ReportWire

Tag: august

  • Concordia University told to reinstate women’s teams while Title IX lawsuit plays out

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    Concordia University’s attempt to bolster athletics with one hand while slashing four sports with the other was hampered by a federal judge who granted a preliminary injunction preventing the Division II university from dropping the women’s swimming and tennis programs.

    Seven members of the women’s swimming and diving team and two women’s tennis players allege in a sex discrimination class action lawsuit filed in August that by dropping the programs, the Irvine school is violating Title IX.

    Judge Fred W. Slaughter agreed, ordering that the injunction remain in place for the duration of the lawsuit. Concordia must immediately reinstate the women’s teams and provide them “with funding, staffing, and all other benefits commensurate with their status as varsity intercollegiate teams,” Slaughter wrote in a 19-page ruling.

    Concordia announced the cuts of the men’s and women’s swimming and tennis teams in May, stating the school had “determined that the current model is not sustainable in the midst of increasing operational costs, facility limitations, and significant changes in the collegiate athletics landscape.”

    But the cuts came at a time when Concordia was plowing $25.5 million into upgrading the university’s athletic infrastructure. A week after athletic director Crystal Rosenthal calculated the cuts would save $550,000 a year, she sent an email to unaffected athletes boasting that major improvements would be made to Concordia’s athletics infrastructure.

    Rosenthal, who is also the school’s softball coach, wrote: “We are currently in the midst of a major $17.5-million construction project that includes a new 19,000-square-foot facility featuring a state-of-the-art weight room, locker rooms, and modern training room space. This facility represents our belief in the future of our athletic programs and our student-athletes.”

    She added that more than $8 million had been earmarked for upgrades to the baseball, softball and soccer/track/lacrosse facilities — including the installation of outdoor lights.

    The lawsuit followed in August and Slaughter issued the preliminary injunction Friday. Arthur Bryant, the lawyer representing the female athletes, said that women comprised 59% of Concordia’s students but received only 51.2% of the roster spots for sports.

    “The court’s thorough, compelling decision confirms what we said from the start: CUI’s decision to eliminate the women’s swimming and diving and tennis teams was a flagrant violation of Title IX,” Bryant said in a statement. “Concordia needs to add about 100 opportunities for women to reach gender equity. It should not be eliminating any women’s teams.”

    The concurrent spending on infrastructure was particularly galling to female athletes and some alumni, according to SwimSwam. The swimming and water polo teams train off-campus and place few operational demands on the school. The swimming program had 23 men and 25 women on its rosters last season.

    Concordia, a Lutheran-affiliated school with about 1,500 undergraduates that moved from the NAIA to NCAA Division II in 2017, is one of several universities whose efforts to trim athletic programs have been thwarted by courts.

    A federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary injunction against Stephen F. Austin State in August, preventing the school from eliminating its women’s beach volleyball, bowling and golf programs. According to Sportico, at least eight other schools since 2020 have been ordered to reinstate programs after Title IX challenges: Iowa, William & Mary, UConn, Dartmouth, Clemson, East Carolina, North Carolina Pembroke and Dickinson College.

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    Steve Henson

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  • Melodee Buzzard, 9, hasn’t been seen for weeks. Now her mom isn’t cooperating with police

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    Family members are desperately searching for Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old girl who was last seen in Lompoc in August and whose mother refuses to answer questions about her whereabouts.

    Melodee was officially reported missing Tuesday after officials at the Lompoc Unified School District contacted the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office to report her prolonged absence, according to authorities.

    The girl had enrolled in an independent learning program in August, the school district said in a statement, and sheriff’s officials say she has not been seen since.

    Sheriff’s deputies went to the girl’s home in Vandenberg Village on Tuesday. Inside they made contact with Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee’s mother, but the girl was nowhere to be seen, according to authorities. Her mother remains uncooperative with the investigation.

    Vicky Shade, Melodee’s aunt, said that the girl’s mother has a long history of mental illness and refused to let relatives visit the girl.

    “Ashlee is mentally unstable and my mom tried to get custody or at least grandparent rights to visit Melodee because she [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our side of the family see her,” Shade said.

    Shade’s brother, Rubiell Meza, is Ashlee’s father. He died in a motorcycle accident in 2016, shortly after Melodee was born.

    Buzzard and Rubiell Meza previously lived in Santa Maria with Meza’s mother. However, Buzzard moved away shortly after Meza died and changed her phone number, Shade said.

    “I am horrified for my little niece, I can’t imagine what she’s gone through,” Shade said. “This does not sound good. I just want to know if she’s OK. We need to find her.”

    The most recent photo available of Melodee is 2 years old, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

    Another one of Melodee’s aunts, Lizabeth Meza, said that Buzzard had struggled with mental illness for years. She said Buzzard has attempted to take her own life multiple times and was previously hospitalized for treatment.

    Meza’s family has not been able to see Melodee in around four and a half years, she said.

    They are currently focused on putting up missing child posters around Lompoc and sharing Melodee’s story on social media in hopes of generating leads about the girl’s whereabouts.

    Buzzard was seen entering her Vandenberg Village home Thursday by local TV station KSBY, but refused to speak with a reporter. She also did not respond to requests from The Times for comment.

    Federal court records show that Buzzard filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2017 and has had at least five collections cases for unpaid debts filed against her in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. This includes cases filed against her by Capital One Bank in May and December, and by Crown Asset Management last November.

    Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick said that Melodee had previously been homeschooled for several years. However, the California Department of Education has no record of Buzzard filing a private school affidavit, which is a requirement for homeschooling, according to department spokesperson Scott Roark.

    According to a statement from the Lompoc Unified School District, Melodee and her mother visited Mission Valley Independent Study School to initiate her registration in August. But Melodee then failed to pick up assignments, prompting the school to initiate outreach reach out to her mother, and, ultimately, law enforcement.

    “Lompoc Unified School District deserves credit for recognizing that something wasn’t right, reaching out, and continuing to assist with this investigation,” Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall said in a statement. “This important update helps narrow a significant gap in the timeline of when she was last known to be seen and because of that, we’re closer to understanding what happened to Melodee.”

    Anyone with information about Melodee is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (805) 681-4150. Tips can also be left anonymously at (805) 681-4171 or at SBSheriff.org.

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    Clara Harter

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  • Former California Senate leader Toni Atkins drops out of 2026 governor’s race

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    Toni Atkins, a former California Assembly speaker and former president pro tempore of the State Senate, is withdrawing her campaign to become the state’s next governor.She was among the crowded pool of Democrats hoping to take Gov. Gavin Newsom’s place once he terms out in 2026. In California, one can only hold the office of governor for two terms.In a Monday message to her supporters, she said it’s important that California Democrats be united in response to President Donald Trump’s policies.”That’s why it’s with such a heavy heart that I’m stepping aside today as a candidate for governor,” Atkins said. “Despite the strong support we’ve received and all we’ve achieved, there is simply no viable path forward to victory. Though my campaign is ending, I will keep fighting for California’s future.”Atkins is considered an LGBTQ+ trailblazer and was the lead author of a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to abortion in California. Voters approved the measure in 2022. “Toni Atkins’ run in this race is only the latest chapter in a career defined by trustworthy service and lifting up others – a legacy that will continue to shape California for generations to come,” shared the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in a statement, in part. “As the first openly LGBTQ+ individual and woman to lead both houses of our State Legislature, and as a proud member of our Caucus, Toni has shattered barriers once thought unbreakable and led with compassion, courage, and conviction. We were proud to support her campaign for governor because it was more than a candidacy – it was a powerful testament to how far our community has come and a beacon for what is possible.”Her withdrawal makes her the second prominent Democrat to drop out of the race, with current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announcing her dropped gubernatorial campaign in August.Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spent this past summer mulling a run for governor before ultimately deciding against it.Even with Atkins out, several Democrats are still in the race. They include:Former U.S. House Rep. Katie PorterState Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony ThurmondFormer U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier BecerraFormer Los Angeles Mayor Antonio VillaraigosaCalifornia Democratic Party Vice Chair Betty YeeFormer California Assembly Majority Leader Ian CalderonU.S. Sen. Alex Padilla told KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala that he is also not ruling out a run for governor. His term ends in 2029.| RELATED | The full list of who’s running for California governorThe two prominent Republicans are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton.According to a Berkeley IGS Poll last month, Porter held a small lead as first choice, but nearly twice as many voters were undecided.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Toni Atkins, a former California Assembly speaker and former president pro tempore of the State Senate, is withdrawing her campaign to become the state’s next governor.

    She was among the crowded pool of Democrats hoping to take Gov. Gavin Newsom’s place once he terms out in 2026. In California, one can only hold the office of governor for two terms.

    In a Monday message to her supporters, she said it’s important that California Democrats be united in response to President Donald Trump’s policies.

    “That’s why it’s with such a heavy heart that I’m stepping aside today as a candidate for governor,” Atkins said. “Despite the strong support we’ve received and all we’ve achieved, there is simply no viable path forward to victory. Though my campaign is ending, I will keep fighting for California’s future.”

    Atkins is considered an LGBTQ+ trailblazer and was the lead author of a constitutional amendment enshrining the right to abortion in California. Voters approved the measure in 2022.

    “Toni Atkins’ run in this race is only the latest chapter in a career defined by trustworthy service and lifting up others – a legacy that will continue to shape California for generations to come,” shared the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in a statement, in part. “As the first openly LGBTQ+ individual and woman to lead both houses of our State Legislature, and as a proud member of our Caucus, Toni has shattered barriers once thought unbreakable and led with compassion, courage, and conviction. We were proud to support her campaign for governor because it was more than a candidacy – it was a powerful testament to how far our community has come and a beacon for what is possible.”

    Her withdrawal makes her the second prominent Democrat to drop out of the race, with current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis announcing her dropped gubernatorial campaign in August.

    Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris spent this past summer mulling a run for governor before ultimately deciding against it.

    Even with Atkins out, several Democrats are still in the race. They include:

    • Former U.S. House Rep. Katie Porter
    • State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond
    • Former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra
    • Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
    • California Democratic Party Vice Chair Betty Yee
    • Former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon

    U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla told KCRA 3’s Ashley Zavala that he is also not ruling out a run for governor. His term ends in 2029.

    | RELATED | The full list of who’s running for California governor

    The two prominent Republicans are Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton.

    According to a Berkeley IGS Poll last month, Porter held a small lead as first choice, but nearly twice as many voters were undecided.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

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  • Vegas Visitation Slump Persists Despite 3rd Consecutive Month of Gaming Revenue Growth – Casino.org

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    Posted on: September 26, 2025, 08:51h. 

    Last updated on: September 26, 2025, 08:51h.

    The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) reported on Friday that August marked the eighth straight month of year-over-year visitation declines, with a 6.7% drop compared to last year. Despite this, gaming revenue continued its upward trend for the third consecutive month.

    The continued bad news as rendered by AI. (Image: Microsoft CoPilot)

    Though August’s visitation drop was only 6.7% year over year — less than the double digits seen earlier this year – every month in 2025 has seen a year-over-year visitor decrease of at least 1%, with most ranging 5-10%. Year

    -to-date totals show a 7.8% decrease, with the number of visitors shrinking from 28 million to 25.8 million — a loss of 2.2 million.

    August’s convention attendance, the singular bright spot for the region in 2025, fell 8% to 587,000 – largely due to the World Market Center summer show, which attracts 40,000 attendees, shifting from August to July.

    Hotel metrics mirrored the downtown. August occupancy rate averaged 77.5%, down 3.7 percentage points from last year, with average daily rates dropping 7.4% to $162, resulting in revenue per available room (RevPAR) falling 11.7% to $126.

    Strip properties saw occupancy decline from 84.5% to 81%, with average daily rates decreasing from $186.06 to $172.83 and RevPAR dropping 11%.

    This news came the same day LVCVA ended the first areawide Las Vegas “sale” in the region’s history — featuring over 100 discounts of up to 50% at casinos restaurants and entertainment venues — as a desperate attempt to turn visitation around.

    Lone Bright Spot: Gaming Revenue

    The Nevada Gaming Control Board also announced its monthly numbers on Friday, and they were much better. Clark County’s (Las Vegas) gaming revenue rose 5.3% to $1.03 billion last month. And the Strip’s gaming win grew 5.5% to $679.3 million, up 5% year-to-date.

    Baccarat was the key driver, with the Strip winning $114.4 million on the table game in August, a 51% increase from last year, and up 29% over the past three months – though still down 3% over the past 12 months.

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    Corey Levitan

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  • After Philly’s hot start to the summer, it’s been one of the coolest Augusts in years

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    Summer in Philadelphia got off to a blazing start, topping 100 degrees once in June and hitting 98 twice in July, but the city is entering Labor Day weekend at the end of an unusually cool August.

    The National Weather Service in Mount Holly said Friday that the region as a whole is experiencing the coolest August it’s had in about 10 years. The final few days of the month will settle where this August lands historically, but as of Friday it’s Philly’s coolest since 2017.

    MORE: A 60-foot-tall sculpture in Northern Liberties now glows on the Delaware River waterfront

    Using readings from Philadelphia International Airport, the mean temperature in the city so far this month has been 75.4 degrees — which is 1.6 degrees below normal.

    The average daily high for August is about 84 degrees, with the maximum reached in the month typically around 95 degrees.

    This August, there have already been seven days in Philly with a high temperature under 80 degrees — the most since there were nine days under that mark in 2017.

    There have been 20 days this month with a low temperature below 70 degrees, the most since there were 23 days that fell below that temp in 2017. Normally, the lowest temperature for August is 60 degrees. Thursday’s low reached 59 degrees, and the highest temperature reached this month was 94 degrees.

    “It really just boils down to the pattern we’ve had,” NWS meteorologist Alex Staarmann said. “The first two weeks of the month were probably the most noticeably cool. We had pretty persistent high pressure over southeastern Canada and New England. Whenever we get that kind of a setup, it tends to result in a lot of onshore winds, which we had for about two weeks — constantly east winds coming right off the ocean.”

    Staarmann said the high pressure pattern and winds explain why some coastal areas, including Atlantic City, are on track for their coolest August in 30 years.

    NWS considers the climatological summer to be June through August. The mean temperature in Philly in June was 75.4 degrees, which was 1.9 degrees above normal. The mean for July was 81.9 degrees, which was 3.2 degrees above normal. Temperatures this summer often felt hotter than the readings at the airport, which don’t take into account “real feel” factors including humidity, cloud cover and wind.

    This summer’s mean temperature has been 77.6 degrees despite the recent cool down. That’s higher than the usual summer mean of 76.7 degrees.

    “June and July were so hot that it’s still not quite offsetting,” Staarmann said. “If this month had been really hot, then we could be looking at close to record territory.”

    The Labor Day weekend forecast in Philly calls for a sunny Saturday with a high near 76 and another sunny day on Sunday with a high of 78. Labor Day will be mostly sunny with a high of 79. If the forecast holds, this August would likely end up being Philly’s coolest since 2014. 

    Despite the cooler month, Staarmann said Philly shouldn’t sleep on temperatures possibly heating up in early September. In 2023, the hottest recorded temperatures of the year in the city were in early September, when it hit 96 degrees on Sept. 4 and 97 degrees on Sept. 7.

    “This August doesn’t necessarily translate to any (pattern) like it being a cool or wet fall,” Staarmann said. “We could end up having an above-normal September.”

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    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Upcoming Houston Food Events: Maximo and Belly of the Beast Team Up for a One-Night-Only Feast

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    Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings:

    In honor of National Burger Day on Thursday, August 28, buzzy burger hangout The Kid, 1815 North Durham, is serving up an $11 burger deal. Choose from the River Oaks C.C. (chopped iceberg, tomato, onions, pickles, cheddar, mayo and mustard), Bodacious (American cheese, bacon, crispy onions, grilled jalapenos, pickles, smoked jalapeno mayo, bbq sauce), or the Royale With Cheese (American cheese, chopped onions, bacon, mustard, spiked ketchup) – each served with crispy tots.

    Brennan’s, 3300 Smith, is bringing back its Three-Course, Two Dine for $99 experience all September long. Guests can start with Snapping Turtle Soup or Shrimp Rémoulade, then choose entrees like Petite Filet Oscar, Gulf Shrimp & Grits or Eggs Brennan before finishing with Mississippi Mud Pie, Bananas Foster or Creole Bread Pudding Soufflé (+$5). Select wines are specially priced at $9/glass or $30/bottle. Reserve online or call 713-522-9711 and mention “Two Dine for $99.”

    Hugo’s, 1600 Westheimer, is celebrating walnut and pomegranate season with its annual Chiles en Nogada, served throughout September only. Representing the colors of the Mexican flag, the festive Puebla-born dish features poblano peppers stuffed with pork, apples, pears, peaches, plantains, almonds and raisins, topped with creamy walnut sauce and garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley. The special includes two peppers with rice for $29.

    On Tuesday, September 2, Galveston’s Fish Company Taco, 1914 23rd, is celebrating one year under its new ownership with a Taco Tuesday bash. Guests can enjoy all-day happy hour pricing, retail swag, gift card raffles, a festive photo wall and social media-driven giveaways.

    On Monday, September 8 and Tuesday, September 9, Brennan’s invites locals to learn from celebrated New Orleans chef Eric Cook, a combat veteran and acclaimed cookbook author, during two high-energy cooking classes from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Each session features a live demo and a three-course dinner highlighting dishes from Cook’s Modern Creole cookbook, known for its bold, unapologetic take on classic Creole flavors. The class and dinner are $95, with optional add-ons including a wine pairing for $45 or a signed cookbook for $35.

    On Tuesday, September 16, chefs Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast and Adrian Torres of Maximo are teaming up to celebrate Mexican Independence Day at Maximo, 6119 Edloe. The night kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a seven-course dinner highlighting flavors from seven Mexican regions, complete with Mexican wine and agave cocktail pairings. Tickets are $200 and include food, drinks, tax, and gratuity, with a portion of proceeds going to FIEL Houston. Folks can also stick around for a Mexicanos Unidos Patio Party starting at 8 p.m and featuring a meet-and-greet with the chefs, complimentary paletas, snacks, beverage samples, and a cash bar; admission is $15, with all ticket sales supporting FIEL Houston. 

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    Brooke Viggiano

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  • Taylor Swift announces engagement to Travis Kelce

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    Taylor Swift has announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs football star Travis Kelce.Swift announced her engagement with a slideshow of photos featuring her and Kelce on Tuesday.“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the caption said.The news comes after Swift joined Kelce and his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast in August, where she announced her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”The two have been dating for around two years since Kelce went to Swift’s Eras Tour and afterwards announced on New Heights that he wanted to meet the superstar.

    Taylor Swift has announced her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs football star Travis Kelce.

    Swift announced her engagement with a slideshow of photos featuring her and Kelce on Tuesday.

    “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” the caption said.

    The news comes after Swift joined Kelce and his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast in August, where she announced her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

    The two have been dating for around two years since Kelce went to Swift’s Eras Tour and afterwards announced on New Heights that he wanted to meet the superstar.

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  • Upcoming Houston Food Events: A Bayside Summer Send-Off and Two-Mile Run for Brunch

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    Mark your calendars, because you don’t want to miss these deliciously fun culinary happenings:

    There’s still time to snag early bird ticket pricing (available through Friday, August 22) for Houston’s can’t-miss Chefs For Farmers festival. Held next month, the experience kicks off Thursday, September 25, with the CFF x BMW Surf & Turf Supper at Navy Blue, where Chef Aaron Bludorn joins visiting stars Alberto Marcolongo (Benoit NYC, Alain Ducasse) and Lamar Moore (ETC, Chicago) for a multi-course, locally sourced feast with expert drink pairings. The weekend continues with the big event on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 at Autry Park, featuring unlimited tastings, live entertainment and new activations like The Rosé Ranch, Tailgate Experience and Texas Love BBQ Zone. Proceeds benefit the Houston Food Bank and Urban Harvest.

    On Friday, August 29 at 6:30 p.m., Lyric Market, 411 Smith, and CocuSocial are hosting a hands-on Pasta-Making Class. You’ll learn to roll, cut, and shape fresh pappardelle and linguini. Tickets are $59.

    Karbach Brewing Co., 2032 Karbach, is hosting its annual Biergarten Bash on Sunday, August 31, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free, family-friendly event features a variety of activities including yard games, a hot dog eating contest, live mural painting, a petting zoo and local vendors – plus tasty Karbach suds and bites available for purchase. 

    Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 6th, is sending off summer in style with a White Linen Party on Sunday, August 31 starting at 5 p.m. Guests 21+ can sip a complimentary glass of Telmont Champagne and enjoy oysters and hors d’oeuvres, with a full cash bar available. Reserve your spot, dress in crisp whites and take in live entertainment, a DJ and beautiful marina views. Dinner inside requires a separate reservation.

    On Monday, September 1, folks can join chef Aaron Bludorn and Loose Lace Run Club for a two-mile, all-levels neighborhood run at 9 a.m. After the run,  head back to the Hotel Saint Augustine for a parking lot social with coffee, Perseid bites, DJ tunes, HOKA demos, cold plunges, mini massages, barber cuts and a Pilates stretch (BYO mat). A special Monday brunch at Perseid follows, with reservations recommended. 

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    Brooke Viggiano

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  • L.A. home where Matthew Perry died sells for $8.55 million

    L.A. home where Matthew Perry died sells for $8.55 million

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    Matthew Perry’s former Pacific Palisades home has been sold in an $8.55-million, off-market deal — almost a year to the day since the actor was found dead on the property.

    The four-bedroom, 3,500-square-foot, mid-century modern home was sold to Anita Verma-Lallian, a movie producer and real estate developer based in Scottsdale, Ariz., a representative told The Times. She intends to use the property as a vacation home, her representative said.

    Perry purchased the property in 2020 for $6 million, records show.

    Verma-Lallian bought the home through a trust and was represented by Brooke Elliott Laurinkus of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, her representative said. The listing was held by Greg Holcomb of Carolwood Estates, he added.

    Perry was found unresponsive in his backyard hot tub in October 2023. While his death at 54 was initially classified as a drowning, an autopsy revealed that the level of ketamine in his blood was about the same as would be used during general anesthesia.

    In August, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, two doctors and two alleged drug dealers — one known as the “Ketamine Queen” — were charged with providing ketamine that led to Perry’s death.

    Ketamine is a legal medication commonly used as an anesthetic, but is also abused recreationally for its calming and dissociative effects. Federal prosecutors allege that the defendants took advantage of Perry’s addiction to enrich themselves.

    News of Perry’s death was met with an outpouring of grief. The beloved comedic actor starred as Chandler Bing in all 10 seasons of the hit sitcom “Friends.”

    Verma-Lallian received her MBA from USC and is the founder and chief executive of a commercial real-estate consulting firm called Arizona Land Consulting, which specializes in securing and developing land in the Greater Phoenix area.

    In August, she facilitated a $136-million purchase of a 2,100-acre site to house data centers for the AI-powered platform Tract. That same month, she closed two real-estate deals in Buckeye, Ariz., totaling almost $20 million.

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    Clara Harter

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  • White House in August asked Congress to enhance Secret Service funding through election

    White House in August asked Congress to enhance Secret Service funding through election

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    The Biden administration submitted a special request to congressional committees in August asking for a boost to funding for the U.S. Secret Service in the weeks leading up to and after the 2024 election, according to sources familiar with the matter, warning of “insufficient resources” for the agency if the request isn’t granted.The Office of Management and Budget submitted the so-called anomaly request, which includes the White House’s proposed additions to the standard contents of a short-term funding bill, after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the sources told CNN.Congress and the White House are largely expected to negotiate a deal in the coming weeks to fund the government for a period of several months, lasting at least through the election, through a package known as a continuing resolution, or “CR.”The White House’s funding request, sources said, notes that if the change is not granted, the Secret Service would have “insufficient resources to sustain and enhance protective operations” during that period of time.A detailed amount of ramped-up spending was not specified in the request, which called instead for more flexible language that allows the Department of Homeland Security to provide funding “at a rate of operations necessary to continue protective and presidential campaign operations during the CR period.”Federal agencies customarily submit such requests to the Office of Management and Budget ahead of negotiations over short-term government funding. They detail an administration’s desired sidebars to the standard language of a continuing resolution, often serving as a warning that certain programs could be under-resourced if funding stayed at the prior year’s levels, even for a short period of time.In prior years, the administration has bundled these requests with supplemental funding for disaster relief, COVID-19 and military aid for Ukraine, which made them more politically unpalatable on Capitol Hill.The language proposed by the Biden administration for enhanced Secret Service funding through the 2024 election has appeared in at least one Republican-sponsored funding bill, lending credence to the belief that such an effort would see bipartisan support on the Hill.In a radio interview that aired Tuesday, President Joe Biden reiterated his belief that the Secret Service needs more personnel to handle an elevated threat environment for political candidates.”One of the things is we need more resources,” Biden said. “We need more agents, we need more protection, we need to expand the availability of help.”Biden described the climate as “up across the board,” describing how increased security had changed his style of campaigning.”Everything’s frightening,” he said.

    The Biden administration submitted a special request to congressional committees in August asking for a boost to funding for the U.S. Secret Service in the weeks leading up to and after the 2024 election, according to sources familiar with the matter, warning of “insufficient resources” for the agency if the request isn’t granted.

    The Office of Management and Budget submitted the so-called anomaly request, which includes the White House’s proposed additions to the standard contents of a short-term funding bill, after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania, the sources told CNN.

    Congress and the White House are largely expected to negotiate a deal in the coming weeks to fund the government for a period of several months, lasting at least through the election, through a package known as a continuing resolution, or “CR.”

    The White House’s funding request, sources said, notes that if the change is not granted, the Secret Service would have “insufficient resources to sustain and enhance protective operations” during that period of time.

    A detailed amount of ramped-up spending was not specified in the request, which called instead for more flexible language that allows the Department of Homeland Security to provide funding “at a rate of operations necessary to continue protective and presidential campaign operations during the CR period.”

    Federal agencies customarily submit such requests to the Office of Management and Budget ahead of negotiations over short-term government funding. They detail an administration’s desired sidebars to the standard language of a continuing resolution, often serving as a warning that certain programs could be under-resourced if funding stayed at the prior year’s levels, even for a short period of time.

    In prior years, the administration has bundled these requests with supplemental funding for disaster relief, COVID-19 and military aid for Ukraine, which made them more politically unpalatable on Capitol Hill.

    The language proposed by the Biden administration for enhanced Secret Service funding through the 2024 election has appeared in at least one Republican-sponsored funding bill, lending credence to the belief that such an effort would see bipartisan support on the Hill.

    In a radio interview that aired Tuesday, President Joe Biden reiterated his belief that the Secret Service needs more personnel to handle an elevated threat environment for political candidates.

    “One of the things is we need more resources,” Biden said. “We need more agents, we need more protection, we need to expand the availability of help.”

    Biden described the climate as “up across the board,” describing how increased security had changed his style of campaigning.

    “Everything’s frightening,” he said.

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  • Don’t tell these scare-seekers it’s only August (25 Photos)

    Don’t tell these scare-seekers it’s only August (25 Photos)

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    Welp. It’s that time of year again. The first week of August where everyone starts obsessing over all things Fall, Halloween, and pumpkin spice for absolutely no reason.

    Pumpkin beer will start hitting the shelves even though it’s 90 degrees outside. Spirit Halloween stores are already open because I definitely need to buy a costume that won’t fit me by the end of October.

    So we thought it was necessary to collect some of the best premature Autumn memes the internet has to offer.

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    Zach

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  • Theatre district staple closing its doors for good in August

    Theatre district staple closing its doors for good in August

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    HELL’S KITCHEN, Manhattan (WABC) — The West Bank Cafe & The Laurie Beechman Theatre is closing its doors for good in August.

    The iconic establishment that has been open for nearly 50 years is a sacred space for experimental New York theater and comedy.

    Even though employees say they don’t make much money, they say that’s beside the point.

    “I wouldn’t change it for the world, I love what I do,” owner Steve Olsen said.

    The Beechman Theatre is in the basement of the West Bank Cafe, which opened in 1978.

    But the tiny 90-seat theater built an audience in the grime that surrounded it back then, and became a staple in the theater world and beyond.

    Bruce Willis was a bartender at the West Bank Café in it’s early years, Sean Penn was a regular customer and Lewis Black, a famous comedian, wrote plays downstairs for 10 years.

    “A couple of months ago it was 8:30 at night and I was looking around the dining room there were seven Tony Award winners and four Pulitzer Prize winners scattered around the dining room. And it struck me that we have all known each other since we were in our 20s and 30s. And a lot of these people did plays downstairs,” Olsen said.

    The legendary New York night spot never recovered after COVID shut it down during the pandemic.

    Olden and his staff are counting on a late summer surge in business and the city has offered to see if there is anything that can be done to help preserve the space.

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    Jim Dolan

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  • Brothers, 9 and 12, missing from South Side considered high risk: CPD

    Brothers, 9 and 12, missing from South Side considered high risk: CPD

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    CHICAGO — Two brothers were reported missing from Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood on Monday evening and are considered high risk due to their medical needs, police said.

    According to police, 12-year-old Rickey Burrage and his nine-year-old brother named Rashed Burrage are in need of medical attention.

    The two were last seen Monday around 5:00 p.m. bear the corner of 62nd and South Emerald Drive in Englewood, and they are considered high risk due to the medical attention they need, police said.

    Ricky is 5 foot three inches and weighs 80 pounds while his younger brother Rashed is 5 foot two inches and weighs 75 pounds. They were both seen wearing t-shirts and backpacks.

    The brothers went missing back in August of 2023.

    If any information is recovered on the brothers, contact police immediately. WGN is actively following the incident and will update as more information is recovered.

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    Neshmia Malik

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  • August used to be the best month for the stock market. Then it became the worst.

    August used to be the best month for the stock market. Then it became the worst.

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    August the best month for average stock market performance? Or is it the worst?

    The answer depends on the period of stock-market history you examine. Over the 90 years from the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s
    DJIA,
    +0.50%
    inception in 1896 until 1986, August on average was far ahead of the other months — more than four times larger, as you can see from the table below. August outperformed the other months’ average by 1.4 percentage points. This difference is significant at the 95% confidence level that statisticians often use when determining if a pattern is genuine.

    In the years since then, in contrast, August has been the worst month for the stock market, on average, lagging the other months’ average by 1.7 percentage points. Since 1986, in fact, August has been a worse month for the stock market than even September, whose reputation for stock market losses is widely known.

    August’s average DJIA return

    		 Average return of all other months

    		 August’s rank among all 12 months
    1896 to 1986

    		 +1.8%

    		 +0.4%

    		 1st
    After 1986

    		 -0.8%

    		 +0.9%

    		 12th

    If the 36 years since 1986 were all that statisticians had to go on, they would conclude that August’s underperformance was significant at the 95% confidence level — just the opposite of the conclusion that emerges from the 90 years prior. But when analyzing the Dow’s entire history since 1896, August’s performance is no better or worse than average.

    This August, in order to use history as a basis for investing, you’d first need to come up with a plausible explanation of what changed in the 1980s that caused August to swing from best to worst.

    Though I’m not aware of any such explanation, it’s always possible that one exists. To search for it, I analyzed monthly values back to 1900 for the Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) index that was created by Scott Baker of Northwestern University, Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, and Steven Davis of the University of Chicago. We know from Finance 101 that the stock market responds to changes in economic uncertainty, so we’d be onto a possible explanation of August’s seasonal tendencies if the EPU underwent some fundamental change in 1986.

    But no such change shows up in the data. August’s average EPU level is no different than for any of the other months of the calendar, either before or after 1986.

    Another possible explanation might trace to investor sentiment. To investigate that possibility, I analyzed stock market timers’ average recommended equity exposure levels, as measured by the Hulbert Stock Newsletter Sentiment Index (HSNSI). I was looking to see if, after 1986, the HSNSI was significantly different at the beginning of August than in other months, on average. The answer is “no.”

    A plausible explanation might still exist for August’s change of fortune beginning in the mid-1980s, notwithstanding my inability to find one. But absent such an explanation, the most likely explanation is that it’s a random fluke.

    It would hardly be a surprise if randomness is the culprit. Most of the patterns that capture Wall Street’s attention are in fact nothing more than statistical noise. The reason we nevertheless insist that significant patterns exist is because — as numerous psychological studies have shown — we’re hardwired to find patterns even in randomness.

    That’s why your default reaction to all alleged patterns, not just those involving August, should be skepticism. The odds are overwhelming that they aren’t genuine. Only if those patterns can survive the scrutiny of a skeptical statistician should you even begin to be interested.

    Mark Hulbert is a regular contributor to MarketWatch. His Hulbert Ratings tracks investment newsletters that pay a flat fee to be audited. He can be reached at mark@hulbertratings.com

    More: Puzzled by the stock-market surge? Overshoots are the new normal, Bank of America strategist says

    Plus: Here’s how long the stock market rally may last

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  • Helping Families Ease Back Into Dinnertime as the School Sports Season Starts

    Helping Families Ease Back Into Dinnertime as the School Sports Season Starts

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    Press Release
    –

    Aug 8, 2022


    SAN ANTONIO, August 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    It is that time again. Schools are ramping up and school sports are in high gear in August. The stats are high – 21.5 million kids between ages 6 and 17 play competitive sports. Le Sauce knows that dinnertime changes in the Fall and schedules don’t leave much time to prepare and eat delicious dinners. Enter Le Sauce & Co’s heat and pour finishing sauces. 

    Le Sauce & Co, a locally owned and distributed company, is a brand of gourmet finishing sauces created to take meals from ordinary to extraordinary experiences in 60 seconds. Getting back into the routine of school can be tough and challenging as routines are shifted and many homes are eating at different times.

    Le Sauce can’t get everyone to the table, but when they are there, they will have a great meal. Jodi Pass, a Le Sauce customer said, “We have two teens who do not always try new things. Our daughter loved the sauce and wanted more of everything. Our son never puts any gravy or sauce on his food and he is now a believer.” 

    Le Sauce & Co. wants to honor teachers this month. Le Sauce is offering the first 50 teachers who post on Instagram or Facebook, tag @lesaucecompany, a free sample pack of their gourmet finishing sauces.  

    Le Sauce & Co is a women-owned business started in Boerne, Texas. The Kirl Family is filled with foodies and their dream of having their own business in food came true three years ago. After winning a finalist spot in the HEB 2019 Quest for Texas Best, Le Sauce & Co was launched and is currently in HEB stores throughout the state of Texas as well as available nationally on Amazon.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION:

    Maya Kirl

    (630)360-6548

    Maya@lesaucecompany.com

    Source: Le Sauce & Co.

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  • What Does the Future Hold for Testing and Credentialing?

    What Does the Future Hold for Testing and Credentialing?

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    August 8: Global Futurist Jack Uldrich to present his research on the future of testing and credentialing

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Aug 8, 2017


    Washington, DC, August 8, 2017 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​Today, Global Futurist Jack Uldrich will be in Washington, DC addressing leaders in the testing and credentialing industry. Uldrich was invited to give the keynote at Alpine Testing Solutions’ Thought Leaders Exchange 2017 meeting. 

    His keynote, The Big AHA, will cover “Awareness of the top ten accelerating technological trends, how Humility is necessary when considering the possibilities of the future, and how to cultivate and deploy ‘strategic experimentation’ as a fundamental component of any Action plan.”

    “The work I do is all about helping organizations prepare for the coming technological changes so that they can effectively navigate and determine the course of their future.”

    Jack Uldrich, Futurist Speaker

    In his fascinating, informative, and interactive presentation, Uldrich — hailed by BusinessWeek as “America’s Chief Unlearning Officer” — will also explain what technologies will impact their future.

    He will delve into how the technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, changing demographics, Big Data and Analytics, the Internet of Things, and new Online Learning platforms could affect test development and credential management technology in the coming decade.  

    Jack is an ongoing contributor on emerging technologies and future trends for publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Wired Magazine and BusinessWeek.

    Parties interested in learning more about Jack Uldrich, his books, his daily blog, or his speaking availability are encouraged to contact him via his website.

    Source: Jack Uldrich & The School of Unlearning

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