More than 1.1 million Oklahomans will travel 50 miles or more this holiday season, a 1.4% increase from 2023, AAA said. About 27.5% of the Oklahoma population is projected to travel this holiday period, which AAA considers Dec. 21 through Jan. 1. A total of 92.3% Oklahoma travelers will drive to their holiday destination, a 1% increase from last year, AAA said. Gasoline prices were $2.69 per gallon for regular, unleaded at many area QuikTrips, on Monday, according to Gasbuddy, a fuel price tracking service. Gas prices are expected to remain at current levels through the next week, said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. “We’ve seen a second consecutive weekly rise in the national average, driven by price cycling that led stations in the Great Lakes region to restore their margins to normal levels ahead of millions of motorists traveling for Christmas,” De Haan said in a blog post on Monday . People are also reading... Muskogee board rejects Matt Hennesy's return as Roughers' head football coach The 12 best new restaurants of 2024 Berry Tramel: Barry Switzer's 1980s players salute their lion-in-winter coach. Read their letter Mike Gundy appears headed for complete turnover among coaching staff Daughter of country music star Wynonna Judd pleads guilty to drug, theft charges Where to eat on Christmas Day Berry Tramel: Another OU-Navy game and another historically inept Sooner offense Four northeastern Oklahoma educators' teaching certificates suspended Loren Montgomery: An inside look at Bixby's record-setting football coach OU releases depth chart for Armed Forces Bowl vs. Navy; Here are notable changes Tulsa school board votes to proceed with Jennettie Marshall, E’Lena Ashley lawsuit Muskogee board set to vote on Wagoner's Dale Condict as head football coach Bible, Christianity feature heavily in proposed social studies standards for students Gov. Kevin Stitt orders state agencies to end most remote work Sink your teeth into 20 of Tulsa's best sandwiches “With oil prices continuing to move sideways, gas prices may hold near recent levels in the coming week." Oklahoma has the lowest average gas prices in the country at $2.48, followed by Mississippi ($2.56) and Texas ($2.63), according to GasBuddy. The states with the highest average prices were Hawaii ($4.54), California ($4.27), and Washington ($3.83). The states with the biggest weekly changes were Florida (-15.2 cents), Texas (+9.9), Ohio (+9.8), Indiana (+8.4) and Iowa (+7.9). Meanwhile, a projected 52,700 Oklahomans will fly to their holiday destinations in 2024, a 10.5% increase from a year ago, AAA said. "Throughout the Christmas and New Year holiday, passenger activity will fluctuate between 8,000 on our slow days (Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve) and 12,000 people on our peak days (Friday and Monday after the holiday)," said Alexis Higgins, CEO of Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust. "We encourage passengers arrive to the airport at least 60 minutes prior to their departure time for check in and screening, and 90 minutes prior for international itineraries," she said. The average price for a domestic, roundtrip flight is $830, based on AAA Travel bookings — 4% higher than last year. The prices of domestic hotels are up about 1% from last year, AAA said, but the price of international hotels is 15% cheaper this year. The top domestic destinations for this holiday season, based on AAA Travel bookings are: • Orlando, Florida • Miami, Florida • Fort Lauderdale, Florida • New York • Anaheim/Los Angeles • Tampa, Florida • Honolulu • Charleston, South Carolina • Las Vegas • New Orleans Nationally, about 119.3 million people will travel for the year-end holidays, a 2.8% increase compared to 2023. About 107 million of those will be driving, AAA said. Also, an estimated 4.47 million people nationwide are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, including buses, cruises, and trains. That number is the highest it has been in 20 years — and an increase of nearly 10% compared to last year. Domestic cruise bookings are up 37% compared to last holiday season, AAA said. The Tulsa World is where your story lives
In the latest update of the ITTF World Rankings, there have been no changes in the top 30 rankings for both men's and women's singles. However, there was a significant rise for Hong Kong's leading female player, Doo Hoi Kem, as she climbed up two spots to reach a career-high ranking of world number 35.Victoria pays consultants $2m for possible asset sale list
ASX shares can be appealing sources of income. However, just because a company pays a dividend doesn't mean it's automatically a good option for . When I look at the biggest companies on the ASX, the top of the list is dominated by and . These are big parts of the Australian economy, but they're not my perfect picks for dividends. Ideally, I'd like an to be able to provide consistent and growing dividend payments, even in a (small) downturn. It'd also be ideal if that business has a positive outlook for growing earnings in the long term. So, with that in mind, the below three are the ASX blue-chip shares I'd buy of Australia's biggest companies. Wesfarmers Ltd ( ) Wesfarmers is the parent company of a number of Australia's strongest retail businesses, including Kmart, Bunnings, Officeworks, Priceline, and more. In the last few years, Wesfarmers' high-quality retailers have to continue growing sales. The value it provides customers with Kmart and Bunnings has helped it grow its market share during this period. I like the diversification of its operations, which includes the chemicals, energy and fertiliser division (WesCEF). It also seems to have the freedom to expand into other areas. I believe there's a high chance the company can grow its dividend in each of the next few financial years. According to Commsec, in FY26, it's projected to pay a grossed-up of 4.7%, including . Coles Group Ltd ( ) Coles is one of the largest supermarket companies in Australia, with a large national network. The last few years have been an eventful period for Coles, but I think the outlook seems like it could be more 'normal' for the ASX blue-chip share. With Australia's population growing over time, there are more consumers and customers for Coles. If there's any ongoing inflation of supermarket prices (even a low amount), then this could help the supermarket business grow sales and profit at a faster pace. We all need to eat, so I view Coles' underlying earnings as very defensive. According to Commsec, in FY26, the company is projected to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 5.6%, including franking credits. Telstra Group Ltd ( ) Telstra is Australia's biggest . It has the most mobile subscribers, the largest mobile network, and supposedly the best spectrum assets. The company has been attracting hundreds of thousands of new users each year, which is boosting its revenue and profit margins. The ASX blue-chip share's profit margins benefit when it adds users because it spreads the network costs across more users. Nearly every household and business has an internet connection, making it an essential service. Therefore, I believe that Telstra's mobile and broadband earnings are quite defensive. According to Commsec, in FY26, the company is projected to pay a grossed-up dividend yield of 6.75%, including franking credits.
In conclusion, while it is understandable for fans to feel inspired by their favorite TV shows and characters, it is crucial to distinguish between fiction and reality. Portraying oneself as intimately involved with fictional characters can lead to legal repercussions and moral implications. As this situation unfolds, it serves as a reminder for everyone to exercise caution and responsibility when sharing personal narratives and stories, especially those that involve fictitious entities.
’Tis the season — for scams. As the holiday season reaches its peak, the United States Postal Service is warning customers to be wary of holiday scams when sending and receiving gifts this year. “While the holiday season offers merriment, joy, and togetherness, fraudsters and their scams can dim the season,” the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the federal law enforcement arm of the Postal Service, said on its website . There are a few scams the USPS warns customers of being vulnerable to, including being “snowed” by counterfeit postage, phishing and smishing scams, or mail and package theft. Here are the types of mail fraud to be aware of and what you need to know about them. ‘Smishing’ “Smishing” is one of the more popular scams — especially around the holidays — which includes fraudulent text messages indicating package tracking. It’s a form of phishing, designed to steal personally identifiable information (PII), such as credit card and Social Security numbers, plus account passwords. Smishing specifically involves a text message or phone number. “Victims will typically receive a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal or financial information,” USPIS warns . “These scammers often attempt to disguise themselves as a government agency, bank or other company to lend legitimacy to their claims.” While the USPS does offer free tools to track specific packages, it will not send customers text messages or e-mails without a customer first requesting the service with a specific tracking number — and it will not contain a link. To request the service, text the package’s tracking number to 28777 (2USPS). A text that comes from the agency would generally include a tracking number, package status, date, time, location and instructions to stop receiving further messages. Again, there would not be a clickable link. Per USPS , a text may look like: “USPS 01123456789123456789, Expected Delivery by: Monday, September 11, 2017 Reply STOP to cancel.” If you believe you have received a fraudulent text from a sender pretending to be the Postal Service, it is advised to send an email to spam@uspis.gov and take the following steps: ‘Snowed’ by counterfeit postage The number of counterfeit stamps being sold online has increased, and the quality of the fraudulent stamps has as well, making it harder to differentiate. “Are you looking online for a good deal on postage stamps? Is a substantial discount of up to fifty percent off an order of United States Forever Stamps too good to pass up? If so, keep scrolling, they’re probably counterfeit,” the USPIS said. Scammers often try to target customers through social media, third-party e-commerce sites and pop-up ads. To make sure you’re not purchasing fake stamps, the USPIS recommends purchasing directly from USPS or from Approved Postal Providers, such as legitimate “big box” or warehouse retailers that have resale agreements with the Postal Service. Mail and package theft While mail and packages can be stolen at any time of the year, the USPIS warns that “thieves especially target gift packages delivered during the holiday season.” In order to protect yourself and your mail, the USPIS recommends promptly picking up your mail and packages rather than letting them sit for any length of time. If you can’t be home to receive a package, make another arrangement or use the USPS Hold Mail Service. Recipients can also use the Hold for PickUp option and collect the package at their local Post Office. USPIS warns against sending cash in the mail, saying that it’s not worth the risk. Additionally, if you do not receive a check, credit card or other valuable mail, contact the sender as soon as possible to look into it. If you’re the sender and mailing something important, consider requesting Signature Confirmation for the recipient.Standing tall as a symbol of luxury and sophistication, Summit Towers has proven to be a popular choice among high-net-worth individuals. The project's exclusive offerings and premium services have contributed to its success in the market.HullWiper’s sustainable hull cleaning solution is coming to Singapore. The company has signed a lease agreement with Unidive Subsea to bring its eco-friendly Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) hull cleaning technology to PSA terminals, Seatrium Yards and Singapore’s inner anchorages. Plans are also in place to expand services to FPSOs, FSOs and semi-submersibles under contracts with regional oil and gas companies. Singapore’s maritime industry is a key contributor to its economy, driven by its strategic location at the intersection of major maritime trade routes. Unidive Subsea provides diving and ROV services, supporting leading oil and drilling companies in Singapore. In partnership with HullWiper Ltd, they are focused on integrating cutting-edge technologies while promoting sustainable growth within the shipping industry. Set to launch in January 2025, HullWiper’s sustainable hull cleaning solution will support the country’s Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through responsible and safe maritime practices. “Innovation is key to success, and with Singapore’s maritime sector being a lynchpin to our country’s economic growth, having HullWiper in this region opens up new opportunities,” says Jeremiah Chen, Unidive Subsea’s Director. “It allows us to refine traditional service methods and adapt to the ever-evolving demands of this dynamic industry.” Singapore has long been a leader in advocating for sustainable alternatives, with the Maritime and Port Authority actively driving initiatives to promote sustainable shipping practices through policy, technological innovation and international collaboration. HullWiper aligns with this commitment by offering an eco-friendly hull cleaning solution that minimises downtime for vessels in the busy waterways of Singapore. The ROV technology enables cleaning operations to occur day or night, in most weather conditions, and while cargo or bunker fuel operations are underway. The use of ROVs not only improves safety by reducing the risks associated with traditional diver-based cleaning but also ensures that residues and contaminants are collected and filtered through environmentally responsible processes, protecting marine life and water quality. “HullWiper’s ROV technology offers an eco-conscious approach to hull cleaning,” says John Armstrong, HullWiper Managing Director. “It makes hull cleaning more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly, allowing vessels to operate at peak performance while reducing fuel consumption and lowering GHG emissions.” Since its launch in late 2013, HullWiper has expanded from its first base in Dubai to key locations across the Middle East, as well as ports in Australia, South Korea, Mauritius, Panama, Denmark, and Sweden. HullWiper has completed over 2,000 hull cleans for vessels worldwide. Source: HullWiperJoining Canales in midfield is Dani Parejo, who arrives from Villarreal. Parejo, a seasoned playmaker with a keen eye for goal, will add a new dimension to Beijing Guoan's attacking play. His ability to dictate the tempo of the game and deliver incisive passes will be crucial in unlocking opposition defenses and creating scoring opportunities for the team's forwards.
At just 23 years of age, Rashford finds himself at a pivotal stage in his career, balancing the need for regular playing time and the desire to achieve success at the highest level. As he navigates this crucial juncture, the support and endorsement from a Manchester United icon like Sir Alex Ferguson could serve as a source of motivation and inspiration for Rashford to fulfill his potential and leave a lasting legacy at the club.AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas won the Big 12 title in 2023 on its way out the door to the Southeastern Conference. It was still swinging open when Arizona State waltzed in and won the league title in its debut season. And now the old Big 12 champs meet the new Big 12 champs on the path toward a potential national title. The fifth-seeded Longhorns and fourth-seeded Sun Devils play News Years Day in the Peach Bowl in the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff . Both had their doubters they could get here. Texas (12-2) still had to prove is was “ready” for the SEC. Arizona State (11-2) was picked to finish last in the Big 12. But the Sun Devils quickly started winning and having fun in some new road environments in college towns smaller than some of their stops in the more cosmopolitan old Pac-12. All-American running back Cam Skattebo led the barnstorming tour. “We were not used to getting tortillas thrown at us at Texas Tech. You're not used to some of these environments," Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham said Monday. “When you're in the Pac-12, you're playing in Seattle, you're playing in L.A., you're playing in Salt Lake City. We got to face a lot more small college town football with really, really great environments. ... It was definitely fun to join a new league," Dillingham said. And Dillingham laid down some Texas roots. The Sun Devils are recruiting Texas players out of high school, and the current roster has six transfers who started their college careers in burnt orange in Austin. “The guys we’ve gotten from Texas and coach (Steve Sarkisian's) program have been unbelievable,” Dillingham said. “We know what we’re getting when we’re getting a guy from that program, and that’s a guy who has worked really hard, competed and been pushed. Those are the things that we like to bring in.” Safety Xavion Alford was named All-Big 12 . Defensive end Prince Dorbah is another Sun Devils starter. Defensive lineman Zac Swanson, who has two sacks this season, is another former Longhorn who said he relished a chance to beat his former team. Recruited by Texas out of Phoenix, Swanson was a reserve in 2022 and 2023 behind future NFL draft picks T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy. “That's a team who kicked me out and said I'd never I was never going to be good enough to play there,” Swanson said last week. “That's something that has been on my agenda for a while.” Dillingham joked he'd like to get more Texas transfers this week. Sarkisian simply noted that he wished he'd signed Skattebo, a Californian who transferred from Sacramento State after the 2022 season. “I was unaware, so kudos to them. They found him, he's a heckuva player,” said Sarkisian, who also is a California native. Sarkisian said he was impressed by the Sun Devil's first-year success in the Big 12. “We were in that Big 12, what, for 27 years? We won four. This is their first year in and they won a Big 12 Championship. It’s a really hard thing to do,” Sarkisian said. “They’re playing with a ton of confidence right now. The last two months, I think they’re playing as good a football as anybody in the country.” Despite wining that last Big 12 title and a playoff appearance in 2023, Texas still faced skeptics that the Longhorns would take their lumps in the SEC this year. Texas was more than ready for the league and the Longhorns made it to the SEC championship game. Their only two losses have been to Georgia, the No. 2 seed in the playoff. Sarkisian still remembers his 5-7 Texas debut in 2021. The program wasn't ready for the SEC and the playoff back then, but it certainly is now. Texas is the only one of last year's four playoff teams to make the expanded 12-team field this year. “There’s a lot to be proud of, but mostly I’m proud of our veterans, our leaders, our seniors, because those guys went from 5-7 in year one, they went through 8-5 in year two, and they didn’t jump ship. They hung in there with us. They believed in what they were doing,” Sarkisian said. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe top US court will hear arguments on January 10 on whether the law that would ban the platform violates free speech rights. Washington, DC – The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear TikTok’s bid to block a law that would ban or compel the sale of the video platform over its links to China. The top justices signalled on Wednesday that they are willing to reconsider a decision by a lower court that upheld the law, but they stopped short of issuing an injunction to immediately suspend the US government’s effort to block TikTok. The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case on January 10, nine days before the government’s deadline to impose the ban. US President Joe Biden approved the law, dubbed the Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , in April after years of proclaimed concerns that the popular social media app may be used to steal Americans’ data and manipulate public opinion. At the core of the case is determining whether banning TikTok is a violation of free speech rights granted by the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The government argues that the ban falls under legitimate regulations of foreign-owned companies. TikTok is owned by the China-based technology firm ByteDance. “The parties are directed to brief and argue the following question: Whether the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, as applied to petitioners, violates the First Amendment,” the Supreme Court said on Wednesday. TikTok, which says it has 170 million monthly US users , called the law in a filing to the Supreme Court a “massive and unprecedented speech restriction”, invoking the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. “The act will shutter one of America’s most popular speech platforms the day before a presidential inauguration,” TikTok’s lawyers wrote. “This, in turn, will silence the speech of applicants and the many Americans who use the platform to communicate about politics, commerce, arts, and other matters of public concern.” Trump’s ‘warm spot’ Trump previously said he has a “warm spot” for TikTok, and he met its CEO Shou Chew on Monday. TikTok noted in its petition to the Supreme Court that the US government has only raised the potential of data breaches and content manipulation without proving that these concerns have materialised. The platform’s lawyers said the ban is motivated by “the content posted by TikTok’s users and alleged editorial choices by TikTok Inc. in disseminating that content”. Some US politicians have accused TikTok of boosting pro-Palestine content and spreading anti-Semitism – allegations that the platform has categorically denied. A panel of judges on an appeals court earlier sided with the government’s argument that the effort against the platform is not about curbing free speech. “The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” the judges wrote . “Here the government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.” US Attorney General Merrick Garland welcomed that ruling. “Today’s decision is an important step in blocking the Chinese government from weaponising TikTok to collect sensitive information about millions of Americans, to covertly manipulate the content delivered to American audiences, and to undermine our national security,” he said in a statement. The Supreme Court is the highest level of appeal in the US judicial system. When it takes up a case, it signals that it is of significant national importance and that it merits to be heard at the top of the judiciary. So, while the Supreme Court’s order does not mean TikTok will defeat the ban, the decision keeps the challenge alive. If the justices had dismissed the case, the litigation would have ended with the lower court’s ruling. Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a brief in support of the law on Wednesday, portraying the lawsuit as a delay tactic by TikTok to buy time until Trump becomes president. “This is a standard litigation play at the end of one administration, with a petitioner hoping that the next administration will provide a stay of execution,” he wrote. “This Court should no more countenance it coming from foreign adversaries than it does from hardened criminals.” The legal fight over TikTok comes amid intensifying competition between the US and China . The US federal government and several states and companies have already banned the application from their official devices. Earlier this week, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a motion backing TikTok’s case. They called the ban “an egregious form of content discrimination”, citing US politicians’ publicly voiced warnings about political content on the platform. “At least 20 other legislators justified their support for the act’s provisions in content- and viewpoint-based terms, citing risks ranging from the proliferation of Chinese propaganda, to the sharing of content harmful to minors, to the alleged suppression of pro-Ukraine and pro-Israel views ,” the groups wrote.