary of state a year later. He has speculated about a 2024 presidential run, one that might find him in competition with his former boss. Other former Trump officials considered possible candidates— and working on books — include Vice President Mike Pence and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.
Trump clashed with many of his cabinet officers, including Pompeo’s immediate predecessor at state, Rex Tillerson. But Pompeo remained on good terms with Trump and even broke with precedent for secretaries of state by recording a speech for the 2020 Republican National Convention. He continued to defend him after the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters, a time when other officials resigned or distanced themselves, and less than two weeks later sent a tweet promoting Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/former-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-has-book-out-this-fall/ | 2022-04-11T15:26:47 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/former-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-has-book-out-this-fall/ |
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (AP) — Country star Kelsea Ballerini is making a last-minute pivot to co-hosting the CMT Music Awards remotely after testing positive for COVID-19 days before the show.
Ballerini and actor Anthony Mackie were set to host the Monday night awards show airing on CBS from Nashville. But on Monday morning, CMT and CBS announced that Ballerini will remain home. She is asymptomatic, and Ballerini said CMT is setting it up so she can perform and co-host from her house.
“It has been set it up in a way where I can safely still co-host the Awards and perform on the show tonight,” Ballerini said in a statement. “This is not what we had planned for, but I am ready to make lemonade out of these lemons.”
T he leading nominee for the night, Kane Brown, has been tapped to help Mackie with in-person co-hosting. Brown has twice hosted the fan-voted show, including with Ballerini last year.
“I’m honored the team at CBS and CMT asked me to step in as a co-host and I am so glad to be back again hosting for a bonus third year,” said Brown in a statement. “Everyone has been working hard to put on an amazing show for the fans and I’m excited to get to work with Anthony and Kelsea and have a great night that celebrates country music.”
Mackie, who starred in Marvel’s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” promises a fun night.
“Being a host of the CMT Awards is something I have wanted to do for a long time,” said Mackie in a statement. “I was excited to be able to do it with Kelsea Ballerini. Now, I get to co-host with both Kelsea and my friend, Kane Brown. Get ready cuz it’s gonna be a fun night!”
The CMT Music Awards will feature performances by Kenny Chesney, Mickey Guyton and Black Pumas, Cody Johnson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and Ryan Hurd, Old Dominion, Carly Pearce, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. The Judds are also reuniting at the CMT Music Awards for their first major awards show performance in over two decades.
Underwood is the most awarded artist in CMT history with 23 prior wins and has a chance to extend her lead with nominations for music video of the year and collaborative video of the year for her duet with Jason Aldean, “If I Didn’t Love You.” | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/kelsea-ballerini-to-host-cmt-music-awards-from-home/ | 2022-04-11T15:26:53 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/entertainment-news/kelsea-ballerini-to-host-cmt-music-awards-from-home/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is set to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday as he presses world leaders to take a hard line against Russia’s Ukraine invasion.
India’s neutral stance in the war has raised concerns in Washington and earned praise from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who lauded India this month for judging “the situation in its entirety, not just in a one-sided way.”
Most recently, India abstained when the U.N. General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from its seat on the 47-member Human Rights Council over allegations that Russian soldiers in Ukraine engaged in rights violations that the U.S. and Ukraine have called war crimes.
The vote was 93-24 with 58 abstentions.
In the virtual meeting, Biden will talk about the consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine “and mitigating its destabilizing impact on global food supply and commodity markets,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Sunday.
They’ll discuss “strengthening the global economy, and upholding a free, open, rules-based international order to bolster security, democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.
India continues to purchase Russian energy supplies, despite pressure from Western countries to avoid buying Russian oil and gas. The U.S. has also considered sanctions on India for its recent purchase of advanced Russian air defense systems.
Last month, the state-run Indian Oil Corp. bought 3 million barrels of crude from Russia to secure its needs, resisting entreaties from the West to avoid such purchases. India isn’t alone in buying Russian energy, however. Several European allies such as Germany have continued to do so, despite public pressure to end these contracts.
Indian media reports said Russia was offering a discount on oil purchases of 20% below global benchmark prices.
Iraq is India’s top supplier, with a 27% share. Saudi Arabia is second at around 17%, followed by the United Arab Emirates with 13% and the U.S. at 9%, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Biden and Modi last spoke in March.
___
Sharma reported from New Delhi. | https://www.wivb.com/news/biden-modi-to-speak-as-us-presses-for-hard-line-on-russia-2/ | 2022-04-11T15:26:59 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/biden-modi-to-speak-as-us-presses-for-hard-line-on-russia-2/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating an Obama-era U.S. attorney to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as his administration unveils its formal rule to rein in ghost guns, privately made firearms without serial numbers that are increasingly cropping up at crime scenes.
The White House confirmed that Biden is announcing the nomination of Steve Dettlebach, who served as a U.S. attorney in Ohio from 2009 to 2016, in a Monday afternoon event. The administration is also releasing the finalized version of its ghost gun rule, which comes as the White House and the Justice Department have been under growing pressure to crack down on gun deaths and violent crime in the U.S.
Dettlebach’s confirmation is likely to be an uphill battle for the Biden administration. Biden had to withdraw the nomination of his first ATF nominee, gun-control advocate David Chipman, after the nomination stalled for months because of opposition from Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate.
Both Republican and Democratic administrations have failed to get nominees for the ATF position through the politically fraught process since the director’s position was made confirmable in 2006. Since then, only one nominee, former U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones, has been confirmed. Jones made it through the Senate in 2013 but only after a six-month struggle. Jones was acting director when President Barack Obama nominated him in January 2013.
The Biden administration’s plan was first reported by Politico.
For nearly a year, the ghost gun rule has been making its way through the federal regulation process. Gun safety groups and Democrats in Congress have been pushing for the Justice Department to finish the rule for months. It will probably be met with heavy resistance from gun groups and draw litigation in the coming weeks.
Gun Owners of America vowed that it would immediately fight the rule.
“Just as we opposed the Trump Administration’s arbitrary ban on bump stocks, GOA will also sue Biden’s ATF to halt the implementation of this rule,” Aidan Johnston, the group’s director of federal affairs said in a statement. The group believes the rule violates the U.S. Constitution and several federal laws.
But gun safety advocacy groups, like Everytown for Gun Safety, which pushed the federal government for years to take action on ghost guns, applauded Biden’s moves and insisted that both Dettlebach’s appointment and the finalized rule will help combat gun violence.
“Ghost guns look like a gun, they shoot like a gun, and they kill like a gun, but up until now they haven’t been regulated like a gun,” said John Feinblatt, Everytown’s president.
Christian Heyne, the vice president of policy at Brady, another gun control group, said Dettlebach was “an unimpeachable public servant who has spent a career using the levers of government to hold negligent or nefarious actors accountable.”
Justice Department statistics show that nearly 24,000 ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement at crime scenes and reported to the government from 2016 to 2020. It is hard to say how many are circulating on the streets, in part because in many cases police departments don’t contact the government about the guns because they can’t be traced.
The new rule changes the current definition of a firearm under federal law to include unfinished parts, like the frame of a handgun or the receiver of a long gun. It says those parts must be licensed and include serial numbers. Manufacturers must also run background checks before a sale — as they do with other commercially made firearms. The requirement applies regardless of how the firearm was made, meaning it includes ghost guns made from individual parts, kits, or by 3D-printers.
Federally licensed firearms dealers must retain key records until they shut down their business or licensed activity and then transfer the records to ATF as they are currently required to do at the end of licensed activity. Previously, these dealers were permitted to destroy most records after 20 years, making it harder for law enforcement to trace firearms found at crime scenes.
For years, federal officials have been sounding the alarm about an increasing black market for homemade, military-style semi-automatic rifles and handguns. As well as turning up more frequently at crime scenes, ghost guns have been increasingly encountered when federal agents buy guns in undercover operations from gang members and other criminals.
Some states, like California, have enacted laws in recent years to require serial numbers to be stamped on ghost guns.
The critical component in building an untraceable gun is what is known as the lower receiver, a part typically made of metal or polymer. An unfinished receiver — sometimes referred to as an “80-percent receiver” — can be legally bought online with no serial numbers or other markings on it, no license required.
Police across the country have been reporting spikes in ghost guns being recovered by officers. The New York Police Department, for example, said officers found 131 firearms without serial numbers since January.
A gunman who killed his wife and four others in Northern California in 2017 had been prohibited from owning firearms, but he built his own to skirt the court order before his rampage. And in 2019, a teenager used a homemade handgun to fatally shoot two classmates and wound three others at a school in suburban Los Angeles. | https://www.wivb.com/news/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:07 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/biden-to-nominate-new-atf-director-release-ghost-gun-rule/ |
Stocks fell in morning trading on Wall Street Monday as the market extends a losing streak from last week.
The S&P 500 fell 0.8% as of 10:20 a.m. Eastern. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 68 points, or 0.2%, to 34,654 and the Nasdaq fell 1.3%.
Both the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are coming off their first weekly loss in four weeks.
Technology stocks fell broadly and were the biggest weights on the market. Microsoft fell 3.7% and Apple shed 1.7%.
Energy stocks were among some of the biggest losers as they followed oil prices lower. U.S. crude oil prices fell 4.1% and Exxon Mobil slumped 2.5%.
Oil prices remain volatile amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has put more pressure on global energy supplies. Global oil prices are up roughly 25% for the year, though they have been easing somewhat throughout April.
Industrial companies and banks held up better than the rest of the market. Boeing rose 1.5% and Citigroup rose 2%.
Bond yields gained ground. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 2.76% from 2.71% late Friday.
Twitter was in focus after mercurial Tesla billionaire Elon Musk said he wouldn’t be joining the company’s board after all. The stock rose 0.6%. Musk recently became the company’s biggest shareholder and is now free to increase his stake.
Investors continue to remain uneasy about higher interest rates, Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s effort to contain coronavirus outbreaks. In China, automakers and other manufacturers are reducing production after authorities tightened restrictions to help stem coronavirus outbreaks in Shanghai and other cities.
Wall Street will get several updates this week that could provide more clues about how the broader economy has been handling rising inflation.
The Labor Department on Tuesday will release its report on consumer prices for March, while the Commerce Department will release its March retail sales report on Thursday. Those reports have been closely watched as investors try to figure out how rising prices have been impacting consumer spending. Any significant slowdown in consumer spending would likely mean a sharper-than-expected slowdown in economic growth this year.
The latest economic updates come as investors anticipate a more aggressive shift from the Federal Reserve as it tries to temper the impact from rising inflation. The central bank has already announced a quarter-percentage point raise of its key interest rate.
Fed officials indicated in minutes from last month’s meeting they were considering raising the U.S. benchmark rate by double the normal amount at upcoming meetings. They also indicated they would shrink the Fed’s bond holdings, which would push up long-term borrowing rates.
Wall Street will also start to get more details about how individual companies performed during the first quarter and what they expect moving ahead. Delta Air Lines and JPMorgan Chase will report their latest financial results on Wednesday, while UnitedHealth Group, Wells Fargo and Citigroup will report their results on Thursday. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:14 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears-2/ |
BEIJING (AP) — Asian stock markets followed Wall Street lower Monday after the Federal Reserve indicated it might raise interest rates more aggressively to cool U.S. inflation.
Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong and South Korea all declined. Oil fell more than $2 per barrel amid concerns global economic growth might weaken.
Investors are uneasy about possible downward pressure on economic activity from higher interest rates, Russia’s war on Ukraine and China’s efforts to contain coronavirus outbreaks.
Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 lost 0.3% on Friday after Fed officials indicated in notes from their last meeting they were considering raising its benchmark rate by double the normal amount at upcoming meetings. They also indicated they are likely to shrink the Fed’s bond holdings, which also might push up commercial borrowing rates.
Investors see “increasing evidence the Federal Reserve will take a more committed approach” to fighting inflation, said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management in a report.
The Shanghai Composite Index lost 2.2% to 3,179.32 after inflation accelerated to 1.5% over a year ago in March from the previous month’s 0.9% amid upward pressure on global prices due to uncertainty about Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo lost shed 0.7% to 26,793.46 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng retreated 2.5% to 21,324.05.
The S&P-ASX 200 in Sydney advanced less than 0.1% to 7,482.80. New Zealand and Singapore declined while Indonesia advanced.
On Friday, the S&P 500 declined to 4,488.28 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% to 34,721.12. Tech stock weakness dragged the Nasdaq composite down 1.3% to 13,711.00.
Investors have been uneasy since Fed officials started saying they would try to cool inflation that is at a four-decade high by rolling back record-low interest rates and other stimulus that is boosting stock prices.
Higher interest rates usually depress economic activity and make safer assets such as bonds more attractive while making stocks look riskier and more expensive.
Some are afraid the Fed, after being accused of reacting too late to rising inflation, might push the brakes too hard and tip the world’s biggest economy into recession. Economists at Deutsche Bank last week forecast a U.S. recession by late next year.
Oil prices have fallen back on expectations of weaker demand after peaking above $130 per barrel last month due to anxiety about disruption of supplies from Russia, the world’s No. 2 exporter.
Meanwhile, in China, automakers and other companies are reducing production due to supply disruptions after authorities imposed stringent anti-disease controls to stop coronavirus outbreaks in Shanghai and other cities.
ACM Research, a supplier of equipment for the semiconductor industry that has operations in Shanghai, fell 6.1% after saying the restrictions will cause a significant hit to its revenue.
In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude fell $2.16 to $96.10 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $2.23 to $98.26 on Friday. Brent crude, used as the price basis for international oils, retreated $2.18 to $100.60 per barrel in London. It rose $2.20 the previous session to $102.78 a barrel.
The dollar rose to 124.86 yen from Friday’s 124.37 yen. The euro edged up to $1.0087 from $1.0885. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:21 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/asian-stocks-follow-wall-st-down-amid-us-interest-rate-fears/ |
UNIVERSITY CITY, Mo. (AP) — When the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S., sales of window coverings at Halcyon Shades quickly went dark. So the suburban St. Louis business did what hundreds of other small manufacturers did: It pivoted to make protective supplies, with help from an $870,000 government grant.
But things haven’t worked out as planned. The company quit making face shields because it wasn’t profitable. It still hasn’t sold a single N95 mask because of struggles to get equipment, materials and regulatory approval.
“So far, it has been a net drain of funds and resources and energy,” Halcyon Shades owner Jim Schmersahl said.
Many companies that began producing personal protective equipment with patriotic optimism have scaled back, shut down or given up, according to an Associated Press analysis based on numerous interviews with manufacturers. Some already have sold equipment they bought with state government grants.
As COVID-19 was stressing hospitals and shuttering businesses in 2020, elected officials touted the need to boost U.S. production of protective gear: “All this stuff should be made in the United States and not in China,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in remarks echoed by others.
Yet many manufacturers who answered the call have faced logistical hurdles, regulatory rejections, slumping demand and fierce competition from foreign suppliers. On April 1, Florida-based American Surgical Mask Co. became one of the latest to close.
“I’m just done with the fight,” CEO Matt Brandman told the AP.
After the initial scramble for PPE subsided, many industry newcomers faced difficulty selling products. Government agencies sometimes wanted huge quantities at tough-to-meet deadlines. Hospital systems tended to contract with established suppliers. Retail sales waned after every virus surge.
“At the end of the day, when everybody said they wanted American-made, nobody’s buying, not even the state,” said Tony Blogumas, vice president of Green Resources Consulting, a rural Missouri firm that received an $800,000 state grant but has sold only a few thousand masks. “We’re kind of upset about the whole situation.”
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson also is disappointed. His administration divided $20 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds among 48 businesses for the production of masks, gowns, sanitizer and other supplies. Parson hoped to seed a permanent field of manufacturers.
“I’m still a firm believer in that — that we need to be making PPE here in this state,” Parson said. “Unfortunately, a lot of entities went right back to where they were getting it before.”
The onset of the pandemic revealed that the U.S. was highly dependent on foreign countries for protective gear. When China limited exports because of its own battle against COVID-19, U.S. stockpiles plummeted. Prices skyrocketed as federal officials, governors and health care systems competed for supplies.
Though federal stockpiles have been replenished, shriveling domestic production has raised concerns that state governments, medical facilities and others could again get stuck scrambling for gear during a future pandemic.
The AP identified more than $125 million in grants to spur production of pandemic supplies made to over 300 business in 10 states — Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Ohio. It’s possible that grants were awarded in additional states, but there is no central clearinghouse to track them.
In November 2020, Alabama awarded one of the single largest grants — nearly $10.6 million from federal pandemic relief funds — to HomTex Inc. The company was to equip a new Selma facility to make 250 million surgical masks and 45 million N95 masks annually. The plant returned $1.8 million of the state grant and has yet to make anything due to a lack of customers.
“I can’t produce product that I can’t sell,” HomTex President Jeremy Wootten said.
Other companies also had trouble living up to political hype.
In October 2020, New York announced eight grants that then-Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, now the governor, said were “a model for how we build back better for the post-pandemic future.” Those included $800,000 for newly formed Altor Safety and $1 million for startup firm NYPPE.
But NYPPE’s equipment wasn’t ready until February 2021, by which time the market had changed, President Connor Knapp said.
So Knapp tapped the brakes on his plans. NYPPE still hasn’t sold any N95 masks because it lacks regulatory approval. It just recently scaled up production of surgical masks, after obtaining a U.S. Food and Drug Administration certification that came with its purchase of Altor Safety.
Some PPE manufacturers point to federal regulations as part of the reason for their struggles. Three-ply masks need FDA approval to be marketed for medical use — an important designation for building a long-term customer base.
That process can be time-consuming. Facing delays, Angstrom Manufacturing in Missouri ended up buying another business that already had FDA approval, President Chris Carron said. By then, it was fall 2021 — a year after it received a state grant.
Companies need approval from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to market products as N95 respirators, which filter at least 95% of airborne particles.
During the first two years of the pandemic, NIOSH approved 30 new manufacturers — more than seven times the typical number during a similar pre-pandemic period, according to agency data. Some applications remain pending, while numerous others were denied.
Halcyon Shades’ N95 certification was rejected in October because its samples didn’t have head straps attached. While the company works on another application, its equipment sits idle inside the clear plastic-sheet walls of a “clean room” specially built to shield materials from airborne contaminants. Partially finished masks remain paused on a conveyor belt, waiting to be deposited into a cardboard box.
Without federal approval, “we’re just dead in the water,” said Schmersahl, the company owner.
Progress reports filed with the Missouri Department of Economic Development show that nearly all its PPE grant recipients faced challenges by July 2021, especially with sales.
Patriot Medical Devices, which received $750,000 from Missouri, hired nearly 100 people as it cranked out millions of masks during a COVID-19 surge in late 2020 and early 2021, CEO Rick Needham said. Fewer than 10 employees remain.
“We felt it was our patriotic duty to do something to help solve the problem,” Needham said. But, he added, “It’s frankly a little bit of a dysfunctional business model at this point.”
Ohio awarded $20.8 million to 73 businesses to manufacture pandemic-related supplies, according to state data. Of 60 businesses that complied with a recent reporting deadline, more than one-third no longer produced PPE by the end of 2021.
Cleveland Veteran Business Solutions, which received a $500,000 grant to get into the PPE business, made about 5 million surgical masks beginning in August 2020. It ultimately halted production in the face of cheaper imports and sold its machines this year, co-founder Taner Eren said.
“It was surprising and disappointing strategically that there wasn’t support for a local PPE manufacturing industry,” Eren said.
The business was among several dozen that banded together to form the American Mask Manufacturer’s Association with the goal of sustaining the industry. The group’s membership has dwindled as more and more go out of business.
Association organizers say the industry has reached a critical point. They want the federal government to treat PPE manufacturers like the nation’s defense industry — entering into long-term contracts to perpetually replenish a stockpile for future pandemics or emergencies.
“If the federal government doesn’t come in and help support the U.S. manufacturing base, it’s almost certainly going to go back to China, and we’ll be just as vulnerable as we were in early 2020 and 2019,” said Brent Dillie, the association chairman and co-founder of Premium-PPE, a Virginia manufacturer started during the pandemic that has shed about two-thirds of its roughly 300 employees.
Infrastructure legislation signed by President Joe Biden took a step toward bolstering domestic suppliers. Effective in February, it required new contracts for PPE purchased by the departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs to run for at least two years and be awarded to U.S. producers — unless there’s not sufficient quantity and quality at market prices.
The health and veterans departments said they haven’t bought anything yet. Homeland Security hasn’t answered the AP’s questions. Documents show the government solicited bids due Dec. 6 for up to 381 million U.S.-made surgical masks over three years for its stockpile. No deal has been announced.
Other documents show the government is looking to contract with three major suppliers — 3M, Moldex, and Owens & Minor — for a total of $115 million in U.S-made N95 masksover three years. A justification document says noncompetitive contracts are necessary to preserve capacity for future coronavirus surges or emergencies.
The Biden administration also formed a task force of experts from federal agencies, health care providers, PPE manufacturers and distributors to develop a national strategy for ensuring a “resilient public health supply chain.” Its work is expected to extend for years.
Some manufacturers said they can’t wait long for a federal life preserver.
Dentec Safety Specialists is wrapping up a contract to supply 125,000 rubber reusable respirators and 500,000 filtration cartridges from its Kansas facility for the national stockpile, said President Claudio Dente. It needs more orders soon to prevent layoffs, he said.
“I thought that COVID would really change the mindset of the people, the governments and manufacturing,” Dente said. But he added: “The general marketplace is reverting back to their old ways — meaning looking to buy product from China.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/efforts-to-make-protective-medical-gear-in-us-falling-flat/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:28 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/efforts-to-make-protective-medical-gear-in-us-falling-flat/ |
DALLAS (AP) — Barry Biffle is juggling his day job as CEO of Frontier Airlines while also working to save a proposed merger with Spirit Airlines that would create the nation’s fifth-biggest carrier by some measures.
This figures to be a bounce-back year for airlines like Frontier that cater to leisure travelers. After two years of hunkering down during the pandemic, more people are flying.
Biffle says the recovery in travel will enable his Denver-based airline to return to profitability this summer. And he’s puzzled by doubters, including investors who are shorting the stock — betting that the shares will fall in price.
On the merger, Biffle says Frontier and Spirit are answering regulators’ questions, and he is not alarmed that several liberals in Congress are urging the Biden administration to take a close look at whether the deal will hurt consumers.
The bigger obstacle to a Frontier-Spirit deal is JetBlue Airways, which made its own $3.6 billion bid for Spirit last week. JetBlue’s offer is higher than Frontier’s $2.9 billion bid, which was announced in February.
Frontier declined to make Biffle available after the JetBlue announcement. In an interview days earlier, Biffle discussed regulatory review of the Frontier-Spirit merger proposal, travel demand and other topics with The Associated Press. The answers have been edited for length.
Q. Where is travel demand now?
A. We have gone from possibly the worst revenue period at the beginning of Q1, in January and February, to one of the best sales periods. Fare levels and total revenue per passenger in the early March time frame exceeded 2019 levels — over $120 per passenger. COVID has held everyone back, but eventually after two years, it would appear people are ready to get back to their lives.
Q. Why do you think that’s happening?
A. We have been talking a lot about the bad side of inflation; this inflation is driven by higher incomes. We have never seen incomes jumping at the levels that they are, especially at the bottom. That is giving you people cooped up for two years wanting to get back to travel, and they have got more income than they have ever had.
Q. What does that mean for Frontier?
A. Historically that would actually get you back to 2019 levels in revenue. You actually need a little more though, unfortunately, to cover fuel. But with that trajectory, we believe that we can be profitable by the summer.
Q. The number of flyers has gone up and down during the pandemic. Is it hard to schedule the right number of flights?
A. We were really optimistic about the recovery a year ago … but then the delta variant hit and we were caught with way too much capacity. And we were going to have a great fourth quarter, and then the omicron hit. We have looked at other carriers — Alaska, for example — that has kept their capacity constrained (while) we were operating 90%, 95% of utilization in some periods, and we have been punished for that. While (demand) is great, it’s still not great in all the off-peak periods. While Fridays and Sundays are great, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, not so much. While spring break-Easter is still great, I don’t yet know how the first two weeks of May are going to be, I don’t yet know how the first two weeks in June are going to be, I don’t know what the second half of August is going to look like, I don’t know what September is going to look like.
Q. Frontier has an unusually high amount of short-selling, given the number of shares out there. Why is that? (Short sellers borrow shares and sell them while planning to replace the borrowed shares at a lower price. They lose money if they must replace shares at a higher price.)
A. I’m not an expert on it. I don’t run a hedge fund. It is very high, and we are sitting around watching it, kind of scratching our head. Not sure I get it, and it seems very dangerous because if you’re short-selling our stock and the days to cover (replace the borrowed shares) become a problem, that’s what started the whole GameStop craze, right? I’m personally confused at why they think this is a good idea.
Q. It’s been about two months since Frontier and Spirit announced plans to merge. Any news about the name of the new airline, the headquarters location and the management team?
A. No, we’re not planning to announce any of that before July. It’s going to take some time to look through these things and come to the right conclusion.
Q. Are your people talking to antitrust regulators?
A. We have started the process and it’s a very normal process so far. This is going to take to the end of the year to complete. They have questions, and we will deal with them in due course.
Q. Do you have any reason to think they will challenge the merger or require divestitures?
A. We haven’t heard anything like that. Neither one of us have dominant positions in LaGuardia or Reagan (airports). We just don’t have the things that you want to give up because it creates a monopoly.
Q. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and other members of Congress asked the administration to examine the deal closely. Does that worry you?
A. They didn’t come out opposing it. They are asking the administration to look into if this is going to raise fares to consumers. I understand their concern … many of the mergers that have created the big four in the United States (American, Delta, United and Southwest) caused some challenges for people. I think as they see the facts, they are going to see that (the Frontier-Spirit deal) is good for consumers.
Q. Let’s say the deal gets approved. What is this new, combined airline going to look like in five or 10 years?
A. In a few years, I think we’ll have nationwide notoriety as the place to go for low fares and best value.
Q. What does that mean to shareholders?
A. There is $500 million in (EBITDA, or gross earnings) just in synergies from a combined company. Over a five-year period, both airlines were going to roughly double in size as well … It’s good for the economy, it’s good for the shareholders, and hopefully — back to your short-seller question — we have proven all those people wrong. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/frontier-ceo-talks-about-airline-merger-travel-outlook/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:35 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/frontier-ceo-talks-about-airline-merger-travel-outlook/ |
MILAN (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi travels to Algeria on Monday to sign a deal for additional natural gas, the latest push by a European Union country to acquire alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is Italy’s biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. The new deal would add an extra 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria, just eclipsing Russia’s 29 billion cubic meters a year.
Europe is trying to cut its reliance on Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow’s war. At the same time, there is concern Russia might turn off the taps in reprisal for sanctions, a threat that would have devastating effects on the European economy. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes, and power industry.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already sought to have gas payments be made in rubles, in an apparent bid shore up the currency. A loophole allows countries to pay a designated Russian bank in dollars and euros as set out in contracts.
The tiny Baltic state of Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, recently cut itself off entirely from Russian gas imports, the first of the European Union’s 27 nations using Russian gas to break its energy dependence on Moscow.
Lithuania has been planning that move for years, and the task is more difficult for economic powers like Germany and Italy, which have gotten most of their natural gas from Russia.
The EU plans to reduce Russian gas imports by two-thirds by the end of the year and eliminate them before 2030 through steps like conservation, wind and solar development, and alternative sources. The 27-nation bloc has reached a deal with the United States to receive more boatloads of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.
Germany, which gets about 40% of its gas from Russia, has announced plans to quickly build two LNG terminals and reached an agreement with Qatar for LNG supplies. Poland is expanding an LNG terminal to receive deliveries from Qatar, the U.S., Norway and others. It has been reducing dependence on Russian oil through contracts with Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and Norway.
Germany and Italy also are pushing for more renewable energy.
The deal between Italy and Algeria is the first concrete result of missions by Italy’s foreign minister to energy-producing nations to secure alternate sources, also including Azerbaijan, Qatar, Congo, Angola and Mozambique.
Draghi is traveling with Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, the energy transition minister, Roberto Cingolani, and the CEO of Italian energy company Eni, Claudio Descalzi.
Eni announced a significant oil and gas discovery in Algeria last month and said it would work with Algerian partner Sonatrach to fast-track its development for the third quarter of this year. Eni has operated in Algeria for more than 40 years. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:42 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/italys-premier-to-sign-gas-deal-with-algeria-amid-war/ |
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — State kindergarten and primary school teachers in North Macedonia began an open-ended strike Monday, seeking substantial pay rises amid a cost of living crisis.
The teachers’ union is pressing the government for annual salary increases over the next two years which would roughly take their average monthly salary from 400 euros now to about 700 euros ($436 to 760) in 2024.
The center-left government has ruled out any new salary increase for teachers this year. It has already increased the minimum monthly salary in the country from 247 to 292 euros, in a bid to ease discontent over high living costs triggered by a sharp hike in energy and food prices.
Annual inflation in the small Balkan country of about 1.8 million increased for the ninth straight month in March to reach a 14-year high of 8,8%, from 7,6% in February.
Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri called on the teachers’ union to join in urgent talks to seek a compromise.
Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski called on strikers “to put first the interests of children and make sure that the educational process is not disrupted.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/north-macedonia-teachers-strike-as-power-food-prices-soar/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:49 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/north-macedonia-teachers-strike-as-power-food-prices-soar/ |
AVENEL, N.J. (AP) — The familiar sights and sounds are still there: the scuffed and faded floor tiles, the relentless beige-on-beige color scheme, the toddlers’ clothes and refrigerators and pretty much everything in between.
There’s even a canned recording that begins, “Attention, Kmart shoppers” — except it’s to remind folks about COVID-19 precautions, not to alert them to a flash sale over in ladies’ lingerie like days of old.
Many of the shelves are bare, though, at the Kmart in Avenel, New Jersey, picked over by bargain hunters as the store prepares to close its doors for good April 16.
Once it shutters, the number of Kmarts in the U.S. – once well over 2,000 – will be down to a handful of stores in the U.S and its territories, according to multiple reports, in a retail world now dominated by Walmart, Target and Amazon.
The demise of the the store in the middle-class suburb, 15 miles (24 kilometers) south of New York City, is the tale of the death of the discount department store writ small.
“You’re always thinking about it because stores are closing all over, but it’s still sad,” said cashier Michelle Yavorsky, who said she has worked at the Avenel store for 2 ½ years. “I’ll miss the place. A lot of people shopped here.”
In its heyday, Kmart sold product lines endorsed by celebrities Martha Stewart and Jaclyn Smith, sponsored NASCAR auto races and was mentioned in movies including “Rain Man” and “Beetlejuice.” It was name-dropped in songs by artists from Eminem to the Beastie Boys to Hall & Oates; in 2003, Eminem bought a 29-room, suburban Detroit mansion once owned by former Kmart chairman Chuck Conaway.
The chain cemented a place in American culture with its Blue Light Specials, a flashing blue orb affixed to a pole that would beckon shoppers to a flash sale in progress. Part of its success was due to its early adoption of layaway programs, which allowed customers who lacked credit to reserve items and pay for them in installments.
For a time, Kmart had a little bit of everything: You could shop for your kids’ back-to-school supplies, get your car tuned up and grab a meal without leaving the premises.
“Kmart was part of America,” said Michael Lisicky, a Baltimore-based author who has written several books on U.S. retail history. “Everybody went to Kmart, whether you liked it or not. They had everything. You had toys. You had sporting goods. You had candy. You had stationery. It was something for everybody. This was almost as much of a social visit as it was a shopping visit. You could spend hours here. And these just dotted the American landscape over the years.”
Kmart’s decline has been slow but steady, brought about by years of falling sales, changes in shopping habits and the looming shadow of Walmart, which coincidentally began its life within months of Kmart’s founding in 1962.
Struggling to compete with Walmart’s low prices and Target’s trendier offerings, Kmart filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early 2002 — becoming the largest U.S. retailer to take that step — and announced it would close more than 250 stores.
A few years later, hedge fund executive Edward Lampert combined Sears and Kmart and pledged to return them to their former greatness, but the recession and the rising dominance of Amazon contributed in derailing those goals. Sears filed for Chapter 11 in 2018 and currently has a handful of stores left in the U.S. where it once had thousands.
Kmarts continue to operate in Westwood, New Jersey; Bridgehampton, on New York’s Long Island, and Miami.
It didn’t have to end this way, according to Mark Cohen, director of retail studies at Columbia University in New York and former CEO of Sears Canada. Trying to compete with Walmart on price was a foolish strategy, he said, and Lampert was criticized for not having a retail background and appearing more interested in stripping off the assets of the two chains for their cash value.
“It’s a study in greed, avarice and incompetence,” Cohen said. “Sears should have never gone away; Kmart was in worse shape, but not fatally so. And now they’re both gone.
“Retailers fall by the wayside sometimes because they’re selling things people don’t want to buy,” he continued. “In the case of Kmart, everything they used to sell, people are buying but they’re buying it from Walmart and Target.”
Transformco, which owns Kmart and Sears, did not respond to an email seeking comment and a phone number listed for the company was not taking messages.
Nationwide, some former Kmarts remain vacant while others have been replaced by other big-box stores, fitness centers, self-storage facilities, even churches. One former site in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is now a popular dine-in movie theater.
Employees at the Kmart in Avenel found out last month that the store would close.
Unlike 20 years ago, when news of impending Kmart closures around the country prompted an outpouring of support from loyal shoppers and a Detroit radio station even mounted a campaign to try and save a local store, the closing of the Avenel location was met mostly with an air of resignation.
“It’s maybe a little nostalgic because I’ve lived my whole life in this area, but it’s just another retail store closing,” said Jim Schaber, a resident of nearby Iselin who said his brother worked in the shoe department at Kmart for years. “It’s just another sign of people doing online shopping and not going out to the retail stores.”
The closing packed a little more of an emotional punch for Mike Jerdonek, a truck driver who recalled shopping at Kmart in Brooklyn and Queens in his younger days.
“It’s like history passing right in front of our eyes,” he said as he sat in his car outside the Avenel store. “When I was younger I didn’t have any money, so it was a good place to shop because the prices were cheap. And to see it gone right now, it’s kind of sad.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ | 2022-04-11T15:27:55 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/once-a-retail-giant-kmart-down-to-3-stores-after-nj-closing/ |
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish government special commission has reinforced its earlier allegations that the 2010 plane crash that killed President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others in Russia was the result of Moscow’s assassination plan.
The latest of the commission’s reports, released Monday, alleges that an intentional detonation of planted explosives caused the April 10, 2010 crash of Soviet-made Tu-154M plane that killed Kaczynski, the first lady and 94 other government and armed forces figures as well as many prominent Poles.
Their deaths were the result of an “act of unlawful interference by the Russian side,” the commission’s head Antoni Macierewicz told a news conference.
“The main and indisputable proof of the interference was an explosion in the left wing … followed by an explosion in the plane’s center,” said Macierewicz, who in 2015-2018 served as defense minister in Poland’s right-wing government.
He denied that any mistakes were made by the Polish pilots or crew members, despite bad weather at the time of the crash.
The report repeats many previous allegations made by the commission, appointed by the government whose key figure is the main ruling Law and Justice party leader, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the twin of the late president.
It comes at a time when Russia has unleashed a war on Poland’s neighbor Ukraine, and among the current tense relations between Warsaw and Moscow. Poland supports Ukraine in its struggle against Russia and is calling for very tough sanctions on Moscow for its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
The latest report once again drums up hostility toward Russia among some Poles, chiefly supporters of the nationalist government, it what seems to be an effort to consolidate the voter base of the Law and Justice party, which was founded by the Kaczynski twins in 2001.
Suspicions are additionally fuelled by Russia’s refusal to return the wreckage, which has complicated Poland’s investigation.
Earlier, two separate reports by Polish and Russian experts on aviation incidents said the crash on approach in dense fog to the Smolensk airport, which did not have sophisticated aviation equipment, was the result of human errors made in adverse weather conditions.
They found no proof of foul play. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/polish-panel-russia-behind-polish-leaders-plane-crash/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:01 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/polish-panel-russia-behind-polish-leaders-plane-crash/ |
LONDON (AP) — The World Bank says Ukraine’s economy will shrink by 45.1% this year because of Russia’s invasion, which has shut down half of the country’s businesses, choked off imports and exports, and damaged a vast amount of critical infrastructure.
Unprecedented financial and export sanctions imposed by Western allies in response to the war, meanwhile, are plunging Russia into a deep recession, lopping off more than a tenth of its economic growth, the World Bank said in a report Sunday.
The war is set to inflict twice the amount of economic damage across Europe and Central Asia that the COVID-19 pandemic did, the Washington-based lender said in its “War in the Region” economic report. Besides Ukraine, it focuses on central and Eastern Europe, former Soviet republics, the Balkan countries and Turkey.
“The magnitude of the humanitarian crisis unleashed by the war is staggering,” said Anna Bjerde, the World Bank’s vice president for the Europe and Central Asia region. “The Russian invasion is delivering a massive blow to Ukraine’s economy and it has inflicted enormous damage to infrastructure.”
The report said economic activity is impossible in “large swaths of areas” in Ukraine because infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and train tracks have been destroyed.
Ukraine plays a major role as a global supplier of agricultural exports like wheat but that’s in question now because planting and harvesting have been disrupted by the war, the report said. The war has cut off access to the Black Sea, a key route for exports, including 90% of Ukraine’s grain shipments, it said.
“The war is having a devastating impact on human life and causing economic destruction in both countries, and will lead to significant economic losses in the Europe and Central Asia region and the rest of the world,” the report said.
Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan also are forecast to slide into recession this year, while economic growth projections have been cut for the region’s other economies because of the war’s ripple effects.
The World Bank said the humanitarian catastrophe is the biggest initial shockwave from the war and will likely be its most enduring legacy, as the wave of refugees fleeing Ukraine is “anticipated to dwarf previous crises.”
More than 4 million people have fled Ukraine, with more than half going to Poland and others heading to countries like Moldova, Romania and Hungary. An additional 6.5 million have been displaced internally. Those numbers are expected to swell as the war drags on, the World Bank said.
The report issued a stark warning that “the war will increase poverty in the region due to the recession and food price inflation.”
Beyond the humanitarian crisis, the lender said “the war is also delivering a sizable blow to the global economy through multiple channels.”
The war and sanctions have scrambled global trade routes and pushed up shipping and insurance costs, “which magnifies strains on global value chains,” the report said, noting that industries getting hit include food, automobiles, construction, petrochemicals and transport. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:08 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/russias-war-to-shrink-ukraine-economy-45-world-bank-says/ |
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economic growth slowed in February amid declines in the production of cars, computers and chemicals.
Gross domestic product increased just 0.1% from a month earlier, down from the 0.8% growth reported in January, the Office for National Statistics said Monday.
The output of productive industries, including manufacturing, mining and power generation, dropped 0.6% in the month. Construction fell 0.1%. Those declines largely offset an increase in service industries, driven by an 8.6% jump in accommodation and food services.
Monthly GDP is now 1.5% above pre-pandemic levels, the ONS said. While services output is 2.1% higher than in February 2020. Construction is up 1.1%, while manufacturing and production are 1.9% below pre-pandemic levels.
Service industries account for about 80% of the U.K.’s economic output. | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:15 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/uk-economic-growth-slows-amid-declines-in-manufacturing/ |
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Treasury chief, once seen as a potential candidate for prime minister, is fighting to save his reputation by requesting an investigation of his own conduct after a series of news reports on his family’s finances raised questions about his judgment.
Rishi Sunak, a 41-year-old former hedge fund manager, asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson to direct his adviser on ministerial standards to review all of the disclosures Sunak has made — such as his wife’s tax exemption statusand her connection to a company that received government contracts — since he became a government minister.
Sunak said he was confident all “relevant information” was appropriately declared, but he wanted an investigation to reassure the public.
“My overriding concern is that the public retain confidence in the answers they are given, and I believe the best way of achieving this is to ensure those answers are entirely independent, without bias or favor,” Sunak wrote in a letter to Johnson dated Sunday.
Sunak’s standing has been damaged by revelations that his Indian-born wife took advantage of rules that allow many foreigners to escape U.K. taxes on their overseas income. It came at the same time he was raising income taxes for most residents already facing a cost-of-living crisis tied to soaring energy prices.
Sunak defended his wife after the first reports that she had opted for “non-domiciled” tax status, saying she is a private citizen with her own career and independent investments and shouldn’t be subject to the same level of scrutiny as a politician.
But by Friday, his wife, Akshata Murty, a fashion designer and the daughter of an Indian billionaire, said she didn’t want the issue to become a “distraction” for her husband so she had decided to pay U.K. taxes on her worldwide income.
Married people in the U.K. file separate tax returns, unlike in the U.S. where many file joint returns.
But the brouhaha hasn’t ended.
Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party, wrote to Johnson on Sunday asking that his ethics adviser investigate six issues relating to Sunak’s disclosures.
These include allegations that he failed to reveal his wife’s stake in Infosys, an information technology company that has won several contracts from the government, and concerns about the so-called blind trust Sunak established to allow him to maintain his holdings in an investment fund while giving up any role in their day-to-day management.
Steve Reed, Labour’s spokesman on justice issues, said Monday that he believes Sunak has violated government rules on ministerial conduct. Ministers sometimes resign if they break these rules.
“If the chancellor’s household is benefiting from contracts of that kind, that should have been something that he declared in the register of interests, but he didn’t,” Reed told the BBC. “There’s a whole list of areas where the chancellor appears to have failed to declare things he should have declared.”
Sunak’s Cabinet colleagues have defended him.
Environment Minister George Eustice rejected suggestions that Sunak was “too rich” to be chancellor of the exchequer or even potentially prime minister.
“I don’t think it’s right that we should have a rule that says you’re too wealthy to be able to do a role,” he told the BBC. “What matters is the knowledge, the technical expertise, that you have.” | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/uk-treasury-chief-fights-to-save-reputation-in-tax-storm/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:22 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/business/uk-treasury-chief-fights-to-save-reputation-in-tax-storm/ |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Twitter’s largest investor, billionaire Elon Musk, is reversing course and will no longer join the company’s board of directors less than a week after being awarded a seat.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal announced the news, which followed a weekend of Musk tweets suggesting changes to Twitter, including making the site ad-free. Nearly 90% of Twitter’s 2021 revenue came from ads.
“Elon’s appointment to the board was to become officially effective on 4/9, but Elon shared that same morning that he would not be joining the board,” Agrawal wrote in a reposted note originally sent to Tesla employees. “I believe this is for the best.”
Agrawal didn’t offer an explanation for Musk’s apparent decision. He said the board understood the risks of having Musk, who is now the company’s largest shareholder, as a member. But at the time it “believed having Elon as a fiduciary of the company, where he, like all board members, has to act in the best interests of the company and all our shareholders, was the best path forward,” he wrote.
The rapidly evolving relationship between Musk and Twitter began exactly one week ago when regulatory filings revealed the mercurial billionaire had amassed a 9.2% stake in the social media platform. A later financial filing showed that Musk had been buying up the shares in almost daily batches starting Jan. 31.
Twitter gave Musk a seat on the board on the condition that he not own more than 14.9% of the company’s outstanding stock, according to a regulatory filing.
Musk’s board role could have made him a “thorn in the side of management” and given him an influential inside voice in the platform’s future but it could have also discouraged him from rocking the boat too much, said Chester Spatt, a finance professor at Carnegie Mellon University and former chief economist at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“There’s an old cliché about keeping somebody inside the tent,” Spatt said. “There were advantages to having him constrained a bit.”
While Musk has been one of Twitter’s loudest critics, the sudden withdrawal from the board, which became official Saturday, could signal that relations between Musk and Twitter will become more acrimonious.
Spatt said that Musk, as the largest shareholder, could potentially “swing back hard” at Twitter executives and board members and force the company to move in a new direction.
“At some point he could throw the directors out, he could replace the board,” Spatt said. “He could probably launch that with his current 9% stake and potentially be very successful.”
In a letter to employees announcing Musk’s departure, Agrawal wrote that, “There will be distractions ahead, but our goals and priorities remain unchanged.”
Shares of Twitter Inc., which jumped nearly 30% after Musk’s stake became public last week, fell almost 2% at the opening bell Monday.
Musk posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
Musk’s 80.5 million Twitter followers make him one of the most popular figures on the platform, rivaling pop stars like Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. But his prolific tweeting has sometimes gotten him into trouble.
In one famous example, Musk apologized to a British cave explorer who alleged the Tesla CEO had branded him a pedophile by referring to him as “pedo guy” in an angry — and subsequently deleted — tweet. The explorer filed a defamation suit, although a Los Angeles jury later cleared Musk.
He’s also been locked in a long-running dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over his Twitter activity. Musk and Tesla in 2018 agreed to pay $40 million in civil fines and for Musk to have his tweets approved by a corporate lawyer after he tweeted about having the money to take Tesla private at $420 per share. That didn’t happen but the tweet caused Tesla’s stock price to jump. His lawyer has contended that the SEC is infringing on Musk’s free speech rights.
Musk’s latest trouble with the SEC could be his delay in notifying regulators of his growing stake in Twitter.
“He’s a serial offender with respect to SEC regulations,” said Spatt.
Musk, before reversing course on the board seat, sent out a number of tweets over the weekend referencing potential changes at Twitter.
Many of them — such as his proposal for an ad-free Twitter or turning the social media company’s San Francisco headquarters into a homeless shelter — have since been deleted.
Musk then posted a few cryptic tweets late Sunday, including one showing a meme saying, “In all fairness, your honor, my client was in goblin mode,” followed by one saying “Explains everything.” Another, later tweet was of an emoji with a hand over its mouth.
Musk has described himself as a “free speech absolutist” and has said he doesn’t think Twitter is living up to free speech principles — an opinion shared by followers of Donald Trump and a number of other right-wing political figures who’ve had their accounts suspended for violating Twitter content rules.
Twitter’s CEO and and many of its board members had publicly praised Musk last week, suggesting they might take his ideas seriously. But the company had made clear that as a board member he could not make day-to-day decisions or change policies, such as overturning the Trump ban.
Agrawal’s initial actions since taking over from co-founder Jack Dorsey in November have involved reorganizing divisions without making major changes. The company has long lagged behind its social media rivals and boasts far fewer users. | https://www.wivb.com/news/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:29 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/elon-musk-no-longer-joining-twitters-board-of-directors/ |
BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s health ministry said Monday that the country may have to discard 3 million doses of expired COVID-19 vaccine by the end of June.
Ministry spokesman Hanno Kautz told reporters in Berlin that “not many doses” have been destroyed so far, though he couldn’t give an exact figure.
But Kautz said that “we have more vaccine available at the moment than is being used and than we can donate.” He added that the U.N.-backed program to distribute shots to poorer countries, COVAX, isn’t currently accepting donations.
“There is certainly a danger of vaccine being discarded,” Kautz said. However, he added that it recently emerged that the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine can be stored for longer than previously thought, so German officials now believe that 3 million doses may have to be discarded or destroyed by the end of June — down from a previous estimate of 10 million.
Germany’s vaccination program has slowed considerably, with an average of only 33,000 shots administered per day over the past week — compared with over 1 million at times when the country’s booster campaign was in full swing in December.
Some 76% of the population has been fully vaccinated and 59% also have received a booster. Officials aren’t satisfied with the vaccination rate, particularly among older people, but the German parliament last weekrejected a proposalto require all people 60 and over to get inoculated.
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Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic | https://www.wivb.com/news/health-news/germany-may-have-to-junk-3-million-covid-shots-by-late-june/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:36 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/health-news/germany-may-have-to-junk-3-million-covid-shots-by-late-june/ |
NEVADA, Iowa (AP) — In 2008, this overwhelmingly white state was Barack Obama’s unlikely launching pad to become the nation’s first Black president. Fourteen years later, Iowans aren’t showing a similar embrace for the woman running to become its first Black governor.
Democrat Deidre DeJear is finding Iowa a much changed place, trending staunchly conservative, endorsing many aspects of Trumpism, with an electorate that is so far displaying little interest in her history-making candidacy.
Educated younger adults who were once reliable Democratic voters have fled rural Iowa seeking opportunities elsewhere. The strength of organized labor has eroded. Obama’s general election victories in 2008 and 2012 seem like distant memories.
The changes are part of a broader transformation that has spread through the Northern Plains over the past two decades, making it increasingly difficult for Democrats to compete in the region even as they make inroads in other places like the Deep South and Sun Belt.
“Times are so different from Obama’s 2008 campaign,” said Dave Leshtz, a veteran Democratic organizer from Iowa City, after a DeJear event in the liberal enclave. “It’s an entirely different state.”
DeJear, a 36-year-old Des Moines businesswoman, cemented her status as a rising political star in 2018 when she became the first Black candidate to win a statewide primary in Iowa. She lost the general election for secretary of state, but she won national attention and invitations from Democratic presidential hopefuls to serve as a state adviser.
She is struggling to translate that lower-wattage fame into support from voters. Only 31% of likely Iowa voters said they know enough about DeJear — running unopposed in the June 7 primary — to form an opinion, according to The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll, conducted in late February and early March.
Meanwhile, she posted an anemic $8,500 fundraising balance in January, raising less than $300,000 since announcing her candidacy in August. It paled next to Republican incumbent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ $4.8 million balance and $3.8 million in contributions.
Story County Democrat Barb Wheelock attributed part of DeJear’s struggle to racism, both inside the party and among the state’s voters.
“I think it’s part that she’s Black and people don’t think she’ll do very well — the people in our state party, the people with the money,” Wheelock, a 70-year-old retired physical therapist, said while attending a DeJear stop in Story County last month.
DeJear told The Associated Press that she suspected her race may be on some minds as she seeks supporters.
“Of course no one has said that to me outright,” DeJear said. “But there is a question of whether or not a Black woman could win. That is definitely a question.”
DeJear tried to put any such doubts aside as she bounded onto the stage at an event in Nevada, a small farm town in central Iowa. With an upbeat style and a trace of her native Mississippi accent, DeJear reminded the audience that Iowans boasted a groundbreaking legacy, including an Iowa Supreme Court decision that made Iowa the first state to desegregate public schools after the Civil War.
“I believe in what’s possible,” she said. “We made a conscientious decision that no matter what your skin color was, no matter what your race was, each and every one of our students should have access to a quality public education.”
It was a nod to an Iowa progressive streak that carried well into the 21st century.
In 2009, the Iowa high court ruled gay marriage legal, making the state the third to allow it, after similar rulings in Massachusetts and Connecticut but five years before the U.S. Supreme Court. A year before, Iowa voters had not only backed Obama by a healthy margin in the general election, they overwhelmingly sent liberal Democrat Tom Harkin to the U.S. Senate for a fifth term.
Iowans ushered in the new millennium with Tom Vilsack, a Democrat and former mayor from rural southeast Iowa, as governor. And during the 1988 Democratic presidential caucuses, the Rev. Jesse Jackson finished a notable fourth, relying on support from rural Iowa.
But a sharp decline of union jobs and an exodus of young, college-educated adults, have altered Iowa’s once dynamic political map.
In a striking illustration, Obama carried the state in November 2008 by winning 52 of its 99 counties. Joe Biden, who on Tuesday will make his first trip to Iowa as president, lost the state in 2020, winning only six counties.
After decades of divided state government, Republicans have controlled the Legislature and the governorship for six consecutive years, cutting taxes and reining in voting and abortion rights. Today, five of Iowa’s six members of Congress are Republicans.
State Rep. Ras Smith had hoped to interrupt the trend as a candidate for governor in this year’s race. The 34-year-old Smith, who was voted the Iowa Democratic Party’s “Rising Star” award recipient in 2019 and is Black, found it difficult to persuade some of the party’s major donors in the state, who are white, to give him a look.
Despite Smith’s promising profile and DeJear’s 2018 breakthrough, some wealthy Iowa Democrats sought out others to run, including state Rep. Todd Pritchard, who is from rural northern Iowa and white.
Smith said some influential donors declined his invitation to meet to discuss his campaign. Among them, he said, was Fred Hubbell, the 2018 Democratic nominee for governor. A wealthy Des Moines-area businessman, Hubbell spent $7 million of his own money in narrowly losing to Reynolds.
“It wasn’t about the dollars,” said Smith, who ended his campaign in January, leaving DeJear unopposed in the primary. “He didn’t come to an event and was turned off. We didn’t have coffee and I said something that pissed him off. That’s the part that felt disrespectful. It was disrespectful.”
Smith said he and Hubbell spoke by phone but never met despite several invitations. Hubbell did not respond to requests for comment.
“My party doesn’t think it’s nearly as racist,” said Tom Courtney, a former state senator and longtime union activist from the once-booming manufacturing corridor along the Mississippi River, who is white. “But some of that is going on.”
The sentiment stings for Iowa Democrats, as national party leaders, frustrated by the state’s lack of diversity, are taking steps to shift the early presidential nominating contest away from the traditionally first-in-the-nation caucus state.
Hubbell endorsed DeJear in a written statement last month, two months after Smith’s withdrawal made her the Democrats’ only candidate. Hubbell has since contributed to DeJear’s campaign, though her campaign declined to say how much. Smith has also endorsed DeJear, one of several Black Democratic women running for statewide office around the country this year.
Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams is again seeking the governorship. Former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley is running for U.S. Senate as a Democrat. And Florida Rep. Val Demings is the leading Democrat to face Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio.
But DeJear is the only Black woman campaigning in such a predominantly white state. In 2020, 90.4% of Iowans were white, according to census data. Roughly 62% of the nation’s population was white, and more than 13% Black.
Still, DeJear, who campaigned for Obama as a college student at Drake University in Des Moines in 2008, is optimistic she can relight the flame.
“We also look to Obama and what he was able to accomplish,” she said in the interview. “I believe that Iowans have this innate ability to see the humanity that exists in other folks. And that’s what drives us.”
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This story has been corrected to show the candidate’s first name is Diedre, not Dierdre. | https://www.wivb.com/news/iowas-political-swing-makes-obamas-wins-harder-to-repeat/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:42 | 0 | https://www.wivb.com/news/iowas-political-swing-makes-obamas-wins-harder-to-repeat/ |
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal jury is set to resume deliberating on Monday in the trial of a former Virginia police officer charged with storming the U.S. Capitol with another off-duty officer.
The 12 jurors deliberated for more than four hours on Friday without reaching a verdict in the case against former Rocky Mount police officer Thomas Robertson, who is charged with obstructing Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory.
Robertson’s jury trial was the second among hundreds of Capitol riot cases. The first ended last month with jurors convicting a Texas man, Guy Reffitt, of all five counts in his indictment.
Robertson didn’t testify at his trial, which started last Tuesday. A key witness for prosecutors in his case was Jacob Fracker, who also served on the Rocky Mount police force and viewed Robertson as a mentor and father figure.
Fracker was scheduled to be tried alongside Robertson before he pleaded guilty last month to a conspiracy charge and agreed to cooperate with authorities. Fracker testified last Thursday that he had hoped the mob that attacked the Capitol could overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Robertson is charged with six counts: obstruction of Congress, interfering with officers during a civil disorder, entering a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted area while carrying a dangerous weapon, disorderly or disruptive conduct inside the Capitol building, and obstruction. The last charge stems from his alleged post-riot destruction of cellphones belonging to him and Fracker.
The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot. Robertson has been jailed since Cooper ruled in July that he violated the terms of his pretrial release by possessing firearms.
More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the riot. Over 250 of them have pleaded guilty, mostly to misdemeanors.
Rocky Mount is about 25 miles south of Roanoke and has roughly 5,000 residents. | https://www.wivb.com/news/jury-to-keep-deliberating-in-ex-officers-capitol-riot-trial/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:49 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/jury-to-keep-deliberating-in-ex-officers-capitol-riot-trial/ |
NEW YORK (AP) — (EDITOR’S NOTE: The season-long celebration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary is winding down. As part of The Associated Press series on the NBA’s first 75 years, Commissioner Adam Silver wrote this essay on what the league could look like 25 years from now when it celebrates its 100th anniversary.)
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What will the NBA look like at 100? While it is difficult to predict the future one year from now, let alone 25, I do know what will remain unchanged: Our bedrock principle that “sports have the power to change the world.”
Our teams and players will continue to use the game of basketball to teach lifelong values, give back to our communities and bring awareness to critically important societal issues.
We will also continue to embrace being a global league. Our games are distributed in more than 200 countries and territories, our social media community exceeds 2 billion people, and 25% of the players in our league grew up outside of the United States. The NBA’s reach is expansive, though in many ways we are just scratching the surface in terms of our international growth.
I expect live sports and entertainment to remain special. There is something truly remarkable about 20,000 people of different backgrounds gathering together in an arena to enjoy a shared experience. What makes NBA games unique — the proximity to the players, the fast-paced nature of the game and the energy derived from being around other people — will be as vital in 25 years as it is today.
What I do foresee changing is how fans around the world engage with the NBA. Today’s fans can watch NBA basketball on their high-definition televisions or just as easily on their smartphones. But in 25 years, this notion of watching games on a “screen” may be irrelevant. Games will appear in any size — three-dimensionally — whether on a living room floor or in a ballroom. Watching basketball anywhere could feel like you are in an arena surrounded by thousands of fellow fans.
The game on the court will evolve as well, as a whole new group of players builds on the greatness of the generations that came before them. We may see different kinds of schedule formats and tournaments that create new league traditions. And perhaps, once air travel becomes faster, we will have franchises outside of North America.
And if we are more popular at our 100th anniversary than we are today, I know we will have remained true to our mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the game of basketball.
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Adam Silver is commissioner of the National Basketball Association.
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More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Follow the AP’s coverage of the NBA’s 75th anniversary season: https://apnews.com/hub/nba-at-75 | https://www.wivb.com/news/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ | 2022-04-11T15:28:56 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/nba-at-75-adam-silver-says-game-can-change-the-world/ |
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s parliament elected opposition lawmaker Shahbaz Sharif as the new prime minister Monday, following a week of political turmoil that led to the weekend ouster of Premier Imran Khan.
But the elevation of Sharif will not guarantee a peaceful path forward or solve the country’s many economic problems, including high inflation and a soaring energy crisis.
Sharif, the brother of disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, won with 174 votes after more than 100 lawmakers from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or Pakistan Justice Party, resigned and walked out of the National Assembly in protest.
Those 174 votes — two more than the required simple majority — are enough to pass laws in the 342-seat assembly. If Khan’s followers take to the streets, as he has vowed, it could create more pressure on lawmakers and deepen the crisis.
Khan, a former cricket star whose conservative Islamist ideology and dogged independence characterized his three years and eight months in office, was ousted early Sunday. He lost a no-confidence vote after being deserted by his party allies and a key coalition partner.
In a show of strength and a precursor to the political uncertainty ahead, Khan rallied hundreds of thousands of supporters Sunday night to protest his ouster, describing the new leadership as an “imposed government,” charging they colluded with the U.S. to oust him. His backers marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and shouted slogans promising to return him to power. The crowds were dominated by youths who make up the backbone of Khan’s supporters.
The political drama began April 3 when Khan sidestepped an initial no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition by dissolving parliament and calling early elections. The opposition, which accuses Khan of economic mismanagement, appealed to the Supreme Court. After four days of deliberations, the court said Khan’s move was illegal and the no-confidence vote went ahead, leading to his ouster.
Khan has demanded early elections — the balloting is not due before August 2023. He has tapped into anti-American sentiment in Pakistan, accusing Washington of conspiring with his opponents to topple him. That conspiracy theory resonates with his youthful base, which often sees the U.S. war on terrorism after 9/11 as unfairly targeting Pakistan.
Khan claims Washington opposes him because of his independent foreign policy favoring China and Russia. He was criticized for a visit he made on Feb. 24 to Moscow, where he met with President Vladimir Putin as Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine.
The U.S. State Department has denied any involvement in Pakistan’s internal politics.
The opposition coalition consists of parties that cross the political divide, from the left to the radically religious. The two largest parties are the Pakistan Muslim League, headed by Sharif, and the Pakistan People’s Party, co-chaired by the son and husband of Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister who was killed in 2007.
A few wealthy and powerful families have dominated Pakistan’s politics for decades, with power most often alternating between the Sharif and the Bhutto camps. Both political houses have been accused of and at times convicted of widespread corruption. They have dismissed the allegations as being politically motivated.
Nawaz Sharif was unseated by the Supreme Court in 2015 after being convicted of financial irregularities revealed in the so-called Panama Papers — a collection of leaked secret financial documents showing how some of the world’s richest hide their money and involving a global law firm based in Panama. He was disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court.
Asif Ali Zardari, Bhutto’s husband who served as president of Pakistan after the 2008 election, has spent more than seven years in prison, convicted on corruption charges.
Khan came to power in 2018, promising to break the pattern of family rule in Pakistan, but his opponents said he was elected with help from the powerful military, which has ruled the country for half of its 75-year history.
Nawaz Sharif was also ousted in 1999, in a military coup, and Benazir Bhutto’s government was ousted several times after the military sided with her opposition. In Pakistani politics, where loyalties are often fluid, Bhutto’s fiercest opposition often came from Sharif’s party.
Shahbaz Sharif has served three times as chief minister of Pakistan’s largest, most influential Punjab province, home to 60% of the country’s 220 million people. His son, Hamza, was elected last week as the new chief minister by the Punjab provincial parliament, ousting Khan’s nominee. Khan’s party is challenging that election, and the younger Sharif has yet to be sworn in.
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Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed.
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Follow Kathy Gannon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Kathygannon | https://www.wivb.com/news/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ | 2022-04-11T15:29:03 | 1 | https://www.wivb.com/news/pakistani-lawmakers-to-elect-new-pm-after-imran-khan-ouster/ |