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Taylor is priceless, but being a Swiftie isn’t

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

By Alana Benson | NerdWalletI don’t have Taylor Swift tickets. I didn’t survive Ticketmaster’s Great War, I haven’t been blessed with a magical code, and Mama Swift likely won’t pluck me from obscurity to watch from the VIP section.None of this has stopped me from buying friendship bracelet-making supplies, multiple concert outfit options and a clear stadium-approved bag — and I’m not alone.Since Taylor Swift embarked on her record-shattering Eras Tour, her fans have brought shocking economic activity to each city she visits. Resale ticket prices alone are in the thousands, but participating in the Swiftdom extends far beyond a seat at the show.Who’s Taylor Swift anyway?Why are people so willing to spend enormous amounts of money on a concert? Well, this isn’t just any concert.The Eras Tour is a rewind through not just Taylor’s most formative years, but mine as well. How often can you hear songs that were played at your middle school dances on the same night as the songs that ...

Sheila Oliver, New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and a prominent Black leader, dies at 71

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

By MIKE CATALNI (Associated Press)TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who rose to become one of New Jersey’s most prominent Black leaders and passionately advocated for revitalizing cities and against gun violence, died Tuesday after a sudden illness. She was 71.No cause of death was given, according to a statement from her family issued by Gov. Phil Murphy ’s office. Oliver was serving as acting governor while Murphy and his family are on vacation in Italy. His office said she had been hospitalized on Monday. Murphy said he and his family are distraught at the news. Naming Oliver as his lieutenant governor was, he said, “the best decision I ever made.” Elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021 alongside Murphy, Oliver was a well-known figure in state government. She made history in 2010, becoming the first Black woman to lead the state Assembly.In contrast to her predecessor, who rarely appeared alongside Gov. Chris Christie, Oliver regularly stoo...

Patriots’ O-line already dealing with injuries, load management early in training camp

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots don’t play a meaningful game for 39 days. It’s important to remember that when looking across the practice field at who’s currently protecting quarterback Mac Jones on the offensive line, because the situation has looked dire over the last two days as availability along the unit is dwindling.Left tackle Trent Brown has been working on a side field doing conditioning in recent practices. The Patriots are managing his workload, a source told the Herald. Head coach Bill Belichick said Monday that Brown had reported to camp “lighter than he’s been.”Left guard Cole Strange got banged up during Monday’s practice and didn’t participate Tuesday. Right guard Mike Onwenu is still on the physically unable to perform list, swing tackle Calvin Anderson remains on the non-football illness list, and the right tackle job looks like an ongoing competition between veteran free-agent pickup Riley Reiff and journeyman Conor McDermott.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | ...

What’s next for the Chicago White Sox pitching staff after 5 trades? ‘We want to develop and we want to win games.’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

Ethan Katz had the chance to coach Lucas Giolito in high school and in the majors.Katz was the pitching coach at Harvard-Westlake in Los Angeles from September 2009 through July 2013, where Giolito was part of the Class of 2012.After time with the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants, Katz joined the Chicago White Sox staff as the pitching coach in 2021.Katz called Giolito’s trade to the Angels “a tough situation,” but added, “also, I’m happy for him.”“He gets to go to Southern California, he gets to pitch in a playoff race,” Katz said Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field. “Our relationship continues. It’s exciting. Sad. Obviously the goal is to win here and have everything happen here, but unfortunately it didn’t happen that way.”The Sox were busy last week, trading away five pitchers. Giolito and reliever Reynaldo López were dealt to the Angels on Wednesday. Starter Lance Lynn and reli...

Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board and gives commissioner his support as Saudi deal talks continue

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

By DOUG FERGUSON (AP Golf Writer)Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour policy board for the first time in his 27 years on tour, giving Commissioner Jay Monahan key support as he rebuilds trust while forging ahead with details of a business partnership with Saudi backers of LIV Golf.Woods will become a sixth player director — a year ago, the PGA Tour had only four players on its board — as part of a broad agreement that gives the players a greater voice and awareness of any major deals going forward.The announcement Tuesday is a response to the PGA Tour having secret talks with the head of Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund that led to a proposed partnership that was announced in June and stunned players who had lined up behind the tour to fend off the Saudi threat.Woods, as the sixth player director, marks the first time players have outnumbered the five independent directors on the board. The 12th board member is the PGA of America president, John Lindert.Equally c...

MLB Trade Deadline: Where do Red Sox stand, and who could be moved?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

The MLB trade deadline is almost here, and the Red Sox enter August in an uncertain position. The club is currently below the playoff cutline, but has also been playing great baseball over the past month to fight its way back into the hunt.With Trevor Story, Chris Sale and other key players nearing returns from the injured list, the Red Sox are expected to buy, but what exactly the club will do remains a mystery.So what should fans expect in the next few hours? Here is where things stand as of early Tuesday afternoon.How do Red Sox stack up?Entering Tuesday the Red Sox are 56-50 on the season and 2.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the last American League Wild Card spot. Boston is also 3.5 back of the Houston Astros, holds a half-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels and is one game up on the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.The Red Sox were among baseball’s hottest teams in July, going 15-8 over the course of the month, but the club also finished on a down note a...

Boston Police arrest 6 teenagers accused of throwing rocks at officers, causing disruption at South Bay shopping plaza

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

Six teenagers accused of wreaking havoc at South Bay shopping plaza, with some of the juveniles allegedly throwing rocks at Boston police officers and shattering police cruisers’ windows, were arrested Monday evening.The six boys were a: 14-year-old from Dorchester; 15-year-old from Dorchester; 15-year-old from the South End; 16-year-old from the South End; 16-year-old from the South End; and 16-year-old from Roxbury.Boston police officers made the arrests at about 7 p.m. on Monday after they received several 911 calls about a group of juveniles loitering and causing disruption to South Bay businesses.Officers patrolling the shopping plaza saw the same group of teens they had removed earlier in the day.As officers tried to remove the group again, several of the juveniles allegedly began throwing rocks and physically assaulting officers.While officers placed one of the juveniles in handcuffs, another suspect could be seen kicking a police radio across the ground and then discar...

What to know about the government’s latest round of health policy proposals

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

By Julie Appleby, KFF Health NewsForget “repeal and replace,” an oft-repeated Republican rallying cry against the Affordable Care Act.House Republicans have advanced a package of bills that could reduce health insurance costs for certain businesses and consumers, partly by rolling back some consumer protections. Rather than outright repeal, however, the subtler effort could allow more employers to bypass the landmark health insurance overhaul’s basic benefits requirements and most state standards.At the same time, the Biden administration seeks to undo some of the previous administration’s health insurance rules, proposing to retighten regulations for short-term plans.Health policy experts aren’t surprised. Most of the GOP policy ideas have long drawn Republican support, have raised concern from Democrats about reduced consumer protections, and could fall under the theme: Everything old is new again.Association Health Plans. Self-insurance. Giving workers money to buy their own indi...

Efforts to help Haitians suffer new blow with kidnapping of American nurse and daughter

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Efforts to help Haitians survive the gang violence ravaged their nation suffered a new blow with the kidnapping of an American nurse from New Hampshire and her young daughter, who remained missing Tuesday. Haiti’s gangs have grown in power since the July 7, 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and are now estimated to control up to 80% of the capital. Hundreds of people have been reported kidnapped since January, a significant uptick from previous years. The surge in killings, rapes and kidnappings has led to a violent uprising by civilian vigilante groups.Around 200 Haitians had marched in their nation’s capital to show their anger over the abduction of Alix Dorsainvil, who was working for nonprofit Christian ministry El Roi Haiti when she and the girl were seized Thursday. The kidnapped woman is the wife of El Roi Haiti’s founder Sandro Dorsainvil.Nonprofit groups are often the only institutions in Haiti’s lawless areas and ...

Saskatchewan Crown corporations report earning losses; SaskPower faces steep hit

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:24:12 GMT

REGINA — Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations are reporting sizable earning losses this year, with the government-owned electrical utility facing its biggest financial hit yet. The reports, released by the Saskatchewan Party government last week, show SaskPower is staring down a net loss of $172 million. The Crown corporation says the loss is mainly dueto higher fuel prices. The province’s other Crown corporations made money this fiscal year, but not as much as they did last year.  In total, the corporations reported net earnings of $7.4 million, but that’s well below the $361 million they earned last year. The government normally holds a news conference and technical briefing when it releases the reports, but it did not do so this year. The NDP Opposition says the province is ducking accountability by quietly releasing the reports. The Canadian Press