Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded
Tweet Facebook Mail American Airlines briefly grounded flights around the US overnight because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request after it experienced trouble with its flight operating system, or FOS. The airline blamed technology from one of its vendors. READ MORE: Man sat and watched as woman burned on subway, US court told A mass grounding of American Airlines flights had knock-on affects on travel in the US at the start of the Christmas travel season. (AP) As a result, flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37 per cent of the airline's 3901 domestic and international flights leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Nineteen flights were cancelled. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7am Tuesday ET (11pm Tuesday AEDT) that there was an outage affecting the FOS system. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as a plane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Hours after the ground stop was lifted, Tajer said the union had not heard about any "chaos out there beyond just the normal heavy travel day." He said officials were watching for any cascading effects, such as staffing problems. READ MORE: Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu The brief grounding was due to a technical error. (AP) On social media, however, customers expressed frustration with delays that caused them or their family members to miss connecting flights. One person asked if American planned to hold flights for passengers to make connections, while others complained about the lack of assistance they said they received from the airline or gate agents. Bobby Tighe, a real estate agent from Florida, said he will miss a family Christmas Eve party in New York because his American flight was repeatedly delayed. The delays made him miss a connecting flight, leaving him the choice of going to his destination — Westchester, New York — on Christmas Day or taking another flight to Newark, New Jersey, that was scheduled to land Tuesday evening. He chose the latter. "I'm just going to take an Uber or Lyft to the airport I was originally supposed to go to, pick up my rental car and kind of restart everything tomorrow," Tighe said. He said his girlfriend was "going through the same exact situation" on her way from Dallas to New York. READ MORE: Bill Clinton is out of the hospital after being treated for the flu Only 37 per cent of the airline's flights left on time. (AP) Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights were departing within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36 per cent — were arriving at their destinations as scheduled. Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays, Cirium said. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4058 flights entering or leaving the US, or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights cancelled. The site did not post any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but it showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms were developing in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. It can be difficult to re-book a cancelled flight around the holidays. (AP) Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. And any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded two million travellers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers automatic cash refunds for cancelled or significantly delayed flights. Most air travellers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Millions of people are expected to pass through US airports in the next 10 days. (AP) Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. That's because finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travellers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through January 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. 'Do not travel': Every country Aussie authorities don't want you to go View Gallery About 90 per cent of Americans travelling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was US$3.04 a gallon (about $1.29 a litre - one gallon is about 3.78 litres), down from US$3.13 (about $1.32 a litre) a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under US35c (56c) per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30 per cent longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington are the metropolitan areas primed for the greatest delays, according to the company. DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .Dodgers announce 5-year contract with LHP Blake Snell
Business cycle remains a real risk for markets
At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.
The Chicago Bears are working through another quick turnaround this week, preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night. Coming off three consecutive blowout losses, the Bears will need to be much sharper in their home finale to prevent their losing streak from reaching 10 . That would match the franchise record for the longest skid within a single season. The Bears held a walkthrough and meetings on Christmas Eve at Halas Hall. Here are four things we’ve learned since Sunday’s 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions . Williams was asked Monday to identify a few things he hoped to accomplish in the final two games of the season and quickly pointed to ball security as a top priority. Williams was charged with the first-quarter fumble Sunday that resulted from a clunky jet sweep exchange between him and receiver Rome Odunze. Six nights earlier in Minnesota, Williams lost a fumble after taking a blindside hit from Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard. “Turnovers are obviously a part of the game,” he said. “But trying to eliminate those only helps our chances of winning.” Detroit Lions defensive end Josh Paschal celebrates after recovering a fumble as Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams walks off the field in the first quarter at Soldier Field on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) Williams also emphasized his desire to be more efficient with managing the play clock and staying sharp with his pre-snap alerts and cadence over the final two games. The rookie quarterback recorded his fourth 300-yard passing outing of the season Sunday, throwing two more touchdown passes and increasing his franchise-record streak without an interception to 326 pass attempts. Perhaps Williams’ most impressive completion of the game was a 30-yard deep shot to Odunze to convert fourth-and-1 in the third quarter. With an empty backfield, Williams had Odunze in single coverage against Lions cornerback Amik Robertson and attacked the matchup with a ball that allowed Odunze to use his contested-catch ability. “Anytime we get a chance to have a one-on-one with Rome, I have full belief that at the least it’s going to be an incompletion,” Williams said. “I have all belief and faith in him every single time that ball goes up in the air.” As impractical as the deep shot on fourth-and-short may have felt, interim coach Thomas Brown felt the Bears created a favorable matchup that Williams capitalized on. “That was an opportunity,” Brown said. “(We) obviously had that up in the game plan, particularly with it being kind of a man-to-man scenario. We’re putting guys in the right spots to be able to win.” Related Articles Chicago Bears | Green Bay Packers clinch playoff berth with 1st shutout in NFL this season, 34-0 over New Orleans Saints Chicago Bears | 3 things we learned from the Chicago Bears, including ankle surgery ahead for left tackle Braxton Jones Chicago Bears | Was the Detroit Lions’ trick play a job interview for Ben Johnson? Brad Biggs’ 10 thoughts on the Chicago Bears’ 9th straight loss. Chicago Bears | Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson lead surging Minnesota Vikings past the Seattle Seahawks 27-24 Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions show the Chicago Bears what they’re lacking as they lose 9th straight in lopsided fashion Seven of those fouls were committed by the offense, including four false starts and two holding penalties. Tack on two lost fumbles and it’s easy to understand why the Bears once again started slowly and staggered through another miserable first half. The Bears haven’t led in the first half in their past four losses. Still, perhaps the day’s most baffling penalty came in the second quarter when rookie defensive end Austin Booker was baited by the Lions to jump into the neutral zone as Detroit bluffed going for it on fourth-and-1 from the Bears 25 with the clock ticking down to the 2-minute warning. At a minimum, had the Lions chosen to go for it there, they almost certainly would have run their play after the 2-minute warning. But as Jared Goff gesticulated and sent receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in motion, Booker and fellow defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker jumped across the line, giving the Lions a free first down. They quickly capitalized, needing only three more plays to finish a touchdown drive that gave them a 27-7 lead. Bears interim coach Thomas Brown was direct Monday in chastising the defense’s lack of situational awareness and discipline at that moment. “To me,” Brown said, “it just boils down to a lack of concentration. I think it’s very simple. I’m not going to overcomplicate it or put some confusing phrase towards it. It’s about being locked in and being detailed. And like I said, emotions are great in the game. But if they’re not controlled they become an issue. So that to me was more about an overall lack of focus.” Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks tackles Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the first quarter of a game at Soldier Field on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune) The defense had an impressive finish to 2023, allowing fewer than 21 points in seven of their final eight games while also recording 16 interceptions and three fumble recoveries during that stretch. The start to the 2024 season was equally encouraging with the Bears allowing an average of 16.8 points per game and creating 13 turnovers during a 4-2 start. But the falloff on that side of the ball has been undeniable over the past two months, particularly over the past five losses in the team’s ongoing nine-game skid. Over the past five games, the Bears are allowing an average of 423 yards and 31 points per game and have failed to create multiple takeaways in all of those contests. For the season, the Bears are tied for 19th in the league with 34 sacks. But fewer than half of those (16) have come during the current nine-game losing streak. So what would constitute an encouraging finish to this season? “I want us to not have self-inflicted (errors),” defensive coordinator Eric Washington said Tuesday. “I want us to limit the points (allowed) and to give ourselves a chance to win the football game in the fourth quarter or to provide the kind of explosive plays that will make the game lopsided in our favor. ... Teams are going to make plays. This is the National Football League. But we can’t yield 25 or 30 points per game and expect to win.” With Braxton Jones now on injured reserve with a season-ending leg injury and Teven Jenkins still battling a calf issue, the left side of the offensive line remains in flux this week. Rookie Kiran Amegadjie could make his second start on Thursday night unless the Bears opt to use veteran Larry Borom instead. Jake Curhan, meanwhile, might be the “next man up” if Jenkins can’t play. The Bears did not hold a true practice Tuesday so their official injury report was an estimation. Jenkins, Elijah Hicks (foot/ankle), Travis Homer (hamstring) and Tarvarius Moore (knee) were all listed as non-participants. Gervon Dexter (knee), Doug Kramer (shoulder) and Amen Ogbongbemiga (hip) were designated as limited.
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AAP FACTCHECK – A former NSW upper house candidate has promoted a longstanding urban myth that microwave ovens are banned in Russia for safety reasons. This is false. The claim can be traced back to at least the 1990s but has no basis in fact. Microwave ovens are freely available to buy from Russian electronics retailers and Russian consumers bought more than two million of the devices in 2023. Russia’s microwave oven market is expected to reach almost three million units by 2029. The claim was made in a Facebook video by David Graham, an activist and social media content creator who goes by the nickname “Guru”. Mr Graham stood as an ungrouped candidate in NSW’s 2023 state election, picking up 31 first preference votes . AAP FactCheck has previously debunked other false claims made by Mr Graham, including baseless theories that Australia stopped printing bank notes in 2018 and that skin cancer didn’t exist before sunscreen. “Guys... you know it’s illegal to have microwaves in your house in Russia,” Mr Graham says in the video (11 minutes, 47 seconds). “Seriously, Putin’s a big nasty guy but ... you’re not allowed to have microwaves. They don’t care about microwaves over here, do they?” It is unclear from the video why Mr Graham believes microwaves are banned in Russia or what he meant by his comment that “they don’t care about microwaves over here”. However, previous discredited theories about Russia banning microwaves have cited health concerns linked to electromagnetic radiation. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency , the non-ionizing radiation used by a microwave does not make food radioactive. Mr Graham did not respond to an AAP FactCheck message asking for the basis of his claim. Similar claims about microwave ovens being banned in Russia date back at least 25 years. In 2017 Snopes traced the origins of the myth back to a 1998 article in the Journal Natural Science, which claimed “the use of any such microwave apparatus was forbidden in 1976 by Soviet state law” (page 43). The journal article does not provide any sources or references for the statement. The author of the article is William P. Kopp from Portland, Oregon, USA. An author biography at the end of the article says Mr Kopp worked at the “Atlantis Rising Educational Center in Portland, Oregon” from 1977 to 1979, where he “gathered all documents known so far concerning the scientific proofs about microwaves’ harmful effects on humans”. “By doing this he got in the way of a powerful lobby and was forced later on to even change his name and to disappear,” the biography says. Mr Kopp’s claim has since been repeated in other publications, including a May 2010 article by US osteopath Dr Joseph Mercola and a 2016 article on a website called Natural News – though both of those articles also claim the microwave ban was later lifted by Russian authorities. A 2023 TechInsider article by Russian-Belorussian journalist Tim Skorenko described the claimed Soviet-era microwave ban as a “legend”. Mr Skorenko wrote that the devices began production in the USSR in the late 1970s, albeit “in very small batches” and “for a lot of money.” The notion that microwave ovens are currently banned in Russia is easily disproved by looking at the websites of electronics retailers in the country. M.Video, a major electronics retailer with stores across Russia, lists hundreds of different types of microwaves for sale online. Rival Russian retailers Wildberries and DNS similarly list numerous microwave ovens for sale. According to a September 6 article in the Russian daily business newspaper Vedemosti, Russians bought more than two million microwaves in the first half of 2024. Russian consumers spent some $US315.4 million ($A504.5 million) on the devices in 2024, according to the German data-gathering platform Statista. It is also clear that many Russians have microwaves in their homes. A YouTube search for the Russian-language phrase which translates as “microwave at home” returns hundreds of videos of Russians reviewing domestic microwave ovens or cooking food in the devices. One of the videos shows food blogger Masha Fom – who has more than one million YouTube subscribers and list her l ocation as “Russia”- attempting to make pizza in a cup using a microwave oven. All information, text and images included on the AAP Websites is for personal use only and may not be re-written, copied, re-sold or re-distributed, framed, linked, shared onto social media or otherwise used whether for compensation of any kind or not, unless you have the prior written permission of AAP. For more information, please refer to our standard terms and conditions .Homeland Security shares new details of mysterious drone flights over New Jersey, lawmaker says A New Jersey lawmaker from part of the state where several mysterious drones have been spotted in recent week says the devices appear to avoid detection by traditional methods. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia was among state officials who met Wednesday with representatives from the Department of Homeland Security. She says lawmakers were told the drones have dodged detection by helicopters and radio. Fantasia says DHS described the devices as up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights off. The Morris County Republican made the comments in a post on X shortly after she and several other state and local lawmakers met with state police and Homeland Security officials. Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange bell as he's named Time's Person of the Year NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is expected to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange for the first time and be named Time magazine's Person of the Year. Thursday's events will be a notable moment of twin recognitions for Trump, a born-and-bred New Yorker who has long seen praise from the business world and media as a sign of success. Four people with knowledge of his plans told The Associated Press that Trump was expected to be on Wall Street on Thursday to mark the ceremonial start of the day's trading, while a person familiar with the selection confirmed that Trump had been selected as Time's Person of the Year. Rape allegation against Jay-Z won’t impact NFL's relationship with music mogul, Goodell says IRVING, Texas (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says a rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z won’t impact the NFL's relationship with the music mogul. Jay-Z's company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show. A woman who previously sued Sean “Diddy” Combs alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 amended the lawsuit Sunday to include an allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z says the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Ohio politician proposes make flag planting a felony after fight in Michigan rivalry game An Ohio politician has seen enough flag planting. Republican state Rep. Josh Williams said Wednesday on social media he's introducing a bill to make flag planting in sports a felony in the state. His proposal comes after the Nov. 30 fight at the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry football game when the Wolverines beat the Buckeyes 13-10 and then attempted to plant their flag at midfield. A fight ensued and police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players. Former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield famously planted a flag in the middle of the field at Ohio State after the Sooners beat the Buckeyes in 2017. Gastineau confronts Favre in documentary for his 'dive' on Strahan's record-breaking sack Former New York Jets star Mark Gastineau confronted Brett Favre last year at a memorabilia show and angrily accused the Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback of deliberately going down on a record-breaking sack. The tense exchange is shown in the new ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “The New York Sack Exchange." It chronicles the Jets’ fearsome foursome defensive line of the 1980s that included Gastineau. Gastineau set an NFL record with 22 sacks in 1984, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan broke the mark when he sacked Favre in 2002 in a game between the Giants and Packers. Many have accused Favre of purposely taking the sack so Strahan could set the single-season record with 22 1/2. What happens next with Alex Jones' Infowars? No certainty yet after sale to The Onion is rejected Lawyers in the Alex Jones bankruptcy case are now in discussions on what could happen next after a federal judge in Texas rejected the auction sale of Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The next steps remained unclear Wednesday as the judge ordered the trustee who oversaw the auction to come up with a new plan. Judge Christopher Lopez in Houston rejected the bid late Tuesday, saying there was too much confusion about The Onion’s bid. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered Jones to pay for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut a hoax. Sandy Hook families had backed The Onion’s bid. NFL and Nike extend their partnership with a 10-year deal, will focus on growing the sport globally IRVING, Texas (AP) — The NFL’s desire to become a global powerhouse is no secret. Nike is committed to helping the league continue expanding its worldwide reach. The league and the apparel giant announced Wednesday a 10-year partnership extension. The NFL and Nike will focus on working together to grow the game’s global reach, increase participation, develop new talent, and expand the football fan base. Nike, the world’s largest supplier of athletic shoes and apparel, has been the NFL’s exclusive provider of uniforms and sideline, practice and base layer apparel for all 32 NFL teams for 12 years. George Kresge Jr., who wowed talk show audiences as the The Amazing Kreskin, dies at age 89 NEW YORK (AP) — George Joseph Kresge Jr., otherwise known to TV watchers as the mesmerizing entertainer and mentalist The Amazing Kreskin, has died at age 89. Kreskin’s friend and former road manager, Ryan Galway, says he died Tuesday at his home in Caldwell, New Jersey. Kreskin launched his television career in the 1960s and remained popular for decades, appearing with everyone from Merv Griffin to Johnny Carson to Jimmy Fallon. Fans would welcome, if not entirely figure out, his favorite mind tricks — whether correctly guessing a playing card chosen at random, or, most famously, divining where his paycheck had been planted among the audience. He also hosted a show in the 1970s, gave live performances and wrote numerous books. Albertsons sues Kroger for failing to win approval of their proposed supermarket merger Kroger and Albertsons’ plan for the largest U.S. supermarket merger in history has crumbled. The two companies have accused each other of not doing enough to push their proposed alliance through, and Albertsons pulled out of the $24.6 billion deal on Wednesday. The bitter breakup came the day after a federal judge in Oregon and a state judge in Washington issued injunctions to block the merger, saying that combining the two grocery chains could reduce competition and harm consumers. Albertsons is now suing Kroger, seeking a $600 million termination fee, as well as billions of dollars in legal fees and lost shareholder value. Kroger says the legal claims are “baseless.” Keynote Selena Gomez spotlights prioritizing mental health during Academy Women's Luncheon LOS ANGELES (AP) — While surveying a room packed with Hollywood’s most influential figures, “Emilia Pérez” star Selena Gomez took center stage at the Academy Women’s Luncheon to spotlight a critical issue: Prioritizing mental health and supporting underserved communities often left behind in the conversation. The singer-actor has been public about her mental health struggles, revealing she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Gomez was the keynote speaker Tuesday at the event held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures with attendees including Ariana Grande, Olivia Wilde, Amy Adams, Pamela Anderson, Rita Wilson, Ava DuVernay and Awkwafina.Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save OCEAN CITY — Is Ocean City ready for a muscle beach, similar to the one in Santa Monica, California? How about fire pits or a portable roller-skating rink? These were among the ideas pitched to City Council at a December meeting as new attractions for the Boardwalk to draw people to the north end in the absence of Gillian’s Wonderland. The group Friends of OCNJ History & Culture created a poll on social media to gather ideas for the area. Resident Bill Merritt, who is the president of the group, presented them to council. “I think it’s a really good list of stuff,” Merritt said. “I’m a particular fan of the councilman dunk tank, but that’s just me.” Wonderland operated on the Boardwalk for nearly 60 years before its closure in October. Jay Gillian, whose family name was on the pier and who also serves as the city’s mayor, had announced the closing over the summer, saying the business was no longer viable. 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BPU begins process to consider 8% increase in Atlantic City Electric rates Some locals have pleaded for the park to remain, including launching a “Save Wonderland” campaign. Developer Eustace Mita, who owns the property and leased it to Gillian in recent years, has other plans, proposing a 252-room hotel for the site. So far, no formal application has been brought to the city, but in public meetings, Mita has pitched his multimillion-dollar proposal as the best option for the site and one that would preserve some of the landmark Wonderland rides. In his comments to council, Merritt did not suggest the long-running amusement pier would be back, or mention the hotel plans. He said some people were going through the stages of grief for Wonderland. “We know it’s closed. We know it’s gone. And now we’re just talking about what goes up there instead,” he said. The proposal is called the Ocean City Carnival by the Sea, and includes multiple ideas for the Boardwalk to keep things active post-Wonderland. “Generating excitement in this area is crucial, as it will likely be years before any new development rises on the pier,” the proposal reads in part. In his comments, Merritt also suggested the city take a new look at its master plan. In the meantime, he suggested the city could “lower the temperature” of some of the rhetoric by looking both short term and long term. “Unfortunately the whole Wonderland thing has raised a lot of anger,” Merritt said. “I think we need to get through and get past the anger stage.” Emotions have run high in connection to the amusement park, which many in town remember from their childhoods and to which they brought children and grandchildren. The Icona in Wonderland hotel proposal has also generated extensive interest and controversy. Supporters say it represents a significant investment in the town and will bring jobs and visitors who will support other businesses. Others, however, say it is far too large and would hurt the community and other Boardwalk businesses. Resolution will not come soon. Once a formal proposal is brought to the city, it will be up to council to decide whether to designate the area where the park once stood as being in need of redevelopment, as Mita has suggested, which could begin a process of approvals for the proposal. Ocean City should address its development issues through the master plan process, not redevelopment, the president of the Friends of OCNJ History & Culture writes. The designation would require review by the city’s Planning Board for consistency with the city’s existing master plan, and the project itself would face site plan review. Once the local approvals and state permits are in place, if Mita succeeds in getting them, he has said it will take about two years to complete the project. In the meantime, the Friends of OCNJ want something new in that area by the summer of 2025. Council members Jody Levchuk and Keith Hartzell have expressed concern about the impact of a vacant Wonderland on the northern end of the Boardwalk, suggesting it may mean fewer visitors strolling by the businesses there. The proposals Merritt brought to council are aimed at creating a new lure. Most, but not all, would be put in place between the Boardwalk and a municipal parking area between Fifth and Sixth streets, adjacent to Wonderland, where there are now volleyball courts. Some ideas would be relatively easy to execute, while others would require significant investment and likely need staffing. A multipage report lists the ideas on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most difficult to enact. For instance, fire pits that can be rented are listed as an 8, while a skating rink comes in at a 7. Giving kids a chance to meet first responders, a kite flying contest and a venue for street performers in front of Wonderland all come in at 2. There is a proposal for a dunk tank for council members, which is listed as a 3. There is no breakdown of how much of that is to acquire the tank and how much is to convince any of the seven members of council to get in. Several of the proposals are underway elsewhere in the city, including beach yoga, a dog park and a farmers market. Sandcastle contests also take place at specific times each summer. Turnout was intense for a 3rd Ward meeting in Ocean City on Monday as residents packed into a meeting room to hear plans for a hotel at the site of the former Wonderland Pier. There are multiple ideas, and not all of them would take place in the same spot. There are proposals for a drone light show, giant chess boards and a quiet disco, in which people would wear headphones and dance to the same music. Ocean City has a history of taking seemingly far-fetched ideas and making them a beloved reality, from a mass gathering of Bassett hounds for the Doo Dah Parade to hermit crab races to taffy and French fry sculpting contests for kids. There was no response from council to the proposals, and no proposal in the report on how to fund the new activities. Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 bbarlow@pressofac.com Twitter @jerseynews_bill Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Reporter Author facebook Author twitter Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
Larson Financial Group LLC cut its holdings in Vanguard Total International Bond ETF ( NASDAQ:BNDX – Free Report ) by 38.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 1,051 shares of the company’s stock after selling 668 shares during the period. Larson Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Vanguard Total International Bond ETF were worth $53,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BNDX. Chris Bulman Inc acquired a new position in Vanguard Total International Bond ETF in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Vanguard Total International Bond ETF in the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Gradient Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Vanguard Total International Bond ETF by 32.4% in the second quarter. Gradient Investments LLC now owns 911 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 223 shares in the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard Total International Bond ETF during the second quarter worth about $57,000. Finally, Eastern Bank acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard Total International Bond ETF during the third quarter worth about $60,000. Vanguard Total International Bond ETF Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ:BNDX opened at $50.55 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $50.03 and a 200 day moving average price of $49.52. Vanguard Total International Bond ETF has a 52 week low of $48.19 and a 52 week high of $51.04. Vanguard Total International Bond ETF Cuts Dividend Vanguard Total International Bond ETF Company Profile ( Free Report ) The Vanguard Total International Bond ETF (BNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an investment-grade, non-USD denominated bond index, hedged against currency fluctuations for US investors. BNDX was launched on Jun 4, 2013 and is managed by Vanguard. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BNDX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vanguard Total International Bond ETF ( NASDAQ:BNDX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Total International Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Total International Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
CHICAGO (AP) — Aidan Laughery rushed for three touchdowns and No. 22 Illinois topped Northwestern 38-28 on Saturday to reach nine victories for the first time since its 2007 Rose Bowl season. Pat Bryant dashed in to score off Luke Altmyer’s 43-yard pass early in the third quarter as Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) struck for touchdowns just over 4 minutes apart early in the third quarter to open a 28-10 lead in what had been a tight game. Bryant's 10th receiving touchdown tied a school record. Altmyer, who threw for 170 yards, had a TD himself on a keeper from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter. David Olano added a field goal in the fourth to cap Illinois' scoring. Laughery, a sophomore running back, rushed for a career-best 172 yards and topped 100 for the first time. He entered with only one TD this season and two for his career. He had a career-long 64-yard run for a score early in the second half. Coach Bret Bielema said he wasn't surprised by Laughery's explosive performance as the Gibson City, Illinois product rounded back into form after being hampered by a hamstring injury earlier this season. “I thought today would be a day that could happen,” Bielema said. “Today some of those turned into big home run hits we've kind of been waiting on all year.” Laughery said he's been prepping for this kind of game, when he carried the ball 12 times for an average of 14.3 yards. “Finally, the opportunity was there,” said Laughery, who got the game ball. “You know you gotta' hit one and it came together today.” He credited the Illini offensive line with opening space for his breakout performance. “Those guys were covering them (Northwestern's defense) all day long,” Laughery said. “It was awesome running behind the looks we were getting” Northwestern’s Devin Turner intercepted Altmyer twice, including for a 13-yard touchdown return late in the first quarter. Thomas Gordon caught Jack Lausch's 15-yard TD pass with a minute left, then the Wildcats added a two-point conversion to complete the scoring. Northwestern (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten) didn’t pack it in as hosted its second game this season at Wrigley Field, this time on a breezy sunny day with game-time temperature of 20 degrees. It looked like the Illini might run away after Bryant’s 10th receiving touchdown 4:52 into the third. He entered tied for the Big Ten lead. But Luke Akers kicked his second field goal of the game, a 34-yarder, with 5:35 left in the third quarter to cut it to 28-13. Lausch led the Wildcats on their next possession and finished it with an 11-yard touchdown toss to A.J. Henning to narrow the Illini lead to 28-20. Then Mac Resetich intercepted Lausch’s pass 50 seconds into the fourth quarter. Laughery powered up the middle for 31 yards and his third TD about two minutes later to quell the Wildcats' momentum. Northwestern dominated in possession time — 34:32 to 25:28 —and plays — 90 to 53. The margin was even more pronounced in the first half, but the Wildcats settled for a 13-yard touchdown return on Turner’s second pick of the game with 2:14 left in the first quarter and Akers’ 21-yard field goal that opened the scoring 6:29 in. Illinois led 14-10 at the half on Laughery’s 30-yard TD run midway through the first quarter and Altmyer’s keeper 1:39 into the second. Akers missed wide to the right on a 44-yard attempt as time ran out in the half. Both teams’ leading pass receivers were injured. Northwestern’s Bryce Kirtz was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a lower-body injury after two receptions that upped his total yards to 598. Illinois’ Bryant went to the locker room with about 5 minutes left in the first half after Turner collided with him as he plucked his second interception. Bryant returned, however, for the second half. Illinois: Is in line for a prestigious bowl game appearance and a chance to tie the school record of 10 wins, most recently set during their 2001 Sugar Bowl season. “We wanted to put ourselves in a good position on this day to get to nine wins and see where it can go,” Bielema said. “Just a fun day overall. I don't know what the future holds. It think we're a team that can play with anybody in the country.” Northwestern: Finished its second season under coach David Braun at 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats dropped their final three and five of the last six. Illinois is headed to a bowl game. Northwestern opens its 2025 season at Tulane on Aug. 30. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have applied to become members and several other countries have expressed interest in joining. While the U.S. dollar is by far the most-used currency in global business and has survived past challenges to its preeminence, members of the alliance and other developing nations say they are fed up with America’s dominance of the global financial system. Trump, in a Truth Social post, said: “We require a commitment from these Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty U.S. Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs, and should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy.” At a summit of BRIC nations in October, Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar and described it as a “big mistake.” “It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” Putin said at the time. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” Russia has specifically pushed for the creation of a new payment system that would offer an alternative to the global bank messaging network, SWIFT, and allow Moscow to dodge Western sanctions and trade with partners. Trump said there is “no chance” BRIC will replace the U.S. dollar in global trade and any country that tries to make that happen “should wave goodbye to America.”NEW YORK — Luigi Mangione, the man accused of fatally gunning down health insurance executive Brian Thompson on a Manhattan street, pleaded not guilty on Monday to New York state murder charges that brand him a terrorist. Mangione, 26, was escorted into Judge Gregory Carro's 13th-floor courtroom in the New York state criminal courthouse in lower Manhattan with a court officer on each arm, and a procession of a half dozen officers following him. He was in handcuffs and shackles, and wore a burgundy sweater over a white-collared shirt. ADVERTISEMENT Mangione leaned into a microphone and said "not guilty" when Carro asked how he pleaded to the 11-count indictment charging him with murder as an act of terrorism and weapons offenses. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group's UNH.N insurance unit UnitedHealthcare, was shot dead on Dec. 4 outside a hotel in midtown Manhattan where the company was gathering for an investor conference. The brazen killing and ensuing five-day manhunt captivated Americans. While public officials have condemned the killing, some Americans who decry the steep costs of healthcare and insurance companies' power to deny paying for some medical treatments have feted Mangione as a folk hero. Mangione was arrested at a McDonald's restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 9. After deciding last week not to fight extradition, he was transferred to New York, where he was led off a helicopter in lower Manhattan by a large phalanx of police officers and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. That spectacle and other statements by public officials suggest Mangione may not be able to get a fair trial, his lawyer Karen Friedman Agnifilo said at Monday's hearing. "They are treating him like he is some sort of political fodder, some sort of spectacle," Agnifilo said. "He is not a symbol, he is someone who is afforded a right to a fair trial." ADVERTISEMENT Several dozen people gathered outside the courthouse in freezing temperatures to express support for Mangione and anger at healthcare companies. One person held a sign with the words "DENY, DEFEND, DEPOSE," a phrase that echoes tactics some accuse insurers of using to avoid paying out claims. Authorities say the words "deny," "delay," and "depose" were found written on shell casings at the crime scene. Kara Hay, a 42-year-old schoolteacher, said she believed it was wrong for Mangione to be charged with terrorism. "Shooting one CEO does not make him a terrorist, and I do not feel terrorized," said Hay, who held a sign reading "innocent until proven guilty." After the 30-minute hearing, officers once again shackled Mangione and led him out of the courtroom. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Carro set Mangione's next court appearance for Feb. 21. Dual state, federal cases Monday's arraignment was the second court appearance in New York for Mangione, who also faces a four-count federal criminal complaint charging him with stalking and killing Thompson. ADVERTISEMENT He has not yet been asked to enter a plea in that case. U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine Parker ordered Mangione detained at a Dec. 19 hearing in Manhattan federal court. The federal charges would make him eligible for the death penalty, should the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan decide to pursue it. The separate federal and state cases will proceed in parallel. The state case is currently expected to go to trial first, federal prosecutors said. At the hearing, Friedman Agnifilo said it was difficult to defend her client in dual state and federal cases. "He is being treated like a human ping-pong ball between these two jurisdictions," Friedman Agnifilo said. She also said the Manhattan District Attorney's office, which brought the charges, has not handed over any evidence to the defense to help prepare for trial, a process known as discovery. A prosecutor responded that the office would begin handing over evidence soon. According to the federal criminal complaint, the police who arrested Mangione found a notebook that contained several handwritten pages that "express hostility towards the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular." ADVERTISEMENT A notebook entry dated Oct. 22 allegedly described an intent to "wack" the chief executive of an insurance company at its investor conference. ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. 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Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Raises Stock Position in Trip.com Group Limited (NASDAQ:TCOM)Hegseth meets with moderate Sen. Collins as he lobbies for key votes in the Senate