US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?After watching Marshfield and Henley walk away with the state championships in 2021 and 2023, respectively, it was finally time for Marist Catholic to come away with the crown on Saturday. The Spartans smothered Henley 30-6 on Saturday afternoon in Medford’s Spiegelberg Stadium for the team’s first state championship since 2009. The Spartans got on the board first, with a 34-yard field goal on the opening drive by Christian Guerrero. But that lead grew quickly, as Connor Harvey scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. Nick Hudson found Guerrero for a 43-yard touchdown pass to make it a 16-0 lead for Marist Catholic. Henley finally got on the board just before halftime, as Joe Janney delivered a 49-yard touchdown pass to make it 16-6. But Marist Catholic quickly got the momentum back, as Hudson found Aaron Bidwell for a 59-yard touchdown right after halftime to make it a 23-6 lead. The Spartans put the game away late with a 5-yard pass to CJ Giustina to make it 30-6. Subscribe to the High School Sports+ newsletter Sign up here to get exclusive news and insights from high school sports editor Nik Streng. -- Nik Streng covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at nstreng@oregonian.com or @NikStreng
EUGENE, Ore. — Dillon Gabriel threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and No. 1 Oregon closed out an undefeated regular season with a 49-21 victory over Washington on Saturday. Oregon, also ranked atop the College Football Playoff rankings, had already locked up a spot in next weekend's Big Ten title game. The Ducks will face Penn State, which defeated Maryland 44-7 earlier Saturday. Ohio State's 13-10 loss to Michigan helped the Nittany Lions secure a berth. Gabriel completed 16 of 23 passes for 209 yards, and Jordan James ran for 99 yards and two scores for the Ducks (12-0, 9-0). Oregon finished the regular season without loss for the first time since 2010, when it was undefeated heading into the BCS national championship game. Last season, Oregon's only regular-season loss was to the Huskies. Washington again defeated the Ducks in the Pac-12 championship game, and the Huskies went 13-0 before falling to Michigan for the national championship. This season was markedly different for the Huskies (6-6, 4-5), who, like Oregon, were among the teams that bolted from the Pac-12 last summer. Washington started freshman Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback. Will Rogers had been the Huskies’ regular starter, but Williams was used situationally and helped Washington defeat UCLA to become bowl eligible. Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. looks for an open pass during an NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. Credit: AP/Lydia Ely Williams threw for 201 yards and a touchdown for Washington, which managed just 43 yards rushing against the Ducks. Tez Johnson, Oregon's top receiver who has been out since a victory over Michigan on Nov. 2 because of a shoulder injury, started and connected with Gabriel on a 9-yard scoring pass in the third quarter that gave the Ducks a 35-14 lead. Oregon scored on its first drive of the game on Noah Whittington's 9-yard run. The Huskies answered with Grady Gross' 26-yard field goal. Gross added added a 41-yarder early in the second quarter to pull within 7-6. Dillon Gabriel hit Traeshon Holden for a 40-yard catch-and-run that was initially called a touchdown, but video review ruled Holden down at the 1. James barreled into the endzone to make it 14-6. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel warms up before an NCAA college football game against Washington, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Eugene, Ore. Credit: AP/Lydia Ely Jonah Coleman fumbled on Washington's next play, and Oregon took over on the Husky 19. Two plays later, James scored on his second 1-yard touchdown in the space of a minute. Gabriel scored on a 4-yard keeper to make it 28-6, and the rout was on. Coleman scored on a 1-yard run for the Huskies to make it 28-14 at halftime. Gabriel added a 16-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Ferguson, and Da'Jaun Riggs scored from a yard out for the Ducks in the final quarter. Giles Jackson caught a 28-yard TD pass from Williams with 1:43 to go. Takeaways Washington: The Huskies won the previous three meetings against the Ducks and lead the all-time series 63-49-5, but their three-game win streak against Oregon ended on Saturday. Oregon: Jordan Burch, who had missed the last game with an ankle injury, returned. He had 2 1/2 sacks and three tackles. Oregon tied a program record with 10 sacks. Up Next Oregon is headed to the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis on Saturday against Penn State. Washington awaits its bowl selection.US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?The Most Popular iPhone Model Revealed: A Surprising Winner Emerges
Underperforming stars leave Tottenham with Europa League rescue mission
The stock of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) (₹985.50) is ruling at a crucial level. Immediate support levels are at ₹891 and ₹815. A close below the latter will change the outlook negative. Immediate resistance levels are at ₹1,019 and ₹1,123. A conclusive close above the latter will trigger a fresh rally, possibly to ₹1,475. F&O pointers: LICI was just included in the derivative segment and has just one-day history. The LICI December futures is ruling at ₹991.80 against the spot price of ₹985.50, signalling accumulation of long positions. Option trading indicates a trading range of ₹900-1,100. Strategy: Consider buying LICI 1000-call, which closed with a premium of ₹28.55 on Friday. As the market lot is 575 shares, this would cost ₹16,416.25, which would be the maximum loss. Keep the initial stop-loss at ₹15. Revise this upwards to ₹25 if the premium moves past ₹31 and to ₹30 on rise above ₹35. Traders can aim for an initial target of ₹45. Make sure to move the stop-loss to protect the profits or cut losses. This strategy is ideal if the stock opens on a flat-to-marginal negative note on Monday. Investors with high risk appetite can buy LICI futures with an initial stop-loss at ₹927. Trail the stop-loss to ₹985 if the contract moves past ₹1,000. Aim for a target of ₹1,475 with trailing stop-loss. Consider rolling over to the next series if the target is not met during the ongoing expiry. Follow-up: Traders can book profit on SRF 2200 December call. Note: The recommendations are based on technical analysis and F&O positions. There is a risk of loss in trading CommentsTory Baroness faces suspension for calling British-Asian peer ‘Lord Poppadom’
A WOMAN has revealed the cruel moment she discovered her cheating ex had catfished her in a bid to win her back. The singleton, from Scotland, had met her dream man on Tinder and was looking forward to a first date at the Christmas markets. 1 A woman was devastated after discovering her ex had catfished her (stock image) Credit: getty But ahead of the meeting, she was given a shocking catfish blow instead. Writing in to the Girls Overheard podcast , she said she has been left gutted and scared over the incident. Podcast host Eilidh Wells was tasked with reading out the anonymous message on the show. It read: "I've been talking to this guy for weeks on Tinder. We've never met or Facetimed but I was planning on meeting him at the start of December to go to the Christmas markets together. Read more in Fabulous DECK THE HALL PASS I'm giving my husband a free pass to cheat on me this Christmas CYBER CREEP My boss thought I fancied him & made a move – he’d been catfished by my stalker "We've literally chatted throughout the day every day and I felt like we really clicked. "Then out the blue last night I get a message from an ex." The former boyfriend in question was described as a "serial cheat and a liar" whose behaviour ended their "on and off" relationship last year. The woman' said's message went on: "So anyway he's messaging me out the blue last night telling me that he misses me and he's never clicked with anyone as much as me. Most read in Fabulous TU COSY 'Soft as cashmere' cry shoppers as they run to Sainsbury's for bargain winter coat HOT WINGS People urged to protect bird feeders from garden pests with 75p kitchen staple VOM CENTRAL I got so drunk at the office Xmas party that my male boss had to JET WASH me SEX SHOCK I slept with 100 men a day but had no idea HIV was sexually transmitted "I left him on read for a few hours and then I noticed that he's sent me photos." At this point, the situation takes a creepy turn as the cheating ex exposes himself for catfishing his former lover. My 70-year-old grandma's convinced she's engaged to 27-year-old rap star Post Malone - she won't believe he's a catfish scammer Continuing the message, host Eilidh says: "Dot dot dot screenshots of my Tinder messages to the other guy saying 'hope you don't think this is weird but I just wanted to show that we're a perfect match'. "This man has been catfishing me with a fake profile chatting to me for weeks all to prove that we still get on and he thought that that would win me over. "Never blocked anyone as fast in my life. Bit scary. "Also a bit gutted that my potential new man wasn't even real." Giving their verdict on the scheming stunt, Eilidh and her co-hosts Lauren Kerr adn Ash Reid fumed: "CALL NEV [Schulman, Catfish host] we need an intervention with this SNAKE." The clip has since racked 95,000 views with social media users in full agreement. "Wrong on so many levels", insisted one. A second cried: "No no no run." A third echoed: "Wow that’s seriously creepy behaviour." Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days "Was not expecting that plot twist", someone else gasped. Meanwhile, a fifth said: "Utter madness, poor woman. That's some messed up stuff." 15 Relationship red flags to look out for Red flags are warning signs that indicate unhealthy or manipulative behaviour. When you encounter relationship red flags, it’s a good time to pause and reflect on the dynamic you really share with that person. Overly controlling behaviour Lack of trust Feeling low self-esteem Physical, emotional, or mental abuse Substance abuse Narcissism Anger management issues Codependency Inability to resolve conflict Constant jealousy Gaslighting Lack of emotional intelligence Negatively affecting your relationship with family and friends Inability to communicate openly Lack of social connection or friends For more advice and support, Relate is available: “Whether it’s your relationship with a partner, a child, a family member or anyone else – we help everyone to build better relationships.”Several social media users speculated that LeBron James is 'quitting' the Los Angeles Lakers, with some linking his absence to Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The 39-year-old has not addressed these claims. ESPN reported he is unlikely to play Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves due to personal reasons. Earlier in the day, The New York Post highlighted his absence, describing it as a step back during a challenging performance period. Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed LeBron's excused absence, citing personal matters but offering no further details. The NBA All-Time Points Leader missed the first game of the season on Sunday against the Blazers after setting a goal to play all 82 games at his age. Read More: Who Was Stephon Mack? Lil Durk Linked To Alleged 'Chicago Disciples' Gang Member Killing Users on X, platform formerly known as Twitter, linked LeBron's absence to Diddy. "LeBron James, a close friend of Diddy, is stepping away from playing for the Lakers for "personal reasons" during what’s been his worst season yet. Struggling both on and off the court, LeBron has faced heavy criticism for attending Diddy’s parties, while his media company lost nearly $30 million last year and is set to lose even more," one person said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter. Another person referred to reports of three man coming up, accusing Diddy of sexual accuse. "Anyone else find it odd that Diddy’s Best Friend LeBron James announced he’s “Stepping Away” from the Lakers for “Personal Reasons” just hours after 3 Men came forward and said they were drugged and raped by Diddy..? 🤔" a second person tweeted. Read More: Did Juan Soto's Agent Slam Aaron Judge, Volpe For Wearing Trump Gear? Truth HERE LeBron James' Diddy Link LeBron James and Sean 'Diddy' Combs have a known social connection, primarily through the music mogul's famous parties, which LeBron has praised publicly in the past. A now-viral clip from an Instagram live session shows LeBron saying, "Ain't no party like a Diddy party." This statement has drawn renewed attention following recent legal troubles involving Diddy, including allegations of sex trafficking and racketeering. LeBron, like other celebrities, has faced questions about his association with Diddy but has avoided commenting on the matter. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US Buzz, World and around the world.By Jamie McGeever (Reuters) – A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. India’s central bank interest rate decision grabs the spotlight in Asia on Friday, as investors digest yet another record high for the Nasdaq and adjust positions ahead of the weekend. The U.S. employment report for November later in the day is released after Asia closes, so investors across the continent may be inclined to square positions as best they can in preparation for Monday. The main event in Asia on Friday is in India. The Reserve Bank of India is overwhelmingly expected to hold its key repo rate at 6.50%, after a sharp rise in inflation past the RBI’s 6% tolerance ceiling in October prompted many economists to push back their forecasts for the first cut to early next year. With the rupee at record lows against the dollar, standing pat makes sense. But economists at Nomura, one of the five out of 67 houses in the Reuters poll predicting a rate cut, argue that weakening growth dynamics must be taken into account now. Although the rupee has never been weaker, benchmark bond yields are at their lowest in almost four years, Indian stocks are lagging many of their regional peers, and the economy is growing at its slowest pace in nearly two years. Maybe the RBI should start the easing cycle sooner rather than later? Investors go into the final trading session of the week against a relatively calm global backdrop, all things considered. Any market impact from the political ructions in South Korea and France appears to be fading and contained, and the dollar’s dip on Thursday will be welcomed too. The dollar fell 0.5% on Thursday. It’s probably too early to read anything too deeply into it, but that was its third down day in a row, a losing streak not seen since September. It will take more than that – perhaps a return to the September lows, around 5% below current levels – to really call into question the dollar’s resilience, but could fatigue be setting in? Fatigue is something the U.S. economy doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of yet. The Atlanta Fed on Thursday raised its GDPNow model estimate for Q4 growth to a remarkable 3.3%. As investors fret about growth in Europe, China and many other key economies around the world, America appears to be the exception that continues to prove the rule. This is a double-edged sword for Asia. On the one hand it’s clearly good news as booming U.S. markets should lift all others. But if it lifts the dollar and Treasury yields, then global financial conditions tighten and capital is sucked towards the US. Indeed, net selling of Asian equities by foreigners in November was the highest since June 2022. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Friday: – India rate decision – Japan household spending (October) – South Korea current account (October) (Reporting by Jamie McGeever; Editing by Deepa Babington) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What's stoking the Denver Broncos' surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos' come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas.
DALLAS — and became the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning back a significant share of travelers on a tight budget. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like , which recently protection. Some travel-industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate that travelers on a budget will be left with fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on much better financial footing than Spirit, but they too are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from . Most industry experts think and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum , and that there is still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. Spirit Airlines lost more than $2.2 billion since the start of 2020. Frontier has not reported a full-year profit since 2019, though that slump might end this year. is still profitable, but less so than before the pandemic. Those kind of numbers led to declare recently that low-cost carriers were using “a fundamentally flawed business model” and customers hate flying on them. Kirby’s touchdown dance might turn out to be premature, but many analysts are wary about the near-term prospects for budget airlines, which charge cheaper fares but more fees than the big airlines. A traveler speaks with a Spirit Airlines agent May 24 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport ahead of Memorial Day in Atlanta. Low-cost airlines grew in the last two decades by undercutting big carriers on ticket prices, thanks in large part to lower costs, including hiring younger workers who were paid less than their counterparts at Delta Air Lines, United and . Wages soared across the industry in the past two years, however, narrowing that cost advantage. The big airlines rolled out and refined their no-frills, “basic economy” tickets to compete directly with Spirit, Frontier and other budget carriers for the most price-sensitive travelers. The budget airlines became less efficient at using planes and people. As their growth slowed, they wound up with more of both than they needed. In 2019, Spirit planes were in the air an average of 12.3 hours every day. By this summer, the planes spent an average of two more hours each day sitting on the ground, where they don't make money. Spirit's costs per mile jumped 32% between 2019 and 2023. Another issue is that airlines added too many flights. Budget airlines and were among the worst offenders, but full-service airlines piled on. To make up for a drop in business travel, the big carriers added more flights on domestic leisure routes. The result: Too many seats on flights into popular tourist destinations such as Florida and Las Vegas, which drove down prices, especially for economy-class tickets. Rows of seats are shown Sept. 26 on a retrofitted Southwest Airlines jet at Love Field in Dallas. Low-cost airlines are responding by following the old adage that if you can't beat them, join them. That means going premium, following the rapidly growing household wealth among upper-income people. The top one-fifth of U.S. households by income added $35 trillion in wealth since 2019 and holds nearly nine times the wealth of the middle fifth, according to the . Frontier Airlines into four bundles in May, with buyers of higher-priced tickets getting extras such as priority boarding, more legroom and checked bags. The airline dropped ticket-change or cancellation fees except for the cheapest bundle. in August with similar changes, blocking middle seats and charging passengers more for the comfort of aisle and window seats. Spirit Airlines CEO Ted Christie received a $3.8 million retention bonus a week before the Florida-based carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Christie will retain the bonus if he remains with the company for another year. The airline's stock has dropped over 90% this year. It has faced challenges including a blocked $3.8 billion merger with JetBlue and failed talks with Frontier. The pandemic disrupted Spirit's operations and travel patterns, reducing its daily aircraft utilization and increasing costs. Demand has shifted to full-service airlines as higher-income travelers vacation more, while inflation impacts lower-income consumers. , which began flying more than 20 years ago as a low-cost carrier but with amenities, is digging out from years of steady losses. Under new CEO Joanna Geraghty, the first woman to lead a major U.S. airline, JetBlue is cutting unprofitable routes, bolstering core markets that include the Northeast and Florida, and delaying deliveries of $3 billion worth of new planes. Starting next year, Southwest Airlines will toss out a half-century — passengers picking their own seat after boarding the plane. Executives say extensive surveying showed 80% of customers preferred an assigned seat, and that's especially true with coveted business travelers. More crowded planes also might be pushing passengers to spend more to escape a middle seat in the back of the plane. A Frontier Airlines jet takes off July 5, 2022, from Denver International Airport in Denver. In other parts of the world, budget carriers are doing just fine. They bounced back from the pandemic just like their more highbrow competitors. Some industry experts say low-cost carriers in Asia and Europe have always attracted a more diverse mix of passengers, while in the U.S., affluent and middle-class travelers look down their noses at low-cost carriers. Jamie Baker, an analyst for JPMorgan, says he has many college friends who work in London and all the time, but he hardly knows anyone who has ever been on a Spirit or Frontier plane. A small plane tows a banner April 13, 2016, over Flint Bishop International Airport as part of ceremonies marking Allegiant Air joining the airport. is less dismissive of the “lower-end carriers” in the U.S. than United's Kirby. "I don’t see that segment ever disappearing,” Bastian said after Spirit’s bankruptcy filing. “I think there’s a market for it.” At the same time, he said the upscale moves by ultra-low-cost carriers are having no effect on his airline. Delta targets upscale travelers but also introduced basic-economy fares a decade ago, when discounters emerged as a growing threat to poach some of Delta's customers. “Just calling yourself a premium carrier and actually being a premium carrier are two totally different things,” Bastian said “It's not the size of the seat or how much room you have; it's the overall experience.” As frequent flyers know, air travel isn't cheap. With the summer months in full swing, demand for air travel is expected to reach in 2024 as airlines continue to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily for those who are looking for ways to , one way to cut costs on your next vacation may be in finding the right places to fly in and out of. looked at average domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. to learn which airports are best for travelers on a budget, as well as which ones to avoid if you are trying to travel affordably. Overall, the national average airfare cost decreased by 3.1% from 2022 to 2023 when adjusted for inflation (which translates to a 0.9% increase in non-adjusted dollars). The last time inflation-adjusted airfare costs dropped year-over-year was during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when it fell 18% between 2019 and 2020. Largely, this is good news for consumers who can spend less on airfare and have more room in their budget for , restaurants, and other travel fees. In addition to earning rewards on airfare, most offer rewards for spending in these areas, which can offset overall vacation costs. Based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the above chart shows inflation-adjusted average airline fares over the past 25 years. For this report, we compared domestic airfares from the 45 busiest airports in the U.S. using data published by the . Orlando International Airport (MCO) had the lowest airfare cost in the country at $265.58 on average. Home to iconic theme parks like Universal Studios, Sea World, and most notably, Walt Disney World, Orlando is one of America's top tourist destinations. This is welcome news for those bracing for expensive at the House of Mouse. Beyond on park-related purchases, visitors can also maximize savings by using a credit card like the which offers an annual travel credit, or even using a if you don't want to pay for your entire vacation at once. Another Florida-based airport, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), has the second-lowest average airfare cost in the country — tickets here are only about $5 more expensive than Orlando's. Just a few dollars behind FLL is Las Vegas's Harry Reid International (LAS), where fares cost $272.15 on average. LAS is also the last airport on our list where average airfare costs are less than $300. Oakland International Airport (OAK) has the fourth-lowest average airfare costs in the country at $303.79. And the fifth-least expensive airport, Chicago Midway International (MDW), comes in at $308.27. For the third year in a row, Dulles International Airport (IAD) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) have the two highest average fares in the country. Flights from Dulles cost $488.40 on average in 2023, while flights from San Francisco cost $444.59. Some silver lining for travelers who need to travel through Dulles: IAD is home to some of the best airport lounges in the country, including the recently-opened Capital One Lounge, available to credit card holders. With free food, drinks, and recharging stations, lounges can be one easy way to offset otherwise-expensive airport costs. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) has the third-highest average airfare in the country, with an average cost of $438.34. Last on our top-five list of the most expensive airports are Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Detroit Metro Airport (DTW). Average airfare from Charlotte cost $436.80 last year, while flights from Detroit had an average price tag of $427.05. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) was the biggest affordability winner over the last year, dropping prices by more than $18 on average. SEA jumped from 36th most-affordable place last year to 28th place this year — an increase of eight spots. Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Portland International Airport (PDX) experienced similar jumps, rising by seven spots each. RDU went from 24th place in 2022 to 17th in 2023, while PDX went from 42nd to 35th. Two different airports fell by eight spots in our affordability rankings, tied for the biggest drop of the year. The average fare at Sacramento International Airport (SMF) rose by $18.66 year-over-year, which led SMF to go from 18th in last year's affordability rankings to 26th this year. Prices rose even more at St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), going up by $19.64 on average from one year to the next. Consequently, STL fell from 21st to 29th place in terms of affordability. As you plan your travel, you'll find costs can vary widely at a single airport. With a little research and smart planning, you can find a deal at any airport. Here are a few tips to save on airfare: We looked at 2023 airfare data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation in May 2024 to compare domestic airfares by origin city. This report calculated average fares based on domestic itinerary fares. "Itinerary fares" consist of round-trip fares, unless only a one-way ticket was purchased. In that case, the one-way fare was used. Fares are based on total ticket value, including the price charged by the airline plus any additional taxes and fees levied at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at booking and do not include fees for optional services like baggage fees. Averages also do not include frequent-flyer or "zero fares" or a few abnormally high reported fares. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Tip from Indiana officer led Illinois State Police to narcotics stop in Henry CountyA bankruptcy judge on Monday delayed a hearing in conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ effort to stop the satirical news outlet The Onion from buying Infowars, keeping the auction sale up in the air for at least another few weeks. Jones alleges fraud and collusion marred the bankruptcy auction that resulted in The Onion being named the winning bidder over a company affiliated with him. A trustee overseeing the auction denies the allegations and accuses Jones of launching a smear campaign because he didn't like the outcome. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez had been scheduled to hear an emergency motion to disqualify The Onion's bid on Monday, but put it off until either Dec. 9 or Dec. 17. That's also when the judge will hear arguments on the trustee's request to approve the sale of Infowars to The Onion. Lopez said it made sense to have one hearing on both requests. “I want a fair and transparent process and let’s just see where the process goes," Lopez said. Lopez could ultimately allow The Onion to move forward with its purchase, order a new auction or name the other bidder as the winner. At stake is whether Jones gets to stay at Infowars’ studio in Austin, Texas, under a new owner friendly to him, or whether he gets kicked out by The Onion. The other bidder, First United American Companies, runs a website in Jones’ name that sells nutritional supplements. Jones continues to broadcast his show from the Infowars studio, but he has set up a new location, websites and social media accounts as a precaution. The trustee shut down the Austin studio and Infowars' websites for about 24 hours last week after The Onion was announced as the winning bidder, but allowed them to resume the next day, drawing more complaints from Jones. Jones declared bankruptcy and liquidated his assets after he was ordered to pay nearly $1.5 billion to relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. He was ordered to pay damages for defamation and emotional distress in lawsuits in Connecticut and Texas after he repeatedly said the 2012 shooting that killed 20 first graders and six educators was a hoax staged by actors to increase gun control. Proceeds from the liquidation are to go to Jones’ creditors, including the Sandy Hook families who sued him. Last year, Lopez ruled that $1.1 billion of the Sandy Hook judgments could not be discharged in the bankruptcy. On Monday, he denied a request from Sandy Hook families to make the full $1.5 billion not dischargeable, meaning the debt cannot be wiped clean. Also Monday, lawyers for the social media platform X objected to any sale of the accounts of both Jones and Infowars, saying X is the owner of the accounts and it has not given consent for them to be sold or transferred. Jones' personal X account, with 3.3 million followers, was not part of the auction, but Lopez will be deciding if it should be included in the liquidation. Jones has praised X owner Elon Musk on his show and suggested that Musk should buy Infowars. Musk has not responded publicly to that suggestion and was not among the bidders. Jones was permanently banned from Twitter in 2018 for abusive behavior, but Musk restored Jones’ account on the platform he has since renamed X in December last year. Jones alleges The Onion’s bid was the result of fraud and collusion involving many of the Sandy Hook families, the humor site and the court-appointed trustee. First United American Companies submitted a $3.5 million sealed bid, while The Onion offered $1.75 million in cash. But The Onion's bid also included a pledge by Sandy Hook families to forgo some or all of the auction proceeds due to them to give other creditors a total of $100,000 more than they would receive under other bids. The trustee, Christopher Murray, said that made The Onion's proposal better for creditors and he named it the winning bid. Jones and First United American Companies claimed that the bid violated Lopez’s rules for the auction by including multiple entities and lacking a valid dollar amount. Jones also alleged Murray improperly canceled an expected round of live bidding and only selected from among the two sealed bids that were submitted. Jones called the auction “rigged” and a “fraud” on his show, which airs on the Infowars website, radio stations and Jones' X account. He filed a counter lawsuit last week against Murray, The Onion's parent company and the Sandy Hook families in the bankruptcy court. In a court filing on Sunday, Murray called the allegations a “desperate attempt” to delay the sale of Infowars to The Onion and accused Jones, his lawyers and attorneys for First United American Companies of a “vicious smear campaign lobbing patently false accusations.” He also alleged Jones collaborated with First United American Companies to try to buy Infowars. Lopez’s September order on the auction procedures made a live bidding round optional. And it gave broad authority to Murray to conduct the sale, including the power to reject any bid, no matter how high, that was “contrary to the best interests” of Jones, his company and their creditors. The assets of Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, that were up for sale included the Austin studio, Infowars' video archive, video production equipment, product trademarks, and Infowars' websites and social media accounts. Another auction of remaining assets is set for Dec. 10. Jones is appealing the $1.5 billion in judgments citing free speech rights, but has acknowledged that the school shooting happened . Many of Jones’ personal assets, including real estate, guns and other belongings, also are being sold as part of the bankruptcy. Documents filed in court this year say Jones had about $9 million in personal assets, while Free Speech Systems had about $6 million in cash and more than $1 million worth of inventory.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. But some advocates for women worried as old comments from now Vice President-elect JD Vance circulated during the presidential campaign opposing no-fault divorce. After President-elect Donald Trump and Vance won the election, warnings began popping up on social media urging women who might be considering divorce to "pull the trigger" while they still could. Some attorneys posted saying they saw a spike in calls from women seeking divorce consultations. Donald and Ivana Trump pose in May 1988 outside the Federal Courthouse in New York after she was sworn in as a United States citizen. Trump — who is twice-divorced — hasn't championed overhauling the country's divorce laws, but in 2021 Vance lamented that divorce is too easily accessible, as have conservative podcasters and others. People are also reading... "We've run this experiment in real time and what we have is a lot of very, very real family dysfunction that's making our kids unhappy," Vance said during a speech at a Christian high school in California, where he criticized people being able to "shift spouses like they change their underwear." Marriage rates held steady but divorce rates of women age 15 and older declined from 2012 to 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in October. Despite concerns, even those who want to make divorces harder to get say they don't expect big, swift changes. There is not a national coordinated effort underway. States determine their own divorce laws, so national leaders can't directly change policy. "Even in some of the so-called red states, it hasn't gotten anywhere," said Beverly Willett, co-chair of the Coalition for Divorce Reform, whose group unsuccessfully attempted to convince states to repeal their no-fault divorce laws. A couple exchanges wedding bands Oct. 11, 2018, at City Hall in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke, Associated Press Mark A. Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said while many Americans became accustomed to no-fault divorce being an option, Vance's previous comments on making it more difficult to separate from a spouse could help jump-start that effort. "Even though he's not directly proposing a policy, it's a topic that hasn't gotten a ton of discussion in the last 15 years," Smith said. "And so to have a national profile politician talk that way is noteworthy." Meanwhile, Republican Party platforms in Texas and Nebraska were amended in 2022 to call for the removal of no-fault divorce. Louisiana's Republican Party considered something similar this year but declined to do so. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts A handful of proposals were introduced in conservative-led statehouses over the years, but all immediately stalled after they were filed. In January, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Dusty Deevers introduced legislation that would have removed married couples from filing for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. Deevers backed the bill after writing a piece declaring no-fault divorce was an "abolition of marital obligation." Sen. JD Vance smiles as his wife Usha Vance applauds Nov. 6 at an election-night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Evan Vucci, Associated Press Similarly, in South Carolina, two Republican lawmakers in 2023 filed a bill that would have required both spouses to file for a no-fault divorce application rather than just one. In South Dakota, a Republican lawmaker attempted to remove irreconcilable difference as grounds for divorce since 2020. None of the sponsors of these bills responded to interview requests from The Associated Press. All are members of their state's conservative Freedom Caucus. Nevertheless, some Democratic lawmakers say they remain worried about the future of no-fault divorce. They point to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 as an example of a long-accepted option that was revoked through a decades-long effort. "When you choose to be silent, you allow for this to creep in," said Democratic South Dakota Rep. Linda Duba. "These are the bills that gain a foothold because you choose to be silent." Before California became the first state to adopt a no-fault divorce option in 1969, married couples had to prove their spouse violated one of the approved "faults" outlined in their state's divorce law or risk a judge denying their divorce, said Joanna Grossman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Qualified reasons varied from state to state, but largely included infidelity, incarceration or abandonment. Donald and Marla Trump wave to photographers Dec. 20, 1993, as they enter their wedding reception in New York's Plaza Hotel. Kathy Willens, Associated Press The system was a particular burden on domestic violence victims, who are often women who could be stuck in dangerous marriages while they try to prove their partner's abuse in court through expensive and lengthy legal proceedings. "If there was any evidence that the couple both wanted to get divorced that was supposed to be denied because divorce was not something you got because you wanted it, it was something you got because you've been wronged in a way that the state thought was significant," Grossman said. To date, every state in the U.S. adopted a no-fault divorce option. However, 33 states still have a list of approved "faults" to file as grounds for divorce — ranging from adultery to felony conviction. In 17 states, married people only have the option of choosing no-fault divorce to end their marriages. The Most Divorced Cities in the U.S. Divorce rates have declined alongside increasing marriage ages since the 1980s The link between rates of divorce and age at first marriage has been borne out over time, but it also explains geographic differences in rates of divorce. Today, most of the states with the lowest rates of divorce are also those with a higher median age for marriage. States like New Jersey, New York, California, and Massachusetts all stand out for having fewer than 10% of adults divorced and an age at first marriage above 30. One exception to this is Utah, which has the lowest overall median age for first marriage at 25.5 but also the third-lowest share of divorced adults at 9%, likely due in part to the state’s strong religious ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.In contrast, Maine and Nevada lead all states in the share of the population currently divorced at 13.9% and 13.8%, respectively. And at the local level, many of the cities with the highest levels of divorce are found in Florida, Appalachia, and the Southwest. Maine and Nevada have the highest proportions of adults currently divorced The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey. To determine the most divorced locations, researchers at ChamberOfCommerce.org calculated the percentage of adults currently divorced. In the event of a tie, the location with the higher percentage of adults currently separated was ranked higher. To improve relevance, only cities with at least 100,000 residents were included. Additionally, cities were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (100,000–149,999), midsize (150,000–349,999), and large (350,000 or more).Here are the most divorced cities in the U.S. Small and midsize cities with the most divorced adults 15. Aurora, CO Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 12.7%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%Percentage of adults currently married: 46.1%Percentage of adults never married: 34.9% Shutterstock 14. New Orleans, LA Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 12.8%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.7%Percentage of adults currently married: 28.5%Percentage of adults never married: 50.3% Shutterstock 13. Oklahoma City, OK Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 12.9%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%Percentage of adults currently married: 45.1%Percentage of adults never married: 34.2% Shutterstock 12. Colorado Springs, CO Photo Credit: photo.ua / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.5%Percentage of adults currently married: 49.9%Percentage of adults never married: 31.1% Shutterstock 11. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY Photo Credit: Jonny Trego / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.0%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%Percentage of adults currently married: 41.9%Percentage of adults never married: 36.6% Shutterstock 10. Kansas City, MO Photo Credit: Tupungato / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.3%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%Percentage of adults currently married: 39.7%Percentage of adults never married: 39.7% Shutterstock 9. Wichita, KS Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.9%Percentage of adults currently married: 45.9%Percentage of adults never married: 33.4% Shutterstock 8. Tampa, FL Photo Credit: Kevin J King / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.4%Percentage of adults currently married: 38.5%Percentage of adults never married: 40.5% Shutterstock 7. Cleveland, OH Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.4%Percentage of adults currently married: 24.7%Percentage of adults never married: 52.3% Shutterstock 6. Miami, FL Photo Credit: Galina Savina / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.5%Percentage of adults currently separated: 3.5%Percentage of adults currently married: 36.8%Percentage of adults never married: 39.8% Shutterstock 5. Las Vegas, NV Photo Credit: f11photo / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 13.8%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.0%Percentage of adults currently married: 43.8%Percentage of adults never married: 35.3% Shutterstock 4. Jacksonville, FL Photo Credit: CHARLES MORRA / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 14.0%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.2%Percentage of adults currently married: 42.3%Percentage of adults never married: 35.8% Shutterstock 3. Tucson, AZ Photo Credit: LHBLLC / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 14.3%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.3%Percentage of adults currently married: 35.7%Percentage of adults never married: 42.5% Shutterstock 2. Tulsa, OK Photo Credit: Valiik30 / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 14.6%Percentage of adults currently separated: 2.5%Percentage of adults currently married: 42.2%Percentage of adults never married: 34.7% Shutterstock 1. Albuquerque, NM Photo Credit: turtix / ShutterstockPercentage of adults currently divorced: 15.1%Percentage of adults currently separated: 1.4%Percentage of adults currently married: 39.8%Percentage of adults never married: 38.2% Shutterstock Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox!
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Article content A federation of student associations at Université de Montréal is the latest organization to ink a deal with social economy enterprise UTILE to build off-campus non-profit student housing in Montreal. The Fédération des associations étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM) and UTILE announced on Thursday they have signed an agreement to build a project comprising affordable apartments for at least 150 students. “By investing in student housing, FAÉCUM is taking a step toward a future where access to housing will no longer be an obstacle to academic success,” federation secretary general Méganne Joyal said in a statement. “FAÉCUM hopes that today’s announcement will inspire other stakeholders to take action to ensure equitable access to housing for the entire student community.” The federation, which represents 85 student associations and about 40,000 students at Université de Montréal, has committed to investing up to $2 million toward the project, with the exact amount dependent on how many units are built for the Université de Montréal student population. UTILE, which stands for Unité de travail pour l’implantation de logement étudiant, has so far completed 600 units of affordable student rental housing in Quebec. Its first project was the 90-unit Woodnote on Papineau Ave., which got off the ground with $1.85 million in seed money from the Concordia Student Union. New projects include a $63-million, 13-storey building that started construction in downtown Montreal in October. The latter, called Le Méridien, was launched with $1.5 million in seed money from the Students’ Society of McGill University. UTILE was launched more than a decade ago by a group of Université du Québec à Montréal students who wanted to develop an alternative for students to the traditional dorm room and high-rent and overcrowded apartments. UTILE president, CEO and co-founder Laurent Levesque said Thursday that the company is scouting property in the area around Université de Montréal’s MIL campus in Outremont to develop the new project. FAÉCUM’s investment will be injected into the Popular University Student Housing (PUSH) Fund, a non-profit rotating investment fund known as Fonds CLÉ in French that has provided the startup funds for other UTILE projects. UTILE leverages the seed money from student associations to seek other financing. “It is a great source of pride for us to launch a very first project north of the mountain for the student population of the Université de Montréal,” Levesque said in the statement about the partnership with FAÉCUM. The federation’s investment, he added, “will provide a living environment adapted to the needs of at least 150 students and will allow them to fully realize their potential.” lgyulai@postmedia.comCondé Nast Undergoes New Round of Layoffs
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