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Truth stranger than fiction: Belle Gibson’s story hits screens in Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar Truth stranger than fiction: Belle Gibson’s story hits screens in Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar Truth: it really can be stranger than fiction. Few know this as well as television producers, who have been mining ripped-from-the-headlines stories for the plots of TV dramas for years now. In recent times, there have been a plethora: there are the fictionalised retellings of terrible true crimes — think The Staircase, Until I Kill You and any of the American Crime Story series. Dramas detailing torrid periods in the lives of prominent people — the pulpy Pamela Anderson-inspired Pam and Tommy springs to mind — plus all those millions of TV biopics. Camera IconBelle Gibson – Conwoman Credit: unknown/instagram Netflix’s lavishly expensive drama The Crown might look high-concept, but at its heart, it’s simply another in a long line. But by far the most popular of this genre are the tales of scammers and **** artists. The latest to hit screens is the locally-produced Apple Cider Vinegar, landing on Netflix next week — and it’s a story that hits close to home. The six-part limited series is the fictionalised re-telling of the rise — and spectacular fall — of *********** ******* scammer, Belle Gibson, who built an online fanbase and amassed a small fortune off the back of claims she’d cured her terminal brain ******* through healthy eating and nutrition. She harnessed the power of early-days Instagram to launch her own app, The Whole Pantry, plus an accompanying cookbook, making a small fortune in the process. Trouble was, it was all built on a lie. Camera IconFraudster Belle Gibson and Clive Rothwell Credit: unknown/TheWest Her web of deceit unravelled spectacularly in 2015 when two Melbourne journalists, Nick Toscano and Beau Donelly, ran an expose, detailing her deceit and forensically investigating her health claims. Through their investigations, they also discovered she’d failed to pay charities money she’d allegedly raised for them. Gibson tried to explain it all away, famously appearing on 60 Minutes for an interview — dressed in that striking pink turtleneck — and sitting down with The *********** Women’s Weekly to come clean about her deceit. But the damage was done: fans reacted with anger, her cookbook was pulped, her app withdrawn from a planned Apple Watch launch, and in 2017 Consumer Affairs Victoria brought legal action against her for allegedly breaking *********** consumer law — she was ordered to pay $410,000 the following year. All of this, as you might imagine, makes brilliant fodder for a television series. “True crime (usually murders) has always been part of Netflix’s offering but I think it was the overwhelming success of Shonda Rhimes’ Inventing Anna (a series that detailed the scams of “fake” New York socialite Anna Delvey) that made Netflix suddenly think that stories about ****-women were streaming gold,” says journalist and TV industry expert Colin Vickery. “(It) probably made them start hunting around for other examples — the Belle story fits that bill. “So it doesn’t surprise me that out of all the streamers, this series is on Netflix.” Camera IconFraudster Belle Gibson Credit: TheWest But they’re mining tricky territory: Gibson’s lies made an impact on real people’s lives. Many of those who listened to her and followed her advice were actually battling ******* — to think of the ramifications of them taking her claims seriously, stopping treatment in favour of holistic healing, is almost too awful to comprehend. Gibson is also still very much alive, though at the time of writing, her whereabouts were unknown. After going to ground following a 2017 court ruling, she briefly surfaced in 2020. Journalists tracked her down, reporting that she was seen attending an event for Ethiopia’s Oromo community in Melbourne. She’s shown in a video wearing a headscarf, telling the person filming her name was Sabontu — she speaks in the Oromo language, before switching back to English. While this part of Gibson’s story is not detailed in the Netflix series, those remarkable years leading up to that point are — and in great detail. Camera IconBelle Gibson was found by ABC journalists in 2020. Credit: unknown/twitter The Gibson on screen is, for all intents and purposes, the Gibson people will remember from the extensive reporting into her crimes — right down to the bright pink skivvy she wears in a scene where she’s being grilled by a TV journalist named Tara, played in the series by Sibylla Budd. In Apple Cider Vinegar, Gibson’s family is also front and centre — her child and partner Clive (played by Ashley Zukerman) play pivotal roles, as does her mother, portrayed by Essie Davis. For her part, creator, showrunner and EP Samantha Strauss is quick to point out that this is not a simple re-telling of the Gibson saga, but rather an exploration into something much *******. “I’ve never met the real Belle Gibson. I only know what has been written about her,” Strauss said in a statement to accompany the series’ release. She admits she loosely followed the Belle Gibson story when it was unfolding in 2015, watching that famous interview, but it wasn’t until reading Toscano and Donelly’s book, The Woman Who Fooled The World, that she realised its TV potential. “If the book had only been about a ******* scam, I don’t think I would have been that interested in adapting it for television,” she says. “But I think we all desperately want to be well, and many of us live with chronic physical or mental conditions and are so vulnerable to being preyed on. “Turning this book into a series felt like a way to have a powerful conversation about wellness and medicine. Why we lie, and how we hope.” To get around the grey area of Gibson’s story, each episode has a disclaimer at the start: “The following is inspired by a true story. Certain characters and events have been created or fictionalised.” They address it in dialogue at the beginning of each episode, having central characters “break the fourth wall” and voice the fact that it’s a “true-ish story based on a lie”, and that Gibson was not paid for her story. But it’s hard not to wonder what the real Gibson would make of her life being dissected for TV entertainment. “Through the process of adaptation I’m sure the character has become someone quite different to the real Belle,” Strauss points out. “From the interviews I’ve read and the research the journalists did for the book, I was able to imagine the neglect she might have experienced as a child, and how that might’ve informed her relationships and extreme need for approval.” In other words: they’ve editorialised her life. My version of Belle has messy, vulnerable contradictions, and I find these kinds of characters to be some of the best protagonists because they will always surprise you, Strauss goes on to point out. Gibson’s real story is the backbone for Apple Cider Vinegar, but through six compelling episodes, Strauss weaves that tale in with those of two other women battling ******* — a fellow wellness blogger named Millie (Alycia Debnam-Carey), and another woman, Lucy (Tilda Cobham-Hervey) who is the *******-suffering partner of the fictional journalist who investigates Belle’s lies, played in this by Mark Coles Smith (versions of these women are detailed in the book). Minor characters, like Millie’s parents — played sensationally by Susie Porter and Matt Nable — are also fleshed out, their own stories woven into the narrative. There’s still an embargo in place, so not much more about the TV show can be said, but American-born actress Kaitlyn Dever is sensational in the title role. Dever admits she was unfamiliar with Gibson’s story prior to signing on to play her, but was excited by the opportunity, “because I think it’s a deeply layered and complex case study that needs to be shared”. “I don’t know if we’ll ever know who the real Belle Gibson is. I think that’s honestly up to interpretation. Our Belle is someone who is extremely broken and desperately craving community and love,” she says. “I like to imagine the character of Belle as someone completely monstrous and completely relatable,” says Strauss. “Her lies were unforgivable. But they came from a very human place. “When we filmed in Melbourne, it was amazing how many people seemed to have a Belle Gibson story. “For a young *********** woman, she seems to have had very long tentacles. She accomplished a lot with very modest means. “I like to think about what she might have done if she had used her powers for good.” Read more about the new Netflix series Apple Cider Vinegar in STM in The Sunday Times. Source link #Truth #stranger #fiction #Belle #Gibsons #story #hits #screens #Netflixs #Apple #Cider #Vinegar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

TGI Fridays shuts down 4 Las Vegas locations TGI Fridays shuts down 4 Las Vegas locations LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — TGI Fridays closed its locations at four Las Vegas casinos on Wednesday, according to a statement released today. TGI Fridays operated restaurants at The Orleans, Sam’s Town, Aliante and Gold Coast. A spokesperson for Boyd Gaming, which owns the four Las Vegas hotels, confirmed that the restaurants permanently closed on Wednesday night. “We are already working on exciting new concepts for these spaces, and look forward to sharing more information on these concepts in the future,” the spokesperson said on Friday. Early last year, 36 “underperforming” locations across the U.S. were closed in order to “focus on streamlining operations.” TGI Fridays had 270 locations at the start of 2024. The chain peaked in 2008 with 601 restaurants. Then in late October, about 50 more locations closed as the company prepared to file bankruptcy. That came on Nov. 2 as the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Copyright 2025 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 KLAS. Source link #TGI #Fridays #shuts #Las #Vegas #locations Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

2025 Super Bowl: How four days in offseason set the stage for Eagles' championship run, rematch with Chiefs – CBS Sports 2025 Super Bowl: How four days in offseason set the stage for Eagles' championship run, rematch with Chiefs – CBS Sports 2025 Super Bowl: How four days in offseason set the stage for Eagles’ championship run, rematch with Chiefs CBS SportsChiefs-Eagles Super Bowl history: Championship records, stats ESPNSuper Bowl 2025: Top storylines include the Chiefs as villains, and Saquon the Great Yahoo SportsWho is better, Eagles or Chiefs: Defense edition PhillyVoice.comEagles are the new America’s Team going into the Super Bowl against the Chiefs The Associated Press Source link #Super #Bowl #days #offseason #set #stage #Eagles039 #championship #run #rematch #Chiefs #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Kia K4 sedan a slick offering Kia K4 sedan a slick offering In a world dominated by SUVs, Kia Australia launched its K4 sedan in January on a media drive from Melbourne to Yarra Glen, 65km north-east of the CBD, with a pit stop and lunch at Levantine Hill Estate. K4? The nameplate aligns with the global alphanumeric naming convention for Kia’s small passenger car that replaces the popular Cerato, Australia’s second most popular seller in its segment after the Toyota Corolla in 2024. Kia Australia CEO Damien Meredith said the Cerato had been a “huge pillar” of Kia’s success in Australia since it was introduced in 2004, totalling 200,000 sales to date. As far as sedans go — don’t yawn — the K4 is a slick offering. For a start, it’s longer, wider, heavier and lower than the Cerato, which all translates to more legroom, headroom and shoulder room. In reality, it’s a big “small” car. There are four variants: S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line. Engines — a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder MPI (multi-point injection) and a 1.6-litre turbo GDI (gasoline direct injection), which is available only in the GT-Line — are the same as in the Cerato. But you can’t really compare the Cerato GT, which was quite a performance-focused car, with the K4 GT-Line. What Kia has done is reserve the GT designation for its high-performance models like, for example, the EV6 GT and EV9 GT. Camera IconKia K4 Sedan. Credit: Kia Australia A K4 hatchback, revealed globally as the K4 “five-door” at the same time as the sedan in March 2024, is due in Q4 (October-December). It’s expected to be available in a similar range of variants — and more popular than the sedan, with sales split 60/40 per cent, according to Kia Australia executives. There’s no official word yet on a hybrid K4, but it’s understood to be in the works. Additionally, an EV4 Concept sedan with quirky air-conditioning control panel that can be stored in the centre console when not in use was revealed by Kia Europe in 2023. The lowdown + All variants are front-wheel drive. + Quoted outputs for the 2.0-litre petrol engine are 112kW of power at 6200 rpm and 192Nm of torque at 4000 rpm (this is the same as the MY24 Cerato), with a six-speed automatic transmission. Claimed fuel consumption 7.4 litres (combined) and quoted emissions are 167g/km (combined). + Quoted outputs for the 1.6-litre turbo engine are 142kW of power at 6000 rpm and 265Nm of torque at 1700-4500 rpm (the MY24 Cerato has 265Nm at 1500-4500 rpm), with an eight-speed automatic transmission (the MY24 Cerato has a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission). Claimed fuel consumption 6.7L (combined) and quoted emissions are 158g/km (combined). + Fuel tank capacity is 47L (the MY24 Cerato is 50L). + The S has 16-inch alloys; the Sport and Sport+, 17-inch alloys; the GT-Line, 18-inch alloys. + All variants come with a temporary spare steel wheel. Safety and driver assistance The K4 is yet to be ANCAP safety tested but, like the Cerato, may end up with a split rating because of the optional safety pack for the entry S variant. It’s complicated. There’s no point speculating at this stage, so look carefully at specs to make sure you’re getting exactly what you want. But, certainly, even the S gets a more advanced AEB (autonomous emergency braking) system than the Cerato and is fully compliant with — and exceeds — mandatory new AEB regulations that come into effect in Australia from March 1, 2025. Across all grades, the K4 has, as standard: + Seven airbags, including a front centre airbag + In-cabin driver monitoring camera + Forward collision-avoidance assist (it’s part of the AEB system) + Smart cruise control with stop-and-go function + Lane-keep assist + Lane-follow assist + Multi-collision braking + Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist + Driver-attention warning + Intelligent speed-limit assist + Rear-view monitor + High-beam assist The optional safety pack ($2100) on the S variant adds features otherwise available on higher grades, namely: + An expanded AEB/forward-collision avoidance suite with junction turning and crossing and direct/oncoming lane-change detection function. + A panoramic display with second 12.3-inch instrument display and dedicated 5.0-inch air-**** interface, plus dual-zone climate control. Additionally, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line variants also have Kia’s latest Highway Driving Assist (HDA 2) technology with lane-change assist. Simply indicate and the car will autonomously change lanes if the coast is clear — but, really, you shouldn’t be driving if you can’t do this yourself. Reinforced sound insulation and advanced high-strength steel — and, no, not all steel is the same; it all comes down to the alloy mix — accounts for 57.3 per cent of the cabin structure. Additionally, front and rear seatbelts come with pre-tensioners. What’s new? The K4 is built at Kia’s Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, plant in Mexico, which began operations in 2016. It’s a dedicated assembly line for the automaker’s small internal combustion vehicles which are exported to more than 190 countries, including Australia. Notably, the two-millionth vehicle to roll of the assembly line was a 2025 K4 sedan in May last year. The idea is that it will free up capacity at Kia’s Hwaseong plant in South Korea for EVs — but will add about an extra month to shipping time. At the moment, there’s about six weeks’ stock of Ceratos in Australia, with the the K4 scheduled to arrive within weeks, so the transition between models is expected to be fairly seamless. The K4 is built on Hyundai-Kia’s new passenger car platform already used on the i30 sedan (Elantra/Avante), Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona that allows for a variety of powertrains. Camera IconBoot volume is 508 litres. Credit: Kia Australia It features a complete overhaul of its infotainment system, which uses the ccNC (connected car navigation cockpit) launched on the flagship EV9 and includes Kia Connect that gives you, among other things, vehicle tracking and status, weather and traffic information (note, the S trim does not include everything). Any way you look at it, the K4 is a big step up from the Cerato, but you will have to get the optional safety pack on the S trim to make the most of the features. Boot volume (508L) is six litres more than the Cerato — and 38L more than the Toyota Corolla. All trims have remote engine start, USB-C outlets, over-the-air updates, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, but only the GT-Line gets a wireless charging pad and ambient mood lighting. Camera IconKia Connect is standard. Credit: Kia Australia The entry S trim is a bit sparse in terms of fit-out — there are no rain-sensing wipers for a start. It gets a digital driver cluster with a 4-inch multi-function LCD display, but you have to add the safety pack option, or move up to the other three grades to get the fancy dashboard with three screens, including a 12.3-inch digital cluster, a 5-inch climate control display and a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen display, all in one integrated panel. In a nod to sustainability, the interior finish includes various recycled plastics, bio PU (polyurethane) leather, bio paint, recycled **** (polyethylene terephthalate) yarns and recycled **** felt. There’s a choice of eight colours. Apart from Clear White, they’re all “premium”— a $600 add-on. My favourite is Wave Blue, which is new. It’s gorgeous. RRP K4 pricing 2.0L S: $30,590 2.0L S with Safety Pack: $32,690 2.0L Sport: $35,190 2.0L Sport+: $37,590 1.6L Turbo GT-Line: $42,990 Premium paint: $600 The drive Kia Australia product planning analyst Alvin Ng said the GT-Line had been benchmarked against the likes of the Honda Civic Hybrid and Volkswagen Golf R-Line for a firm, compliant ride with “good rough road absorption”. I drive the GT-Line, which comes with all the bells and whistles, from Melbourne to Yarra Glen (about 60km) and take the Sport out for 45 minutes (43km) on a series of impossibly winding roads through dense forest. Camera IconKia K4 Sedan GT Line. Credit: Kia Australia Yarra Glen back to Melbourne is in the Sport+. Certainly, the GT-Line is the variant I would choose. It has a better finish all around and a tactile heated steering wheel that feels nice to hold. Oh, it also has paddle shifters. Camera IconKia K4 Sedan Sport steering wheel. Credit: Kia Australia The Sport (and Sport+) steering wheel feels hard and plasticky. But I do like the neat gear shifter in all variants. Across the range, the K4 is comfortable and composed, with minimal road and wind noise, good visibility and clear rear-view cameras. The difference in engine spec is obvious — the 1.6-litre turbo more spirited and torquier. But, get the 2.0-litre up to speed, say 80-100km/h, and it’s a smooth ride. Just don’t thrash the accelerator because you’ll be disappointed. I turn lane assist off on marked winding roads in the Sport because it keeps trying to centre the car (which is what it’s designed to do), “pulling” on the steering wheel when I’d rather feel totally hands-on and in control. Coming around a blind bend, there’s a motorbike veering on to the wrong side of the road. Certainly, it’s not the sort of driving you’d be doing in the urban jungle. Neither is the uneven stretch of unmarked road I do in the GT-Line that transfers every bump up through the wheels and chassis to make steering feel jittery. Sure, steering “feel” is subjective and can be an elusive concept to describe. Mr Gambold subsequently confirms the K4 has a column-mounted electric steering system with on-centre accuracy for typical highway driving. Fuel consumption in both cars is thirstier than claimed in specs: the GT-Line averaging 7.8-8.0 litres/100km and the 2.0-litre averaging 8.3L/100km — but we do travel some challenging roads, so that needs to be taken into account. K4 warranty and servicing All Kias come with a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty and up to eight years of roadside assist when serviced at an authorised Kia dealership. Preliminary service costs are as follows: + 2.0L Petrol, every 12 months/15,000km (up to 105,000km at seven years), whichever comes first, costing $303, $525, $392, $635, $341, $667 and $362. + 1.6L Petrol, every 12 months/10,000km (up to 70,000km at seven years), whichever comes first, costing $353, $564, $444, $677, $397, $711 and $731. *********** Open sponsorship Kia has been the major sponsor of the *********** Open since 2002, extending its support in 2023 to 2028 in a multi-million-dollar deal that draws talent from around the world. The *********** Open ran for 15 days at Melbourne Park this year, with the K4 launch taking place mid-way through play — and, fortuitously, coinciding with the night match between world number one 23-year-old Jannik Sinner and Marcos Giron. Sinner won and went on to the men’s singles final against world number two Alexander Zverev on January 26 to clinch his second consecutive *********** Open title and third Grand Slam. Camera IconThe Kia Pavilion had an Italian theme this year. Credit: PAUL_CARA/TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEO Media and VIPs were treated to a lavish spread in the Kia Pavilion overlooking the Melbourne skyline and designed this year with an Italian theme, complete with alfresco, by sustainable event agency Frank Wild. Camera IconOlga de Moeller and Pat Rafter at the *********** Open. Credit: Supplied On call to transport players and guests, a 130-strong fleet of all-electric and hybrid vehicles, including the EV5, EV6, EV9, Carnival, Sorento and Sportage. This was the first year that all *********** Open tournament vehicles were electrified as Kia showcased its technology in Melbourne Park with a series of displays, including: + The Kia Powerhouse at Grand Slam Oval with two displays showcasing three EV models — the flagship EV9, the EV5 and, in its *********** debut, the EV3. + The X-Ray Slider display revealing the inner workings of the EV9 and highlighting the energy flow through the battery platform. + In a nod to contemporary South Korean fashion and beauty trends, Kia Colour Match, developed in partnership with a Seoul-trained personal colour specialist, offered tennis fans the chance to discover their personalised colour profile based on eyes, skin tone, hair and key elements of their personality. From a choice of 12, including Bright Spring and Soft Summer, I was Deep Winter. Camera IconThe X-Ray Slider display reveals the inner workings of the EV9, highlighting the energy flow through the battery platform.. TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEO Credit: PAUL_CARA/TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEO + The updated EV6 was at the Kia Charge Up activation, showing off its vehicle-to-load functionality powering a series of phone charging lockers for fans to use. + The Kia Cool Room in Federation Square emulated the cooled (and heated) storage compartment in the EV5 GT-Line with a scaled-up model of the drawer built into the vehicle’s rear cabin. Back to the nuts and bolts The K4 has been in the production process for four years and fine-tuned for *********** roads (as are all Kias for specific world markets) in an extensive program over thousands of kilometres led by Kia Australia’s chief ride and handling consultant engineer Graeme Gambold, starting with testing at Kia’s global Namyang R&D Centre. It’s a painstaking process that involves countless adjustments to suspension, damping and steering tunes along the way. “We aimed to make it capable not only in the urban jungle but, also, refined on a long drive,” Mr Gambold said, adding the K4 “does a great job absorbing bumps around town” while controlling its body “well on challenging country roads” and “offering decent feedback”. Ultimately, however, it is an urban car. “Testing does take in thousands of kilometres, but it is more the hours involved,” Mr Gambold said. “It’s hours of changing parts and going back over things, making adjustments. “We have mathematical formulas (at Namyang), but once we get to Australia we tend to park all that and it’s back to a subjective feel, so we fine-tune the valves and shock absorbers — pull them apart, maybe change one tune from three microns to three-and-a-half microns, then put everything back together, go dyno it — and drive the car again. “You can’t put numbers on it.” Mr Gambold said every production region had a different specification. “If you look at the engineering specification for, say, the K4, you’ll find Europe, America (domestic) and Australia will have completely different shock absorber tunes … American cars are typically very soft and not very accurate; European cars are typically tight and accurate and we’re somewhere in between (but more) towards the European end,” he explained. Camera IconKia K4 Sedan. Credit: Kia AustraliaCamera IconKia K4 Sedan GT Line. Credit: Kia AustraliaCamera IconKia K4 Sedan. Credit: Kia AustraliaCamera IconThe X-Ray Slider display reveals the inner workings of the EV9, highlighting the energy flow through the battery platform. Credit: PAUL_CARA/TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEOCamera IconThe Kia activation in Garden Square at the *********** Open at Melbourne Park. Credit: PAUL_CARA/ Photo by TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEOCamera IconThe Kia Pavilion. Credit: PAUL_CARA/TENNIS AUSTRALIA/ MADI LEO Source link #Kia #sedan #slick #offering Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows Over 90% of U.S. airport towers are understaffed, data shows Less than 10% of the nation’s airport terminal towers have enough air traffic controllers to meet a set of standards set by a working group that included the Federal Aviation Administration and the controllers’ union, according to a CBS News analysis of FAA data. The issue has received renewed scrutiny following Wednesday night’s midair collision between an American Airlines flight and a ****** Hawk Army helicopter near Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people. Only one air traffic control worker was managing the helicopters and some planes from the Reagan National Airport tower at the time of the collision, a job normally done by two people, two sources told CBS News Thursday. Only about 2% of the towers met the Collaborative Resource Working Group’s 2024 staffing targets for the number of fully-trained air traffic controllers. Only about 8% met the target even when including hundreds of air traffic controllers who are still in training, according to the analysis of 2023 staffing data for nearly 200 airport towers. Additionally, none of the nation’s Air Route Traffic Control Centers that handled high-altitude “en route” traffic had enough fully-trained controllers to meet the targets either. The data, from the end of fiscal year 2023, was published in the FAA’s Air Traffic Controller Workforce Plan, an annual report to Congress on the status of the agency’s efforts to overcome a decades-long struggle to recruit and retain enough controllers to keep Americans safe while flying. The data shows staffing at the end of fiscal year 2023. Nationwide, the working group’s target for controllers was about 14,600, the report found. Counting only fully-trained controllers, the nation’s air traffic system is at about 72% of that target. It’s at 87% if trainees are included. That’s about 3,000 to 4,000 controllers short of the targets, depending on whether the hundreds “in training” are counted. In the report, the FAA cites the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the reasons it has struggled to meet staff expansion goals at air traffic control facilities across the country. “The COVID-19 pandemic has had substantial impact on the aviation industry and the FAA,” the agency said in its report. “At the onset of the pandemic, in order to protect employees and help ensure continuity of operations, certain activities were eliminated or significantly reduced at FAA’s air traffic control (ATC) facilities.” A man gestures inside the air traffic control tower of Reagan National Airport on Jan. 30, 2025. OLIVER CONTRERAS/AFP via Getty Images The agency also noted that “on-the-job training of developmental air traffic controllers was significantly reduced,” as well as hiring targets. The agency said that had a significant impact on its efforts to develop fully-trained controllers. The staffing targets in the report are goals based on an analysis by a group that included FAA’s Air Traffic Organization as well as the controllers’ labor union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The FAA also included in the report its own internal staffing standards for each facility. Using that standard, which is lower for many facilities than the working group’s targets, 45% of the airport towers met the standard, counting only fully-trained controllers. If all controllers in training are included, 59% of the airports met the lower FAA standard. “If we hired 2,000 people today, in two, three years from now, we’d see only about 1,000 of them become a certified air traffic controller,” National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Nick Daniels told CBS News. Tim McNicholas and Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report. John Kelly John Kelly is an investigative journalist and the vice president of Data Journalism for CBS News and Stations. Source link #U.S #airport #towers #understaffed #data #shows Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

‘Window wars’ prompts Old Saybrook business owner to hang large banner ‘Window wars’ prompts Old Saybrook business owner to hang large banner OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WTNH) — Along Boston Post Road, the owner of a building has put up this giant 25 x 10 banner that is the talk of the town as people drive by. For business owner and entrepreneur Jack Pragosa, its a love-hate thing with his town. Pragosa said he spent hundreds of thousands of dollars of his own money on a building with the intention of renovating the property, only to be barred from opening by the town. Dozens of dead animals removed from Old Saybrook home Pragosa says the building was what he calls a “dump” when he bought it and wanted to renovate and make it look nice. “It needed everything, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, repair the roof, septic was bad, windows gone, parking lot was junk, overgrown tree, garbage in everything,” Pragosa said. The owner says the work he did was soup to nuts, new everything, from the paint, to the floor, to the parking lot to the plumbing down to the doorknobs. But reflective window film to cut down on heating and cooling costs is stopping him from getting his certificate of occupancy from the town to open the doors. “This town has no idea what small business is because they have their own agenda and own rules,” Pragosa said. “At the end of the day, the small business guy who lives here and kids live here and wives live here, we’re the ones that pay the price.” Pragosa says he’s still paying taxes on the place, more than $4,300 per year, yet the town he says won’t give him a good enough reason why the film is a no-go. So, he put up the huge banner for people to see: a statement, because to the left of him is an adult entertainment store which he says has far worse things in the windows and to the right of his building is a neglected empty lot flooded with trash. “It’s not like I put graffiti in the windows, I put thermal energy conservation film to reduce the expense and the burden of electricity to heat and cool this building,” Pragosa said. Man charged in deadly Old Saybrook boat ****** appears in court Pragosa says there’s nearly a dozen other places around town that have window film like his. He named an auto parts store, an urgent care building and a restaurant as just a few. So this film, a simple solution to keep summer heat at bay, is now a barrier to him making his business thrive. Pragosa goes as far to say it’s a complete abuse of power by the zoning department. News 8 reached out to the zoning board to hear their side of the story but did not hear back. We did hear from the first selectman who said since lawyers are involved on both sides now there will be no comment. Watch the full story above. Copyright 2025 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 WTNH.com. Source link #Window #wars #prompts #Saybrook #business #owner #hang #large #banner Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

US envoy leaves Venezuela with six Americans after meeting Maduro – Reuters Canada US envoy leaves Venezuela with six Americans after meeting Maduro – Reuters Canada US envoy leaves Venezuela with six Americans after meeting Maduro Reuters CanadaTrump official travels to Venezuela in push for Maduro regime to take back Tren de Aragua gang members Fox NewsVenezuela releases 6 U.S. detainees after Trump envoy meets with Maduro The Washington PostVenezuela frees six US men after Trump envoy meets Maduro BBC.com Source link #envoy #leaves #Venezuela #Americans #meeting #Maduro #Reuters #Canada Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

More than 1,100 EPA employees warned of immediate termination More than 1,100 EPA employees warned of immediate termination Marie Owens-Powell, president of the union that represents more than 8,500 employees of the Environmental Protection Agency, did not ****** words during a Friday call about morale among its members: “It’s bad. I’ve been with the agency for over 33 years and I’ve never seen anything like this.” Starting Wednesday morning, more than 1,100 employees at the EPA received an email, which has been viewed by CBS News, warning they could be immediately fired because of their probationary status as an employee with less than a year in their current role. “As a probationary/trial ******* employee, the agency has the right to immediately terminate you pursuant to 5 CFR § 315.804,” read the email, which was sent to employees by Kimberly Patrick, principal deputy assistant administrator for mission support of the EPA. According to Owens-Powell, employees with a range of experience received the emails — some with less than a year at the EPA, as well as tenured employees who recently moved into new positions inside the agency. “As far as we can tell, EPA workers were the only ones to receive a notice from their agency, intended to go to probationary employees to terrorize and scare them into thinking they were on their way out,” she said. CBS News reached out to the EPA and the White House about the email, as well as to confirm how many government employees received it, and is awaiting a response. Owens-Powell says she was on a national call with other union leaders who represent workers at various government agencies, and no one else said their probationary employees received such an email. “Every day, folks are afraid to turn their computers on,” said Owens-Powell, “They don’t know what message will be coming out next.” In addition to the concerns over their jobs, there is also stress and confusion over the Office of Management and Budget’s temporary pause on government funds. “Hundreds of EPA grantees are completely locked out of the grant system,” says Michelle Roos, president of the Environmental Protection Network, a nonprofit formed in 2017 by hundreds of former EPA employees who work to maintain the integrity of the agency. “They are unable to process payroll, they are unable to pay invoices, they’re unable to do the critical work that they were granted to do.” Even though the OMB memorandum was rescinded, agency employees still lack clarity and are being told not to communicate with grant recipients until new guidance is issued, says Roos. “Most folks are terrified to speak to grantees beyond, ‘I’m so sorry, I can’t talk to you,'” she said. There is a growing concern among grant recipients that if they are unable to receive certain approvals for required plans and goals, they will fall out of compliance and lose funding. “These actions are unconstitutional and are unauthorized by law,” said Jillian Blanchard, vice president of climate change and environmental justice for Lawyers For Good Government, a nonprofit of thousands of pro-bono lawyers across the country that is working with the unions to help protect government employees and their jobs. “Ninety-five percent of the funding going to EPA has not only been appropriated, but is locked in, legally obligated grant funding. The Constitution does not give the president a line item veto over Congress’s spending decisions,” said Blanchard. While the mood inside the EPA appears grim, Owens-Powell and Blanchard both say they have seen a surge of new membership and participation in their organizations, as EPA workers contend with the flurry of executive orders and emails that have left many on edge about their futures. On a Reddit page dedicated to discussing the buyout offer for federal workers, one poster wrote, “I was looking for any way to get out of this fresh hell. But now I am fired up to make these goons as frustrated as possible.” Another wrote, “I’ll continue to do my job and fight for the position I’ve earned. It took me 10 years of applying and 20 years experience in my field to get here.” “It’s backfired and people are furious,” says Owens-Powell. More than 4,000 employees tried to access town hall meetings the union organized this week to address their concerns, she says. “We’re just trying to help them channel that energy.” Tracy J. Wholf Tracy J. Wholf is a senior coordinating producer of climate and environmental coverage for CBS News and Stations, based in New York. Source link #EPA #employees #warned #termination Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

‘Full force’: Premier’s plea as anti-Semitism taskforce ramps up ‘Full force’: Premier’s plea as anti-Semitism taskforce ramps up NSW Premier Chris Minns has asked the Sydney community for patience as the police presence ramps up amid a spate of anti-Semitic attacks across the city. Investigative resources under NSW Police’s Strike Force Pearl were doubled overnight, with 40 dedicated officers now deployed and an increase in taskings targeting criminal activity near places of worship and schools. Speaking in Sydney on Saturday morning, Mr Minns said no stone would be left unturned as they worked to stamp out the increasing number of incidents, particularly in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. “It is deeply distressing this is happening in this state,” Mr Minns said. “I never thought in Australia, in 2025, we would see this level of racism or anti-Semitism.” Mr Minns added the increased presence would help stamp out anti-Semitism before actions begin, saying they need to “combat” the increasing attacks. “We understand the community in NSW, particularly the Jewish community, are concerned about the rising attacks of anti-Semitism,” he said. “Those who are going to commit hateful acts of violence, graffiti, malicious damage in our community will be met with the full force of the law.” Camera IconPremier Chris Minns is ramping up police presence in Sydney following an increase in anti-Semitic attack. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia He said the NSW government would also be progressing its hate speech legislation into parliament. “I’m of the strong belief that violent acts don’t begin with violent acts, they begin with hateful words at some point, earlier in the process,” Mr Minns said. The Premier said he knew some residents of Sydney’s eastern suburbs were “unhappy” about the increased patrols and police presence, which included helicopters circling overhead. “Please give us patience here and give the police as much latitude as they need right now – nothing could be more serious at the moment,” he said. “They are investigating a very serious counter-terrorism investigation in the state. “The implications, I don’t need to describe, but they are massive and we want a huge police presence at the moment. “The high-profile nature of it is as important as catching someone in the middle of the act – it is a deterrence and it is a deterrence that we need right now. “It may be an inconvenience to some families and households, (and) I genuinely apologise for that.” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb confirmed a 37-year-old man was arrested in the city’s eastern suburbs after allegedly being caught “in the act” displaying a Nazi symbol, including a sticker and “other materials that were defaced and used”. “This individual was (allegedly) caught in the act … I think it’s a demonstration of how active police are,” Mr Minns said. Camera IconFurther legislation will also be pushed in NSW Parliament. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia It comes as police continue their investigation into a caravan that was discovered by a member of the ****** in Dural, an outer Sydney suburb, which was found to contain explosives and notes, including a list of Jewish targets. Police said the explosives could have produced a 40m blast if detonated. A home near a Jewish primary school and a shopping centre in Eastgardens were also among the latest targets of anti-Semitic attacks in Sydney. “Children shouldn’t feel scared to go to school, people shouldn’t feel afraid to go to prayer or practice their religion,” Commissioner Webb said. “The extra investigators under Strike Force Pearl means those who commit anti-Semitic acts will be caught and brought before the courts. “I want to reassure the Jewish community that we will do everything we can to find the perpetrators of these hateful crimes.” Camera IconThere has been an increase in anti-Semitic graffiti and attacks in Sydneys suburbs. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp AustraliaCamera IconA council worker removes the graffiti at a house next door to the Mount Sinai College in Maroubra as new anti-Semitic graffiti plastered on property in Sydney. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia On Friday, NSW Police confirmed officers would begin patrolling Jewish schools in the state in a bid to protect students and teachers, and further attacks. “This morning, the President of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, David Ossip, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper, met to discuss security issues related to Jewish schools and preschools,” premier Chris Minns said in a statement on Friday morning. “The meeting was very productive and a number of measures were agreed. “These include restoring high visibility policing at key times outside schools, in particular at drop off and pick up times. “This is a return to the high-visibility policing measures introduced following the October 7 attacks in 2023.” Source link #Full #force #Premiers #plea #antiSemitism #taskforce #ramps Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man Whose Wife and Son Died in D.C. Plane ****** Says He Called Her, Not Knowing What Happened: ‘She Didn’t Pick Up’ Man Whose Wife and Son Died in D.C. Plane ****** Says He Called Her, Not Knowing What Happened: ‘She Didn’t Pick Up’ A Delaware man is speaking out after losing both his wife and 11-year-old son in the D.C. plane ******. Vitali Kay, father to 11-year-old Sean Kay (who also went by Ilya) and husband to Julia Kay, 42, told CBS News Philadelphia that he began to worry on the night of Wednesday, Jan. 29, after his wife didn’t answer his call. “The plane was supposed to land at 9, and I called my wife and she didn’t pick up. I thought maybe it was on airplane mode and she forgot to switch it off,” he told the station. According to Kay, he rushed to Reagan National Airport from their home in Delaware. After he arrived, a police officer let him through the barricades right away. Related: Figure Skaters, Moms and an Engaged Pilot: What We Know About the D.C. Plane ****** Victims So Far All of Vitali and Julia’s four children — from Sean to their 14-year-old daughter and two sons, 10 and 7 — shared a love of ice skating, according to a GoFundMe set up on behalf of the family. “I had to deliver the news to them, right, and that was the phrase I used, ‘Hey, Julia would want you to do this, to skate,’ ” Kay told CBS News Philadelphia. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Kay told theWashington Post that each of their four kids were homeschooled so they would have time to focus on skating. Additionally, according to a message on the family’s GoFundMe, Julia worked nights as a nurse to “pay for ice time, costumes, travel and coaches.” “[She] was an incredible mother who lived for her children. She spent her days taking them to training, helping them fight for their dreams,” read a message on the fundraiser. “She gave everything she had for their future.” Related: Husband Whose Wife Texted Him Minutes Before D.C. Plane ****** Reveals Moment He Realized That Was Her Flight GoFundMe Julia and Sean Kay. PEOPLE previously reported that Sean and Julia were in Wichita so the young skater and his partner Angela Yang could participate in U.S. Figure Skating’s National Development Camp. A video of one of Angela and Sean’s final performances is linked on the GoFundMe page. “Ilya was one of the top ice dancers in the country for his age and dreamed of making it to the Olympic team,” read a message on the fundraiser, which noted that the rest of the Kay family has been “left shattered.” Related: Flight Attendant Dad Killed in D.C. Plane ****** Just Weeks Before Daughter’s Wedding: ‘It’s Just a Lot’ The ****** took place on Wednesday, Jan. 29, when a U.S. Army ****** Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines flight 5342 just before 9 p.m. as the plane was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport, outside of Washington, D.C. The fiery ****** sent both aircrafts plummeting into the Potomac River and all 67 passengers on both aircrafts are presumed dead. Read the original article on People Source link #Man #Wife #Son #Died #D.C #Plane #****** #Called #Knowing #Happened #Didnt #Pick Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Former senior adviser for Federal Reserve indicted on economic espionage charges Former senior adviser for Federal Reserve indicted on economic espionage charges A former senior adviser for the Federal Reserve Board of Governors was arrested on charges of conspiring with ******** officials to steal Federal Reserve trade secrets, federal court filings unsealed Friday revealed. Prosecutors allege that John Harold Rogers conspired with people in China to steal trade secrets from the Fed’s Board of Governors and Open Market Committee and made false statements to the Federal Reserve inspector general. The indictment alleges that Rogers exploited his relationship with the Federal Reserve and gave information to co-conspirators in China who posed as graduate students at a ******** university, but were in reality intelligence and security officers of the People’s Republic of China. They allege he gave them economic data sets and briefing books meant for Fed Board governors. “Under the guise of teaching ‘classes,’ Rogers would meet with co-conspirators in hotel rooms in China where he would convey sensitive, trade-secret information” from the Federal Reserve to ******** agents, the indictment alleges. In 2023, prosecutors claim Rogers was paid approximately $450,000 to be a part-time professor at a ******** university. Federal prosecutors say Rogers was involved with the ******** for about seven years, from 2018 to early this year. Rogers made his initial appearance in a Washington, D.C. federal courtroom on Friday, where he was ordered detained for three days, pending an arraignment and detention hearing set for next week. Robert Legare contributed to this report. Jacob Rosen Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he worked with Brennan for two years on the broadcast. Rosen has been a producer for several CBS News podcasts, including “The Takeout,” “The Debrief” and “Agent of Betrayal: The Double Life of Robert Hanssen.” Source link #senior #adviser #Federal #Reserve #indicted #economic #espionage #charges Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Some federal websites temporarily go dark after order to comply with Trump DEI directive Some federal websites temporarily go dark after order to comply with Trump DEI directive U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., Jan. 31, 2025. Carlos Barria | Reuters Some government webpages briefly went dark Friday after federal agencies were told to comply with a White House order on removing certain language pertaining to diversity, equity and inclusion. Pages for the Federal Aviation Administration, the Census Bureau and the Justice Department were among those that went blank. The FAA and Justice Department later came back online. President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week that stated only the genders male and female are to be recognized by the federal government. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) distributed a memo, obtained by NBC News, ordering that all federal government references to “gender ideology” be removed by 5 p.m. Friday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the duration of any website changes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it removed its data portal to satisfy Trump administration orders. The data page will eventually return, the CDC said. A notice on the data homepage said: “Data.CDC.gov is temporarily offline in order to comply with Executive Order 14168 Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government and the OPM notice dated January 29, 2025, ‘Initial Guidance Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Defending Women).” “The website will resume operations once in compliance,” the notice said. The Trump administration has already removed dozens of webpages across federal health agencies, including many at the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. The main **** page, a hub for **** data, resources for health care providers, pages on racial disparities, another on transgender people, gay and ********* men, and information about ongoing youth risk behaviors and details about the federal “Ending the **** Epidemic” plan were scrubbed by Friday. Also down on Friday were several webpages for the U.S. Agency for International Development, tasked with administering foreign, distributing medicine abroad and helping to thwart disease outbreaks. At the same time, federal employees were working to comply with orders prohibiting the support of DEI efforts within the military and across civilian agencies, including the elimination of resource groups and any celebration of cultural awareness, according to memos and emails. The Health and Human Services web destination reproductiverights.gov, which contained information on reproductive care, including abortion, is among the destination pages that were removed. The CDC began removing content related to gender identity on Friday, according to one government staffer. ****-related pages were apparently caught up in that action. A Wednesday email from Charles Ezell, the acting director of the U.S. office of personnel management, titled “Defending Women,” told subordinates not to promote “gender ideology” — a term often used by conservative groups to describe what they consider “woke” views on sex and gender. The email said the employees are to recognize only two sexes, male and female, according to a memo, obtained by NBC News. Among the CDC pages missing on Friday was one with information on contraception and emergency contraception. Information on contraception and the abortion pill, or mifepristone tablets, can still be found on CDC webpages through more detailed searches, but those main landing pages have been made to appear blank and might halt users seeking more background on the topics. In a December interview, Trump said he “probably” would not restrict the availability of medication abortions during his second term in the White House. Source link #federal #websites #temporarily #dark #order #comply #Trump #DEI #directive Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Report: Gears of War Trilogy Collection Will Be Multiplatform and Available on PS5 Day One Report: Gears of War Trilogy Collection Will Be Multiplatform and Available on PS5 Day One Stuart5756382d ago Every article, console fanboy trite, all these years later. Let me explain it AGAIN, in simple terms for the fanboys. Sentient human gamers do have their preferred platform, however they will buy and own multiple platforms so they can enjoy the games they want to enjoy. I own and have owned multiple platforms, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft and now Valve, simply to enjoy a wide range of games across a broad spectrum of platforms. It’s great. You don’t have to pick a ‘team’ and cheer them on through thick and thin, dissing the other ‘team’. And for you ‘VenomUK’ to state ‘Switch and PS5 owners are gonna love this’, proves that you’re a bit behind. Learn, enjoy, live, develop, trust and coexist if you can, life is better that way. Source link #Report #Gears #War #Trilogy #Collection #Multiplatform #PS5 #Day Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Ex-Skydance Executive Escapes Prison After Admitting To “Recklessly” Operating Drone That Crashed Into Super Scooper, Endangered LA Wildfire Fighters – Deadline Ex-Skydance Executive Escapes Prison After Admitting To “Recklessly” Operating Drone That Crashed Into Super Scooper, Endangered LA Wildfire Fighters – Deadline Ex-Skydance Executive Escapes Prison After Admitting To “Recklessly” Operating Drone That Crashed Into Super Scooper, Endangered LA Wildfire Fighters DeadlinePalisades Fire: Peter Tripp Akemann agrees to plead guilty to crashing drone into ‘Super Scooper’ ABC7 Los AngelesCalifornia man pleads guilty after his drone collides with aircraft fighting Palisades Fire Fox NewsTurns out the guy who hit a firefighting plane with a drone in LA was Treyarch co-founder Peter Akemann PC Gamer Source link #ExSkydance #Executive #Escapes #Prison #Admitting #Recklessly #Operating #Drone #Crashed #Super #Scooper #Endangered #Wildfire #Fighters #Deadline Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EU’s Kaja Kallas says Europe must spend more on defence EU’s Kaja Kallas says Europe must spend more on defence The European Union’s member states need to increase defence spending to keep pace with the threats facing the continent, its foreign policy chief has warned. Kaja Kallas, who served as prime minister of Estonia until July 2024, said “every euro spent on school, healthcare and ******** [was] vulnerable” if the bloc didn’t maintain strong defences. US President Donald Trump was right to criticise Europe’s spending, which sits at an average of 1.9%, she added. She also pointed to Russia spending 9% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and said Europe’s expenditure was “clearly not enough” in light of the war in Ukraine. “To prevent the war, we need to spend more, that is clear,” she told the BBC World Service’s Weekend programme. Kallas said member states also needed to work together to “pressure” Russia economically, and hinted at a new sanctions package next month to mark three years of the war in Ukraine. The EU needs to be “creative” in terms of limiting Russia’s “ability to wage this war”, she said, adding that pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin “is the way to end this war because Putin is the one who started it”. Before taking up the EU post last December, Kallas repeatedly called for higher levels of defence spending while she was serving as Estonia’s first female prime minister. In February 2024, she said she wanted Nato countries to increase defence spending to 3% of their GDP. Alliance members committed to spending at least 2% of GDP on defence after Russian forces seized Ukraine’s southern peninsula of Crimea and Moscow-backed proxies took control large areas of eastern Ukraine in 2014. As Estonian prime minister, Kallas pledged more than 1% of the country’s GDP to Kyiv to help bolster Ukraine’s war effort. “If every Nato country did this, Ukraine would win,” she told the BBC last year. According to Nato estimates for 2024, Estonia’s defence spending as a proportion of GDP was the second highest in the military alliance. In December 2024, Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte said member states would have to “shift to a wartime mindset” and spend “considerably more than 2%” on defence. During his first term, US President Donald Trump put pressure on Nato members to increase defence spending and later called for a commitment to meet 4% of GDP. Shortly before his second inauguration in January, Trump urged Nato’s European members to spend 5%, telling reporters: “They can all afford it.” When asked whether she saw the war concluding in Ukraine’s favour, Kallas said that was “absolutely” still alive in her mind. “I don’t see any other option really. I mean, if we let the brutal aggression flourish, then we will see this in other parts of the world,” she added. She said: “All the aggressors or would-be aggressors in the world are clearly taking notes how we react to Russia’s aggression.” Source link #EUs #Kaja #Kallas #Europe #spend #defence Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Call Of Duty effect on Game Pass was tiny reveals new Xbox sales info Call Of Duty effect on Game Pass was tiny reveals new Xbox sales info Eonjay92d ago Right Switch 2 (one assumes that COD really isn’t going to run on Switch) when it launches will take a few years to build up a sizable audience. One imagines that that can help offset some of the sales lost on Xbox. But as you probably already know, PlayStation has been the biggest platform for COD sales by quite a margin for quite a while. Its not ‘just another revenue stream’… its THE revenue stream (as far as Call of Duty). I really wouldn’t expect that to change anythime soon. Also, remember when it comes to COD we are counting PS4 and PS5. As far as Switch goes, the only way in hell I’m gonna even try to play it there is on one of the Pro controllers. The idea of trying to use the joy cons or the handheld itself is already making my hand hurt. Source link #Call #Duty #effect #Game #Pass #tiny #reveals #Xbox #sales #info Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Police probe after deaths of man, woman in Melbourne Police probe after deaths of man, woman in Melbourne A man was found critically injured near a freeway only hours after a woman was found dead inside a home, with the pair believed to have known one another. Source link #Police #probe #deaths #man #woman #Melbourne Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Jeannie Mai’s Tense Exchange With Jeezy’s House Manager Caught on Police Bodycam: Watch Jeannie Mai’s Tense Exchange With Jeezy’s House Manager Caught on Police Bodycam: Watch Jeannie Mai and Jeezy’s house manager had an icy exchange outside the rapper’s home in a dispute over her being allowed inside his property, and In Touch has the exclusive footage. In Touch obtained bodycam footage of police’s interactions with Jeannie, 46, and Jeezy’s team on December 9, 2024. Jeannie showed up at the rapper’s home, which she lived in during their marriage, to retrieve items she left behind. Jeezy, 47, had the property, which included Jeannie’s clothing and Emmy, put into boxes and stored in his garage. A judge ruled Jeannie was allowed to go to Jeezy’s home and pick up the items. The order said Jeannie was allowed to do a walk-through to check for additional items. Jeannie Mai Jeezy filed an emergency motion objecting to Jeannie being allowed to roam inside his home. Jeannie arrived at the home before the judge ruled on Jeezy’s emergency motion. She called police after Jeezy’s team refused to allow her inside the home. Jeannie asked the police to make a report so she could show it to the judge presiding over their divorce. Eventually, Jeannie was allowed to walk inside the garage to pick up boxes. In a video obtained by In Touch, Jeezy’s house manager, who had the musician’s lawyer on speaker phone, said Jeannie was not permitted inside the home. “You just want to check on the furniture you came with?” the house manager asked. “I want to do my walk-through. That’s the court order. Let me do my walk-through and what I’m personally checking for is my belongings,” Jeannie said. Jeannie Mai Jeannie continued, “I moved my whole life from Los Angeles to here. I also had a baby here. I lived in his house. I decorated this whole house. So, yes, I absolutely want to make sure that my things are taken with me.” She added, “I deserve a walk-through because of court order.” Jeannie said she wanted to make sure all her items were packed. “I might walk out empty handed. I just want to make sure that my house that I know is coming with me. And so, it’s leaving with just his house being his. Does that make sense?” Later, Jeannie spoke to Jeezy’s lawyer on the phone after being displeased with the state of the boxes that stored her personal items. Jeannie can be heard telling the lawyer, “I want you to know that there are boxes damaged, clothing exposed.” Jeannie Mai Jeezy’s house manager injected to tell the lawyer, “There’s the one box. I’ll send it to you.” Jeannie fired back asking the house manager, “Have you gone through all the boxes? Have you gone through all the boxes to know what has been damaged or not?” She continued, “I’m just saying you’re throwing out blanket statements without being factual. Let’s be factual. One box is damaged, but we have not gone through all the boxes.” Jeannie and the house manager, who appeared frustrated with Jeannie, continued to go back and forth. At one point, Jeannie said it may take her some time to figure out the boxes because she believed it to be unorganized. Jeezy’s team member said, “I have all day. I mean you probably don’t have all day. Whatever it takes.” Jeannie told the house manager, “I’m glad you have all day. We’re good. We’re totally good.” As In Touch first reported, Jeannie asked a court to deny Jeezy’s request to block her from doing a walk-through at a future date. On Tuesday, January 28, the judge issued an order denying Jeezy’s motion to modify the order which allowed Jeannie to walk around his home. Source link #Jeannie #Mais #Tense #Exchange #Jeezys #House #Manager #Caught #Police #Bodycam #Watch Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Situation: Kash Patel’s “Odor of Mendacity” – Lawfare Blog The Situation: Kash Patel’s “Odor of Mendacity” – Lawfare Blog The Situation: Kash Patel’s “Odor of Mendacity” Lawfare BlogFBI Director Nominee Kash Patel Testifies at Confirmation Hearing C-SPAN 4 of the biggest clashes between Patel, Senate Dems at his confirmation hearing Fox NewsKash Patel’s podcast persona: Staunch Trump defender and fierce critic of the FBI he could soon lead The Associated Press Source link #Situation #Kash #Patels #Odor #Mendacity #Lawfare #Blog Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Flight risk or soaring success? Flight risk or soaring success? Steve Jones & Tim Dale BBC News, Yorkshire BBC/Victoria Scheer Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones has said the first flights could take off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport in spring 2026 From afar Doncaster Sheffield Airport appears clear for take-off. The grass verges are well trimmed, the modern, glass-fronted terminal glimmers in the muted winter sun. But, there are no holidaymakers, no families jetting off for a week in the sun, no rattle of suitcase wheels and no roar of jet engines. Opened in April 2005, the airport once served a host of destinations, including Berlin, Dubrovnik, Paris, Alicante and Mallorca. Come November 2022 all flights were grounded when owners Peel Group said it was no longer financially viable and mothballed the site. Today, the 800-acre site, a former RAF base, lies empty except for a small maintenance crew and security presence. Since closing City of Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor have worked to reopen the airport and, earlier this week, their efforts were given the backing of Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Speaking on Wednesday, Reeves said she would support the work to “recreate South Yorkshire Airport City as a thriving regional airport”. But, as the site taxis towards a spring 2026 reopening, opinion is divided on whether it has the wings to fly. Getty Images Opened in 2005, Doncaster Sheffield Airport (pictured above in 2015) was mothballed two years ago For Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, filling the skies above South Yorkshire with vapour trails once more is the shot in the arm the region needs. Speaking in December, when a private twin-engine plane became the first aircraft to land on the runway in more than two years, Jones said: “I believe that we can go from strength to strength. “Medium to long term, I think it will be the economic stimulus that the whole of the north needs as well as South Yorkshire and Doncaster.” The council, which says it has an international operator waiting in the wings, believe the net economic benefit could be up to £1.5 billion within the first three decades of operating. But despite the positive noises, it was announced last month that more than £100m of public money would be needed to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport after the local authority failed to secure the necessary private funding. BBC/Victoria Scheer The vast carparks around the terminal lie empty One issue facing Doncaster Sheffield Airport is its proximity to other airports. Within a 70 mile (110km) radius passengers can already choose from four other sites, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, East Midlands and Humberside. Up the M1 in Leeds, Vincent Hodder, chief executive at Leeds Bradford Airport, is unequivocal in his assessment. “I’m predicting that DSA will fail,” he told the BBC. “I can’t foresee a scenario where DSA is able to generate sufficient passenger numbers to enable it to actually be self-sustaining.” He claimed “a lot of airlines were paid to operate out of [DSA]” under the previous ownership, adding: “Their losses were underwritten, so the taxpayer ends up funding both the cost of the operation as well as the losses incurred by the airline.” One thing any airport needs is flights and Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary also remains unconvinced. “Doncaster is a hard sell,” he said in an interview with Sky News. “We used to fly to Doncaster, but there isn’t much of a traffic base there.” He said DSA was not part of his company’s growth plans. “It’s close to Leeds Bradford and Leeds has grown rapidly with us and Jet2 in the last five or six years. “I think it’s a very tough sell in the shadow of Leeds Bradford.” BBC/Tom Ingall The last commercial flight to leave Doncaster Sheffield Airport took off in 2022 Despite the concerns of some, local businesses are “almost unanimous” in their support for the reopening, according to the chief executive of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce, Dan Fell. “The stats show that for every one million passengers airports create about 1,500 jobs,” he said. “It’s a significant amount of employment and they tend to be more highly skilled jobs.” Mr Fell, whose organisation supports about 2,000 businesses in Doncaster every year, says airports also “tend to work as quite a magnet for inward investment”. “Airports do tend to be quite high on the list of things people are looking for when making their decisions about where in the *** they move to. “Sheffield is one of the only core cities in the *** that hasn’t got an airport within an hour’s reach.” As well as outbound flights, airports can also help boost local tourism, Mr Fell added. According to Doncaster Council, the airport could be profitable within five years of reopening and bring almost 5,000 direct jobs as well as creating up to 11,500 jobs in the wider economy. While the airport’s predicted benefit to business and the region’s economy would a welcome boost, environmental campaigners have raised concerns about the reopening. Christine Gilligan Kubo, Green Party councillor for Hillsborough on Sheffield City Council, said airport expansion “cannot be part of any serious plans to address climate change”. “Reopening DSA with all its additional flights will only make achieving our carbon targets more difficult,” she said. Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson said opening the airport would be “good for climate change” as it would prioritise “sustainable aviation”. “Not only is it good for climate change but its also feeding into the jobs and industry of the future which post-industrial areas like Doncaster and South Yorkshire absolutely should have a hand in.” However, Richard Sulley, senior research fellow at the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, said the technologies for this do not yet exist, “so there will be a ******* where aviation fuel is being burned”. Reuters Chancellor Rachel Reeves has given her backing to plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport Those aiming to reopen DSA have pointed to another airport once owned by Peel – the then Durham Tees Valley Airport. Renamed Teesside International it was bought by the Tees Valley Combined Authority in 2019 and passsenger numbers and turnover have grown. However, its accounts show it made a pre-tax loss of £6.63m in 2024, which is worse than its £4.46m deficit in 2023 and the £5.73m it lost in 2019. It was a chilly November night when the final flight landed in Doncaster in November 2022. Passengers on the TUI flight from Hurghada in Egypt told the BBC it was a “crying shame” the airport was closing. By that time TUI was the only firm operating flights from DSA and the airport’s pre-pandemic passenger numbers were just under one and a half million in 2019. In contrast Leeds Bradford saw just under four million passengers and Liverpool saw five million in that same year. Now, with Ros Jones promising flights in a little over 12 months can the site controversially once known as Robin Hood Airport hit the target or will it miss the mark? Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Source link #Flight #risk #soaring #success Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Illuminating times in the aircraft cabin Illuminating times in the aircraft cabin Aircraft cabin lighting guides us to our seats or the toilet, helps us see what we are eating, find something we’ve dropped or read a book, but there is so much more going on behind the scenes. Aircraft cabin lighting today is grounded in science, with decades of research resulting in systems that are designed to improve the passenger experience by resetting circadian rhythms and reducing the effects of jet lag, as well as delivering operational and sustainability benefits to airlines. Qantas’ latest research with the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre (CPC) for its ultra-long-haul Project Sunrise flights between the east coast of Australia and New York and London highlights the science behind today’s lighting. The lighting for the airline’s new Airbus A350-1000s, inspired by the colours of the *********** landscape and grounded in circadian science, is designed to minimise passenger jet lag and improve wellbeing on the 18-20-hour flights when they launch in 2026. The partners have tested hundreds of lighting patterns and sequences, with lighting scenarios developed to “optimise the circadian effects of light at different times during flights while accounting for the light appearance, ambience, safety and hardware requirements onboard”, says the CPC’s associate professor Sveta Postnova, an expert in circadian modelling. The resulting 12 lighting scenes include “Awake” featuring broad spectrum blue-enriched lighting to help passengers adjust to the destination time zone, making them alert and awake; “Sunset” — an immersive transition from daytime to dark that moves through the colours of sunset into a night sky, including moonlight and slow cloud effects, to relax passengers and prepare them for sleep; and “Sunrise” dynamic lighting for the transition from night to day, rolling from the front of the cabin to the rear. The CPC advised the wavelengths for light that most strongly affect a person’s body clock, using melanopic illuminance — the impact of light on a person’s circadian rhythm. CPC says blue-enriched light with high melanopic illuminance helps shift the body clock, while long-wavelength light, such as red, with low melanopic illuminance, helps prevent the body clock shifting. Aircraft lighting manufacturers have based their developments on science for years, with work intensifying as ultra-long-haul flights grow and passenger wellbeing takes centrestage. “The science behind the human circadian rhythm response is well known and has been established by university studies and testing, controlling exposure to daytime light cycles by incorporating specific colour wavelengths. Integrating these wavelengths into our colour palettes enables Collins’ lighting systems to positively impact passengers’ circadian rhythm,” says John Alotta, associate director of business development, lighting and galley inserts at Collins Aerospace, which has been supplying aircraft lighting systems since the 1970s. Camera IconCollins Aerospace Hypergamut lighting. Credit: Supplied Collins’ latest system, Hypergamut features a “complex circadian response algorithm” designed specifically to reduce passenger jet lag. The system mirrors morning lighting containing a higher content of blue and cyan lighting which triggers lower melatonin levels and wakefulness. As the day progresses, natural light contains more red wavelength content, prompting melatonin production and supporting a natural sleep cycle. “Collins’ Hypergamut lighting can infuse or remove a specific blue spectrum wavelength to either promote wakefulness or encourage rest — all without visually altering the colour, appearance or brightness of the cabin,” he explains. Camera IconA Diehl projection. Credit: Supplied Diehl Aerospace has worked closely with LED manufacturers, including conducting simulations of long-haul flights, to understand how light spectra affects passenger wellbeing and physiological responses. “The key to success lies in providing sufficient light in critical wavelengths that influence human biology,” explains Jan Petersohn, manager business development. “Scientific research means we can effectively reduce the discomfort flying brings to a passenger’s normal routine,” says Claire Sixsmith, commercial director at IFPL Group. Lighting can be used to mimic natural lighting cycles, creating sunrises and sunsets, filling the aircraft cabin with soft orange hues in the morning, and soothing lavender tones when it’s time to sleep through intensity, colour tuning and correlated colour temperature, says Sixsmith. With more ultra-long-range flights expected to be launched in the future, lighting that supports passenger wellbeing will be more important than ever before. “We are convinced chronobiological lighting solutions will become a standard offering in long and ultra-long-range flights. Lighting has a major influence on the reactive elements of our brain chemistry and humans live their lives according to patterns set by our natural daylight cycles. Improving how our bodies react to travel across multiple time zones will be essential to mitigating these impacts and improving passenger wellbeing,” says Alotta. Camera IconIFPL cobalt spectrum on a Finnair A330. Credit: Supplied Lighting is also playing a part in airline efforts to meet their ambitious sustainability targets, with innovation in lightweight and sustainable materials set to reduce overall aircraft weight and improve fuel efficiency, according to Diehl’s Petersohn. Passengers can also expect developments in the visual spectacle of lighting. “Our goal is not only to meet operational needs, but also to create awe-inspiring passenger experiences that leave a lasting impression,” says Petersohn. Diehl plans to reveal “groundbreaking” technologies at this year’s aircraft interior industry show, Aircraft Interiors Expo 2025, in April, promising visual effects that are “nothing short of breathtaking”. Camera IconDiehl Aviation cabin lighting. Credit: Supplied Source link #Illuminating #times #aircraft #cabin Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

What makes Columbus’ priciest suburbs so expensive to live in What makes Columbus’ priciest suburbs so expensive to live in COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Nine of Ohio’s top 20 most expensive cities to live in are in the Columbus metro area. Housing costs have been rising rapidly in recent years, but many of central Ohio’s most expensive suburbs have been expensive for some time. According to a 2020 report from Ohio State, local amenities, schools, crime rates and social networks are among the most important factors driving home values in a neighborhood. The study found these features self-reinforce, meaning rich neighborhoods typically stay rich and get richer, furthering the economic gaps among neighborhoods and suburbs. Many of central Ohio’s wealthiest neighborhoods have a history of wealth. Watch previous coverage of central Ohio’s housing crisis in the video player above. Marble Cliff — average home value of $753,057 Violent Crime: 1.19 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes Schools: Marble Cliff residents attend Grandview Heights Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 634, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Marble Cliff is a small village supported by amenities from Grandview Heights. If you can afford the high home prices, the tax benefits are substantial. According to Marble Cliff, the village has the lowest municipality property tax rate in central Ohio at just 0.35 mills and has a municipal income tax rate of just 2%. The city also has Paul J. Falco Park for local greenspace, and residents of Marble Cliff are able to use many facilities in Grandview Heights. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median household income for Marble Cliff is $134,688. This wealth is nothing new — according to central Ohio historians Esther Marsh and Pat Garbrandt, the area was originally home to wealthy Columbus families seeking to escape downtown. Whitehall student tests positive for tuberculosis Galena — average home value of $602,757 Violent Crime: 1.9 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes Schools: Galena residents can attend Big Walnut Local Schools, which received four stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 924, according to the 2020 U.S. Census According to Rocket Mortgage, Galena homes are getting pricier. The median home sold price in December by Rocket’s data is 9.6% more expensive than it was a year ago. Galena has a low income tax rate at just 1%, which could be an incentive for people with higher incomes. It is also home to hiking trails and is situated between Big Walnut Creek and Little Walnut Creek, offering plenty of outdoor activity. Galena was founded by Gilbert Carter in 1809 and was originally a milling town, according to the village’s historical marker. However, the town was best known for its thriving shale tile and brick business, which operated from the 1890s until 1983, according to the village’s LinkedIn page. New Albany — Average home value of $595,568 Violent Crime: 0.88 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: New Albany residents can attend New Albany-Plain Local Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 10,825, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Recently ranked as the number one suburb in America by Business Insider, the area is one of the fastest-growing cities in Ohio. Tech companies are flocking to the area and investing billions, but to live there, residents also need to be able to invest. The median income in New Albany is $232,524, according to the U.S. Census Initially founded in 1873, the city was transformed by wealth when Victoria’s Secret, PINK and Bath & Body Works founder Les Wexner partnered with Jack Kessler to create The New Albany Company. According to Kessler, he and Wexner lived in Bexley and wanted a change farther from Downtown. The pair settled on New Albany because they could shape it into something new and attracted young professionals and wealthy families by expanding the city’s amenities. Upper Arlington — Average home value of $590,969 Violent Crime: 0.14 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: Upper Arlington residents can attend Upper Arlington City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 36,800, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Upper Arlington has parks and recreation opportunities, including Fancyburg Park and the new Bob Crane Community Center scheduled to open this spring. Upper Arlington was founded by King and Ben Thompson in 1914 and was exclusive from the start. The U.S. Census lists the median income for Upper Arlington as $150,993, and it has sought wealthy residents from its inception. Modeled after Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, the city was built with a clear vision, catering to the upper class. In 1926, the city had many property deeds that banned ****** residents from owning property and required all house employees to be white. Upper Arlington has condemned this practice, which was ended in 1971. However, the effects of the racially restrictive clauses still exist today, and only 1.3% of residents are ******, according to the U.S. Census. Some land deeds still have these clauses, although they are ******** to enforce. Sweet dog who loves treats and toys is up for adoption Riverlea — Average home value of $545,542 Violent Crime: 1.19 per 1,000 residents, according to estimates by Area Vibes Schools: residents can attend Worthington Schools, which received 4.5 stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 599, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Riverlea is a small community within walking distance of downtown Worthington that was incorporated in 1939. Like several other expensive villages, it uses neighboring cities’ schools and resources to support it. It is situated between the Olentangy River and North High Street and is bordered by Rush Run Nature Preserve, offering green space. According to copies of The Worthington News from the 1930s, Riverlea debuted as an “attractive and very desirable” place to live. A June 1938 edition reported 25 lot owners planned to build new homes for those who wanted to live near downtown but could afford not to live in the thick of things. According to the 1938 article, hundreds of people visited the area just to see the homes. Powell — Average home value of $543,450 Violent Crime: 0.21 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: Powell residents can attend Olentangy Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 14,163, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Powell has seven community parks and a median household income of $191,250. Its community amenities reflect a higher tax bracket, and it has a program where local police will monitor homes if their owners go on vacation. It has doubled its population in the last decade, according to the city’s website. Powell was settled in 1813 and renamed for Judge Thomas Powell in 1857 after he established the village’s first post office. Per the Powell-Liberty Historical Society, although few people lived there, a railroad passed through Powell, establishing it economically as a place to stop. Powell first grew in the early 1980s when central Ohioans began exploring residential development for what was then a village. Bexley — Average home value of $541,235 Violent Crime: 2.27 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: Bexley residents can attend Bexley City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 13,928, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Bexley offers several green spaces, including the lawn behind the city’s public mansion. Jeffrey Mansion was donated in 1941 and it is used for community activities and recreation. Bexley’s housing market is competitive due to its high-ranking school district, low crime rate and many trees. It is classified as an arboretum Bexley formed in the late 1800s as a neighborhood for wealthy Columbus residents and Capital university professors, and it was incorporated in 1908, according to the city. After the Spanish-American War, improved transportation led some prominent Columbus families to develop the area as an exclusive community, building mansions and beginning the wealth associated with the city, according to Touring Ohio. According to deed records from the Ohio History Connection, Bexley land deeds also excluded ****** residents from owning property in the city. Ohio awards $33 million for Downtown revival project Dublin — Average home value of $537,907 Violent Crime: 0.67 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: Dublin residents can attend Dublin City Schools, which received five stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 49,328, according to the 2020 U.S. Census The city of Dublin lists its median income at $148,493 and is home to several large corporations, including Cardinal Health, United Healthcare, Nestle and Wendy’s, according to the city website. The city is proud of its annual three-day Irish Festival and the annual Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour. Downtown Dublin is particularly attractive, with shops and restaurants within walking distance of one another. According to the city, Dublin began with an economy based on milling, farming and tourism, with taverns and hotels for travelers along what is now State Route 161. The city said in the late 1880s, a stone quarry industry emerged, earning Dublin a reputation as a rough town. The city said it transitioned from a poorer village to a suburban hotspot in the 1970s after developments emerged in city limits, and today its home value has increased thanks to the strong development and amenities in the city. Plain City — Average home value of $521,020 Violent Crime: 0.69 per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout Schools: Plain City residents attend Jonathan Adler Schools, which received four stars on its 2023-2024 state report card Population: 4,065, according to the 2020 U.S. Census Plain City has undergone mostly recent development due to the growth of Columbus as a whole. According to the city, Plain City is expected to continue rapidly growing over the next 25 years, especially as new housing developments and job opportunities continue to pop up in city limits. The city said its rural charm is enticing for many moving to the Columbus area, although some residents have voiced concerns about the rapid growth, according to the city’s FAQs. The city has natural features, including Big Darby Creek, that are a draw for many residents. Unfortunately, the creek also had major floods four times in the 20th century. Plain City grew very slowly in its first years, according to the city, and a good portion of its population came from an Amish settlement established in 1896. The city said it had become a crucial stop along a railroad for livestock shipping by the 1920s. Copyright 2025 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 NBC4 WCMH-TV. Source link #Columbus #priciest #suburbs #expensive #live Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump White House Takes Aim at Selena Gomez in New Video Responding to Her Crying About Deportations – Variety Trump White House Takes Aim at Selena Gomez in New Video Responding to Her Crying About Deportations – Variety Trump White House Takes Aim at Selena Gomez in New Video Responding to Her Crying About Deportations VarietyScoop: White House video blasts Selena Gomez crying over Trump’s immigration plans AxiosWhite House Video Targets Selena Gomez’s Tearful Reaction to Mass Deportations Rolling StoneSelena Gomez’s Deleted Post Becomes a Political Talking Point The New York TimesTrump border czar has blunt message for Selena Gomez: ‘Where’s the tears’ for sex trafficked children? Fox News Source link #Trump #White #House #Takes #Aim #Selena #Gomez #Video #Responding #Crying #Deportations #Variety Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Venezuela frees six US men after Trump envoy meets Maduro Venezuela frees six US men after Trump envoy meets Maduro Venezuela has freed six US detainees after talks in Caracas between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior Trump administration official. The release of the men was announced on social media by Donald Trump and his special envoy, Richard Grenell. Grenell – who published online a photo of the six on board his plane – said they had spoken by phone to President Trump to thank him. Earlier, the White House had called on Venezuela to release “US hostages” – as well as agreeing to receive Venezuelan criminals deported by the US – or face consequences. Grenell did not name the six men, who were seen dressed in light blue outfits used by the Venezuelan prison system. “We are wheels up and headed home with these 6 American citizens,” Grenell posted on X. “They just spoke to @realDonaldTrump and they couldn’t stop thanking him.” Trump hailed the move in a separate post, saying Grenell was bringing “six hostages home from Venezuela”. Venezuelan state media said the discussions with President Trump’s envoy had been respectful. In January, Caracas announced the capture of a group of “mercenaries” who included US citizens. Maduro was sworn in last month for a third term as Venezuelan president, six months after disputed elections which the opposition and international community say he lost. The official results of the July 2024 election have been widely rejected by the international community, including the US. Grenell’s visit did not mean US recognition of Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier on Friday. Source link #Venezuela #frees #men #Trump #envoy #meets #Maduro Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Your Week: What’s on in Perth this week Your Week: What’s on in Perth this week Music, theatre, Luna New Year markets and the launch of Perth Festival make this a busy week in the city. Source link #Week #Whats #Perth #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]