Pelican Press

Kate Emery: ******* taxi blue can’t be dismissed as a one-off Kate Emery: ******* taxi blue can’t be dismissed as a one-off It’s not that I think we all need to sit around saying ‘isn’t it terrible about the racism?’ like we’re first-year university students trying to get *****. Source link #Kate #Emery #******* #taxi #blue #dismissed #oneoff Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

M62 closed near Huddersfield after ‘serious collision’ M62 closed near Huddersfield after ‘serious collision’ The westbound carriageway of the M62 in West Yorkshire remained closed on Saturday evening after a serious ******, National Highways said. Both carriageways of the motorway were closed after the collision at about 15:20 GMT between junction 24 for Huddersfield and junction 25 at Brighouse. The agency reported hour-long delays and there was congestion on diversion routes. The eastbound carriageway reopened at about 20:20, but the westbound side remained closed while an investigation was carried out. Source link #M62 #closed #Huddersfield #collision Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Guinea close on ******* Cup of Nations berth Guinea close on ******* Cup of Nations berth Guinea are one point away from a place in the ******* Cup of Nations finals after beating Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in qualifying. Source link #Guinea #close #******* #Cup #Nations #berth Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mayor Brandon Johnson to skip slain officer’s ******** after all Mayor Brandon Johnson to skip slain officer’s ******** after all Mayor Brandon Johnson reversed course Saturday and announced he will not attend a slain cop’s ******** after the officer’s family told him to stay away. Johnson’s office had said Friday he would go to the ******** for Officer Enrique Martinez, despite protests from the police union president who said he would not be welcome. Martinez was shot and ******* Monday during a traffic stop in Chatham. “I heard from the family and am honoring their request and will no longer plan to attend the honors ******** services,” Johnson said in a Saturday statement. “This has been an emotional two weeks for the loved ones of Officer Martinez, the Chicago Police Department, and the city of Chicago. We all want to do right by Officer Martinez and give his family and the CPD family space to grieve. The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service.” Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara and a Southwest Side state representative have been blasting the mayor, saying his presence at the service would be disrespectful. On Friday, Johnson spokesperson Erin Connelly said Johnson attends all honors funerals for first responders ******* in the line of duty, saying “our prayers and deepest sympathy are with the Martinez family and Officer Martinez’s beloved fiancé.” “Mayor Johnson will attend honors ******** services and celebration of life for Chicago Police Officer Enrique Martinez,” Connelly wrote Friday. “These official honor services are solemn moments to honor the sacrifice of our officers and first responders. It is the Mayor’s honor to support the officers of the entire Chicago Police Department, especially in moments of grief.” The controversy reflects the polarized political environment in Chicago in which the progressive mayor has faced criticism over law enforcement issues and frequently butted heads with Catanzara. In a YouTube video posted Monday, Catanzara said Johnson was not welcome and would be a “piece of garbage” if he attended. “Mayor Johnson and Gov. Pritzker were both informed that the family’s wishes were they did not attend those services,” Catanzara said. “Governor Pritzker rightly immediately acknowledged that and said he would not attend and honor those family’s wishes. Mayor Johnson did not.” George Barzydlo, a friend of the family who lived nearby, said those sentiments were true. The 65-year-old spoke on behalf of Martinez’ family and fiancee at a Friday night press conference outside the Chicago Lawn Police District headquarters, asking Johnson not to attend the ********. “They definitely do not want the mayor at any of the functions for anything,” he said, adding that his attendance would be a distraction. Barzydlo said he and Martinez had a joking relationship. Barzydlo would walk his elderly mother around the block, and he’d run into Martinez and his fiancee. “We’d circle back around the alley, and Enrique would say to my mother, ‘hey, are you okay with that guy?,’” Barzydlo said. “And I would say to his fiancee, ‘Hey, are you OK with that guy?’” Martinez would help his father with what Barzydlo described as a taco party business on his days off – grunt work and cleanup, he recalled. State Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar said the Martinez family had asked her to tell Pritzker and Johnson that they were not wanted at the ********. While Pritzker’s chief of staff agreed to the request “without hesitation,” Guerrero-Guellar said Johnson’s chief of staff, Christina Pacione-Zayas, “disrespectfully and rudely did not understand the message I was trying to deliver.” She called Johnson and left him a text message but had not heard back as of Friday night, she said. “This is not about the mayor,” she said. “This is about the family’s wishes. The mayor, in my opinion, is making it about himself.” Earlier this year, Johnson was also warned to stay away from another slain CPD officer’s ******** and ultimately did not attend, according to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Source link #Mayor #Brandon #Johnson #skip #slain #officers #******** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Everything is almost perfect’ – Chelsea send message as they beat Man City ‘Everything is almost perfect’ – Chelsea send message as they beat Man City It was by no means a complete performance by Chelsea, though. Both sides had spells of pressure, with neither taking control. Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw was gifted a chance to make it 1-0 in the first half when Sandy Baltimore’s wayward back pass played her in, but the WSL’s top-scorer did not take the opportunity. The second half continued to be riddled with errors but Chelsea eventually took advantage and were able to wrap up victory when not at their best. Bompastor said on Friday they “had a plan to deal” with Manchester City’s domination of possession and it worked, despite their visitors having 63% of the ball. “It was a different type of performance,” said Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert. “We have dominated a lot of games possession-wise but tonight we were happy to sit behind the ball, be compact. “It was more of a traditional performance – but Sonia is a winner and will do whatever it takes to win. We got the tactics spot on.” With key players still set to return – strikers Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel are recovering from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, while England forward Lauren James and defender Niamh Charles have also been missing – Chelsea are only likely to get better. And perhaps the scariest thing is that they still remain far from their best. “Maybe one of my strengths – and the staff’s – is that we know exactly how we have to perform. We have a clear vision on what we have to do to achieve our goals,” said Bompastor. “At the moment we are performing, getting good results, but there is still lots of room for improvement. We have players injured who can come into the squad. “Sometimes people think because you have the good results, that’s enough. For me, that is not enough. I know exactly what we have to do to get even better.” Source link #perfect #Chelsea #send #message #beat #Man #City Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ben Harvey: Police Minister needs to hold the line on Firearms Act reforms Ben Harvey: Police Minister needs to hold the line on Firearms Act reforms For a bloke who is widely despised by about 100,000 **** owners, Paul Papalia has pretty good blood pressure. Source link #Ben #Harvey #Police #Minister #hold #line #Firearms #Act #reforms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Why Fast Food Has Become So Expensive Why Fast Food Has Become So Expensive Whether you’re tracking how fast food prices have changed in the last 50 years or in the last six months, the truth ******** that fast food is more expensive than ever. It may seem simple to tie the rise in fast food prices to whichever phenomenon leads the headlines of the day. The truth is that there is on single reason for the rise; wage increases, rising costs of produce and eggs, added energy expenses for restaurant owners, and more end up being factored into the price you pay at the drive-thru window. And when the prices jump up unexpectedly, it can be a brain-buster trying to figure out which element is at play. All you know is that the burger and fries are a dollar more than they were yesterday, with no clear explanation offered. The dynamics that determine fast food pricing are a matrix of forces that play against one another; an unexpected shift from any one of them can directly upset the balance. And as with other financial structures, the results of those shifts end up on the consumer’s tray in one form or another. To give you an idea of how many different reasons there can be for why fast food prices are more expensive, here’s a rundown of the major costs incumbent upon your favorite restaurants, each of which has a chance of blowing up your dining budget at any given moment. You know all too well the pain of paying more for the food you buy at the grocery store, so it only follows that fast food outlets are paying higher food costs for ingredients, too. The market for elements like lettuce, beef, and eggs have fluctuated wildly in the past several years, creating a whipsaw effect that puts a burden on chains and their franchise owners. In addition to basic cost increases, the possibility of shortages similar to the 2022 lettuce shortage can cause surprising price jumps from suppliers to restaurants, which of course will result in a menu with jacked-up prices to dumbfound unsuspecting diners. These are the moments when consumers switch their standard orders and opt for the cheapest fast food items they can find instead. Such developments can lead to unethical price-hiking practices in the fast food industry. Some fast food companies continued charging customers higher prices even after their costs eased from an inflationary peak of 9.1% in June 2022. The good news is that customers voted with their dollars by opting out of their usual outlets and places like McDonald’s noticed, prompting a resurgence of affordable food. But knowing the company you depend on for your easy going grub is willing to take advantage of you to get a few extra dollars in the register is tough to chew and even tougher to ********. Customer in car taking fast food from worker – kckate16/Shutterstock One of the most heated debates regarding fast food finances in recent memory is the hourly wage increase for the workers behind the counter. With the legislated minimum wage for fast food employees reaching upwards of $20 an hour in some states, the optics of rising prices assume an easy scapegoat. How can headline after headline announce that fast food outlets now have to pay so much more for labor without drawing the connection to rising menu prices reaching $15 for combo meals that cost half that not so long ago? It’s logical to think wage jumps equaling more than $13 an hour in some instances would result in higher food prices, but where and when they impact the menu can be tricky to pin down. Of course, there will be increases based on the amount a restaurant has to pay out to the people who work there. It can even lead companies to swap out higher quality elements for cheaper processed ingredients to absorb the costs. But if the real reason fast food prices are going up is that the industry has been drastically underpaying its employees for far too long, maybe the public is ready to pay a little more to help the folks cooking and serving their meals see a larger paycheck. Knowing that McDonald’s in Denmark is able to pay its workers $22 an hour as a starting wage without drastically increasing its prices makes the claim of labor costs as a reason even more suspect. Fast food grill with person flipping burgers – Smirart/Getty Images Energy expenses are non-negotiable for a sector of the economy that depends on a constant stream of electricity to stay in operation, and around the clock in some instances. Depending on location, the capricious nature of electric companies and their pricing structures can cause sticker shock for proprietors. The costs restaurants pay for food are calculated in part by the use of electricity in the production, which cause increases in the background that roll forward to the prices on the menu. It’s a hidden cost that may not initially occur to the customer, but it’s a factor that can throw the basic fast food pricing structure out of whack should the supplier raise its costs to cover increased electrical expenses. What about the restaurants themselves? According to some estimates, the average restaurant pays between $2,000 and $6,000 for electricity per month, a cost that varies by region and location and can be much higher. Add to that the fact that natural gas prices went up by more than double in the last six months of 2022 alone and you have a wobbly, upward-trending cost structure that has to be relieved somewhere. The valve that keeps your favorite restaurants from closing down due to elevated energy costs is — you guessed it — the prices you pay at the counter. The restaurant has to cook your food and process your payment somehow, and you end up chipping in for the cost with your burger funds. Exterior of Wendy’s restaurant – refrina/Shutterstock Not all fast food franchisees own the property their restaurants exist on; many pay rent for the lot and the building, an expense that can fluctuate drastically thanks to an up-and-down real estate market. And the direction rent has been going just about forever is up-up-up, which includes rent for fast food proprietors. With rent prices averaging between $3,000 and $10,000 per month, restaurants have a hefty bill to cover. Any increases to that amount means an influx of cash is needed to stay in business. Sure, it’s not your direct issue that rent is going up. But almost nothing you pay for aside from the food is a direct cost to you in the fast food exchange. That doesn’t mean you won’t pay for it somewhere in the price. Some estimates note that a restaurant’s rent should be no higher than 10% of sales. Imagine a nearby fast food restaurant experiences a $500-per-month rent increase. Calculations for monthly expenses have always worked out based on the stability of their rent, but now they have to come up with extra income. It may not seem like much overall, but the source of all their income is you, and the mechanism that delivers more of your money to cover the rent increase is the price of what you buy. So, when your Mega Meal jumps by 50 cents, you’re actually helping defray the costs of keeping the restaurant operating. You deserve at least a few extra fries for your contribution. Semi truck on highway – 5m3photos/Getty Images The pandemic introduced the world to the complexities of supply chain mechanics and revealed how tenuous getting fast food ingredients from distributor to kitchen can be. The invisible expenses in this aspect of the fast food game include packaging, transport, processing, and storage, all of which are necessary and any of which can change on short notice. When complications arise in arranging this unending flow of product, new expenses can be added on top of existing charges, which are likely to increase as well. Think about Burger King running out of burger buns thanks to recall from its usual distributor; to keep things flowing smoothly, alternate resources are required, which may involve more expensive product and expedited shipping at a higher cost. Even when everything is working smoothly, factors such as gas prices, vehicle upkeep, transitioning to more fuel-efficient models, and driver salaries are all tied into the overall expense for shipping necessities to your favorite fast food kitchen. The interconnection of the supply chain is now a paid-for presence you can calculate into what the menu items show in the price column, even if you don’t know how it breaks down. It all becomes the reasons why your favorite fast food restaurant can’t keep up with inflation, shipping edition. It’s something to remember when you pay more at the pump before heading to the drive-thru and paying more there, too. Taco Bell food on table – The Image Party/Shutterstock There’s a cost to owners of fast food locations that may not be considered as part of the formula by the average customer: franchise fees, the membership money paid by the restaurant to be part of the greater operation. Franchise fees can range from $10,000 for a Chick-fil-A location to $50,000 for a Burger King or Wendy’s restaurant. Enterprising proprietors who own a small chain of locations pay that fee for each restaurant, which ups their overall costs. Though the fee is a one-time cost, increases to the amount can add up quickly for an entrepreneur looking to expand. A more ongoing concern for franchisees who own even a single location is royalty fees, the percentage of sales each franchise location is required to pay to the chain throughout the year. These amounts can range from 4% to 12% and up, depending on the company — a considerable amount even on the lower end of the scale. Even companies with long-time fee freezes like McDonald’s have increased their royalty amounts for the first time in three decades. The pressure is on for locations to perform to expectation, and every bit helps. So, when you see basic burgers suddenly costing as much as deluxe burgers used to, you may be helping your preferred location keep its franchise fully functional. Person’s hands holding burger with fries – D3sign/Getty Images One of the most unethical reasons for fast food price increases is the tendency for some chains to engage in price gouging. This results in unreasonable price increases that take advantage of a precarious situation — a beef shortage, for example — that chains can use as a reason for hiking their prices without warning. Companies that recognize the high demand for its product may be tempted to price gouge to maximize profits, and though the practice seems like a clear legal issue, laws vary from state to state. Even when laws are in place, it can be disappointing for customers to learn that enforcement isn’t always enacted, which may leave customers paying more without recourse. And if demand is high enough, consumers may be willing to pay the extra, which feeds the vicious price gouging cycle. Sometimes, it takes public outcry to get officials to act on fast food price gouging. When profits are made visible for companies like McDonald’s and the executives crow about making record numbers while prices continue to soar, there’s bound to be a hint of price gouging mentioned in the conversation. With so many customers thinking fast food is overpriced, the quickest way to put a restaurant in check is to take your business elsewhere; often the moment when a draw-down in sales is felt by the higher-ups is the moment when announcements of price drops magically appear to restore customer confidence. KFC fried chicken meal – SIN1980/Shutterstock It’s always fun and exciting to hear that your favorite fast food outlet is dropping a special lower-priced combo meal. But the truth behind this may be that the company is also raising prices across the board on other items and is using this generous offering as a ruse to distract customers from realizing the truth. The offset for dropping a combo meal to $5 after charging more than twice that has to come from somewhere, even if it’s a nickel-and-dime upcharge on the entire suite of products on the menu. After all, you’ve been paying attention to the prices going up, so why wouldn’t you be thrilled to hear they’re dropping a little? Because you’re smarter than that — that’s why. After too many complaints about rising prices circulated among grumbling customers in recent months, a new value meal war ensued in an attempt to win back diner dollars. The return of the McDonald’s Value Meal and Taco Bell’s Cravings Value Menu as a generous gift to help make eating out affordable again wouldn’t be such a big deal if the price increases on fast food items hadn’t gotten so out of hand in the first place. It may seem cynical to think that sometimes restaurants increase prices intentionally in order to seem heroic when they throw the public a $5 bone, but it’s a savvy sensibility that even the most ****-hard fast food eaters are hip to. Whether it changes their dining habits is a different story. McDonalds meal on tray – SrideeStudio/Shutterstock CEO salaries in the corporate world never seem to stop growing to breathtaking levels, climbing even during the corporate gear-grinding performance during the 2020 pandemic. As part of the cash grab, fast food companies are shelling out enormous dollars for so-called qualified leaders to keep their stock high and the profits soaring. But the numbers associated with fast food CEO pay are staggering in comparison to worker salaries, and that money has to come from somewhere. No company worth its salt is going to compromise its profit to pay its CEO, which means customers will, in the form of higher prices on the menu board. For example, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski’s salary in 2023 totaled $19.2 million, a combination of cash, bonuses, and stock — and an 8% increase from his 2022 salary. That increase isn’t coming out of Ronald McDonald’s big yellow pantsuit pocket; it’s coming out of your presumably more stylish pocket, and all the other customers who pony up ever-increasing for their McRibs and ****** Happy Meals. Sure, these figureheads have a lot to handle, trying to keep an entire company profitable without angering shareholders or customers. But when you see how much they take home for their work, it’s much easier to solve the mystery of why upward-creeping fast food prices feels unending. Person using food delivery app – D3sign/Getty Images The introduction of delivery apps into the food world sounded like a sweet solution for customers. Now you can have your favorite fast food delivered to your door, your desk, your picnic table — wherever you happen to be when the hunger for a Big Mac strikes. Though there are plentiful fees involved in the delivery itself, there are also price increases at fast food restaurants that absorb the extra labor involved in having to cover both in-restaurant and delivery food prep, as well as commissions paid by the restaurants. True that the delivery fees themselves have compounded to include tip and service fees, which just makes the food delivery app costs go even higher. But when the food prices become elevated to compensate for the various companies trying to get a slice of the pie, the customer ends up paying for the luxury. Another devious way you may see increased fast food prices where apps are involved is the idea of flex pricing, which allows restaurants to feature higher prices through app ordering than in-restaurant ordering. There’s also the phenomenon of menu prices differing by location, which is always dicey but becomes more slippery with delivery app pricing in the mix. It isn’t too wild to think that user tracking may someday lead to pricing structures that allows users to see different prices, depending on their loyalty and purchase behaviors. It just goes to prove that as pricey as fast food is, it can always get pricier. Read the original article on Mashed. Source link #Fast #Food #Expensive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Biden, Xi hold final meeting in Peru as Trump era looms Biden, Xi hold final meeting in Peru as Trump era looms Joe Biden has met Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC forum in Peru in his last meeting with the ******** leader as US president. Source link #Biden #hold #final #meeting #Peru #Trump #era #looms Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to be youngest ever White House press secretary Trump picks Karoline Leavitt to be youngest ever White House press secretary President-elect Trump on Friday named Karoline Leavitt, his campaign press secretary, to serve as his White House press secretary. Leavitt, 27, currently a spokesperson for Trump’s transition, would be the youngest White House press secretary in history. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration. “Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary,” Trump said in a statement. “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the ********* People as we Make America Great Again.” Leavitt replied in a post on X, formerly Twitter: “Thank you, President Trump, for believing in me. I am humbled and honored. Let’s MAGA,” the acronym for “Make America Great Again.” The White House press secretary typically serves as the public face of the administration and historically has held daily briefings for the press corps. NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 25: Karoline Leavitt is seen leaving Trump Tower on April 25, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by MEGA/GC Images) MEGA Trump disrupted those norms in his first term, preferring to serve as his own chief spokesperson. While he was president from 2017 to 2021, Trump had four press secretaries but frequently preferred to engage directly with the public, from his rallies, social media posts and his own briefings. At a news conference this past August, Trump was asked if he’d have regular press briefings in his new administration. He told reporters, “I will give you total access and you’ll have a lot of press briefings and you’ll have, uh, from me.” When it came to a press secretary, he said: “Probably they’ll do something. If it’s not daily, it’s going to be a lot. You’ll have more than you want.” Leavitt, a New Hampshire native, is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defenses of the *********** in television interviews. She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way *********** primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York *********** Rep. Elise Stefanik, whom Trump has tapped to serve as his U.S. ambassador to the ******* Nations. Trump’s first press secretaries, Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the White House press briefing room. Source link #Trump #picks #Karoline #Leavitt #youngest #White #House #press #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

6 Indiana bands move on to semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis 6 Indiana bands move on to semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals in Indianapolis High school marching bands from throughout the country have spent the last two days performing in the Bands of America Grand National Championships prelims at Lucas Oil Stadium. Six Indiana bands have advanced to the semifinals Saturday, each vying for a spot in the evening’s finals. Which Indiana bands are in the semifinals at BOA Grand Nationals? Avon High School Brownsburg High School Carmel High School Castle High School Fishers High School Homestead High School What other marching bands made BOA Grand Nationals semifinals? ********* Fork High School, Utah Archbishop Alter High School, Ohio Argyle High School, Texas Bartlett High School, Tennessee Bourbon County High School, Kentucky Bridgeland High School, Texas Broken Arrow High School, Oklahoma Cass High School, Georgia Catawba Ridge High School, South Carolina Cedar Park High School, Texas Deer Creek High School, Oklahoma Dobyns-Bennett High School, Tennessee Franklin High School, Tennessee Friendswood High School, Texas Jenison High School, Michigan Jenks High School, Oklahoma Leander High School, Texas Lincoln-Way Community High School, Illinois Marian ********* High School, Illinois Murray High School, Kentucky Norwin High School, Pennsylvania O’Fallon Township High School, Illinois Prosper High School, Texas Rockford High School, Michigan Rosemount High School, Minnesota Tarpon Springs High School, Florida Union High School, Oklahoma Walled Lake High School, Michigan William Mason High School, Ohio When is 2024 Bands of America Grand Nationals semifinals? Semifinals take place Saturday starting at 7 a.m. Find out when your group performs on the organization’s website. When is 2024 Bands of America Grand Nationals finals? Finals are Saturday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. How to buy tickets to BOA Grand Nationals Tickets may be purchased on-site at the Southeast Ticket Office of Lucas Oil Stadium. The ticket booth is cashless. Tickets are also available for purchase through Ticketmaster at the links below: Is Lucas Oil Stadium cashless? Yes. Lucas Oil Stadium is a cashless venue, so if you want to purchase anything at concessions or buy your tickets at the gate, you will need to have a credit or debit card. What type of bags are allowed at Lucas Oil Stadium? Per Lucas Oil Stadium policy, only clear bags sized no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ are permitted. Small clutch bags no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are also permitted. No regular purses, backpacks or other bags are permitted. To view the Clear Bag Policy at Lucas Oil Stadium visit its website. Where to park near Lucas Oil Stadium A limited amount of spectator parking is available in Lot A north of the stadium and the South Lot of Lucas Oil Stadium. The cost for each of these lots is $20 per vehicle with no in/out privileges, according to the event website. According to the event website, accessible parking spaces are in the South Lot of the stadium via the Missouri Street Gate 3 parking lot entrance. The cost for this lot is also $20 per vehicle with no in/out privileges. Parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A drop-off/pick-up location is available along Capitol Avenue outside of the Colts Team Store. BOA recommends arriving early to allow for time to park, purchase tickets and enter the stadium ahead of the performances. You can also visit downtownindy.org/explore/parking to view parking that is available downtown based on date, time, location and price. You can also pre-purchase parking ahead of the competition. 2024 BOA Grand Nationals full schedule Here’s the full schedule for Thursday through Saturday. Click here to find performance times for all bands. Note that start times for Saturday events are subject to change, with times determined Friday evening after semifinals awards. Thursday, Nov. 14: Prelims 2023 BOA Grand Nationals results: Avon wins Friday, Nov. 15: Prelims 6 a.m.: Ticket office opens 6:30 a.m.: East gate opens; expo opens 8:45 p.m. Preliminary competition concludes; exhibition performance by Missouri State University Pride Marching Band 9 p.m.: Special presentations and prelims awards Saturday, Nov. 16: Semi-finals & Finals 6:30 a.m.: Ticket office opens 7 a.m.: Semi-finals performances begin 3 p.m.: Exhibition performance by The Ohio State University Marching Band 4:30 p.m.: Semi-finals competition ends; Exhibition performance by University of Michigan Marching Band 4:45 p.m.: Semi-finals awards ceremony; announcement of finalist bands 6:30 p.m.: North and East gates open 7 p.m.: Finals opening ceremony 8 p.m.: First finals performance 11:30 p.m.: Grand finale and awards Can I livestream Bands of America Grand Nationals? Music for All/Bands of America offers a livestream through Box5TV, with pricing options for all events or individual shows. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: BOA Grand Nationals 2024: Which Indiana bands made semifinals? Source link #Indiana #bands #move #semifinals #BOA #Grand #Nationals #Indianapolis Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A majority of Senate Republicans doubt Matt Gaetz will be confirmed as attorney general, sources say A majority of Senate Republicans doubt Matt Gaetz will be confirmed as attorney general, sources say More than half of Senate Republicans, including some in senior leadership positions, privately say they don’t see a path for former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., to be confirmed as attorney general and would not support him to lead the Department of Justice, according to multiple people who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity. While Gaetz’s ability to be confirmed appears on the rocks among Senate Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump’s team ******** confident he will eventually be confirmed, even if it’s after an ugly battle. NBC News spoke to more than 15 additional *********** sources who agreed that there are not enough votes in the Senate to confirm Gaetz, and some estimated that closer to 30 Republicans consider him unqualified. Gaetz and Trump attorney Todd Blanche are moving full speed ahead on trying to fill out the Justice Department, according to sources familiar with the planning. If confirmed, Blanche would serve in the powerful No. 2 position at the Justice Department, overseeing all U.S. attorney’s offices throughout the country. “President Trump and his team are focused on and confident in the confirmation of AG-designee Gaetz,” a person familiar with Trump’s thinking told NBC News. Vice President-elect JD Vance and his aides have also been working the phones over the last two days to get a read on where senators stand on Gaetz. Trump announced he was choosing Gaetz for the attorney general role on Wednesday, writing in a post on Truth Social, “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle ********* Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly shattered ****** and Confidence in the Justice Department.” When the president-elect initially publicized his pick, many Republicans — except for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who got a heads-up from Trump — were in complete shock. In his few terms in the House, Gaetz has often been embroiled in controversy. He was investigated by the Justice Department in a case involving the alleged **** trafficking of a 17-year-old girl, though the former congressman, who resigned his post shortly after he was picked for attorney general, has always denied the allegations and has never been criminally charged. On Thursday, though, a lawyer for the 17-year-old girl wrote in a post on X, saying, “She was a high school student and there were witnesses” when the alleged incident occurred. The attorney, John Clune, also called for the release of a House Ethics Committee report detailing the committee’s investigation into Gaetz, which has been ongoing for several years. “If they want to send [the report] that’d be fine,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a staunch Trump ally, told reporters at the Capitol this week, though he added in a statement from his office that he planned to vote to confirm each of the president-elect’s judicial nominees. On Friday, Johnson said he would “strongly request” that the report not be released publicly, though several *********** senators have said they would like to view the report as part of their deliberation process ahead of a confirmation vote. “I don’t want there to be any limitation at all on what the Senate can consider,” Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters at the Capitol this week when asked whether the Senate Judiciary Committee should be privy to the report. “We need to have a complete vetting of the nominees, not only so we know that the nominee is qualified, but also to protect the president,” he added. “I think when you’re at this point, particularly given his abrupt departure from Congress just prior to that report coming out, considering the job that he is being appointed to, considering that the FBI is going to do a background check anyway, I can’t imagine that the committee is not going to want to see it,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D. “So, at the very least, those of us that will have a vote at some point, starting with the Judiciary Committee, should see that. And I can’t imagine they won’t.” The House Ethics Committee was expected to meet on Friday to decide whether to release its report on Gaetz, whom it has been investigating on and off since 2021, according to a source with direct knowledge. The panel abruptly canceled the meeting, which House Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest, R-Miss., insisted was only postponed. Later on Friday, an attorney for another woman interviewed by the House Ethics Committee said that his client “testified to the House Ethics Committee that she witnessed Rep. Gaetz having **** with a minor at a house party in Orlando in 2017.” Several Republicans shared that Gaetz, who was investigated by the very agency he could now oversee, has a “steep hill” to climb toward confirmation in the Senate. “I would guess if we had a vote today on the Senate floor, it might be more than that,” Cramer said Thursday when pressed whether 10 Senate Republicans could vote to oppose Gaetz — as Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal suggested to NBC News earlier that day. “I have concerns that he can’t get across the finish line, and we’re gonna spend a lot of political capital … on something that even if they got it done, you’d have to wonder if it was worth it.” NBC News spoke to additional sources who put the unofficial tally closer to 30. Republicans who oppose Gaetz now could still ultimately vote to confirm him when the time comes, especially if pressure from Trump mounts. If Republicans wind up with 53 seats in the upper chamber after the recount in Pennsylvania’s Senate race is concluded, Gaetz will not be confirmed if more than three GOP Senators vote against him (Vance could break a tie as the president of the Senate). Republicans like Cramer have also cautioned Trump not to jam someone like Gaetz through in a recess appointment, which would bypass the Senate confirmation process. Shortly after he was projected to win the presidential election, Trump wrote a post on Truth Social urging Republicans running to be the next Senate majority leader to allow him to use recess appointments to confirm a Cabinet quickly. This style of nomination would bypass the normal appointment process, leaving the Senate entirely out of the equation, by allowing Trump to appoint members of his Cabinet while both chambers of Congress are in periods of recess that last days or weeks. The House and Senate currently gavel in for pro forma sessions while in recess to prevent the president from taking such steps to appoint Cabinet members. Since the Truth Social post, Trump has not asked for any specific Cabinet pick, including Gaetz, to be confirmed via recess appointment. “If the obstructionists are the other party, and you have the votes to confirm somebody, then I think you could make an ethical decision to provide that opportunity, that constitutional opportunity,” Cramer said. “On the other hand, if the opposition is preventing you from doing it with your own party, I think it runs a couple of risks. You could do it, but you’d have a very weak Cabinet secretary.” Source link #majority #Senate #Republicans #doubt #Matt #Gaetz #confirmed #attorney #general #sources Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars in Australia The 10 cheapest new V8-powered cars in Australia Carmakers are rapidly abandoning eight cylinder powertrains in the name of efficiency, and the few remaining V8s aren’t cheap. Source link #cheapest #V8powered #cars #Australia Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine’s coast An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine’s coast PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An environmental organization has served a notice of intent to sue one of the world’s largest aquaculture companies for violations of the Clean Water Act in Maine — allegations the fish farmer ardently denies. Conservation Law Foundation contends Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon farming sites off the Maine coast pollute the state’s bays, where lobster fishing is a key industry. The farms consist of pens in the ocean where Atlantic salmon are grown for use as food. The Boston-based law foundation stated in its Thursday notice that it was suing Cooke in a Maine federal court to bring the company into compliance. It states that the company discharges pollutants such as fish ******, ***** fish and trash into Maine’s coastal waters. “These enormous salmon cages are like sewage pipes to the marine environment,” said Heather Govern, vice president for the foundation’s clean air and water program. “Their solid waste smothers plants and ocean life while ******** outbreaks and sea lice threaten nearby endangered wild salmon.” Cooke swiftly denied the allegations, and company representatives said the firm fully complies with the laws. The company, based in New Brunswick, Canada, issued a statement that said the farms are “routinely inspected by state regulators and subject to regular monitoring reports” to ensure compliance. “Finfish aquaculture has coexisted with heritage fisheries, such as lobstering, in Maine waters for more than 40 years. Lobster landings are not negatively affected by Atlantic salmon farms,” the company said in a statement. Cooke is a global giant in aquaculture and describes itself as the world’s largest private family-owned seafood company. It states on its website that it operates in 14 countries. Some environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, have targeted Cooke over the years with concerns about the sustainability of its operations in Maine and elsewhere. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, said Saturday that the Conservation Law Foundation has worked with salmon farmers to develop environmental standards, and the notice of intent to sue was a surprise. “Given the fact that CLF and the other groups associated with the proposed suit have not expressed any of their concerns to the farmers and that all of them stand to financially benefit, one has to wonder why farmers would ever work cooperatively with these groups to address their concerns,” Belle said. Source link #environmental #group #files #intent #sue #salmon #farmer #pollution #Maines #coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teen ***** after car ends up in swamp on the Gold Coast Teen ***** after car ends up in swamp on the Gold Coast A 15-year-old girl has ***** after the car she was driving crashed into a swamp. Source link #Teen #***** #car #ends #swamp #Gold #Coast Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diddy accused of ‘relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses’ from behind bars Diddy accused of ‘relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses’ from behind bars Sean “Diddy” Combs is accused of “repeatedly” breaking rules while behind bars in a bid to impact the outcome of his ****-trafficking trial, according to prosecutors urging a judge to deny the hip-hop mogul’s latest bail request. Those “relentless efforts” allegedly include attempting to reach out to prospective witnesses or potential victims, and asking his kids to carry out “carefully curated” social media campaigns to influence public opinion. Prosecutors claim in their latest court filing they uncovered Combs’ attempts after reviewing recorded phone calls from jail. Combs, who was arrested on Sept. 16 on **** trafficking and racketeering charges, has been spending his days at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits the start of his trial on May 5. He has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing. Earlier this month, Combs’ attorneys proposed new conditions for his immediate release, after two previous unsuccessful attempts. The proposal includes a $50 million bond agreement, round-the-clock home detention and strict limitations on his ability to contact anyone outside his legal team. Citing “new evidence” and “changed circumstances,” attorneys for Combs argued that keeping him detained leaves him “unconstitutionally handicapped” in participating in his defense and preparing for trial. But in documents filed in Manhattan federal court late Friday night, prosecutors claim the 55-year-old Grammy winner began breaking jail rules almost as soon as he arrived at the detention center. “The defendant has shown repeatedly — even while in custody — that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions.” According to the recorded calls, the former pop culture powerhouse has also been clear about his intentions to anonymously share information he believes would ultimately help in his defense, prosecutors allege. “The defendant’s efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his ****** who could provide powerful testimony against him,” they wrote. Prosecutors say they can infer from his behavior that Combs intends to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence, telling the judge he should remain locked up. They also claim he’s a flight risk because of his endless resources and a danger to the public due to his alleged history of *********. Combs’ legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. A bail hearing is scheduled for late next week. With News Wire Services Source link #Diddy #accused #relentless #efforts #contact #potential #witnesses #bars Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

New dad Rafael Campos shares PGA Tour lead in Bermuda New dad Rafael Campos shares PGA Tour lead in Bermuda Five days after the birth of his first child, Rafael Campos is in position for another big moment as he shares the lead going into the final round of the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship. The 36-year-old from Puerto Rico shot a personal best with a nine-under 62 on Saturday to share the lead with Andrew Novak on a day when the wind became ferocious toward the end of the round at Port Royal. Justin Lower, who began the blustery day with a 62, drove into the water on the par-5 18th and scrambled for a bogey for a 68 to finish one shot behind. Campos and Novak were at 16-under 197, both searching for their first victory. The timing couldn’t be better in so many ways for Campos. He is No 147 in the FedEx Cup with one tournament remaining to try to get into the top 125 and keep full status for next year. And then his wife gave birth to their daughter Paola Isabel on Monday. There was no discussion about Campos playing. His job was at stake, which led them to induce labour. And he said it eased some of the stress he has been feeling after missing four straight cuts as his ranking kept falling. “My wife is extremely understanding on where I’m standing on the FedEx, first of all,” he said, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “The whole process of trying to induce labour on Monday was for me to try to get to the tournament, so we were always looking to try to see if I can make it here.” They got home from the hospital at about 5pm on Wednesday. “I held my daughter. I thought in like 20 minutes I had to go to the airport,” he said. “I do want to provide for them as much as I can, so we’re here and fortunate everything went well. It’s a bonus that I’m doing well this week. “I had a daughter on Monday and it doesn’t matter if I play bad, they don’t care. If I end up losing my job, I lost my job and I’ve got a beautiful daughter and beautiful wife back home just waiting for me to hopefully give ’em a hug. Hopefully I have a good day tomorrow and we’ll see how we end up.”” It went great on Saturday in the strong wind, which Campos enjoys. He chipped in for birdie on the 15th, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the scary par-3 16th, got up-and-down with another tester of a birdie putt on the 17th and held on for par on the closing *****. Lower is coming off a runner-up finish last week in Mexico. He also is going for his first PGA Tour win, which feels even more critical with the PGA Tour likely to reduce exempt status to the top 100 players starting in 2026. Source link #dad #Rafael #Campos #shares #PGA #Tour #lead #Bermuda Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Malcolm X’s daughters sue CIA, FBI, NYPD over his ************** Malcolm X’s daughters sue CIA, FBI, NYPD over his ************** Nearly 60 years after civil rights leader Malcolm X was assassinated, three of his daughters filed a $100 million lawsuit against the CIA, FBI and New York Police Department claiming the agencies were aware of and were involved in the ************** plot. Source link #Malcolm #daughters #sue #CIA #FBI #NYPD #************** Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US reports first case of Clade I mpox in California US reports first case of Clade I mpox in California California has reported the first US case of mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – that is part of a new outbreak. The state’s department of health, the CDPH, said the new case was from the Clade I strain – different from the Clade II strain that has been in circulation in the US since 2022. The person in question, who is now isolating at home, had recently travelled to ******* and the CDPH said their case was “related to the ongoing outbreak of Clade I mpox in Central and Eastern *******”. Mpox was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization earlier this year. The CDPH said that while Clade I cases had tended to cause more severe illness than Clade II in the past, “recent infections from Clade I mpox may not be as clinically severe as in previous outbreaks”. Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox but is usually much less harmful. It was originally transmitted from animals to humans but now also passes between humans. Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain and aching muscles. A rash can then develop, which can be extremely itchy or painful. The infection can clear up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days, but in some cases has been fatal, particularly for vulnerable groups including small children. Mpox is most common in remote villages in the tropical rainforests of West and Central *******, in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), where it has been seen for many years. Hundreds of people ***** during an initial outbreak in DR Congo earlier this year, and the ******** has since spread to areas of Central and East *******. Outbreaks can be controlled by preventing infections with vaccines, though these are usually only available for people at risk or those who have been in close contact with an infected person. Source link #reports #case #Clade #mpox #California Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Retail experts downbeat on Big W’s prospects of leapfrogging red-hot Kmart Retail experts downbeat on Big W’s prospects of leapfrogging red-hot Kmart Struggling Big W has little chance of overtaking arch rival Kmart, retail experts say, as the Woolworths-owned retailer continues to lag behind one of Australia’s most popular stores. Worth about $17 billion, Australia’s discount department store sector is dominated by three behemoths — Kmart, Target and Big W. Kmart continues to be the standout performer for its parent company Wesfarmers’ stable of businesses, recording a 25 per cent lift in profit in the 2024 financial year. Kmart remained strong, and a huge jump in the number of customers — and how much and how frequently they were buying — proved it, Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott said last month. Wesfarmers also owns Target. Families are seeking greater value, and value’s not about buying something that’s cheap and not going to last. In contrast, sales at Woolworths-owned Big W declined another 0.9 per cent in the three months to early October, continuing a series of declines over the past 18 months. A recent overhaul of its clothing range to offer fewer styles, lower prices and better all-year ranges — with improvements to homewares expected — are yet to stem the tide. Australia’s leading retail expert Professor Gary Mortimer said Kmart had been very successful in legitimising its house brand, Anko, which now makes up 85 per cent of the retailer’s sales. “Kmart today connects with a very broad audience, particularly it’s responded well to families that (are) struggling with that cost-of-living crisis,” Professor Mortimer, from the Queensland University of Technology, said. “(Families) are seeking greater value, and value’s not about buying something that’s cheap and not going to last. “They’re looking for something that’s on trend, it looks good, it does the job . . . and I think Kmart has positioned its Anko range towards those consumer goals.” Professor Mortimer says Big W is now where Kmart was a decade ago, selling a mix of home labels and branded merchandise. “You can still buy a Dyson vacuum cleaner (at Big W) . . . and while you sell brands, you effectively put yourself into direct competition with online players like Kogan, Amazon, category killers like JB Hi-Fi and Harvey Norman, and the brand themselves that will have their own websites,” he said. Brian Walker, founder and chief executive of Sydney-based consultancy The Retail Group, agreed, adding Big W had “struggled to take the ground that Kmart has taken”. “(Big W) is a functionally good retailer but it hasn’t excelled in its product mix, range, merchandise, its offer, its point of difference,” he said. When asked if Big W could close the gap, Mr Walker said: “Probably not. I’m not sure what will happen to Big W but time will tell.” Some major investors have called on Woolworths to sell Big W. Another major difference between the pair was Kmart’s store layout, Professor Mortimer said, which created a sense of “discovery and a surprise”. “You’ll notice that when you walk into the front of a Kmart, you can’t see the back of it and you can’t see either side,” he said. “As you wander around the store, you’re basically walking into new precincts . . . it could be homewares, or you might walk into stationery, or you walk into toys.” Big W stores had a more traditional grid layout he said, where a middle aisle stretched to the rear, and the size of the store was easily understandable. Source link #Retail #experts #downbeat #Big #prospects #leapfrogging #redhot #Kmart Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Prosecutors Claim “Liam Payne’s Friendship With Argentinian Waiter May Have Led To ******” – report Prosecutors Claim “Liam Payne’s Friendship With Argentinian Waiter May Have Led To ******” – report The events surrounding the sudden ****** of former One Direction star Liam Payne included striking up a friendship with an Argentinian waiter, the Daily Mail reports. A month after Payne’s ****** following a fall from his hotel room balcony on October 16, the newspaper has published results of its investigation, including: More from Deadline On October 2 in a high-end restaurant in Buenos Aires, Payne met a 24-year-old waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz. The pair later exchanged Instagram messages, with Payne using a secret account. In an interview with TV station Telefe Noticias, Paiz later claimed Payne was seeking to buy drugs. They went on to spend time together in the days leading up to Payne’s ******, Paiz saying they spent the time taking drugs and listening to the singer’s unreleased music. Paiz last saw the singer two days before his ******, when he asked Payne to come to meet a friend of his, who was a fan. Paiz and two others remain under investigation by the Argentinian authorities. The ******** of the singer has yet to take place, but his body is reported to have been repatriated to the *** after his father visited Buenos Aires. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Source link #Prosecutors #Claim #Liam #Paynes #Friendship #Argentinian #Waiter #Led #****** #report Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

******** strikes on Lebanon ***** six, officials say ******** strikes on Lebanon ***** six, officials say ******** air strikes on the village of Khreibeh in the Baalbek District of eastern Lebanon have ******* six people, including three children, and injured 11 others, the Lebanese health ministry says. Among the injured were five children, two of whom were in critical condition, the ministry said. Strikes earlier on Saturday ******* two medics in south Lebanon, including one in Borj Rahal and another in Kfartebnit, and injured four other rescue workers, with two still missing, the ministry said. ******** air strikes also targeted areas of the southern suburbs of Beirut controlled by the Hezbollah militant group for a fifth consecutive day, with at least 15 strikes on Saturday, according to two security sources. The ******** military said the attacks were directed at Hezbollah infrastructure, including a weapons storage facility and a command centre. A soldier was ******* during combat in southern Lebanon, the ******** military said on Saturday. There was no word yet from Lebanese authorities on casualties in the strikes on the capital’s southern suburbs. ******* launched its ground and air offensive against Hezbollah in late September after almost a year of cross-border hostilities in parallel with the war in the Gaza Strip. It says it aims to secure the return home of tens of thousands of Israelis forced to flee northern ******* under Hezbollah *****. *******’s campaign has dealt heavy blows to Hezbollah. It has also forced more than a million Lebanese to flee their homes, creating a humanitarian crisis. Lebanon’s health ministry says ******** attacks have ******* at least 3452 people through Friday since October 7, 2023, most since late September. It does not distinguish between civilian casualties and fighters. ******* says Hezbollah attacks have ******* about 100 civilians and soldiers in northern *******, the ********-occupied Golan Heights and southern Lebanon over the last year. In the Gaza Strip, medics said on Saturday an ******** strike ******* 10 Palestinians and wounded at least 20 others at a school in Gaza City’s Shati ******** camp currently sheltering displaced families. The ******* Nations-run Abu Assi school, where rescue operations are ongoing, may still have people trapped under the rubble, health officials said. There was no immediate comment from ******** officials. The ******** military reported later on Saturday that two rockets fired at ******* from the northern Gaza Strip were intercepted. The launches show the ability of ************ militant groups to ***** rockets into ******* despite more than 13 months of an aerial and ground offensive that turned vast land in the enclave into wasteland and displaced most of the 2.3 million population. ************ health officials said at least 30 people have been ******* by ******** military strikes across the enclave on Saturday. The Gaza health ministry said 43,799 people have been confirmed ***** since October 7, 2023. ****** militants ******* about 1200 Israelis that day and still hold dozens of about 250 hostages they took back to the Gaza Strip, according to ******** tallies. Source link #******** #strikes #Lebanon #***** #officials Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Employees badly beaten after 4 Los Angeles area taco stands robbed at gunpoint Employees badly beaten after 4 Los Angeles area taco stands robbed at gunpoint Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Preliminary information indicates that the first incident was reported around 11 p.m. near the intersection of Torrance Boulevard and Denker Avenue in Torrance and involved three to four suspects. In this robbery, two of the taco stand employees stated they were badly beaten with the ***** of a ****. Video from the scene obtained by KTLA shows the employees with wounds to their heads and hands; one of them was transported to an area hospital while the other received treatment at the scene. It is believed that close to $2,000 was stolen in this incident. The second robbery occurred less than two miles away from and about 40 minutes after the first; this time the target was a taco truck located in the Harbor Gateway area near 190th Street and Normandie Avenue. This incident also involved a group of armed men who held workers at gunpoint and demanded their money. They were said to have taken around $1,000 before fleeing the scene in a ****** Scion. Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Nov. 15, 2024. (OnSceneTV) Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Nov. 15, 2024. (OnSceneTV) Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Nov. 15, 2024. (OnSceneTV) Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Nov. 15, 2024. (OnSceneTV) Four taco stands in the South Bay region of Los Angeles were robbed at gunpoint by a group of men late Friday night and early Saturday morning, leaving some of the employees badly injured. Nov. 15, 2024. (OnSceneTV) While police were at the scene of the second robbery, a third incident was reported at a taco stand near Torrance Boulevard and Vermont Avenue around midnight. Footage from the third scene shows an employee being treated at the scene for head injuries after he was reportedly ******* whipped by at least one of the suspects. Approximately 30 minutes later, a fourth robbery was reported near 182nd Street and Western Avenue in Gardena. An employee of the taco stand that was targeted said that he and others were assaulted by suspects, who used their guns to hit them. An unknown amount of money was stolen from this location, the employee said. The suspects fled the scene in what is believed to be the same ****** Scion involved in prior robberies. Initial reports indicate that all four robberies are connected and were perpetrated by the same three to four suspects who were armed with guns. They were only described as Hispanic men. KTLA has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for more details surrounding each of the robberies. Anyone with information surrounding any of the incidents is asked to contact police. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Source link #Employees #badly #beaten #Los #Angeles #area #taco #stands #robbed #gunpoint Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk endorses Trump’s transition co-chair Howard Lutnick for Treasury secretary Elon Musk endorses Trump’s transition co-chair Howard Lutnick for Treasury secretary Elon Musk at the tenth Breakthrough Prize ceremony held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The Hollywood Reporter | The Hollywood Reporter | Getty Images On Saturday, Elon Musk shared who he is endorsing for Treasury secretary on X, a cabinet position President-elect Donald Trump has yet to announce his preference to fill. Musk wrote that Howard Lutnick, Trump-Vance transition co-chair and CEO and chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC Group and Newmark Group chairman, will “actually enact change.” Lutnick and Key Square Group founder and CEO Scott Bessent are reportedly top picks to run the Treasury Department. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, also included his thoughts on Bessent in his post on X. “My view fwiw is that Bessent is a business-as-usual choice,” he wrote. “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt so we need change one way or another,” he added. Musk also stated it would be “interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for @realDonaldTrump to consider feedback.” Howard Lutnick, chairman and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald LP, left, and Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., during a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Madison Square Garden in New York, US, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In a statement to Politico, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made it clear that the president-elect has not made any decisions regarding the position of Treasury secretary. “President-elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second administration,” Leavitt said in a statement. “Those decisions will be announced when they are made.” Both Lutnick and Bessent have close ties to Trump. Lutnick and Trump have known each other for decades, and the CEO has even hosted a fundraiser for the president-elect. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Lutnick has already been helping Trump review candidates for cabinet positions in his administration. On the other hand, Bessent was a key economic advisor to the president-elect during his 2024 campaign. Bessent also received an endorsement from *********** Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, according to Semafor. “He’s from South Carolina, I know him well, he’s highly qualified,” Graham said. Source link #Elon #Musk #endorses #Trumps #transition #cochair #Howard #Lutnick #Treasury #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

*** Pizza Hut to raise funds after Budget tax hikes *** Pizza Hut to raise funds after Budget tax hikes The operator of Pizza’s Hut restaurants in the *** is looking to raise more than £10m to help it cope with increased costs after tax rises on business were announced in last month’s Budget. The money could come from a ***** of part of the business, or new investment from existing shareholders. It comes amid growing backlash from business owners who warn rises in employers’ national insurance contributions and the National Living Wage will push up costs for business which employ lots of low-wage workers. Heart With Smart (HWS) – which operates all 140 *** dine-in Pizza Hut restaurants – will use the money on new technology including touch-screen ordering kiosks and contactless table ordering. The new features would allow restaurants to save money by operating with fewer staff and are already being trialled successfully in some Pizza Hut outlets, a company insider told the BBC. They said it would result in reduced staff levels, but the store does not expect a major redundancy programme. From April 2024 the rate of employers’ national insurance contributions, which are paid by businesses on top of workers’ salaries, will rise from 13.8% to 15%, and the level where contributions start will fall to £5000. Combined with a 6.7% increase in the National Living Wage from April, and an even ******* rise for 18 to 20-year-olds, HWS expects to see its labour costs rise £4m, or about 14%, next year. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has previously said businesses “will have to absorb” some of these costs through their profits. In a letter with over 200 signatories, hospitality bosses last week told the chancellor the industry was disproportionately impacted by the “unsustainable” tax hike. They warned this would “unquestionably” cause closures and job losses. A number of businesses, including Sainsbury’s, M&S, BT, Wetherspoons, Fullers and JD Sports have also hinted or warned that they may have to pass some of those extra costs on to customers by increasing prices. But HWS feels it has limited ability to do this as customers may not accept higher prices, the insider told the BBC. They said that the decision to raise the extra money is not just the result of Budget measures introduced last month. It is the effect of the changes on top of five difficult years for the restaurant business, following the pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis and labour costs which are already rising. The advisory firm Interpath has been hired to run the fundraising process, which was first reported by Sky News. Interpath has declined to comment. The Treasury has also been approached for comment. Source link #Pizza #Hut #raise #funds #Budget #tax #hikes Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Elon Musk endorses Trump’s transition co-chair Howard Lutnick for Treasury secretary Elon Musk endorses Trump’s transition co-chair Howard Lutnick for Treasury secretary Elon Musk at the tenth Breakthrough Prize ceremony held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. The Hollywood Reporter | The Hollywood Reporter | Getty Images On Saturday, Elon Musk shared who he is endorsing for Treasury secretary on X, a cabinet position President-elect Donald Trump has yet to announce his preference to fill. Musk wrote that Howard Lutnick, Trump-Vance transition co-chair and CEO and chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald, BGC Group and Newmark Group chairman, will “actually enact change.” Lutnick and Key Square Group founder and CEO Scott Bessent are reportedly top picks to run the Treasury Department. Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, also included his thoughts on Bessent in his post on X. “My view fwiw is that Bessent is a business-as-usual choice,” he wrote. “Business-as-usual is driving America bankrupt so we need change one way or another,” he added. Musk also stated it would be “interesting to hear more people weigh in on this for @realDonaldTrump to consider feedback.” Howard Lutnick, chairman and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald LP, left, and Elon Musk, chief executive officer of Tesla Inc., during a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Madison Square Garden in New York, US, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images In a statement to Politico, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt made it clear that the president-elect has not made any decisions regarding the position of Treasury secretary. “President-elect Trump is making decisions on who will serve in his second administration,” Leavitt said in a statement. “Those decisions will be announced when they are made.” Both Lutnick and Bessent have close ties to Trump. Lutnick and Trump have known each other for decades, and the CEO has even hosted a fundraiser for the president-elect. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Lutnick has already been helping Trump review candidates for cabinet positions in his administration. On the other hand, Bessent was a key economic advisor to the president-elect during his 2024 campaign. Bessent also received an endorsement from *********** Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, according to Semafor. “He’s from South Carolina, I know him well, he’s highly qualified,” Graham said. Source link #Elon #Musk #endorses #Trumps #transition #cochair #Howard #Lutnick #Treasury #secretary Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]