Volato Disrupts $2.4 Billion Market with Patent-Pending Bitcoin InnovationIt's playoff time throughout high school football across the country. With most of the season behind us, here's a look at who we think have been the nation's top 20 running backs this year. The primary criteria were 2024 production and team success relative to strength of schedule. Performance in prior seasons and recruiting accolades were also taken into account. Recruiting info is per 247Sports unless otherwise specified. TOP 20 RUNNING BACKS IN THE COUNTRY: Allen isn't a projected Power-4 starter like most of the rest of the players on this list, but the Harvard commit just had a season for the books. Playing against solid Texas competition, he ran for 2,588 yards and 42 touchdowns on 10.4 yards per carry, caught 19 passes for 374 yards and five more touchdowns, and threw a touchdown pass for 2,964 total yards of offense in just 10 games. Including kick returns, Allen totaled 3,130 all-purpose yards. That's 313 a game, and he even averaged over 250 a night in St. John's losses. The top-ranked senior running back in the country, Berry is a career 8,000-yard rusher and 5-star LSU commit. After totaling nearly 2,500 yards of offense as a junior, he ran for 1,666 yards and 32 touchdowns on 12.7 yards per carry this regular season alone, and caught for 247 yards and three more TDs. Berry is fast as it gets at the running back spot with a 4.37 40-yard dash. With a 10.62 time in the 100m to go with solid size and pass-catching ability, it's easy to see why more than 40 schools offered Blaylock. And his high school production follows suit. Despite missing a bit of time due to an injury, Blaylock has run for 1,076 yards and 21 touchdowns on 9.5 yards per carry as a senior for a top-20 team in the country playing a national schedule. The Oklahoma commit has also recorded 19 catches for 265 yards and three TDs, and his ability to fly out of the slot has helped clear the box for run-centric QB Cardae Mack. A 5-star recruit and the top-ranked RB in the Class of 2027 with the numbers to show for it. Crowell came out of the gate with 29 touchdowns and 1,737 rushing yards as a freshman, and has already rushed for 1,667 yards and 25 touchdowns on 11.7 yards per carry in 2024 to go with two TDs and 233 yards receiving. His Aggies are 21-1 with their only loss coming by one score to nationally-ranked Saraland, and even then he went for 200 yards and three TDs. Crowell is up to 22 offers with 'Bama, Auburn, and UCF listed as the early frontrunners by 247Sports. Over the last two seasons, Davidson's Bulldogs are 26-0, and he's run for 4,315 yards and 71 touchdowns (and counting). Davidson is a speedster with a 10.69 personal record in the 100m, but has good size for a tailback at 6-0, 195. Easy to see why he's ranked third at his position in the Class of 2025 and is committed to Clemson. Davison is averaging over 100 yards of offense per game for a Mater Dei team on pace to run away with a national title. He's run for 13 touchdowns in nine games as a senior, and committed to Oregon over the summer out of a whopping 50 colleges to offer. Davison proved as a sophomore that he can carry a heavy load, rushing for 17 TDs and 1,514 yards for the nation's No. 2 team in 2022. Barbara Gauntt/ Clarion Ledger/ USA Today Network/ Imagn After rushing for 27 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards as a junior, Dear has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in eight games as a senior – despite spending real time at QB. In addition to his rushing production, the 4-star Alabama commit has caught a touchdown and completed 17 of 26 passes for 249 yards and three TDs, good for a 118.9 passer rating. A 6-foot-1 bruiser with tremendous straight-line sprinting speed, Dear is widely considered a top-two RB in his class. Jake Crandall/ Montgomery Advertiser/ USA Today Network/ Imagn What do you get when a top-10 RB recruit in the country plays in the right system at the 1A level? One of the most dominant high school careers of all time. And some 44 Division I offers. Henderson first experienced varsity action in eighth grade, ran for 1,115 yards and 24 touchdowns as a freshman, doubled his production as a sophomore, and made history as a junior a year ago. The 4-star Auburn commit ran for 3,525 yards and a state-record 61 touchdowns while leading the nation with 68 total touchdowns, and did it all on "just" 225 carries thanks to his jaw-dropping 15.7 yards per carry. Henderson has already rushed for 3,456 yards and 61 TDs as a senior, with career totals of 10,766 rushing yards, 193 rushing TDs, and even 327 yards and two touchdowns passing on 11-17 completion. For what is not the first time, this 4-star Clemson commit is one of the premier halfbacks in high school football in 2024. Henderson has only needed 116 carries to guide the Bears to an 11-1 record and rack up 1,631 yards and 22 touchdowns rushing, good for a massive average of 14.1 yards per carry. He also has 23 catches for 206 yards and a touchdown. In 14 games as a junior, Henderson totaled 39 touchdowns and over 2,700 all-purpose yards. Hill ran for 1,788 yards and 25 touchdowns on 13.6 yards per carry for a 10-2 team as a junior, and he's been even better in 2024. The 4-star Oregon commit has run for 2,150 yards and 34 touchdowns on an insane 17.3 yards per carry, and is having a breakout year as a pass-catcher with 16 catches for 303 yards and five more TDs. To top it off, he's still going, as his Crusaders are one win away from an undefeated 1A state title run. The top-ranked RB in his grade and the only 5-star running back in the Class of 2026, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings. Hiter's 2024 stats aren't up yet, but he's crossed the 200-yard mark a handful of times and been considered a major stock-riser in recent months by scouts after running for a little over 1,000 yards as a sophomore. James is a high 3-star Notre Dame commit who hasn't quite gotten the national recognition he deserves for powering the Spartans through a tough schedule into national rankings. In 11 games against strong foes, he's run for career-highs of 1,677 yards and 17 touchdowns, and also has 26 catches for 326 yards and three TDs. Ranked fourth at RB in his class, Kromah checks every single box of a top recruit. With a rare combination of power running and receiver skills, the 4-star Clemson commit has run for 4,477 yards and 54 touchdowns in his career, and has caught for 1,312 yards and 18 TDs as well. Kromah also uses his 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame to block particularly well for a halfback. The cherry on top is his winning pedigree, having propelled Lee County – which is 12-0 entering state 5A quarterfinals – to national relevance. The longtime LSU commit ran for 1,729 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior, and he has been even better as a senior. Lindsey piled up nearly 946 yards of offense in the first five games of 2024 alone, and his Trojans are undefeated and nationally-ranked. Speed is the 4-star recruit's main calling card with a sub 11-second 100m dash. He's one of the top breakout stars of 2024 at running back spot statistically – although the top college programs in the country have been in hot pursuit of the 4-star recruit for years. In just 10 games games, Louis has run for 1,313 yards and 13 touchdowns and has 17 catches for 229 yards and three TDs, putting him at 154 yards of offense per game for an 9-2 team playing a national schedule. He's also a standout in the blocking department. Louis committed to Florida State out of 29 offers in September, but there's a lot of attention being paid to his upcoming official visit at Florida. An 8,000-yard rusher for his career, Overton is up to 1,561 yards, 426 receiving yards, and 36 touchdowns as a senior with his team at 10-1 after dominating its postseason opener. And while it wasn't a factor in his inclusion, his mark of seven interceptions at safety is extremely impressive too. Before transferring to Hayfield, he had a decorated career at Freedom (VA) that included a Gatorade State Player of the Year award. Overton is a 3-star Virginia Tech commit. Bill Welt/ The State Journal-Register/ USA Today Network/ Imagn Parker led Cardinal Ritter to an undefeated season and state title as a junior with 1,644 rushing yards on 11.2 yards per carry and 26 touchdowns. The 4-star Nebraska pledge was just as good as a senior the regular season with 1,564 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing on 10.3 yards a try in the regular season alone. Parker also had 12 catches for 134 yards and two more TDs during the regular season. A tireless power back for the perennial Texas powerhouse Eagles, Riden's senior season has been his best yet – and his third above 1,000 rushing yards. Leading DeSoto to a 10-2 record and national top-25 ranking against a national schedule, Riden is up to 1,685 yards and 24 touchdowns with nearly all of it coming on the ground. A 4-star recruit in 247Sports' composite rankings, he picked Texas A&M out of nearly 40 schools to offer. Warren's full senior year stats aren't up yet, but consider the following. North Crowley is ranked fifth in the nation by High School On SI and ninth by MaxPreps at 12-0. And Warren ran for 350 yards and four touchdowns in the first three games alone, including 153 yards and three touchdowns to knock off another top-25 team in the nation in DeSoto (TX). Warren, a 3-star recruit, picked UNLV out of 15 schools to offer, which included some high-major stalwarts like Ole Miss and Utah. Yates built on an All-American sophomore year with an even better junior campaign possessing a trifecta of standout speed, strength, and pass-catching. In 2024 he rushed for 1,339 yards and 15 touchdowns on over 10 yards per carry, made 31 catches for 453 yards and four TDs, and totaled 358 yards and two more scores as a return specialist, putting him over 2,000 all-purpose yards. And the 4-star recruit was a force to be reckoned with even in the Wildcats' two losses, showing that you can't stop him but can only hope to contain him. Yates committed to stay home for Mississippi State in September.Waukesha police want the interview TMJ4 News did with an accused murderer
Nordstrom has dropped a huge Cyber Monday sale with massive discounts up to 60% off top brands like Adidas Samba OG and Adidas Gazelle sneakers. The rare price drops on these top Adidas sneaker styles for men and women are reduced as low as $60. This includes a $40 discount on select colorways of the Samba OG which has become one of Adidas’ most-popular sneaker styles. The Samba, which rose to fame in the 70s, has seen a recent resurgence alongside its sister designs — the Gazelle and Spezial . Both the Gazelle and Spezial are on sale in select colors, with reduced prices starting at just $60. We found this women’s Adidas Gazelle Sneaker in Sand/White/Silver Green for $60 and this unisex Spezial Sneaker for just $66 in Black/Yellow/Grey Six with more color options discounted. Plus, you can snag a $46 off deal on the Campus 00s Sneakers for men, as well as top-performing running shoes, basketball sneakers, training shoes, everyday wear styles and more Adidas styles. Adidas kid’s shoes are also on sale. But these Nordstrom Cyber Monday deals are so good they’re selling out fast with popular Adidas sizes and styles disappearing quickly. However, Nordstrom is continuing to drop new markdowns to the sale, but it is unclear how long these discounts will last so you’ll want to grab your favorites while you can. Plus, Nordstrom offers free shipping on the sneakers so you’ll save even more on your holiday purchase. Here’s a look at some of the best Adidas sneaker deals you can snag from Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday sale . Adidas Samba OG Sneaker (All Gender) for $60, instead of $100 (select colors, including White/Gray and White/Off White/Black) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (All Gender) for $78, instead of $120 (select colors, including Orange/Clear Mint/Gum4) Adidas Handball Spezial Sneaker (All Gender) for $66, instead of $110 (select colors, including Scarlet/Cloud/Green, Night Red/Blue/Shadow Red and Black/ Yellow/ Grey Six) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Women) for $72, instead of $120 (select colors, including White/Green/Black and Green Spark/Almost Yellow) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Women) for $60, instead of $120 (select colors, including Almost Yellow/ Oat/ Maroon and Sand/ White/ Silver Green) Adidas Gazelle Sneaker (Men) for $60, instead of $120 (select colors, including Black, Solid Grey and Green/Preloved Red/Gum) Adidas Campus 00s Sneaker (Men) for $66, instead of $110 (select colors, including Wonder Clay/ Grey/ Black) Shop for more sneaker markdowns during Nordstrom’s Cyber Monday sale here. The Best Cyber Monday & Leftover Black Friday Deals Kate Spade’s Cyber Monday sale has the best handbags up to 50% off — and almost everything else is discounted too Kohl’s has a Food Network 10-piece ceramic cookware set for just $37 in a delicious Cyber Monday deal Amazon has AncestryDNA kits on sale for their best price ever ahead of the holidays Amazon has this Masterbilt digital smoker back in stock and on sale for a whopping $80 off in a huge Cyber Monday deal HOKA sneakers are now marked even cheaper in a huge holiday sale — but these low-price deals won’t last Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .Review: Ravishing new ‘Cinderella’ takes her shoe, and her destiny, into her own hands
NEW YORK — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that's been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor, the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company's board. It also said it doesn't expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger's replacement, and its chair said it's "committed to restoring investor confidence." Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street's frenzy around AI. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what's expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday. Target fell 1.2%. Walmart rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump's latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won't create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The U.S. dollar's value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government's budget. The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury ended the day at 4.19%. Get local news delivered to your inbox!One of the best cheap earbuds I've tested isn't made by Soundcore or Anker (and it's on sale)None
Qatar and Colombia have issued a joint statement on the occasion of the official visit of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Colombia. The statement reads as follows: His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, and Gustavo Petro, President of the Republic of Colombia, held bilateral discussions on November 20, 2024, at the Narino Palace in Bogota. The leaders, joined by high-level ministers including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Transport, Energy and Communications, reaffirmed the strength of the Qatar-Colombia partnership and their shared commitment to expand co-operation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. Bilateral co-operation Qatar welcomed Colombia's announcement to establish an embassy in Doha, marking a significant advancement in diplomatic relations. Both sides witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on economic, commercial, and technical co-operation, which will facilitate joint initiatives and promote exchange visits between business leaders and chambers of commerce. The two governments signed additional memorandums of understanding in tourism, ports, sports, and news exchange to strengthen bilateral engagement across various sectors. Colombia expressed interest in developing initiatives to support health and education, particularly in remote areas and conflict-affected regions. Economic partnership Both sides agreed to advance discussions toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Colombia presented a roadmap for negotiations, building on discussions held during COP28 in Dubai in December 2023. To strengthen trade and investment ties, both countries agreed to establish a dialogue between Colombia's National Tax and Customs Authority (DIAN) and its Qatari counterpart to enhance co-operation in taxation and customs matters. Regional peace and security The two sides held in-depth discussions on regional developments, focusing on efforts to achieve lasting peace and stability. Both nations emphasized the importance of achieving a permanent and sustainable cessation of hostilities, upholding international law and international humanitarian law regarding the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, securing the release of hostages, and alleviating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Colombia commended Qatar's diplomatic role in promoting regional peace and stability, including its mediation efforts. Qatar appreciated Colombia's steadfast support for a two-state solution and its opposition to illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Looking ahead Qatar and Colombia expressed satisfaction with the concrete outcomes of this visit and reaffirmed their commitment to expand bilateral co-operation. Both countries pledged to maintain regular consultations on bilateral and regional issues while working together to address global challenges. Related Story Amir leaves Costa Rica for Colombia Amir to attend G20 Summit in Brazil Monday, visit Costa Rica and ColombiaMedical Properties Trust: Extreme Makeover, Why I'm Buying Aggressively
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Fluence Energy: Growth Ahead, A Strategy With Some Downside Protection And Leverage On The UpsideMaui Invitational scores, takeaways: Iowa State cruises over Colorado, salvages two wins in tournamentFrom Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know! The Giant Heirloom Market, a compact grocery store focused on selling fresh food, sushi and beer on tap plus a coffee shop, aimed to bring the boutique shopping experience to Philadelphia neighborhoods. Yet some would argue the experiment failed in one community as the Market East in Center City location will close permanently by year’s end. For now, it was a risky bet that didn’t pay off for both the current building owner, a real estate investment trust in San Diego, California, and the tenant, a grocery store with roots in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. “I think this is more of a mismatch in location and maybe a bit of an optimistic bet for the area but it was probably ahead of its time,” said Jessie Handbury, an economist and associate professor of real estate at the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in urban economics. That gamble came with the support of public subsidy. Taxpayers have already given a break to the building owner for years and the deal extends another 11 years in exchange to help make the retail corner active and not sit vacant, because it’s an extension of the Fashion District shopping mall. There is one group that did place a winning bet: the investors who bought the ground floor retail property out of bankruptcy, who secured an anchor tenant then sold the property at a profit to the highest bidder. As Philadelphia leaders prepare to showcase the city on the world stage in 2026, there’s potential for yet another stretch of vacant storefronts to greet pedestrians walking from City Hall to the Liberty Bell – a stark contrast to the city’s ambitions — despite efforts to attract businesses through economic incentives. And it’s unclear how successful the next tenant of that property might be based on the struggles documented in public records obtained by WHYY News, which include health inspections to retail theft reports on file with the police department. Giant Grocery Co. declined multiple interview requests for this story, opting instead to respond to a series of written questions. What’s going on with the price of groceries? Cooling inflation hasn’t translated to lower prices on store shelves. We’ll look at how sticker-shock over grocery costs is having an impact on consumers and voters. Air Date: September 24, 2024 12:00 pm A highly curated experience Giant launched its Heirloom Market concept in 2019, opening locations in the Graduate Hospital neighborhood, University City and Northern Liberties. The company continues to operate larger, more traditional locations in less dense neighborhoods within the city limits and nearby key public transportation hubs along Broad Street, both north and south of City Hall. These smaller Heirloom Market stores were meant to encourage shoppers to gather, linger and spend. It was designed for tourists, commuters and even a growing residential population in Philadelphia’s urban core. The stores often carried local small business products like breads and chocolates curated to reflect the character of different neighborhoods. Not everything went as planned. A previous bid to build a Queen Village neighborhood Heirloom Market fell through on South Street. In 2021, Giant opened the Market East store. Now just three years later, it will shutter permanently on Dec. 28 at 7 p.m., according to the company’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act letter to the state of Pennsylvania. Giant occupied a space that’s technically an extension of the shopping mall now known as the Fashion District and previously as The Gallery. The Giant grocery at Market East in Philadelphia is inside a renovated Strawbridge department store. (Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza/WHYY) Built with a limestone facade in 1931 for $10 million, the building was once a Strawbridge & Clothier department store, with extra flourishes to compete with Wanamaker’s store down the street closer to Philadelphia City Hall. Over the years, the lower floors remained retail and the upper floors were what’s known as Class B office space, that’s one step below the highest rent per square foot, or Class A. Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, known as PREIT, held on to ownership of the bottom two retail floors until one of its Chapter 11 bankruptcies in 2020. That’s when it was scooped up for $5 million by an entity affiliated with Philadelphia-based Alterra Property Group, which spent at least “several million dollars” to renovate the property for the future Giant Heirloom Market lease, according to bankruptcy documents and an interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal . Just two years later, in 2022, Alterra sold it to an affiliate of Realty Income Trust of San Diego, which still owns it today. It’s likely the store lease was signed during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when economic uncertainty was at an all-time high, said Handbury, the economist. “The downside of the bet was pretty severe. My guess is that this wasn’t an economical operation for Giant to be running and they were losing more money running the operation than they would be just buying out the lease,” she said. “The plan could have been for Giant to act like an anchor but if there’s not enough foot traffic in that area generally, then there’s no foot traffic for that anchor to attract.” Show me the money: SEPTA tells City Council it needs millions to expand service for arena goers The authority is in dire straits as the Sixers seek to build the transit-oriented development. It’s unclear where the additional funding will come from. 1 week ago Will a new business bet on Market East? It’s unclear whether another commercial tenant will take over as a sublease, considering the property’s condition. The grocery store did promise state and city officials that it would “look to assign or sublet the premises to any other qualified or permitted party with the consent of the landlord.” But a casual visitor to the Market East grocery store might notice several individuals experiencing homelessness within 25 feet of the front door that opens to Market Street — a scene observed on a recent weekday in November. Those same individuals are often visible from the store’s cafe area, through its large front windows. This familiar sight is reflective of broader challenges in Center City and has been for many years. Public records reveal struggles inside the store too, such as a steady stream of retail theft and persistent infestations of rodents and insects. In addition, someone from the 801 Market St. building reported various theft issues to the Philadelphia Police Department dispatches 73 different times between March 2021 and November 2024. Inside that figure, 52 calls were for theft of at least $200 or greater value, which is at least $10,400 of stolen goods, over a three-year stint as a minimum estimate of retail losses. During the month of October 2024, there were eight reports of theft at the property for products worth $200 and greater, which is a minimum loss of $1,600, police records show. Retail theft is known as shrinkage and all companies deal with it as a cost that’s baked into the business model. However, it seems the risk may have been underestimated — until now. Matt Kelley, senior vice president of business and market development at LiveView Technologies in Salt Lake City, works with retailers on mobile security camera systems. “Some of our customers say theft has dropped off in general, but to what degree we don’t know because a lot of time it’s severely under reported,” Kelley said. “Shrink is a percentage of top line sales. So, I think that companies have done a really good job of trying to slow down the growth of theft relative to sales growth. If shrink grows at a slower rate than sales you’re going to see the percentages [go down] and their perception is that theft is getting better but it might not be getting better.” Often, the public will watch videos on social media of retail theft and get angry, he said. “The real question is how much theft is worth a person’s life. Is it worth a $20 item for someone to stop that individual and be murdered? Some of these individuals are very violent and when they’re cornered, when they’re threatened, they can lash out,” Kelley said. “Is it worth that stolen item for the violence that happens to the security guard, to the employee, to a customer nearby? What most stores have said is that it’s not worth it. What we’d rather do is deter people from the beginning. And be able to have higher resolution images from video to identify their faces.” While the grocery retailer is pulling out, that doesn’t mean businesses can’t coexist when there are communities of individuals experiencing homelessness outside their stores – if the store is willing to build partnerships. One professor at Drexel University has spent decades working at a nonprofit organization who helps individuals find housing, then mental health resources. He’s now a business professor. Damian Salas is an assistant teaching professor and associate dean of academic partnerships at the Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University. “I think part of selling food is they really needed the community to be involved in the development, in the planning stages. That’s easier said than done, maybe they did, but it doesn’t sound like they truly knew who their customers were or how they were going to be engaged. I think they missed that opportunity,” Salas said. “What we call, in entrepreneurship, that product market fit, I think was just a little bit off. I think they need to do a little bit more work around building community engagement as part of their launch.” Salas said some companies dealing with extensive retail theft have gotten creative, like Wawa in University City. Instead of a traditional corner store at 34th and Market Street, where there were issues with theft, now everything is ordered by a customer on a kiosk and workers deliver products. “There’s just kiosks of stations with touchscreens where you order everything from sandwiches to gum to a Tastykake or whatever it is,” he said. “But I’m not sure that’s even possible within a bigger supermarket. But the point is that [the company said] we have a problem. Let’s solve the problem by doing this.” Car-free streets will return to Philly’s Rittenhouse Square this winter. Here’s what to know The pedestrian-only street closures saw a big boost in sales during Open Street’s September experiment. 2 weeks ago Philadelphia’s retail theft situation Retail theft is not just an issue in Center City, it has increased significantly in recent years citywide, records show. In 2013, there were 129 retail thefts citywide during a two week span of Nov. 11th to Nov. 17 – the 46th week of the year. There was a slight uptick for several years thereafter and then a downward trend but not much of a difference, police crime data shows. But in 2019, there were 243 retail thefts during the Nov. 11th to Nov. 17th time frame — a notable difference. And while there was a slight dip in 2020, likely when retailers were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, that has risen considerably. In 2022, there were 298 retail thefts during that same two week stint, the next year there were 317 thefts. And in 2024, there were 406 retail thefts citywide over that same metric, a prior two-week period. On an annual basis, retail theft has grown from 6,433 crimes within city limits between January and mid-November in 2014 to 19,692 during the same time period in 2024. Critics of the Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner point to his guidance he gave to attorneys in 2018 to charge summary offenses in retail theft cases if the merchandise is worth less than $500. Krasner has since created a retail theft taskforce and decided to change internal policy to target and prosecute theft rings fleecing retailers. In urban environments, retail theft can be a sticky issue because employers weigh the value of the goods stolen with the likelihood that a bad actor will be violent towards a customer, employee or security guard. “If you don’t have enough [police] for coverage you’re not going to be able to respond and that’s why you see retailers in urban environments having to lock up products or do other mitigation tactics to try and reduce theft, if not, you see what’s happened with certain retailers where you have to close a location because it’s not profitable,” Kelley, the tech startup executive, said. “That goes back to the enforceability issue, if they’re not going to prosecute why would you spend your time putting your people in harm’s way potentially to stop somebody who is stealing $900 worth of product.” Historic properties come with pests There are 16 different inspection reports on file with the City of Philadelphia Department of Health Office of Food Protection that show a pattern of persistent health code violations at the Giant Heirloom Market, between 2021 and 2024. Before the grocery store opened in November 2021, its health inspection report was largely clean with recommendations to replace missing ceiling tiles, dust construction debris and to remove plastic from equipment. But by January 2022, health inspectors were on the scene again in response to an unidentified complaint, although no violations were observed . The store has been cited with numerous health code violations since June 2022, which include issues like mouse droppings in both food preparation and storage areas, fruit flies in the deli prepping section and entry points that are not properly sealed that enabled pests to easily enter the premises. Despite inspections being conducted regularly to address these problems, issues continued to persist over time, such as infestations and unsanitary garbage areas as well as unresolved problems with the store’s restrooms. Inspectors have noted instances of gnawed food packages and a mouse infestation by November 2022 with violations continuing into the year 2023. Both June 2023 and November 2023 periods passed with the store still not meeting the standards and having unresolved issues that added to its troubled past, which ultimately led to its closure. The most recent health inspection report of the store was in October 2024 and many of the longstanding issues persisted at the grocery store. The Hissho Sushi operation inside the Market East grocery store was inspected by the city in a series of different reports. Many of the issues were similar, including the mouse infestation, fruit flies and even live roaches in a trap observed by health inspectors in November 2023. It suffered from similar problems with the building structure, such as peeling paint, cracked floor tires and lack of sealed rooms. More Philly landlords are marketing units to renters with housing vouchers amid building boom, PHA changes A collision of market forces and higher subsidies is creating new opportunities for residents with very low incomes. 2 weeks ago Center City is no food desert The closure of the Giant Heirloom Market is unlikely to push the urban core into a food desert. Handbury, the University of Pennsylvania researcher, contributed to the study at the intersection of food deserts, real estate and public policy after significant federal investment to reduce food insecurity. Researchers found individuals are likely to visit a nearby grocery store when it enters the market nearby their home, but the presence of a store does not change the nutritional quality of the food they purchase nor eat. “We found that even if households face the same food options, poorer households tend to pick less healthy options because those options fit more within their budget,” she said. “Particularly when it comes to these perishable food items, for the store to be able to offer high quality fresh foods, they need to have sufficient demand for those products so they can actually get the inventory off the shelf while it’s still fresh without losing money.” Meanwhile, competition among grocery stores has intensified in Philadelphia, particularly in Center City. “We understand that customers have a lot of choices about how and where they want to shop which is why we offer both in-person and online grocery,” said Giant Grocery Co. spokesperson Ashley Flower in an email. “Philadelphia remains an important market for the company.” Giant has operated in Philadelphia since 2011 and continues to expand with new stores in Andorra and on South Broad Street scheduled to open on Dec. 13. None of these new ventures will be Heirloom Markets. “This is simply a business decision, only made after a thorough assessment and efforts to improve performance,” Flower said. “Unfortunately this store has not performed to our expectations and when coupled with the challenges we and others have faced in the neighborhood, it no longer makes sense to continue operating at this location. Things like local business conditions, safety and foot traffic, among others, all have an impact on a business’s operations.” While the Fashion District is taxpayer subsidized, the grocery retailer itself did not accept any economic incentives since it opened in 2021, even federal paycheck protection money to pay workers, according to the company. The Market East store employed 61 people as of Nov. 5, with an average weekly payroll of $28,000. Workers were offered equivalent positions with the same pay and benefits at surrounding stores in Philadelphia as part of the closure agreement. As of mid-November, 84% of employees accepted jobs at the other locations. Any employees leaving the business are expected to be paid until Jan. 4. The company estimated that the store closure will mean a loss of $256,911 in tax revenue for the city of Philadelphia but expects “the opening of our South Broad Street location later this year should more than offset that lost tax revenue.” Exact details of the Giant Heirloom Market lease term were not immediately available; the company declined to share such information publicly. But real estate experts suggest it’s highly unlikely that the lease was three years long. A highly visible anchor tenant in a commercial building typically signs leases between five years to 10 years long, if not 15 years. Which means that Giant could still be on the hook to pay monthly rent to the property owner for the entirety of its lease term, just like an apartment lease. “We don’t disclose the costs of our projects but as with any new store, it was a significant investment,” Flower said. “While the details of our lease agreement are confidential, we did sign a multi-year lease agreement.” Giant Company has more than 35,000 employees across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia operating 193 stores. It was founded and is still headquartered in Carlisle after 101 years in operation. It’s now owned by Ahold Delhaize USA, the American subsidiary of Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize N.V., a publicly traded grocery multinational in the Netherlands. Get daily updates from WHYY News! The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox. WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. 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NICEVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Aaliyah Nye scored 15 points and No. 23 Alabama coasted to an 83-33 win over Alabama State on Monday at the Emerald Coast Classic. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Karly Weathers both added 12 points for the Crimson Tide (7-0). Zaay Green had 11. Barker, Weathers and Green combined to go 12 of 16 from the field as Alabama shot 51% and made 23 of 34 free throws. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Buchanan scores 28 off the bench, Boise State downs South Dakota State 83-82
“Wait, slow down! I can’t see !” It’s an average Wednesday afternoon in New York City, and I am strutting around the streets of SoHo in a very non-average pair of sunglasses. My co-worker, Kya, is just a few feet in front of me, but I’m having trouble keeping tabs on him, let alone the sidewalk directly in front of me. I’m wearing Balenciaga’s 24/7 Mask—futuristic pair of shield shades that make me feel half-human, half-robot. What I lack in basic peripheral vision, I make up for in other heightened senses: I can just feel the gazes of strangers as they walk past me, many of whom are likely wondering, What the hell are those ? And why is he wearing them ? There is a reason why I have slipped into such an avant-garde accessory. Debuting on the label’s fall 2024 runway , I first noticed the Balenciaga shield shades earlier this year, and have been intrigued by them ever since. Average sun-blocking shades these are not: The 24/7 Mask requires the wearer to slip one’s ears into built-in earholes—meaning once you put them on, they are on . There is a level of commitment and dedication to wearing them, not to mention the 180-degrees of darkness slightly impairs your vision. To sport them is to slightly remove yourself from reality and the world we live in; you only see parts of it, and it is even easier to block out the parts you don’t wish to see. I loved this idea of fashion as a form of armor and protection, and began to wonder if they could be conducive to a mundane work day commute. Cue the test-drive. Wearing them on the New York City subway was certainly an experience. Real New Yorkers are privy to the horrors that one can bear witness to on the morning commute to work—like riding with the acrobatic dancers who almost kick your head while performing their routines for money. But in the shield shades, you could block all that out. Holding onto the hand rails for dear life, I could barely see who was in my subway car, let alone what was happening around me on the 1 train. Dare I say the ride felt peaceful for once? Looking like a Marvel villain, I was left alone the entire duration of the trip; they are the perfect statement piece to scare away strangers from talking to you or asking you for directions. As an introvert, this part was pure bliss. Sure, the 24/7 Mask does not render you literally invisible—but wearing them, you feel as though you are wearing some sort of magical Harry Potte r cloak. And you have to admit: In these uncertain times, especially given the current political climate , we often feel like we want to wither away and disappear. Fashion, then, can offer that temporary solution—giving you a false sense of reprieve, even if just for a moment. Next up, Kya and I (because let’s face it: I needed someone to lead the way) headed to a Walgreens to run some errands, with my shield shades still in tow. The sales clerk look worried upon my entry to the store, like I was possibly an armed robber. Again, I took delight in going about my day while blissfully unaware of my surroundings. I perused the rotating sunglasses rack and noticed that my Balenciaga shields were not dissimilar to the cheap, sporty wrap-around sunnies on display. (It’s clear where Demna got his inspiration.) Leaving the store and heading back into the office, I expected the 24/7 Mask to garner me at least one comment from a passerby, but I didn’t get one single “Cool sunglasses!” or “Freak!” comment. Sure, this is Manhattan, where New Yorkers are largely unfazed about everything and anything. But I believe the inconspicuousness lies in the shades. There is something to them that keeps you feeling sheltered—and a little safe, even. They are the perfect sunglasses for the moment. Consider reserving a pair for January 20, 2025. (Look it up.)
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