Spruce power director buys $4,729 in stockAndy Murray and Novak Djokovic’s magnificent seven grand slam finals
German president dissolves parliamentVancouver's Bench Accounting abruptly shuts down, with hundreds of jobs lostA COMPLAINT about a “rough” haircut was logged as a “hate” incident by cops. In the barmy case, the upset punter blamed an argument about Ukraine for a bad trim. 3 Police have probed 'hate' complaints including one about a dodgy haircut Credit: Getty Other so-called non-crime hate incidents logged by police include a German woman upset about being likened to a rottweiler. It comes as the cash-strapped Met faces axing 2,000 cops who could catch real criminals, and only opening stations from 9am-5pm. Last night Essex Police dropped a hate probe into journalist Allison Pearson over a year-old post — but only after putting her through 12 days of anguish. Meanwhile, a customer contacted cops to say his barber was “aggressive and rough” because he spoke Russian. READ MORE ON THE POLICE SERVICE BAN Welby may be banned from leading services after failing to report child abuse PELTED BY BRICKS Yob hit by bricks during riot facing jail after admitting violent disorder Similar bizarre cases saw officers called over a neighbour in a hedge dispute who said it was homophobic to brand him “Leonard”. As Britain’s biggest police force faces axing 2,000 cops, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “The police should not waste any valuable time on incidents like this. "There is plenty of real crime they should be preventing and solving. Aggressive haircut is not a police matter Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp “An aggressively-administered haircut is not a police matter. Most read in The Sun VLAD THREAT Putin warns he could strike British targets after new hypersonic missile launch COPS PROBE Scottish football club at centre of police investigation into alleged fraud BOOZE TRAGEDY Brit, 28, becomes fifth to die after 'drinking fake booze' on holiday RUSSELL UP Ex-Rangers star forgets mounting pressure on his job on romantic break with Wag "The police should only spend time investigating or recording actual criminal allegations or incidents where there is a real and imminent risk of criminality subsequently occurring. “The Government needs to urgently update the guidance to ensure this is the case. “This nonsense undermines confidence in policing.” A staggering 13,000 non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) were recorded in the year to June. These are cases where no criminal offence has been committed, but the person reporting an incident feels it was motivated by hostility or prejudice. The Lithuanian haircut “victim” claimed he was targeted because he spoke Russian. A City of London Police log of the incident, seen by The Sun, said: “Barber asked him about the present situation in Ukraine, victim stated that all conversations with the barber were fine, but he stated that the barber was aggressive and rough whilst he was cutting his hair. “The victim believes this was because he spoke Russian and is a hate incident.” 3 Similar bizarre cases saw officers called to a woman offended by being compared to a rottweiler Credit: Shutterstock Chief Constable of Essex Police slammed over Allison Pearson by Julia Hartley-Brewer Ex-Met detective Peter Bleksley said: “This is ridiculous and shows how disconnected police are from what the public want. “No wonder there is a crimewave in this country. The guidelines suggest you should only intervene in cases like this where there is fear of escalation — who ever had a fear of escalation after a bad haircut?!” It was unclear if City of London Police spoke to the hairdresser. A force spokesman said: “The report was made online and later withdrawn.” Essex Police logged 96 NCHIs in a year, including one where the “suspect has told two men to stop kissing”. Wiltshire cops investigated an incident where a person in the street said others were mocking the length of their hair. The rottweiler “racial abuse” complaint was made to Cambridgeshire Police from a woman in a parking dispute with a neighbour. A person in South Yorkshire said they were the victim of homophobic abuse in a row over a privet hedge when a neighbour called him a “Leonard”. 3 A person in South Yorkshire said they were the victim of homophobic abuse in a row over a private hedge when a neighbour called him a 'Leonard' Credit: Getty In West Yorkshire cops recorded a case where a person with Blue Badge disabled parking claimed Facebook posts referred to her being physically active. In 2021, a man was investigated for “racial hatred” for whistling the Bob the Builder tune at his neighbour. Officers in Bedfordshire recorded it as an NCHI, which can remain on file for six years and, in some cases, be disclosed to a prospective employer. Another barmy case saw a swimming teacher in West Yorkshire probed after a mother said her son had been allowed to bang his head against the side of the pool “due to his ethnicity”. Retired Sussex Det Chief Supt Kevin Moore told The Sun: “It is no good police complaining they have insufficient resources when they are wasting valuable time recording, then potentially investigating, such ridiculous matters. “It is high time His Majesty’s Inspectorate stepped in to stop the recording of non-crime hate incidents. Either a matter is a crime or it is not. If it isn’t then police should not be involved.” Read more on the Scottish Sun DISHING IT OUT I reviewed Scotland's 'most expensive restaurant' - it's a 9 out of 10 SHOCK THEFT Scot Prem top scorer's car FOUND after being stolen from drive Reform MP Lee Anderson added: “Our police have lost control of our streets, and now their bosses have lost control of their minds. “Police should be investigating proper crimes not people who have hurt someone’s feelings. I long for the days when we had respect for our boys in blue.” '2,000 officers axe' Exclusive By Mike Sullivan BRITAIN’S biggest police force is set to lose 2,000 officers as a result of swingeing budget cuts. And 400 civilian staff jobs could go as the Met slashes £450million from annual finances. Some London police stations will reduce opening hours to the public from 9am to 5pm. The 12.8 per cent reduction from this year’s £3.5billion budget is worse than “eye-watering” cuts feared by Met boss Sir Mark Rowley. Figures for the new budget are due to be announced at 11pm tonight by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, alongside some of the tough measures that must be taken. Matt Cane, of the Police Federation, warned: “As we have said time and again, cuts have consequences. These will clearly have a significant impact on the Met’s ability to police London.” And retired Met Chief Supt Simon Ovens warned the cuts could mean the final straw for officers considering other careers. The Met is already projected to be down to 32,750 officers by March from its operating strength of 35,415. The loss of an additional 2,000 cops during the incoming financial year from April would put the force back to 2013 levels. Sir Mark said last week he was “deeply troubled” by talks over the annual settlement. He said the capital’s spending on policing per head of population was already lower than cities such as New York and Sydney. This week Home Secretary Yvette Cooper promised a crackdown on shoplifting, phone theft and anti-social behaviour. She pledged £500million for more cops, though did not specify if the figure included inflation rises. The Met said: “We maintain a productive dialogue with the Mayor and Home Office. No final decisions have been made.”
Okanagan Sun head coach Travis Miller was struck by a vehicle in Kelowna's Glenmore neighbourhood on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Kelowna RCMP have confirmed the incident, stating the pedestrian was struck when crossing the road in the crosswalk. The Sun confirmed in a social media post stating the pedestrian was Miller, who had just finished his last recruiting meeting of the day. According to RCMP, Miller was taken to Kelowna General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and the extent of the injuries are unknown. Meanwhile, the Sun said Miller underwent surgery and both his feet were crushed in the incident. “The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with police,” said Kelowna RCMP media relations officer Sgt. Laura Pollock. “There was no indication the driver was under the influence of drugs or alcohol and speed does not appear to be a factor.” RCMP are still investigating the incident and are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or anyone with dashcam footage in the area from 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. to step forward and reach out to police at 250-762-3300 with the file number 2024-72174. Miller has been the Sun's head coach since Apr. 2, 2022.Red Sox, Noah Davis Agree To Minor League Deal
WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling , as early as January 14, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. "Treasury expects to hit the statutory debt ceiling between January 14 and January 23," she wrote in a letter addressed to House and Senate leadership, at which point extraordinary measures would be used to prevent the government from breaching the nation's debt ceiling — which was suspended until Jan. 1, 2025. The department in the past deployed what are known as “extraordinary measures” or accounting maneuvers to keep the government operating. Once those measures run out, the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. People are also reading... Beatrice house suffers severe damage from Christmas fire Is John Dutton real? Meet the powerful rancher seemingly inspiring the 'Yellowstone' legend At the courthouse, Dec. 21, 2024 Beatrice church starts construction on fellowship hall Former Beatrice man sentenced for sex assault of runaway City employee retires after 47 years Gage County supervisors vote down FOP contract offer Two faces charges in January vehicle thefts Downtown Beatrice festive for the holidays Beatrice's Schroeder wins at Junior Angus show Beatrice man pleads guilty to receiving child sex abuse images What’s open and closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2024? Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs with LOVB's Omaha team Main Street welcomes new director Matt Rhule and Nebraska football plan Pinstripe Bowl practice in Central Park "I respectfully urge Congress to act to protect the full faith and credit of the United States," Yellen said. FILE - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen speaks during a visit to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in Vienna, Va., on Jan. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File) The news came after Democratic President Joe Biden signed a bill into law last week that averted a government shutdown but did not include Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s core debt demand to raise or suspend the nation’s debt limit. Congress approved the bill only after a fierce internal debate among Republicans over how to handle Trump's demand. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump said in a statement. After a protracted debate in the summer of 2023 over how to fund the government, policymakers crafted the Fiscal Responsibility Act, which included suspending the nation's $31.4 trillion borrowing authority until Jan. 1, 2025. Notably however, Yellen said, on Jan. 2 the debt is projected to temporarily decrease due to a scheduled redemption of nonmarketable securities held by a federal trust fund associated with Medicare payments. As a result, “Treasury does not expect that it will be necessary to start taking extraordinary measures on January 2 to prevent the United States from defaulting on its obligations," she said. The federal debt stands at about $36 trillion — after ballooning across both Republican and Democratic administrations. The spike in inflation after the COVID-19 pandemic pushed up government borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security. Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate in the new year, have big plans to extend Trump's 2017 tax cuts and other priorities but are debating over how to pay for them. How many credit cards do you have? US consumers now carry fewer than 4 credit cards on average Many consumers may remember receiving their first credit card, either years ago in a plain envelope, or months ago from a smartphone app. Still other consumers may remember their newest card, maybe because it's the credit card they're now using exclusively to maximize cash back rewards or airline miles. But for most consumers, there's also a murky in-between where they add, drop and generally accumulate credit cards over time. Over the years, consumers may close some credit card accounts or leave some of their credit cards dormant as a backup form of payment, or perhaps left forgotten in a desk drawer. In the data below, Experian reveals the changes in consumers wallets in recent years. Average Number of Cards Has Declined Since 2017 U.S. consumers, on average, carry fewer cards today than they did in 2017, when the typical wallet held 4.2 active credit cards. As of the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, consumers carried 3.9 cards on average. This average is up slightly since the early days of the pandemic, when consumers reduced their average credit card debt and number of accounts as the economy slowed. Number of Credit Cards Carried Drops Throughout the Years As Experian revealed earlier this year, credit card balances are still climbing, despite (and partially because of) higher interest rates. And while average balances are increasing, they are spread across fewer accounts than in recent years. Alternative financing—including buy now, pay later plans for purchases—may account for at least some of this discrepancy, as consumers gravitate toward these newer financing methods. Residents of More Populous States Have More Credit Cards on Average In general, residents of higher-population states tend to carry more credit cards than those who live in states with fewer and smaller population centers. Nonetheless, the difference between the states is relatively small. Considering that the national average is around four credit cards per consumer, the four states with the fewest cards per consumer (Alaska, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming) aren't appreciably different, with "only" about 3.3 credit cards per consumer. Average Number of Credit Cards Per Consumer is Similar Across the U.S. Similarly, the four states on the higher end of the scale where consumers have 4.2 or more credit cards are Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Rhode Island. Older Consumers Have More Active Credit Cards on Average The disparity in average credit card counts is more apparent when the population is segmented by age, thanks in part to Generation Z, many of whom have yet to receive their first credit card. The average number of credit cards for these consumers was two, less than half of what older generations keep on hand. Number of Cards Carried Increases Into Middle Age The average number of credit cards held by each generation follows the familiar pattern seen in credit card balances, which tend to increase in a consumer's middle age. It's not surprising that the number of credit card accounts follows a similar climb throughout young adulthood and middle age, then drops off in the retirement years. How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many? No matter how many credit cards you may have at the moment, keep in mind that the number of accounts has little if any bearing on one's FICO Score. Far more important is how consumers manage those accounts. This is easily demonstrable by quickly stepping through some of the factors that affect your credit scores . Utilization and amounts owed: Credit card issuers extend credit to consumers in the form of a credit limit. Generally, the lower a consumer's credit utilization, or balance compared with credit limit, the better. Keeping credit utilization ratios under 30% can lessen the negative impact credit card balances have on scores, and those with the highest credit scores tend to have credit utilization ratios in the low single digits. Conversely, carrying balances that begin to approach one's credit limits may have adverse effects on credit scores. Delinquencies and payment history: As important as managing balances is, making payments on existing accounts has an even greater impact on scores. Even a single delinquency (late payment) may have an adverse effect on your credit score, no matter how few or many credit card accounts you have. Average age of accounts: This is the only credit score factor where the number of cards one carries may influence their credit score. However, even here, keeping older credit cards open is far from a clear-cut decision. Longer credit histories do tend to have a positive effect on a consumer's credit score, but it's not something you can rush. Adhering to on-time payments and managing amounts owed will go far in improving credit scores, even absent a lengthy credit history. While accounts closed in good standing remain on your credit report for 10 years, canceling your oldest credit card account still has the potential to shorten your credit history when it is eventually removed. The impact of its removal depends on any other active credit cards in your credit file. The Bottom Line Ultimately, the number of cards a particular individual carries is a personal decision. Justifications can be found for carrying a travel rewards card, a cash back card, a balance transfer card, a card for business transactions and other types of credit cards that other consumers may not have either the need or qualifications for. However, keeping track of numerous credit cards, whether or not a consumer is actively using all of them, can be a mentally taxing exercise. Not only that, credit card fees can add up and dull the benefit of carrying several credit cards. Organized consumers can benefit greatly from a wallet full of specialized cards, but for those seeking a more zen-like financial future, some judicial pruning may be in order. Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data. This story was produced by Experian and reviewed and distributed by Stacker Media. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.