[{"slug":"/story/2024/11/the-best-us-cities-for-retirees-all-seem-to-share-a-similar-characteristic","body":[{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/no-1-thing-best-places-124300062.html","_key":"fdb2c696192b","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You’ve probably seen listings in the past of the top-ranked places to retire, but you might not have given much thought to what all of these destinations seem to have in common. The hierarchy ","_key":"3d8c465ea1060"},{"_key":"ca6ef127ee9f","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"crosses geographic, political, and socioeconomic lines"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — but there’s one ","_key":"8eb33cf1c17c"},{"_type":"span","marks":["fdb2c696192b"],"text":"attribute","_key":"3d8c465ea1061"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that remains constant across all the top contenders.","_key":"3d8c465ea1062"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a586f3f8ff07"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Don’t worry, be happy","_key":"9f893564821a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"556dd1845b43"},{"children":[{"text":"It might stand to reason that retirees, who are","_key":"8643640dd7ee0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" often living on fixed incomes","_key":"ee9d58ebf39d"},{"_key":"bae6e18e5822","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", might gravitate toward some of the least expensive regions of the country. But the cost of living seems to take a backseat to quality of life, as the new U.S. News & World Report survey."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4e43a2ac9faa","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Happiness came out ahead in the list of most important factors for adults over the age of 45 considering where they’d like to spend their golden years. Affordability came in second place.","_key":"f00d43b44e770","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b9f5c0b3d522"},{"_key":"77d4566982da","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“What we found this year is retirees seek a destination that will not only stretch their dollar, but","_key":"b16098cd0bba0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" is also a place for enjoyment","_key":"037696bb26db"},{"_key":"a59a155b7c78","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” explained Dawn Bradbury, the magazine’s assistant managing editor. “This is why the Midwest and South dominate the top 25.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d8e4701f3efd0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In case you were wondering, here’s how "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the three best cities","_key":"c03c7709b014"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for retirees stacked up in this year’s list, starting at the top:","_key":"a0cb62ca8f51"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d09e01bb9de7"},{"style":"normal","_key":"83a5651936eb","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a059723a4ce80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Naples, Florida"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Virginia Beach, Virginia","_key":"a4e758d2d96e0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"139d4083f8fb","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"New York City, New York","_key":"8d0d0ed8106e0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eca1cb1d7930"},{"style":"normal","_key":"aeab43fb7ad2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Florida factor","_key":"9a93180b1b140"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not only did a Sunshine State city make its mark at the top of the list, but a whopping eight of the top 25 are in Florida — including three of the top 10.","_key":"10c90a2f35410"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"808554e2a016","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"ac6b3da8247f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“People love Florida,","_key":"1e7dd43f7c600"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" there’s no getting around that,","_key":"e17774c0f0ef"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” Bradbury asserted.","_key":"1247dfa5d592"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And even though the latest survey was conducted prior to a rough hurricane season for the state, it’s clear that Florida remains one of the most popular destinations for older Americans.","_key":"1b0bf3a8bef10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9742c6c7f358"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Warm weather, beaches, and entertainment","_key":"4d083251c5f90"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" all boost its happiness score.","_key":"42331199149f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f079add5cc2b"}],"publishDate":"2024-11-20","_updatedAt":"2024-11-19T19:23:42Z","_rev":"cp3ai2cAj30CEVtKQoq3FR","visibility":"true","_createdAt":"2024-11-19T19:23:42Z","summary":"Unlike in the past, affordability isn't the top concern. ","title":"The Best US Cities For Retirees All Seem To Share A Similar Characteristic","_id":"e44567db-c760-4222-87ce-37eabc5040a2","category":"us-news","image":{"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9486301369863012,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.954337899543379},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"height":270,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":400,"aspectRatio":1.4814814814814814},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VKBFbDW3OhtSs[xSaQXMWFVfahocR%jKs;ksk5aRRWtP","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.7,"background":"#2c6630","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#2c6630","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.7},"muted":{"population":5,"background":"#5796b7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.75,"background":"#95d2e9"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#643908","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.09},"lightMuted":{"background":"#b1a8c3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.06},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":4.71,"background":"#144cc8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_rev":"leihFSrilyBYiRm43bMHAn","sha1hash":"e9ddd6de13435e687558f0c5c4a67e2109c09deb","size":1332957,"_id":"image-e9ddd6de13435e687558f0c5c4a67e2109c09deb-400x270-gif","uploadId":"QRropi9JjhjTMdIB2ABvnjkrBRvpcwZ3","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"Buenos Aires Party GIF by /////MONOARTCHIVES//////","id":"26AHzeyITON4vzMM8","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/party-epic-fest-26AHzeyITON4vzMM8"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/e9ddd6de13435e687558f0c5c4a67e2109c09deb-400x270.gif","assetId":"e9ddd6de13435e687558f0c5c4a67e2109c09deb","_updatedAt":"2024-11-19T19:22:01Z","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/e9ddd6de13435e687558f0c5c4a67e2109c09deb-400x270.gif","_createdAt":"2024-11-19T19:22:01Z","originalFilename":"9448b25b-8d22-45fd-b517-104d3a886d20.gif"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0}},"_type":"story","id":"69G9nxcm","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"image":{"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8933823529411768,"x":0.5533088235294116,"y":0.4950980392156863,"height":0.931372549019608},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z","extension":"gif","_rev":"1ClLZjTXhZNCk6cpMecSl3","mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif","uploadId":"LSuMRHsicSSp5sluSTvdm9UrZHYnZofy","source":{"url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/lights-store-liquor-3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6","name":"lights store GIF by Royal Smith","id":"3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif","size":742380,"metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":360},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VBBy+_00~8%M02IVs+kW%1IV0N~T9bRP?GRit7jYRkxt","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.98,"background":"#a39056","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#f5e459","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.69},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.92,"background":"#5f420c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#cdc8bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.16},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.07,"background":"#ef790b"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":3.84,"background":"#6a5438","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.84,"background":"#6a5438"}},"hasAlpha":true},"sha1hash":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","_id":"image-aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360-gif","originalFilename":"6bd7c68d-0c9b-4ef0-912d-081bfbc32707.gif"}},"title":"New Jersey Still Has A Bunch Of ‘Dry Towns’ — But One Is Dropping Off The List","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2024-11-07T20:50:18Z","summary":"Voters made their opinions known on Election Day. ","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"During various periods in American history, most notably Prohibition, the sale and/or consumption of alcohol has been banned. While you probably already knew that, you might not realize that several towns in modern-day America (particularly in New Jersey for some reason) still ","_key":"cb542642c0970"},{"marks":["c18118ff43fb"],"text":"prohibit","_key":"cb542642c0971","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" its sale.","_key":"cb542642c0972"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a7c6887431c9","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/new-jersey-dry-town-haddon-heights/","_key":"c18118ff43fb","_type":"link"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"55576d372da3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Bottoms up, Haddon Heights","_key":"c48158b80e880","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"More than two dozen towns across The Garden State are still classified as “dry towns,” but the residents of one ","_key":"6c912ef6e7af0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"decided to do something about its status","_key":"c75807fd59f4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on Election Day.","_key":"2f76ae2f7d2e"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4251e72ba43f"},{"_key":"71fbc27025bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Haddon Heights added a question to the ballot to determine whether it should join the overwhelming majority of American communities that allow licensed retailers “to sell alcoholic beverages for on and off-premises consumption.”","_key":"876ce27962c70","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"0f14134acfa4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And the response was overwhelming. When the votes were tallied there were about","_key":"1bc23d1b0ca90"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" two “yes” ballots for every “no.”","_key":"2799c33efa29","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"062db04b710f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While that voter mandate paves the way for Haddon Heights to permit alcohol sales for the first time in more than a century, the job isn’t done just yet."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"51f3650c16b6"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The mayor’s on board","_key":"a52e04788fc40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8b9b8209e5b5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though it seems clear what the majority of Haddon Heights residents want for their hometown, voting yes on a ballot question doesn’t mean they’ll get their wish anytime soon. Plenty of planning and ","_key":"2f52af5402aa0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"at least a little bureaucratic red tape","_key":"5acdc9ccfeee"},{"_key":"805ad0f15a5c","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are sure to gum up the works … but Mayor Zachary Houck made it clear before the vote that the will of the people would prevail."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9f955ff0a96c"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to Houck’s statement, the city will “respect the wishes","_key":"ba1dbb8b41310"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" if it was overwhelmingly favorable","_key":"8be212f54c37"},{"marks":[],"text":" in one way or the other, yes or no.”","_key":"f77a8892cf6d","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5a080bbbf156"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6a18e95deadb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s notable given the context of this story that even though Haddon Heights prohibits the sale of alcohol, a loophole in the ordinance has allowed a brewery to operate within the town’s limits for several years.","_key":"b024fcd5b90f0"}]}],"_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-11-07T20:50:18Z","id":"3ih3USnZ","category":"us-news","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-11-08","_rev":"Be2YZMUOWSXuqUUSWYXy7r","_id":"b65f5c21-fd13-40c7-80f6-efb309429081","slug":"/story/2024/11/new-jersey-still-has-a-bunch-of-dry-towns-but-one-is-dropping-off-the-list"},{"publishDate":"2024-10-24","id":"sA8ZC4ez","_type":"story","slug":"/story/2024/10/before-you-write-a-fake-review-you-should-know-the-potential-consequences","_createdAt":"2024-10-23T20:24:26Z","_rev":"aecRS4SWJn67VkLCpVP2tm","category":"us-news","summary":"A new federal rule should make reviews more reliable.","title":"Before You Write A Fake Review, You Should Know The Potential Consequences","_id":"2fbb1e08-012a-41cd-89e1-e17ecaa082a0","_updatedAt":"2024-10-23T20:24:26Z","image":{"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9075342465753424,"x":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"QrvNbIRjD4QZydq93p69sJbWAuYv5mIg","_createdAt":"2024-10-23T20:23:36Z","_updatedAt":"2024-10-23T20:23:36Z","extension":"gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MNQ@?U5H$_~0-g?9xpWERlni-OxVR-NekB","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":66.45,"background":"#fcc424","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#53432e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.45},"muted":{"population":4.78,"background":"#a07d67","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"population":0.05,"background":"#f9d576","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.38,"background":"#463516"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#000","population":0.07,"background":"#e5d9d7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#fcc424","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":66.45}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwABAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYEBf/EACEQAAIBBAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAECBAADETEFEgYTFCGR/8QAFwEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAUGB//EABsRAAIDAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMRBIHh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwC35blbtq63x7Lv6Ww4H12G668CSJcO1fCMncZ6tsVA+bz5MTmrqR7zInqVsADed1ecacwI5OygJ/KzPuqReSpguH5p32U1Z1yNmmlKUlhE/9k="},"assetId":"3bf767cdbaf704b8515bac118e23728e73c803cb","sha1hash":"3bf767cdbaf704b8515bac118e23728e73c803cb","source":{"name":"I Like It Thank You GIF by StickerGiant","id":"B4Nz3zuuLdWcBMkc1h","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/stickergiant-thank-you-sticker-giant-thanks-for-your-review-B4Nz3zuuLdWcBMkc1h"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/3bf767cdbaf704b8515bac118e23728e73c803cb-480x270.gif","originalFilename":"a0b23d67-a596-4aee-81f8-177c70d4274d.gif","_rev":"5ip7S1egSoQUEZDaHUlLiq","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/3bf767cdbaf704b8515bac118e23728e73c803cb-480x270.gif","size":1481333,"_id":"image-3bf767cdbaf704b8515bac118e23728e73c803cb-480x270-gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"body":[{"_key":"e09072bdac87","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-get-fined-51744-for-writing-a-fake-review-online-2000515494","_key":"8965f8dc9de8"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In our culture of online shopping, reviews have become a pivotal reference point for products we can’t try on, test out, or touch before buying. But like many other internet-related topics, online retailers have become inundated by spam, AI, and various forms of ","_key":"3e99b2d6f75a0"},{"_key":"3e99b2d6f75a1","_type":"span","marks":["8965f8dc9de8"],"text":"fake"},{"_key":"3e99b2d6f75a2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" reviews."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The FTC steps in","_key":"ac97ff341d320"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bf7c9320747e","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A new rule was announced earlier this year by the Federal Trade Commission that called for a fine of","_key":"11765c9348500"},{"text":" up to $51,744 ","_key":"1b16c1eeb061","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"for buying, selling, or writing fake online reviews. That rule is now being implemented, so consider this fair warning if you had any plans to engage in such shady business.","_key":"3124baa02502"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9519ef4590a9"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Here are","_key":"1ea6b414d04a0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a few types of fake reviews","_key":"901145cbc85f"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" specifically prohibited by the federal agency:","_key":"aa1509bad7e2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7005d42f934c"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5ecb0e36deb1","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Ai-generated content","_key":"2179d746e65a0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"70d3903c3c3b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Testimonials from employees, relatives, or friends without a disclaimer","_key":"d179b0a4e5fc0"}],"level":1},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3f03fa0c9cc6","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Misleading celebrity endorsements","_key":"981f38e5896c0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s also now off limits for a business to suppress negative reviews or promote positive reviews it should have known was fake.","_key":"0698382622b20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"237aa1c0ba9c"},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Big Tech gets involved","_key":"d3c964a447720","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e19a110fcf87","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"3e5128bfa34b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The issue has also fueled some action from within the private sector. Google recently rolled out a new policy that temporarily precludes businesses from receiving new reviews after a fake review is identified on a Google Maps profile.","_key":"6f0357455ffa0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"45c96534a4b50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Firefox offers a feature on its web browser that is designed to"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" identify dishonest or fake reviews","_key":"9d543070dceb"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"6c87004960e5"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"17e38eb60382"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But the FTC clearly believes its regulatory might is needed to make a more significant impact on the problem.","_key":"35a3d43c43870"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5c5e7ee85d02"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c0e09ea5fc61","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“By strengthening the FTC’s toolkit to fight deceptive advertising, the final rule will","_key":"5844b83958860"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" protect Americans from getting cheated","_key":"a3f07da66f98"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", put businesses that unlawfully game the system on notice, and promote markets that are fair, honest, and competitive,” explained FTC Chair Lina M. Khan in a statement announcing the change.","_key":"22b0f48b84d2"}]}],"visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"image":{"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9178082191780819},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_rev":"PHPvKoHrXZ146bXXKdQqVe","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"27207fd39f2fd9e187b667675c5cfc0fdba50b2e","size":1988530,"originalFilename":"0640ea10-ce07-4e60-86df-733d2332c92b.gif","extension":"gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/27207fd39f2fd9e187b667675c5cfc0fdba50b2e-480x270.gif","metadata":{"palette":{"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#ac3858","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#5d4931","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":13.3},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":13.3,"background":"#5d4931"},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":5.75,"background":"#9d7d54","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.07,"background":"#cdb17a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#64102e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.13},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.13,"background":"#cea2a9"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYHBQj/xAAiEAACAgIBAwUAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEABEFBhIxByJBYYH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBf/EABkRAQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMREv/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8ATemKpfjXln7ksLoEkedYoeoNCW7NG0T95QEkAfOV2Y6LaCjfnQGYV6nXce6JT+ZKx25b1H75rUJz1LG0blXBBGGUjmuLpNfcmum9feGUzcTvIBqk/9k=","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MKByTy}?M|ENNdIWR+WDRkoexZoLs.xZs:","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"source":{"name":"season 2 clique GIF by BBC","id":"47zXJaOeQnehFuBI4G","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/bbc-season-2-series-clique-47zXJaOeQnehFuBI4G"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/27207fd39f2fd9e187b667675c5cfc0fdba50b2e-480x270.gif","_createdAt":"2024-10-13T19:02:38Z","uploadId":"L8AcKNZLEzeLOWXY5QX7TyX4f4XUrh6R","mimeType":"image/gif","assetId":"27207fd39f2fd9e187b667675c5cfc0fdba50b2e","_id":"image-27207fd39f2fd9e187b667675c5cfc0fdba50b2e-480x270-gif","_updatedAt":"2024-10-13T19:02:38Z"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"AI Is At The Center Of Google’s Latest Defense Against Monopoly Claims","_createdAt":"2024-10-13T18:59:38Z","slug":"/story/2024/10/ai-is-at-the-center-of-googles-latest-defense-against-monopoly-claims","_updatedAt":"2024-10-13T19:03:53Z","publishDate":"2024-10-14","visibility":"true","id":"OkceIjJI","_rev":"nhl2tAM31NFsXuZk9au3O6","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"09e85d766956","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/googles-new-antitrust-defense-is-ai-140341996.html","_key":"25f6df7472da"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s no denying the fact that Google has come to dominate many facets of our online world, but it all started with a revolutionary new internet search tool. As Google search continued to grow, crowding out new and old rivals alike, the company began receiving ","_key":"6ba8ed4206750"},{"_type":"span","marks":["25f6df7472da"],"text":"antitrust","_key":"6ba8ed4206751"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" complaints.","_key":"6ba8ed4206752"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"047d9c8a6114","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e71eb64e3e970","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Times are changing"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As things stand, the Department of Justice has indicated that Google could be forced to break into smaller companies in order to no longer be classified as a monopoly. But there’s been no such ruling, so the company is still fighting back tooth and nail.","_key":"e2e83d6905160"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bf1fda470d8a"},{"_key":"d1c7834aa96a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Even before addressing the matter in court, Google published a blog post that seemed to ","_key":"116e05edef040","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"accuse the federal agency ","_key":"f41464a4effd"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of taking a shortsighted view on the matter.","_key":"c5b471d043ee"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Essentially, the company’s position is that since AI appears to be on the cusp of redefining search engines, there is no real threat of Google becoming a monopoly.","_key":"6216b30a91980"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ce39977c0acb"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The DOJ’s outline also comes at a time when competition in how people find information is blooming, with ","_key":"02a9e01af1e10"},{"_key":"6ae3e7e80fac","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"all sorts of new entrants"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" emerging and new technologies like AI transforming the industry,” argued Google VP of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Ann Mulholland.","_key":"a3dd51221052"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a21315a492ce","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"79a353e8aa710","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A novel defense"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f6a044c486d5"},{"children":[{"_key":"f6e55d7fe0ce0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Google is deeply involved in AI research, so it’s clear that the company "},{"_key":"7923bf3a2653","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"hopes to be a dominant force"},{"marks":[],"text":" in that realm too — regardless of how this current case plays out.","_key":"6a6cf44c619e","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"915e0e78b789","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Several prominent tech and legal experts have weighed in regarding how they believe a court will respond to the defense.","_key":"2e3fbb3411cc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"55a3fa56545a","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some say it could be enough to put the antitrust complaint to rest once and for all, but analyst Gil Luria argued that the DOJ’s action goes even further in an effort to “make sure that Google is not able to ","_key":"13c6abffa59f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"convert the monopoly it currently has","_key":"03ba0a18e1ce"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in Search into a monopoly in AI Enhanced Search.”","_key":"396fa0d5b86d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"83dd2939df71","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"2d80d1da-dc95-419d-83e6-1b9e5aa205c2","category":"us-news","summary":"It remains to be seen whether the strategy will work.","_type":"story"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-10-09T18:29:15Z","visibility":"true","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"c090f78208d9ce506919253539b03fb1c66b4b26","extension":"gif","_rev":"5Jbe3Wg1HN5wK6Q2sxWSuG","_createdAt":"2024-10-09T18:28:12Z","_updatedAt":"2024-10-09T18:28:12Z","metadata":{"palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#37464c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.54},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.26,"background":"#6b8b94","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#9ccbdc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#0c1c22","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.24,"background":"#abb0b2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#429bbc"},"dominant":{"population":1.54,"background":"#37464c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYBAwf/xAAjEAACAQQCAAcAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBESBTETFBUhUWFx/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABIf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8Aw63jt5LdYntlV9thIR39VakccMwHgqWU5B1zmlA8rfIQq3MgA6Geqj1fkM583Ln9pwG27tYTOxdAjH3xr1RShLyd7K20lzIzfJNFBj//2Q==","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7647058823529411,"height":272},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M068NwR1NEM{0000xo%ftSMe8wWGXA.8X7","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"uploadId":"Ylyxe3fQsIvEVjdm6mwBUo0jXv8s5hYB","assetId":"c090f78208d9ce506919253539b03fb1c66b4b26","_id":"image-c090f78208d9ce506919253539b03fb1c66b4b26-480x272-gif","originalFilename":"7950a9f4-c6fa-4384-8d6c-3887323e18ed.gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":1775318,"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/c090f78208d9ce506919253539b03fb1c66b4b26-480x272.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/c090f78208d9ce506919253539b03fb1c66b4b26-480x272.gif","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-45-ZXC7avoQNCLwFpN87k","name":"Snl Lost Bet GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"ZXC7avoQNCLwFpN87k"}},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":0.9879129734085415,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9349315068493148,"x":0.5},"_type":"image"},"title":"College Athletes Can Turn From Hero To Villain For Frustrated Gamblers","publishDate":"2024-10-10","_rev":"PHPvKoHrXZ146bXXKCsATa","_createdAt":"2024-10-09T18:29:15Z","summary":"The problem is getting worse as more states legalize sports betting.","category":"us-news","_type":"story","_id":"2e3943e9-e277-44ae-978b-b0967ab056ca","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vice.com/en/article/sports-betting-ncaa-college-athlete-abuse-study/","_key":"ec7fe4bdc20a"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"States across the country have enacted a patchwork of laws legalizing certain forms of sports betting. While gambling can lead to its own negative impacts, new research shows that college athletes are increasingly becoming indirect ","_key":"86e08cd392d20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["ec7fe4bdc20a"],"text":"victims","_key":"86e08cd392d21"},{"marks":[],"text":".","_key":"86e08cd392d22","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1854b2e86950"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Letting out their frustrations","_key":"751e04aa00130"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a91805ba5eb9","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"1a5a7ab678c4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Losing a bunch of cash on a bet is undeniably frustrating … but that’s no excuse for how some gamblers are reacting. According to the NCAA, which recently commissioned a study along with Signify Group, an alarming number of people are harassing the college athletes they blame for blowing the bet.","_key":"38436e815c290"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The thorough report includes data involving more than 3,000 athletes, 500 coaches, and hundreds of others with a significant role in college athletics. Among the study’s notable discoveries are:","_key":"b1b0f57cadd70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"00b073eca474","markDefs":[]},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6cf68ad625c1","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"747 posts directing ","_key":"b10d06b17e370"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"abuse or threats","_key":"29bdf51ac0d1"},{"_key":"2c9a31b418e6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" toward college athletes"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d7c8e01d26760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"About one-fourth of those messages"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" related to a lost bet","_key":"e269d75a8efb"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"afdb01d0a33c","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nearly three-fifths of the abuse was","_key":"79e27e98e1780"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" directed at women","_key":"5e6c271154ff"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a89e8e8692c3"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"2a849ba4d4760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The researchers described those who engage in such objectionable behavior as “angry sports bettors” or individuals who “engage in problematic and intrusive communications due to match events and results contradicting bettors’ predictions.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ac4d39d49e1f"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"625758523d89","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What lies beneath the surface?","_key":"cb219339d96e0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"99ed6953d23b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Data compiled in this report is enlightening, but it shouldn’t be considered exhaustive. That’s because researchers only had access to public comments. It’s impossible to estimate with any certainty how many angry sports bettors sent the target of their rage a direct message.","_key":"66b423a5aec10"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1fec2396e2ae","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With sports betting","_key":"79dcf32372de0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" legal in 38 states","_key":"cd5bd6e35ff8"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", it seems clear that the number of upset gamblers isn’t going to reach zero anytime soon. For that reason, in-depth research into how bettors express their anger can be an important step toward keeping players and other possible targets safe.","_key":"ab50f830dbf5"}]},{"_key":"32c7bac0396f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Additional details from this study are expected to be released over the next few days.","_key":"399ef80010430","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"id":"UrQXApUL","slug":"/story/2024/10/college-athletes-can-turn-from-hero-to-villain-for-frustrated-gamblers","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","title":"Car Thieves Don’t Seem To Be Stealing Many EVs For Some Reason","summary":"Experts say there are a few likely reasons for the trend.","publishDate":"2024-09-27","category":"us-news","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"size":635215,"_id":"image-6a3b1b447735552167efa3ffdb4c40f8b1116407-480x206-gif","mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/6a3b1b447735552167efa3ffdb4c40f8b1116407-480x206.gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"6a3b1b447735552167efa3ffdb4c40f8b1116407","source":{"name":"Fast And Furious GIF by The Fast Saga","id":"ukI45haxDpWCSjxKjc","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/thefastsaga-fast-and-furious-saga-6-ukI45haxDpWCSjxKjc"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/6a3b1b447735552167efa3ffdb4c40f8b1116407-480x206.gif","originalFilename":"a9245184-52d8-46c3-921d-c394acd5abb8.gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"MMIY2zIV.8?vV@~pjFtSt7jZoMofIUM{Rj","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#492c27","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.45},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.58,"background":"#a0776a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#c1c0b7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#47463d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":8.05,"background":"#c4c3ba","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#898775","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"dominant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":8.05,"background":"#c4c3ba","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAJABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQHBv/EACkQAAEDAgMGBwAAAAAAAAAAAAMAAQIEBQYSMQcRExYhNCIzcnOCscH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAP/EABgRAAMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABERIx/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwBnaDi0YbeSNkHOpqqgeRiD0gyfwRfZ8vUEKzfxnlknnfqywtu7EfxTcPNF63+lYXRrmSkExVaolJByOzwk8X8OqFOL13I/bb9QjIxH/9k=","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":2.3300970873786406,"height":206,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true},"assetId":"6a3b1b447735552167efa3ffdb4c40f8b1116407","_createdAt":"2024-09-26T23:07:58Z","_updatedAt":"2024-09-26T23:07:58Z","uploadId":"YJ7yGOpPwJJZnRtSteV8hltzQ6LtJ6Vk","_rev":"Z2SjSy6FVZYK5zAqP65u5N"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9383561643835614,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image"},"_id":"69ecafbb-9137-43f3-b94b-1792b741c335","_createdAt":"2024-09-26T23:03:17Z","id":"ifVzwgDO","_rev":"r1CwiDpuE3oRIpwufaEl7S","slug":"/story/2024/09/car-thieves-dont-seem-to-be-stealing-many-evs-for-some-reason","_updatedAt":"2024-09-26T23:08:27Z","_type":"story","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether because they are easier to steal or in demand on the black market, certain auto models are more likely to be targeted by car thieves. And on the other side of the list are those vehicles that are stolen the least — a ","_key":"6752e681c3e10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["67661f84a087"],"text":"group","_key":"6752e681c3e11"},{"_key":"6752e681c3e12","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that includes several top electric vehicle names."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b89be8b05f9d","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.axios.com/2024/09/26/electric-vehicles-evs-theft-gas-cars","_key":"67661f84a087"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Car theft by the numbers","_key":"f75e660416fe0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"978552f0af79"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Experts from the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Insurance Institute Highway Safety broke down the statistics from 2023 and found a pretty obvious correlation in the data:","_key":"da45676366970","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ea4fb3a2389d"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"85c0ba1eea30","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"More than ","_key":"f24c3d4ab8d30","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1 million vehicles","_key":"31ec2af83464"},{"text":" were stolen nationwide last year.","_key":"62f1459391f5","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b279025727e8","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"49 of every 100,000 insured cars, but just ","_key":"431b477253b90"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"1 in 100,000","_key":"98d687cb1521"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" Tesla 3s, are stolen annually.","_key":"a175b22b1e6b"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"38f7a27e5ea9","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Four of the six ","_key":"f663d54d7cbb0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"least-stolen vehicles","_key":"14bff55220b5"},{"_key":"1e7409202d48","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on the list are EVs."}]},{"children":[{"_key":"2d1d7da696270","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are several working theories regarding why thieves seem to prefer gas-powered vehicles, and the NICB’s Nicholas Zeitlinger broke down a few of the top contenders."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"53dc0bc87c6f","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"c1eb215a24dd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"They aren’t everywhere yet","_key":"b150ac8a64d70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d15b48ac820e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Many would-be EV thieves probably bypass such vehicles because they simply don’t know enough about the technology. This factor is likely to diminish over time as EVs become more commonplace.","_key":"8a3a763e05290"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"They have better technology","_key":"480e07c28d6b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f8d613cb3afe","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From the constant monitoring of Tesla’s Sentry mode to the ability to track most EVs remotely, there’s a much higher risk of being thwarted in the process of stealing an EV or caught shortly thereafter.","_key":"40d1f2a545f8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"caed87523440"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a3580a15ddb7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e00d0213de580","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"They are often kept out of sight"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f93699a9cd54","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although vehicles of all types are kept in garages, EVs are more likely to be parked away from prying eyes. This is due primarily to the fact that they must be kept close to the home for charging.","_key":"d3d2b395b7c70"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"At the end of the day, however, EV owners must still be vigilant, Zeitlinger said, adding:” They are high-dollar vehicles and have appeal in that respect.”","_key":"818a5e27567f0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0fa4abc3a738"}]},{"_rev":"RCtFQCEjCajbpQerbnHdFN","title":"Investigators Get To The Bottom Of The OceanGate Submarine Disaster","_createdAt":"2024-09-26T00:51:43Z","_id":"0b9e0485-5106-442b-a20e-ee4a16faf551","_updatedAt":"2024-09-26T00:58:19Z","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"slug":"/story/2024/09/investigators-get-to-the-bottom-of-the-oceangate-submarine-disaster","image":{"hotspot":{"width":0.9075342465753424,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/774bf70401041dbd598a873b240538fb607b218e-480x266.gif","_createdAt":"2024-09-26T00:56:47Z","_updatedAt":"2024-09-26T00:56:47Z","source":{"name":"Titan Submarine GIF by GIPHY News","id":"Lr0uOjscDkeox6S5Tr","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/news-submarine-oceangate-missing-Lr0uOjscDkeox6S5Tr"},"size":3151212,"assetId":"774bf70401041dbd598a873b240538fb607b218e","uploadId":"TGfW7pXszJijoigPE3hdZfGNfVwdya8T","_rev":"1TipNt5tug6kA8GauiLHLS","sha1hash":"774bf70401041dbd598a873b240538fb607b218e","_id":"image-774bf70401041dbd598a873b240538fb607b218e-480x266-gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"M383|t}??GXA57}?xG-pW9SgFfI.NEIp-p","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.72,"background":"#7b5c57","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#e3b196","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.21,"background":"#562d17"},"lightMuted":{"population":3.05,"background":"#b7867e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"background":"#c96935","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":6.72,"background":"#7b5c57","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":0.1,"background":"#4f2c34","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQDBQYH/8QAIxAAAgEEAQMFAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFESESE1EUFSIxQv/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACA//EABkRAAMAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEQESIf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A5Jd3dimJKhZfcAxLH89NUtlcLLHF3ropKZOkK30op9gPWsuhpl0R5G6jixto2YuY2gUoi7UbPHFUiXPDVmGos2tsvaWUaU+aKzlzEhmb4jjiikGx/9k=","dimensions":{"height":266,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.8045112781954886},"isOpaque":true},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/774bf70401041dbd598a873b240538fb607b218e-480x266.gif","originalFilename":"73c59930-efea-4511-94a9-0b6b9d9d2977.gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a073755bbebd","markDefs":[{"_key":"b153054d7296","_type":"link","href":"https://www.wired.com/story/titan-submersible-hearings-spotlight-multiple-issues-with-its-carbon-fiber-hull/"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"On their way to view the underwater ","_key":"ea6fdf0861d80"},{"text":"remains","_key":"ea6fdf0861d81","_type":"span","marks":["b153054d7296"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of one of the most famous shipwrecks in history, those aboard the OceanGate Titan submersible became part of another deep-sea tragedy.","_key":"ea6fdf0861d82"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a95c5da3cdaf","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"269a0d159e940","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Separating fact from fiction"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"ab497dc682fd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When the Titan imploded last year, killing everybody inside, during a voyage intended to pass by the Titanic wreckage, OceanGate almost immediately attracted pointed criticism. There was ","_key":"7e459b0709a10"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"ample speculation","_key":"47a431a982ed","_type":"span"},{"_key":"8a1fb3122aaa","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" about the quality of the submarine, but the National Transportation Safety Board wanted to find out exactly what went wrong."}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"According to the agency’s findings, the submersible’s carbon fiber hull appears to have been the central component in the deadly incident. Among the signs of serious underlying problems were:","_key":"4e9df78866e20","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"faca4a5e8c40"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"083c5a47251e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Evidence of ","_key":"babff98fe0920"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"cracks and gaps","_key":"094c09f26e48"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the material","_key":"014f15baa9c4"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"250316a1ce8c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Separated layers caused by ","_key":"1ee70e6f6b420"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"delamination","_key":"c8108a16a1d6"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"Defects making the hull ","_key":"8ab923ee48bb0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"222b29c08908","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"weaker"},{"_key":"27ee0c40bea9","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" under pressure"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7b68d0873f53","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"765069ef49b10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The investigation also determined that OceanGate had received reports of anomalous incidents prior to the doomed mission, alleging that the company failed to perform adequate testing and maintenance due to a lack of funds."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"30b2cf44e788"},{"_key":"805f87b7a0ec","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Where things stand now","_key":"9d909fc5aa290"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3a29548faa76","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Although some details about the investigation have already begun to trickle out, it’s important to note that the matter has not been settled. The Coast Guard, for example, is still ","_key":"42c39dfa62c20","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"conducting interviews","_key":"31e7402951a7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" as part of hearings aimed at determining what happened to the Titan.","_key":"978276f1900b"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5c6ee1a66a31","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"OceanGate top engineer Phil Brooks was among those who have testified thus far, asserting that he heard about noises and other concerns but passed along those complaints to CEO Stockton Rush, one of the passengers who died in the implosion.","_key":"89a355a282d80"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"e93d4f02136c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For its part, the Coast Guard probe is aimed at identifying any ","_key":"9e2ad38d60420"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"fundamental flaws ","_key":"002c8dba3c81"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"in the design or upkeep of the submarine that might have led to the disaster. It will likely be several months before that report is released.","_key":"f9d9b0be34b3"}],"_type":"block"}],"id":"Tr4s0Dcs","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-09-26","summary":"The doomed mission has fueled significant speculation.","category":"us-news","_type":"story"},{"image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"8635c58fc3834d96a076be57c21c67e7fb0a6236","_id":"image-8635c58fc3834d96a076be57c21c67e7fb0a6236-480x270-gif","extension":"gif","uploadId":"2urtVJJnhzwgCMle48mt2EKLR9U2Zozb","mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/8635c58fc3834d96a076be57c21c67e7fb0a6236-480x270.gif","assetId":"8635c58fc3834d96a076be57c21c67e7fb0a6236","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUEBgj/xAAgEAEAAQQCAwEBAAAAAAAAAAABAgADBBEFIQYSMSJB/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA//EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIBABET/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDNt5x7+PK1AYSD26+NM/F8zHwMW43oM5zOtfyo3j7uVsSKO97iNOOH08uQYQ9Npr1KFiU03MWoojmjzWPe/TIg/NLRVK5OSchkB0E3ooofCZ4+zu//2Q==","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M27dE{03$K^O0f:N0$?a,:TJ_NV[InWpIU","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03,"background":"#945c39","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"background":"#453124","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.37},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#453124","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.37},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#a47c54","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#dab59f"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#643c0b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.05},"lightMuted":{"background":"#bab5b0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.15}},"hasAlpha":true},"_rev":"Bqhp8t51XBjU4PWKQFUGpq","_createdAt":"2024-09-02T20:43:53Z","_updatedAt":"2024-09-02T20:43:53Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","source":{"name":"Amy Sedaris Wine GIF by truTV’s At Home with Amy Sedaris","id":"fo89wAJI9gaRu5Pelr","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/athomewithamysedaris-amy-sedaris-at-home-with-ah110-fo89wAJI9gaRu5Pelr"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/8635c58fc3834d96a076be57c21c67e7fb0a6236-480x270.gif","size":3096076,"originalFilename":"4594eac8-a871-4d8c-815a-1e4aaf135293.gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9452054794520548},"_type":"image"},"_rev":"9Rnn4FXS2RekpdmC4uUXGa","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"id":"3KdePY8c","slug":"/story/2024/09/a-wine-expert-just-revealed-the-5-us-states-with-the-best-wineries","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-09-03","category":"us-news","title":"A Wine Expert Just Revealed The 5 US States With The Best Wineries","_type":"story","body":[{"_key":"62e6d1821914","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.aol.com/5-us-states-best-wineries-134702376.html","_key":"99bfd596c568"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"If you’re in the market for a great bottle of American wine, your first thought is probably California. But certified sommelier Brianne Cohen recently ","_key":"5d78356c67d30","_type":"span"},{"marks":["99bfd596c568"],"text":"compiled","_key":"5d78356c67d31","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" a list of other regions that give the Napa Valley a run for its money.","_key":"5d78356c67d32"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Golden State is on top","_key":"b5ef30feaecd0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ae936aa09560"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether you want to stock your wine cellar or just go out for a relaxing wine-tasting experience, finding the right winery is key. And there’s no doubt that ","_key":"6b4db92da5530"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"California has more than its share","_key":"ee76910b42f6","_type":"span"},{"text":" of compelling options. In fact, a number of taste tests show that wines from certain areas of this state can hold their own against the most exclusive bouquets from France and Italy.","_key":"b4d34ecc7c43","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e64bd88058a4","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"638a2fffd1b3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Napa Valley is by far ","_key":"b274a4ff8d7c0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the most recognizable U.S. region","_key":"43e9fd5bf193"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for wine and is home to world-renowned wineries like Artesa, Matthiasson, and Quintessa. Then there’s the Sonoma region, which might not have all the hype of Napa Valley but produces some incredible grapes.","_key":"cbdb52a112ca"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"0aa1bc74299c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Other impressive spots in California include Paso Robles, Lodi, Santa Barbara, and Temecula.","_key":"d57aab9fd2010"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Rounding out the top 5","_key":"f2b537658eb40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"17ce3d5f5cb7"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It might surprise you to learn that grapes grow in all 50 states, even those with ","_key":"9aa3be331d440"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"particularly hot or cold climates","_key":"c3d6180a9bc6","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". But that doesn’t mean they’re all equally suited to create a perfectly balanced bottle of wine.","_key":"cde7814a713b"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8157dd99462b"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d1b6ba3385ea","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Coming in just behind California are four other states Cohen says wine aficionados should consider:","_key":"466dac60f4930"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"c30c85229924","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Oregon","_key":"d8050e5602370"},{"marks":[],"text":": The Willamette Valley is a laid-back region known for chardonnay and pinot noir.","_key":"276d6f9bb4ff","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Washington","_key":"0e96c5e1b30c0"},{"_key":"159538184ab9","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Most of the wines from this state originate in the expansive Columbia Valley."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c2d2291dfa98","listItem":"bullet"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad6932f1cd60","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"fceaa8fc7ffe0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Michigan"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": If you’re in the market for a great white wine, schedule a visit to the Traverse Wine Coast.","_key":"a0749403da65"}],"level":1},{"_key":"6e5489a002b6","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"New York","_key":"2f2e2383a4350"},{"_key":"37bf4ce0097b","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": The Finger Lakes region is home to some of the East Coast’s greatest cabernet blanc and pinot noir."}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"_id":"4a820b5e-376a-4fd4-a0e1-eed94c5a99a3","_createdAt":"2024-09-02T20:42:12Z","_updatedAt":"2024-09-02T20:45:34Z","summary":"You don't have to go to France or Italy for a world-class bottle of wine. "},{"_createdAt":"2024-09-01T19:47:09Z","title":"Americans Aren’t Moving Much These Days, And There Are Several Reasons Why","_id":"ecc4e9c2-9bb8-49ad-89eb-492bad45dbc0","category":"us-news","summary":"One form of relocation is bucking the trend, though.","body":[{"_key":"234d54671241","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.axios.com/2024/09/01/americans-moving-less-post-pandemic","_key":"263558eeb102"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For generations, the freedom to move across town or across the country has been a benefit for individuals looking for a better life as well as employers seeking the most qualified workers. But the current economy has increasingly put such relocations out of reach for many Americans, and the ","_key":"288e26b7d1bf0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["263558eeb102"],"text":"trend","_key":"288e26b7d1bf1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is one that is worth exploring in greater detail.","_key":"288e26b7d1bf2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"0b4d4a8b0b3a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Important facts and figures","_key":"726002a98a210"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to a recent report from the Brookings Institution, the number of Americans moving per capita has dropped lower than at any point in recorded history. Comparing today’s rate to that of 60 years ago, the stark reality of today’s situation becomes obvious.","_key":"969d2e5467d30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"88e75451ab2b","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2574b038c006","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"During the 1960s, ","_key":"1e8b70d973610","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"roughly 20% of Americans ","_key":"7f0df7a41398"},{"_key":"6eb6c3c54fe4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"moved in any given year. That percentage had "},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"dropped by more than half","_key":"59a4c6bd54ad","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":" — to 8.7% — by 2022.","_key":"7709197fc0df","_type":"span"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"3ab3f100fb27","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Understanding the causes","_key":"5b0b88a08fa20"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It would be oversimplifying things to assert that people are avoiding moves because the cost of housing has become so high, even though that is certainly part of the problem. In reality, researchers point to a number of factors contributing to the trend:","_key":"926460ec1cac0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36f67180b11b","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Young adults, who are statistically more likely to move, are ","_key":"7c1b77ceba450"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"remaining at home with their parents","_key":"a8a5cdb6a1bc"},{"text":" for longer than in the past.","_key":"3f93196c67ca","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4adc07345786","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The ","_key":"cfddb04620d80","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"average age of the U.S. population","_key":"f8bf20001e8c"},{"text":" is increasing, meaning fewer people are motivated to move.","_key":"21ed54773cbd","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0198bbcc3b94"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e19739c8686b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Technology has reduced","_key":"17ebbeb7f4f80"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the need for workers to relocate","_key":"e9d0015bce45"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in order to accept jobs in certain industries.","_key":"89d4eb704c20"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6eb594643577","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Some numbers are going up","_key":"b42ce3f397120"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4d415cbc295f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"In generations past, the most common type of move was local — and that category has seen the sharpest decline in recent years. But for those interested in finding a significantly higher-income career, the allure of interstate relocations is getting stronger.","_key":"72e18c579f1c0","_type":"span"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After ","_key":"af3a52013bc20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"several decades of decline","_key":"edb636ee8acd"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", the share of moves from one state to another has increased in the post-pandemic years.","_key":"f3e7b6820c43"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"10f88de49803","markDefs":[]}],"publishDate":"2024-09-02","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"moving china GIF","id":"3amA3EUNhPsxW","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/avoid-grandmas-noo-3amA3EUNhPsxW"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/067091fd48b6df2cef0882800777a61174fa3bc0-501x274.gif","_createdAt":"2024-09-01T20:01:46Z","extension":"gif","sha1hash":"067091fd48b6df2cef0882800777a61174fa3bc0","size":1428395,"metadata":{"isOpaque":false,"blurHash":"MOI4^g~V~CxuI:={WEs;xZS09bj^oNxZxs","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.22,"background":"#242e41"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#242e41","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.22},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":2.67,"background":"#987367","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#4494fc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.08,"background":"#0c1b32"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#b2bbcc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.91},"vibrant":{"background":"#2373dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.91}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":501,"aspectRatio":1.8284671532846715,"height":274}},"uploadId":"k2UYVTj1ZUR1qIA0sRgs400lxHetwcio","_rev":"So1K4B3q2ZGDWAN4sDcjyo","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/067091fd48b6df2cef0882800777a61174fa3bc0-501x274.gif","assetId":"067091fd48b6df2cef0882800777a61174fa3bc0","_id":"image-067091fd48b6df2cef0882800777a61174fa3bc0-501x274-gif","_updatedAt":"2024-09-01T20:01:46Z","originalFilename":"c9f1e8a7-8f10-4243-8666-57010a9b2159.gif"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9657534246575341,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image"},"slug":"/story/2024/09/americans-arent-moving-much-these-days-and-there-are-several-reasons-why","id":"YC5itTWw","_updatedAt":"2024-09-01T20:03:24Z","_type":"story","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"_rev":"9Rnn4FXS2RekpdmC4nEqDc","visibility":"true"},{"publishDate":"2024-08-24","visibility":"true","image":{"asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","originalFilename":"0654092a-757f-403a-853b-9b7aa670c41e.gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VCHnTa07KGK*9w^o0;%K};,a0tnerq%0X7rnX8oxIaw[","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.89,"background":"#c1852c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":4.07,"background":"#3b486c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.27,"background":"#ac9256"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":3.36,"background":"#f5e15b"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#aa270d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.1},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":1.16,"background":"#c8bdb8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#c1852c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.89}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"height":360,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333}},"_rev":"BxdGJRh8Q8kPJZCXit38I5","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/ad742c6c778277485864b0d31e335f95c08c7fc0-480x360.gif","_createdAt":"2024-08-23T19:52:30Z","_id":"image-ad742c6c778277485864b0d31e335f95c08c7fc0-480x360-gif","uploadId":"OK3jITVmYUGgX1bH2nWqKleXwiClFtJe","sha1hash":"ad742c6c778277485864b0d31e335f95c08c7fc0","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/ad742c6c778277485864b0d31e335f95c08c7fc0-480x360.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-08-23T19:52:30Z","source":{"name":"Animated GIF","id":"xUNd9DGYu5acdmY1gY","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/heyarnold-xUNd9DGYu5acdmY1gY"},"size":2410553,"assetId":"ad742c6c778277485864b0d31e335f95c08c7fc0"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"},"hotspot":{"x":0.49816176470588236,"y":0.5416666666666666,"height":0.9166666666666667,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9705882352941178},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"_type":"story","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"61f660093d7b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.wired.com/story/realpage-antitrust-lawsuit/","_key":"1252953c0038"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Collusion is a big no-no when it comes to setting artificially high prices for consumers. But that’s exactly what complainants are ","_key":"0540b5fb582c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["1252953c0038"],"text":"accusing","_key":"0540b5fb582c1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" a company called RealPage (as well as many apartment complexes that use its software) of doing.","_key":"0540b5fb582c2"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Digging into the lawsuit","_key":"8c1cfce07e1e0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d0c395b9a93f"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The U.S. Justice Department filed a civil suit against the Texas-based company over the capabilities of its algorithm, claiming that it is being used to ","_key":"a04db6d8ed110"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"coordinate prices among properties","_key":"a5024845ecea"},{"marks":[],"text":" at the expense of increasingly cash-strapped renters.","_key":"7cf1f132b4fb","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c729c51caa5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s how it reportedly works in a nutshell: RealPage’s proprietary algorithm keeps tabs on all of the lease details provided by its clients and shares that information in the form of suggested rental prices, thus allowing apartment complexes far and wide to coordinate their rates.","_key":"6d3137ece5c10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8e6d5e5f6eb9"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9972665c465c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And with a whopping ","_key":"48e4d3f134b80","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"80% stake in the software market","_key":"6ec2e73812c8"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" within the apartment rental segment, that means roughly 3 million rental units across the U.S. could be involved in this alleged scheme.","_key":"a81d58deed0c"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"8eced75bf281","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco asserted that “RealPage has found a modern way to violate a century-old law through systematic coordination of rental housing prices.”","_key":"1107e408289a0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"5c146bd6371d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"RealPage defends itself","_key":"1a08679100960","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"For its part, the company claims that it hasn’t done anything wrong. In a statement on its website, RealPage insists that the allegations against its use of the controversial algorithm “are based on","_key":"5c26f1e52e0a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" demonstrably false information","_key":"030942f0c504"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” and that its software “benefits both housing providers and residents.”","_key":"41b767df0f3a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"91cece350ac2"},{"_key":"cd4bc8888393","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"78df7e6f638e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That’s not what the Justice Department and eight state attorneys general say in their lawsuit, however. In fact, Attorney General Merrick Garland alleged that the conspiracy goes even further than RealPage simply offering suggested rental rates."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"f5e35392148d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“A large number of landlords effectively agree to outsource their pricing decisions to RealPage","_key":"962c3c2d7f5e0"},{"text":" by using an ‘auto-accept’ setting","_key":"4fc67580bf0c","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that effectively permits RealPage to determine the price a renter will pay,” he said.","_key":"79d9163f33f2"}],"_type":"block"}],"title":"A New Lawsuit Claims Apartment Prices Are Being Rigged With This Software","summary":"If you think your rent is too high, this might be a big part of the reason.","slug":"/story/2024/08/a-new-lawsuit-claims-apartment-prices-are-being-rigged-with-this-software","id":"uZZXqrRD","_rev":"BxdGJRh8Q8kPJZCXit3E4W","_createdAt":"2024-08-23T19:53:29Z","_id":"058cd92c-1d24-44f5-841c-6a01b4a30c45","category":"us-news","_updatedAt":"2024-08-23T19:53:29Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:47Z","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9","_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:14Z","extension":"gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MAFOlf4oES~U58I]%0xYE3%1E2t6-nM|j?","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"population":6.66,"background":"#96816c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4e3c2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.44},"muted":{"background":"#96816c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.66},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":4.34,"background":"#e9d0a2"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#4a3523","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.37},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":4.34,"background":"#ad9979","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":3.33,"background":"#cbae81","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGAwT/xAAiEAACAgIBBAMBAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEABEFEhMhQQciMnH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCeciTUcjDpDBh49464rh57s09uabtiKP6Aj9Eesl70jRMojYgHW8ffGtqe1zLxWZXljUNpWOwMi6LkUrMg+FqnemHUsigA61hnFfYpesKhIUSHwP7hjEV//9k=","dimensions":{"height":268,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.791044776119403}},"uploadId":"747oA98yTdTKjjeDvFjeb2gGRP4Eng4B","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","assetId":"b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9","_rev":"6yhpv8Ex8x74bdbddvO1uM","source":{"name":"Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"QWkQAJ3Cz4J1Jw12KE","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-45-QWkQAJ3Cz4J1Jw12KE"},"_id":"image-b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268-gif","originalFilename":"3bfbf633-9ff2-48f2-83e8-bea967666dc5.gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268.gif","size":1643846,"_createdAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:14Z"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8869863013698628}},"id":"439Vlhil","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","summary":"The topic has been in the news quite a bit in recent months.","_id":"eae2f9a1-039a-4a26-bd2c-334afc8fa2c7","_type":"story","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Chances are that you’ve seen some news reports in recent months about a spike in the number of “squatters” across the United States. The term refers to people who target typically uninhabited homes and begin living in them without the permission of their owners.","_key":"80ed83968e5f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"20215c2b98a8","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"b9f7a148d4c8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And in some cases,","_key":"bde267dab3590"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" it can be a huge legal hassle","_key":"2f838a96928e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to evict the squatters once they move in.","_key":"c327b10a2af8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"In ","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b50","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["10e0e2bd3ec7"],"text":"response","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b51"},{"marks":[],"text":" to the trend, a handful of states have begun passing new laws aimed at making it easier and less expensive for homeowners to force squatters out.","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b52","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"04f6e012c7a8","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-other-states-have-signed-bills-protect-homeowners-against-squatters","_key":"10e0e2bd3ec7"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0bc35a48358a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Let’s take a look at how three southern states are implementing laws that their supporters hope will catch on nationwide.","_key":"e2b7d7e07cea0"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"53cdfeae223c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Alabama","_key":"0f3735720ed10"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that went into effect earlier this year, which increases the criminal penalties against individuals found guilty of illegally occupying a home and/or using false documents to indicate they are permitted to reside in a home. The new law also empowers police to expedite the eviction process against squatters.","_key":"5cac15f9416f"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Florida","_key":"8c2cf7196ada0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Although it won’t be implemented until next month, the Sunshine State’s approach has been among the strictest in the nation by essentially repealing all of the existing safeguards that squatters have cited in their efforts to stave off eviction. Gov. Ron DeSantis said upon signing the bill in March that his state is “ending the squatter scam once and for all.”","_key":"1b278a39ad5c"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"984d76e6afce"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4d69da688769","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Georgia","_key":"f3ddcec60f210","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"20135652c452","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":": Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Georgia Squatter Reform Act into law in April, approving measures similar to those enacted in Alabama. In addition to measures that “stiffen the penalties” and “speed up the eviction process,” Kemp said the law will also “allow the property owner to go after these squatters for damages.”"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Other states, from Pennsylvania to Texas, are in various stages of advancing bills aimed at bolstering homeowners’ rights.","_key":"0123ebb988d60","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6e90919a0ec8"}],"title":"Here’s How Three States Are Taking On The 'Squatting' Issue","category":"us-news","slug":"/story/2024/06/heres-how-three-states-are-taking-on-the-squatting-issue","_rev":"ReC8dwFPgTpUpdBZu35fG6","publishDate":"2024-06-22","_createdAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:47Z"},{"image":{"asset":{"mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"id":"YX17XY4ZwPQ6rXP663","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/randynewmanofficial-YX17XY4ZwPQ6rXP663","name":"I Love La Los Angeles GIF by Randy Newman"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360.gif","_createdAt":"2024-06-17T00:30:00Z","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"height":360,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VyI#.Z4:xvohWY.AM|ofofbIIVt6M_oIj[%MadRiodae","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#5465ac","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#849aea","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.47},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#2c3a5d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01},"lightMuted":{"background":"#a4a7d5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.87},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.56,"background":"#647cc6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.47,"background":"#849aea","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#53533a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.16}},"hasAlpha":true},"_rev":"ZwKZYKXB2p60DDsNNZwkPy","_id":"image-0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360-gif","originalFilename":"64afc366-ba98-4c81-925d-f1f897cc6701.gif","uploadId":"9b2FR7chrPaTWvqOU7LkwJxZIBGADckY","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360.gif","extension":"gif","size":872631,"assetId":"0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645","_updatedAt":"2024-06-17T00:30:00Z","sha1hash":"0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.8676470588235298},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"_id":"b649966a-ad08-4d8b-bed4-a0af79e5d739","visibility":"true","_type":"story","_updatedAt":"2024-06-17T00:31:19Z","publishDate":"2024-06-17","slug":"/story/2024/06/disney-agrees-to-huge-settlement-after-dream-key-fails-to-deliver-on-promise","category":"us-news","summary":"It's a lot of money, but it'll be split up among more than 100,000 people.","body":[{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s no surprise that tickets to Disney’s theme parks have gotten considerably more expensive in recent years. That’s why some frequent visitors ","_key":"f299208f33b00"},{"_type":"span","marks":["e076aa42f66e"],"text":"jumped","_key":"f299208f33b01"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" at the chance to purchase a so-called “Dream Key” for California’s Disneyland with the expectation that they’d be able to gain entry to the destination with “","_key":"f299208f33b02"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"no blockout dates","_key":"51b2cf914004"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"dd89cfb0a82d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"76e5429131e0","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.mickeynews.com/parknews/disney-fans-rejoice-dream-key-passholders-to-receive-9-5-million-settlement/","_key":"e076aa42f66e"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But ticket holders soon found out that it wasn’t that simple.","_key":"af1a69d0daee0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"66c1daa7cc43","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cc43b60dc7d5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"b6ef4a10b6a60","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Identifying the problem"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b06a7400be44","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"More than 100,000 people purchased the Dream Key during the months it was available in 2021. But as Jenale Nielsen discovered shortly thereafter, she couldn’t make reservations for the dates she preferred.","_key":"8625df4a7cbe0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Instead of the smooth experience she anticipated, Nielsen said","_key":"4d99538f77830"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" multiple dates were unavailable","_key":"56012a62380c","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And that’s when she got the ball rolling on a lawsuit that was recently settled for nearly $10 million.","_key":"5709c4fcafa1"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f6d78a08b727"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1ca13affc21b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Of course, the Dream Key did serve its purpose, albeit imperfectly, for many of those who purchased it. Nevertheless, everyone who shelled out the cash for this now-defunct park pass will be eligible for a piece of the payout.","_key":"192c91cd94cb0","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Analyzing the solution","_key":"454ac26b92bf0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c311ec23cba6"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7c126ec2c5cb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s worth noting that, after lawyers take their cut, the settlement is only going to amount to about $65 per person. That’s not enough for even a single-day pass to the park, so it’s possible that some upset customers aren’t going to be fully satisfied.","_key":"41d3f6dec59d0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"59037a57eb14","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Nevertheless, it’s pretty simple for those affected to claim their money. Some of those who paid for the Dream Key via electronic means have likely ","_key":"683482300b890"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"already received an automatic deposit","_key":"a24a90330ba4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and everyone else will have a check sent to their last known address.","_key":"e221861aeea4"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"f3597ea195b7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The deadline for claiming part of the settlement will be Sept. 12.","_key":"71312d0b03300"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And if you want something similar, you’ll have to opt for the Inspire Key, which notably comes with the acknowledgement that there will be some unavailable dates.","_key":"c402d959923f0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5d8601b2479a"}],"id":"qUEDDyFe","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Disney Agrees To Huge Settlement After ‘Dream Key’ Fails To Deliver On Promise","_createdAt":"2024-06-17T00:29:07Z","_rev":"lcpR92NLTSrr3jqAz62Zrl"},{"image":{"hotspot":{"width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.47303921568627455,"height":0.9068627450980393,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":360},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VBBy+_00~8%M02IVs+kW%1IV0N~T9bRP?GRit7jYRkxt","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"background":"#a39056","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.98},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#f5e459","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.69},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#5f420c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.92},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.16,"background":"#cdc8bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#ef790b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.07},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":3.84,"background":"#6a5438","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#6a5438","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.84}},"hasAlpha":true},"sha1hash":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","originalFilename":"6bd7c68d-0c9b-4ef0-912d-081bfbc32707.gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","_id":"image-aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360-gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif","_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z","extension":"gif","_rev":"1ClLZjTXhZNCk6cpMecSl3","mimeType":"image/gif","size":742380,"uploadId":"LSuMRHsicSSp5sluSTvdm9UrZHYnZofy","source":{"url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/lights-store-liquor-3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6","name":"lights store GIF by Royal Smith","id":"3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0}},"slug":"/story/2024/06/why-the-federal-government-might-be-suing-the-nations-biggest-booze-distributor","publishDate":"2024-06-07","visibility":"true","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"By its very nature, the alcohol industry is strictly regulated to prevent, among other things, unauthorized sale to minors. But there are","_key":"53e1213433e20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" plenty of other laws","_key":"a8440527c964"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that distributors of beer, wine, and liquor must follow that apply to all businesses.","_key":"a1db24354774"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1c800633c5ef"},{"_key":"6d1dbe25b586","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/ftc-preparing-sue-largest-alcohol-distributor-us-alleged-secret-kickba-rcna155804","_key":"6a55376a89bd"}],"children":[{"_key":"93d71bfdac790","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And the largest distributor currently operating in the U.S. is "},{"_type":"span","marks":["6a55376a89bd"],"text":"accused","_key":"93d71bfdac791"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of running afoul of regulations aimed at preventing the formation of monopolies.","_key":"93d71bfdac792"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"09407289fce10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A possible lawsuit"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23652b655992"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1cc2c51ce0370","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to recent reports, the Federal Trade Commission is considering legal action against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits based on complaints that the Florida-based company "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"offered “secret kickbacks” and encouraged boycotts","_key":"c5d7b4f51964"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to prevent rivals from gaining a foothold in the industry.","_key":"3e552a0422cd"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"90a8a90d3bd5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what sources are saying at this point:","_key":"e532ae4366220"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"94469ed9b014"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The company potentially ","_key":"841a25d37fec0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"violated the Robinson-Patman Act","_key":"d9194add8674"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", which bans discriminatory pricing meant to limit competition.","_key":"cf83dea00a73"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"da3a3753b911","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s been","_key":"d4fc7e680b330"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" nearly a quarter of a century","_key":"3c74f128afd2"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" since prosecutors have cited the 1936 law in a case.","_key":"ee0493388e77"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d2a77957903e"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d5e9ee0c2d4c","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The FTC","_key":"d4833dfdc3010"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" has not finalized its decision","_key":"e26da8695361"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", but a lawsuit could be filed against the company within a few weeks.","_key":"476b93aa2334"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c6b7a03e34b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Southern Glazer’s has been in operation for nearly 60 years and distributes thousands of brands across 44 U.S. states.","_key":"c5d4ec07336b0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b8586980e365","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"6916eb1ea02a0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A competitor’s claim"}]},{"_key":"f78b5ea484e1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The latest legal dust-up stems from accusations from Provi, a significantly smaller alcohol distributor.","_key":"f1fec543ca470","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" A 2022 lawsuit","_key":"b2ecda27d6e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" against both Southern Glazer’s and Republic National Distributing Company for allegedly conspiring to convince retailers not to do business with Provi.","_key":"cd614f996045"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The two defendants in that suit petition to dismiss the case, but a judge denied that request late last month,","_key":"79730ca4e0f70"},{"text":" potentially paving the way","_key":"9ad8bc590aa3","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for FTC action.","_key":"401cba86a4c6"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b96b0d606eeb"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"518d0ba6c146","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Since alcohol distribution is generally regulated at the state level, federal authorities","_key":"1b4ab1ec88e70","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" will face some headwind ","_key":"d9b538c273d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"in any attempt to pursue a lawsuit — but FTC Chair Lina Khan has repeatedly shown her willingness to take action against companies accused of violating antitrust laws.","_key":"19cc49c75db0"}]}],"category":"us-news","_updatedAt":"2024-06-06T18:44:38Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","id":"dtQplOyd","_rev":"1ClLZjTXhZNCk6cpMecZqA","_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:44:38Z","title":"Why The Federal Government Might Be Suing The Nation’s Biggest Booze Distributor","summary":"A rarely used law could be cited in a forthcoming antitrust case.","_id":"e3edac36-1870-4217-9caa-817e024cf3cb"},{"slug":"/story/2024/06/disney-reaches-possible-multibilliondollar-investment-deal-with-florida","_type":"story","_id":"83e9666e-bbf6-4d95-b3a2-5eedbc3e2e10","image":{"hotspot":{"height":0.9460347830352984,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c","source":{"name":"mickey mouse vintage GIF","id":"O8UDqywC49kac","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/disney-vintage-picture-O8UDqywC49kac"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381.gif","mimeType":"image/gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-04-30T22:10:37Z","_createdAt":"2024-04-30T22:10:37Z","originalFilename":"8e64bd3c-6fbe-47b4-bbf3-53a04d47fb25.gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.18,"background":"#a9a74b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#acbcdc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.32,"background":"#4f1305","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":12.66,"background":"#a1adbf"},"vibrant":{"background":"#b9b452","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.3},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":12.66,"background":"#a1adbf"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":10.74,"background":"#514c31"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":500,"aspectRatio":1.3123359580052494,"height":381},"isOpaque":false,"blurHash":"VRF68]tQSj%L%M.At7WrkCfk.9t6WBM|Rj%NofjuM{Ri"},"uploadId":"ahFCBPDkogkANpCltUDg3QUr0sRn0Pml","_rev":"QgZWDsp3V84SPoY0Xd27fx","size":959206,"assetId":"818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c","extension":"gif","_id":"image-818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381-gif"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"}},"id":"xM28Etie","category":"us-news","_rev":"M2s1msmPv2k7xL075lU74N","title":"Disney Reaches Possible Multibillion-Dollar Investment Deal With Florida","_createdAt":"2024-06-05T23:07:22Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-06-06","body":[{"children":[{"text":"The Sunshine State has long been known as the premiere destination for theme park fans — particularly those destined for the massive Walt Disney World resort. And despite the","_key":"eb6f79d575f60","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" dispute between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis","_key":"bc29a87f3dca"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in recent years, there still appears to be room for the “Happiest Place On Earth” to get even ","_key":"044a71adaa24"},{"_type":"span","marks":["11ec7415c0f9"],"text":"happier","_key":"eb6f79d575f61"},{"text":".","_key":"eb6f79d575f62","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0d9d843d61c6","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/disney-set-invest-17b-florida-parks-approval-development/story?id=110861277","_key":"11ec7415c0f9"}]},{"_key":"53a0d81fadd3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A tentative agreement","_key":"727d8a3b01f10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"According to recent reports, representatives from the Walt Disney Company and DeSantis’ office have discussed plans that could see a massive","_key":"942c4ea078780","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" $17 billion investment in the state","_key":"c7b659b9ac87"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That would not only include renovations and expansions to existing Disney properties, but could also result in a fifth theme park being built in the area.","_key":"40d68c90557a"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1226fc021a28"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Details came to light during a public hearing this week featuring Central Florida Tourism and Oversight District planning and engineering manager Katherine Luetzow.","_key":"6276977196960"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"54d71cb78893","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"cfef9c5765dd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The sum would be doled out","_key":"a3b891d4470e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" over the course of up to 20 years","_key":"f9b781aff13a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" with nearly half that amount being invested over the next decade.","_key":"a0315f30f66f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8bba45ebc57c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Local and state businesses were prioritized with a provision that they provide at least half of the goods and services needed for these projects.","_key":"67336908a1200"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Among the other provisions discussed as part of the ongoing negotiations is","_key":"f9ca009006ee0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" $10 million for housing ","_key":"4422f39a97a7"},{"marks":[],"text":"and credits related to damage to wetlands and endangered species.","_key":"8017dedd06b7","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e0a521c11371"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e24b9e636c7a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Burying the hatchet","_key":"103d02ddd72b0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4baea16f79cb0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"This prospective breakthrough likely wouldn’t have been possible if not for the decision between Disney and the DeSantis administration to end their feud, which had been playing out in court for some time. At the root of the dispute was the aforementioned district."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4da143eeade9"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Previously known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, it had been afforded","_key":"6b273d2a0c330"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" generous tax breaks and wide-ranging authority ","_key":"704d0cb92f5b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"over services from utilities to law enforcement and firefighting.","_key":"645cf14141d0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"52cd93dd60fe"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"059626143933","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When both sides dropped their lawsuits, the foundation was set for the latest round of investment talks.","_key":"eabe5a164bba0"}]}],"_updatedAt":"2024-06-05T23:07:22Z","summary":"There might even be another major theme park opening up in the state."},{"title":"Beware The Invasion Of The ‘Super Pig’ ","summary":"These massive beasts appear poised to cross the border.","_updatedAt":"2024-05-29T23:28:36Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"UfWHJrdEgAKMZIu23ekBWf","_type":"story","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f70968365047","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://gizmodo.com/wild-super-pigs-invasion-united-states-invasive-species-1851506288","_key":"18538363a525"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Pigs are surprisingly smart and, in the proper context, aren’t seen as particularly dangerous to humans. But when we’re talking about massive ","_key":"f87ab47d03f60"},{"_type":"span","marks":["18538363a525"],"text":"feral","_key":"f87ab47d03f61"},{"_key":"f87ab47d03f62","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" hogs that invade regions of North America where such beasts don’t typically roam, that’s a whole different story."}]},{"children":[{"_key":"aeb546a409900","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A new spin on an old story"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0c59468a0b20","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, wild hogs have worried regions of the U.S. for generations. But in the past, such concerns have typically occurred across Southern states where domestic pigs and wild boars bred","_key":"cac92bdd220f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a new hybrid species","_key":"1e9cafd919a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that rapidly reproduced and ran wild, threatening crops, livestock, and humans alike.","_key":"f0954b88027c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"62fe52540f09"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Now scientists warn that a different threat is originating along America’s northern border. These Canadian boars are almost assuredly going to begin heading south in the near future, which could mean big trouble for Northern states.","_key":"9340291615500","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9c08feec224b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2dc394964bfb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Areas across Montana, Minnesota, and the Dakotas aren’t used to dealing with wild hogs, and these beasts are highly adapted to survival in cold climates. Without any natural predators in the regions of Canada where their population has skyrocketed, they have been","_key":"f26c0d5ef9390"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" allowed to grow very large","_key":"db732c2bd728","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and are often aggressive toward people and their pets.","_key":"9cf95908d9bc"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"f68c924b7890","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If all that wasn’t bad enough, experts say these animals frequently carry germs that pose a risk to humans.","_key":"9ba0343bd8390"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An international incident","_key":"aadf1b8d0bbb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3c8c9f15a782"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b2f10b4d9c99","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Scientists from both the U.S. and Canada have been working on prediction models in an attempt to gauge the threat posed by these so-called “super pigs.”","_key":"40f5add2cf3a0"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e799e34f6c78","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"aa88edb742a30","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since the environment across the northern states is very similar to what these hogs are used to in Canada, the likelihood is high that as their populations grow, the southern invasion will increase. As study author Ryan Book explained, the latest research “"},{"_key":"9bf8f175198c","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"highlights the massive risk"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of wild pigs and how far they can — and likely will — move if something different isn’t done.”","_key":"c9b936808f72"}],"_type":"block"}],"image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","sha1hash":"2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281.gif","source":{"name":"british bake off paul GIF by BBC","id":"l0MYO02NgfgFjYBvW","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/season-6-2015-bbc-l0MYO02NgfgFjYBvW"},"assetId":"2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c","_updatedAt":"2024-05-29T23:27:14Z","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":500,"aspectRatio":1.7793594306049823,"height":281},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MSGRe*R+t-}@%N-UV@IUjEM_%3RiVsRjM{","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"population":0.07,"background":"#dbe4f2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#5a3528","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.79},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.59,"background":"#cdb9ab"},"vibrant":{"background":"#d09d88","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.94},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.54,"background":"#9f6753"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":0,"background":"#5c2c34","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.54,"background":"#9f6753"}},"hasAlpha":true},"uploadId":"rFObJE1v9omPLnNAZaPuaZBReg7N0QLT","mimeType":"image/gif","_id":"image-2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281-gif","_rev":"UfWHJrdEgAKMZIu23ekAX4","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_createdAt":"2024-05-29T23:27:14Z","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281.gif","size":2454439,"originalFilename":"aab24688-db00-42f6-83a0-9a5b6a93d399.gif"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9623287671232875,"x":0.5},"_type":"image"},"publishDate":"2024-05-30","id":"iRIdTToR","_createdAt":"2024-05-29T23:28:36Z","_id":"a6fe17f0-b722-48ac-9900-6a6370ea526b","category":"us-news","visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2024/05/beware-the-invasion-of-the-super-pig"},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_createdAt":"2024-05-16T20:58:25Z","_updatedAt":"2024-05-16T21:20:43Z","_id":"2a2ecd70-52f7-4001-ab5b-c5ff77d05dbb","category":"us-news","title":"Sin City Is About To Lose A Major Landmark … Here’s Why ","visibility":"true","_rev":"YBM1ygjy3aIU2iuAhtbFye","publishDate":"2024-05-17","summary":"Las Vegas is changing, and this is just the latest proof. ","slug":"/story/2024/05/sin-city-is-about-to-lose-a-major-landmark-heres-why","id":"jjr0DY82","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Las Vegas has been known as one of the world’s premiere gambling destinations for generations, and for much of that time its unmistakable “Strip” has included The Mirage.","_key":"8f8d0f722f430"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bcab7416b11c"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/mirage-las-vegas-closing-after-34-years/story?id=110303490","_key":"07a1795a0048"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But in less than two months, the iconic hotel and casino will ","_key":"4c9b5d1fe5370"},{"marks":["07a1795a0048"],"text":"permanently","_key":"4c9b5d1fe5371","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":" shut its doors as the city continues its embrace of professional sports, world-class entertainment, and attractions other than gambling.","_key":"4c9b5d1fe5372","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cb6a78192b1d"},{"children":[{"_key":"be3a5b8fa2c50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What brought us here"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a293199b1851","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"dd000355cd91","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f4c9bf4e2f960","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The writing has been on the wall for some time now, dating back at least to Hard Rock International’s acquisition of the hotel in 2022. This week, the company confirmed that the final night guests will be allowed to stay in The Mirage will be July 14 and"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" all casino operations will end ","_key":"29a5c63e688f"},{"_key":"51c750adfa2c","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"three days after that."}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"e5b337c17b7a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"It’s a disappointing ending for many fans of the hotel, which has been a fixture on the Las Vegas Strip since the 1980s and included a breathtaking atrium that attracted visitors from around the world. After it opened its doors, a string of other upscale resorts — ","_key":"d40b5a537b650","_type":"span"},{"text":"like the MGM Grand, Luxor, and Excalibur","_key":"ff33e373e85d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"ddbb2467089a","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — soon made their debut in Sin City."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"b08ea37bc69a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"42b2d0f020d80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But unlike some of the other prime real estate that has been transformed into unrelated destinations (like the former site of the Tropicana becoming the likely home of the relocated Oakland A’s), The Mirage will be replaced by another casino."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"What the future holds","_key":"fcd58860b8430","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"99f4178f3cde"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"97803456bbee","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to Hard Rock International, plans for the location include a new hotel and casino more in line with the company’s music-themed brand.","_key":"b6fcb19a5a4d0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The property will be reimagined and developed into a new integrated resort featuring","_key":"fa28d66c7f4e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a nearly 700 ft. guitar-shaped hotel","_key":"31ee8e47a0f4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" prominently in the center of the famous Las Vegas Strip,” a statement confirmed.","_key":"d913a3107971"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"abd6466ee654"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas are expected to open in 2027.","_key":"b5ce58f633110"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cd5a5794dd9c"}],"_type":"story","image":{"hotspot":{"width":0.8750000000000003,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9215686274509806,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900","assetId":"c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900","_updatedAt":"2023-06-12T22:45:13Z","extension":"gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VFBzRPM|00%2RSDQxt%fIoRj00r]?aSx%K?[RQIBxur^","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.62,"background":"#5d0d18","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":2.17,"background":"#b4d7a8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.1,"background":"#f2173b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":2.17,"background":"#b4d7a8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":0.19,"background":"#602b34","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#6eb1a9","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.17},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#f66c9c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":500,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":375}},"uploadId":"0mWlF5l9Chnz9MuPGJKE4fV0kb6OMvkN","source":{"name":"las vegas GIF","id":"ShZ1AHZ1AKyt2","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/sign-fabulous-vegas-ShZ1AHZ1AKyt2"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900-500x375.gif","size":75377,"_id":"image-c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900-500x375-gif","_rev":"TrPpVOhlpnRSDfzu6a1Ucl","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900-500x375.gif","_createdAt":"2023-06-12T22:45:13Z","originalFilename":"c8e6d8f5-2e4c-4438-a2c7-e7399f33f3ef.gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}}},{"summary":"How fast is too fast on city streets? ","_id":"2d8fcc68-b00c-457a-853a-886fdf82fb27","publishDate":"2024-05-14","id":"7EPWGSao","_createdAt":"2024-05-13T20:50:48Z","slug":"/story/2024/05/not-so-fast-exploring-the-effort-to-lower-the-nations-speed-limits","image":{"asset":{"extension":"gif","uploadId":"Afsf24y1ZKORvaXSuiYLFGCVzzXONlcQ","_rev":"4iC5ZsZNZdYNHyHsiC4xbG","assetId":"89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f","originalFilename":"412112b2-0d31-491a-a31a-ecac62a9d6f8.gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358.gif","_createdAt":"2024-05-13T20:49:19Z","_id":"image-89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358-gif","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-05-13T20:49:19Z","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V4BCfg007#+d0dAo+Z?K0vxI005j+w?H$#tnI:R}=##k","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#642c3f"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.05,"background":"#d5a5c1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#9097d0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.65},"dominant":{"background":"#a2687b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.61},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.89,"background":"#4e353b"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.61,"background":"#a2687b"},"lightVibrant":{"population":0.72,"background":"#ada8dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3407821229050279,"height":358}},"source":{"id":"xUySTDe5qllOS30Rfq","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/gilmoregirls-netflix-gilmore-girls-xUySTDe5qllOS30Rfq","name":"season 4 netflix GIF by Gilmore Girls "},"size":1373092},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8976234003656306,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9411722651741852},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"visibility":"true","_updatedAt":"2024-05-13T20:50:48Z","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Four decades ago, Sammy Hagar recorded an anthem to automotive speed with his hit “I Can’t Drive 55.” Back then, 55 mph was the highest speed limit allowable under U.S. law.","_key":"95e71d541f070"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bc8b0800fa72"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9e4a0a3627e3","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/24153725/speed-limits-pedestrian-deaths-sammys-law-nyc","_key":"f2d35b85c1a3"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But what about around-town driving? That’s where a growing number of safety advocates are focusing their ","_key":"9fd05831c52d0"},{"marks":["f2d35b85c1a3"],"text":"attention","_key":"9fd05831c52d1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" these days.","_key":"9fd05831c52d2"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ae9a086f5117","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Drop and give me 20","_key":"cc2ef8441bd40","_type":"span"}]},{"children":[{"_key":"f97591656f5d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There’s a law currently in effect in New York that gives local authorities the final say when deciding what the speed limit should be on their roads. And in communities where a troubling number of pedestrian deaths have been reported, some elected officials and activists say that the speed limit "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"shouldn’t be any higher than 20","_key":"0482d13ec3f5"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on most city streets.","_key":"31e7eda1fa99"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"688fde1322bb","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"f2eaa9a2f2f9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Such efforts are underway across the country, including in California, where a similar law gives localities a bigger say in setting speed limits. Oakland officials","_key":"31de39115e520"},{"_key":"fd7116ec284b","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" dropped the maximum speed "},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"throughout much of the city and school zones statewide were limited to 20 mph or less.","_key":"fa7439c7fc63"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"d6bcafc3f5ef","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And in the nation’s capital, the default speed limit unless otherwise noted has been 20 mph for several years.","_key":"1ab87c7441eb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a353348b8ed1","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Responding to tragedy","_key":"eb7bacce5d440"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even though safety equipment in vehicles is more advanced than ever, pedestrians haven’t benefited from these improvements. In fact, there’s been a troubling increase in pedestrian deaths, which has sparked much of the concern about speed limits.","_key":"ebbe88e1c6810"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4671ebc72370"},{"_key":"19d0c9e60a7b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some of the relevant stats show that:","_key":"5f373b0464c50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The number of pedestrian deaths has reached ","_key":"3cda41c9d2a30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a 40-year high","_key":"d5d726300395"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"ace476f38631"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a4e5d05a057a","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A pedestrian hit at 30 mph is ","_key":"3a0e82c017f60","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"70% more likely ","_key":"d733d97b78c6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":"to die than if he or she is hit at 25 mph.","_key":"d510ecfb6c74","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b87aecfcdca0"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"17931b364558","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At 42 mph, a pedestrian has","_key":"e3292490962c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a 50% chance","_key":"4244df3282dc"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of being killed.","_key":"52f734bc9b02"}],"level":1},{"children":[{"text":"And since speed was a factor in about one-third of all traffic-related deaths in 2021, convincing motorists to slow down might be the best way to keep everyone safer.","_key":"4c7c832941120","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0d7769109e8b","markDefs":[]}],"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"category":"us-news","_rev":"4iC5ZsZNZdYNHyHsiC585a","_type":"story","title":"Not So Fast: Exploring The Effort To Lower The Nation’s Speed Limits"},{"_rev":"DpWLjYkwm1nYY081ea0RyO","_updatedAt":"2024-04-24T23:18:16Z","image":{"attribution":"Wikipedia/Cornellrockey04","asset":{"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836.jpg","size":1218122,"_updatedAt":"2024-04-24T23:16:43Z","_rev":"DpWLjYkwm1nYY081ea0NnH","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836.jpg","_id":"image-b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836-jpg","uploadId":"gKVXDOHUnU5TRMujmrhrGthUsXcBTJig","mimeType":"image/jpeg","originalFilename":"North_capitol_&_L_street_NE.jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","assetId":"b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1","sha1hash":"b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1","_createdAt":"2024-04-24T23:16:43Z","extension":"jpg","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MrI6A[yFoIW=S~yZbwMxaft6bIRPjsofjE","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":5.01,"background":"#98c7f7"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.62,"background":"#1a3664","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.05,"background":"#d1ccaf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#4a73b4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.35,"background":"#364360"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#364360","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.35},"muted":{"background":"#697991","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.47}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"height":1836,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3264,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777}}},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"y":0.5182810900404621,"height":0.9634378199190758,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.85958904109589,"x":0.429794520547945},"_type":"image"},"title":"NPR Is In Turmoil. Will Its New President Make Things Better Or Worse?","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Public radio has pretty much always had the image of a stuffy (maybe even boring) source of news, with a few lighthearted and entertaining programs — “Car Talk,” anyone? — thrown into the mix. But NPR was generally seen as ","_key":"84b3c695237c0"},{"_key":"e0771ae034a9","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"a reliable network with a loyal base"},{"_key":"c74fae0e7155","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of listeners in communities nationwide."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a9612bb855e1"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"45d3c7ec32db","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/business/media/npr-uri-berliner-diversity.html","_key":"0e67d11f6472","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_key":"c19fc8469fdf0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That foundation is now showing some serious cracks, though, and much of it has been "},{"_type":"span","marks":["0e67d11f6472"],"text":"exposed","_key":"c19fc8469fdf1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in response to an article written by long-time NPR editor Uri Berliner.","_key":"c19fc8469fdf2"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"805a8f310226","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An identity crisis","_key":"5dd0760742440"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c9415f171c1a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In a piece that resulted in his suspension and ultimately prompted him to resign earlier this month, Berliner severely criticized NPR for adopting","_key":"5d8d5a0c27660"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a far-left ideological bias","_key":"da5e60603ef5"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that alienated all but a small sliver of the American population.","_key":"8e517baa8c77"}]},{"children":[{"text":"Although newly named NPR President Katherine Maher issued a statement touting the network’s journalistic independence, there’s no denying the fact that listeners are tuning out in droves. That might be in part due to the diminishing relevance of radio in general, but NPR Chief Financial Officer Daphne Kwon recently described the situation in stark terms.","_key":"8b52104260b10","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2dc50146c7a7","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"84bb2d1ab74d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“We’re slipping in our ability to impact America, not just in broadcast, but also in ","_key":"ff3630f5602e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"the growing world of on-demand audio","_key":"a8797d8eec21"},{"_key":"c26170c8830f","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"87e6aa2c16ed","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Former NPR exec Eric Nuzum opined that “public radio has five to seven years to reimagine itself before it’s simply unsustainable.”","_key":"e2f2f7177d490"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d4f17c651749","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Maher’s objective","_key":"aeda3add8ec00","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The new president came into the position with a vision to “","_key":"2d9b2ef1120c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"reach audiences on new and existing platforms","_key":"4f0224fcf8d3"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” and a few NPR programs have seen success as podcasts.","_key":"78a73f2f61cc"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e0032371ddd9"},{"style":"normal","_key":"bf9bcb8eb697","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"But Maher has come under fire in the wake of Berliner’s article over previous statements that seem to bolster his concerns about institutionalized ideological biases.","_key":"aff86499160f0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"With an audience that has shrunk from ","_key":"99fd5880b69d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"about 60 million","_key":"3bc15f3747b1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in 2020 to ","_key":"34037c6769d3"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"around 42 million","_key":"99608b28bd19"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" today, it’s clear that everyone from Maher down has some tough challenges ahead.","_key":"8fe63cce2329"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a92d23cf52ac","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"a4d60bbf-db1b-45d2-8af8-441aff220649","summary":"Public radio has seen a big drop in the size of its audience recently.","id":"jS1GCSRV","slug":"/story/2024/04/npr-is-in-turmoil-will-its-new-president-make-things-better-or-worse","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-04-25","category":"us-news","_createdAt":"2024-04-24T23:18:16Z","visibility":"true"},{"image":{"hotspot":{"y":0.5669481923988058,"height":0.8197548666186013,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8904109589041095,"x":0.5547945205479452},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"_updatedAt":"2024-04-18T20:54:49Z","originalFilename":"sstk-4842668lk.jpg","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VTC@K-NLNg$zJET5X9kCslR-ENs,nzNI$dtls8n~SjxB","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.2,"background":"#30335e"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.13,"background":"#567aa8"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":2.56,"background":"#f1a654","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#197c96","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":10.15,"background":"#c8c9be"},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.13,"background":"#4474bc"},"dominant":{"background":"#c8c9be","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":10.15}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5113,"aspectRatio":1.5029394473838917,"height":3402}},"uploadId":"Gtf4PAZM8GtEe6dx3qmH2MfcqlGmBX5k","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402.jpg","assetId":"f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256","_id":"image-f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402-jpg","_createdAt":"2024-04-18T20:54:49Z","extension":"jpg","description":"Atlantic City skyline at night, AC, NJ, New Jersey, America","sha1hash":"f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256","size":3247399,"_rev":"wmKFo0F7u4qLYW1dpdcYnO","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402.jpg","creditLine":"John Greim/Shutterstock"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_type":"story","summary":"Las Vegas isn't the only competition for this New Jersey resort town anymore. ","title":"Struggling Atlantic City Is Likely To Face Two New Regional Challenges","category":"us-news","slug":"/story/2024/04/struggling-atlantic-city-is-likely-to-face-two-new-regional-challenges","_createdAt":"2024-04-18T20:56:06Z","_rev":"wmKFo0F7u4qLYW1dpdcfRP","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The New Jersey gambling mecca of Atlantic City has always paled in comparison to Las Vegas, but it’s not Sin City that represents the biggest threat to those East Coast casinos.","_key":"eea26a2e5ad40","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d99f3ed84840"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://apnews.com/article/atlantic-city-new-york-casinos-gambling-meadowlands-aec6dba0345cbc184c1add5eaa35328c","_key":"e5fd0149f328"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Neighboring New York has","_key":"87fe795dba3e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" secured licenses for casinos","_key":"8078bef9cb4d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of its own … and now there’s new competition ","_key":"bde9aea5bcc6"},{"text":"looming","_key":"87fe795dba3e1","_type":"span","marks":["e5fd0149f328"]},{"_key":"87fe795dba3e2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" from within the Garden State."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"977702c5d4f4"},{"_key":"ddc117b0a067","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Bad news piling up","_key":"ba03e8b490b40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2d7fba2384ad","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Gaming has suffered some serious setbacks across the board in the wake of the pandemic, with losses during the shutdowns compounded by the impact of reduced foot traffic in casinos over the several years since.","_key":"b756e783f86d0"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad82bc9dee28","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"And Atlantic City is acutely aware of this trend. According to recent data, ","_key":"da262f2e17160","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"seven out of the resort town’s nine casinos ","_key":"22116f8a41b8"},{"text":"are taking in less revenue from in-person gambling than they did prior to the COVID outbreak.","_key":"d2e2b8bc9192","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1c62a528731","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As New York plans to build up its own gaming footprint, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small is sounding the alarms.","_key":"b64561559bed0"}]},{"_key":"e2b06aa1263a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Now more than ever, we know there’s a threat coming with New York gaming coming,” he said. “We understand the threat. We want to continue to work together to do things right ","_key":"708b2c0911740"},{"_key":"bc23c6a132c4","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"to put Atlantic City in a prime position"},{"text":", no matter where these casinos are, that we diversify our options.”","_key":"eff855f15f02","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"59df98d7b58f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"The Meadowlands question","_key":"f4e584135df60","_type":"span"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"92619dbfa916","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Casino operators and employees might be looking across the state line, but the next big threat to their revenue might be brewing in their own backyard.","_key":"d9e106abaf980"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to Jeff Gural, who operates a racetrack in East Rutherford, casinos are","_key":"fa6e478817d10"},{"text":" likely to pop up","_key":"1f5da0d31fec","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the Meadowlands shortly after New York casinos open, which means another Atlantic City alternative within the same state.","_key":"6a58d6707dd8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e4a09258dbe"},{"style":"normal","_key":"64ff917c104d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“I’m just waiting for New York to open,” he said. “People will say, ‘Why am I driving over the George Washington Bridge and ","_key":"c589a74c40a10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"paying an $18 toll ","_key":"4e7f26f9427c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"and sitting in traffic to go gamble?’”","_key":"d5989609ae95"}],"_type":"block"}],"visibility":"true","_updatedAt":"2024-04-18T20:56:06Z","id":"anHxkWMF","_id":"2432a807-be21-437f-8b54-d879595a931f","publishDate":"2024-04-19"},{"_type":"story","slug":"/story/2024/04/new-york-is-pursuing-a-more-humane-approach-to-the-citys-rat-problem","summary":"One common strategy could soon be banned entirely.","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"29b70d9abcf0","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rid-nyc-rats-brutality-birth-control-idea-109213268","_key":"a8bb2d157927"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“Pizza Rat” might’ve made for a viral meme a few years ago, but New Yorkers know that his","_key":"0820dc4522770","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" millions of friends across the city","_key":"b18b4ad4f089"},{"marks":[],"text":" have combined to create a real problem. And while the initial response by many locals has been to reach for poison or glue traps, lawmakers say there’s a ","_key":"bd46e2125f0c","_type":"span"},{"text":"better","_key":"0820dc4522771","_type":"span","marks":["a8bb2d157927"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" way to reduce the rat population without causing unnecessary suffering to the rodents and other wild animals.","_key":"0820dc4522772"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"feb86a0f3cd8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Take it from Bob Barker","_key":"a790e72d41a80"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9e3a3e416d08","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you recall the days of “The Price Is Right” as hosted by the late Bob Barker, you remember his daily reminder to have your pet spayed or neutered. Current host Drew Carey has continued that tradition … and now a variation of it is being considered in response to the Big Apple’s rat problem.","_key":"11ec61d37fbf0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Last week, city council members moved to advance a program that would ","_key":"f969087048800"},{"_key":"c1e7e85578f8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"spread rat contraceptives far and wide"},{"marks":[],"text":" as a way to reduce the number of rodents while curbing the use of more harmful measures. The proposal came after Flaco, an escaped zoo owl, was found dead after having ingested rat poison.","_key":"0b22e901074e","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d4f0f2e4e425","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e06137f55f6b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Local leaders also want to ban glue traps, which kill rats and other trapped animals in a lengthy and some say torturous process."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"683b7d91c17b"},{"_key":"3362fac88b09","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How would it work?","_key":"493f342d16180"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7f4a48ae9f80","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As you might imagine, it’s not feasible to teach rats to take their birth control pills. But as city councilman Shaun Abreu laid out in his recent proposal, there is a rather straightforward solution.","_key":"d7d35a629ad60"}]},{"_key":"a37f9a5d9d28","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"ContraPest is a product that interrupts","_key":"211dfd5cef870"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" sperm production or ovarian function","_key":"d8af17f763a6"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in rodents and is contained in pellets that can be widely distributed in areas where rats are most common.","_key":"98f4b22b52ee"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7d74057eda22","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Jakob Shaw of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is on board, declaring: “This is not a problem we can kill our way out of.”","_key":"753787e795240","_type":"span"}]}],"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"visibility":"true","title":"New York Is Pursuing A More Humane Approach To The City’s Rat Problem","_rev":"7JoDA4Sj5w9Jp2lYIemheu","category":"us-news","publishDate":"2024-04-15","_createdAt":"2024-04-14T20:28:55Z","id":"tyOmAPHf","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8","source":{"name":"New York City Nyc GIF by GIPHY News","id":"i0RmgkrZH7FQnkCcPi","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/news-nyc-new-york-city-eric-adams-i0RmgkrZH7FQnkCcPi"},"_id":"image-a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8-480x246-gif","originalFilename":"839c736a-5ac2-4462-809f-b56f8a85fd8b.gif","uploadId":"B6aesXmrMfhlXGjc7IdYKO6yi3WkQdO7","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8-480x246.gif","size":562836,"extension":"gif","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.951219512195122,"height":246},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M.Mjv|adxst6M{~paekCj@aeWUayNGWBoL","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"background":"#fcf4dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":6.21},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#624c21"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#d8ceb1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":2.94},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.1,"background":"#c29a4d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.42,"background":"#90504e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":3.99,"background":"#353947","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#90504e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.42}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAKABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAcIAQT/xAAmEAABAwMCBQUAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUREiEHE0FRYQYWFyJS/8QAFgEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQID/8QAGhEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxESYf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AYsniNb4cMm4E2NOBgdJtIuTNeip4rh9IcQsFKiPOi0bmXQekbA2v5XxSC4YtgsZ01EVPmAmrG/WtvJn7cvBai1c1UznfHas66oqGFOyTelJfJTB403C0oo/UsupuvdPFFR1ZGwK3gpAKrld1Sijge/D/2Q=="},"mimeType":"image/gif","assetId":"a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8","_createdAt":"2024-01-12T23:49:39Z","_updatedAt":"2024-01-12T23:49:39Z","_rev":"1js8Eqc7nziBHN8dNDQBcv","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8-480x246.gif"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8321917808219177,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image"},"_updatedAt":"2024-04-14T20:28:55Z","_id":"15811578-3de2-4741-bdc4-a01e0cd13981"},{"_rev":"ggXYGCakEYiQmkTQlu3Bex","_type":"story","_id":"cbfd50e4-6da4-45fc-a154-2bda66bf3ffe","title":"Leaving Las Vegas: Sin City Bids Farewell To An Iconic Casino","_updatedAt":"2024-04-02T19:30:58Z","publishDate":"2024-04-03","summary":"After 67 years in operation, yesterday marked the end of an era.","visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"category":"us-news","id":"7OZ4tUTm","slug":"/story/2024/04/leaving-las-vegas-sin-city-bids-farewell-to-an-iconic-casino","image":{"asset":{"metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3600,"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":2400},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VqB;X}ofR-R-Rjt:fQWYWXjYE3WBoej?t7M_oJs.ocbI","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.2,"background":"#2c7dcb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":8.2,"background":"#2c7dcb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.36,"background":"#2b3647"},"muted":{"background":"#b58e57","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.33},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.77,"background":"#8bb8e5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#044c84","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"population":1.72,"background":"#b0b5bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"description":"View of the Tropicana Hotel & Casino which will be closing after 67 years on April 2nd making way for A's new Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada","extension":"jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"MediaPunch/Shutterstock","size":925411,"_id":"image-7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400-jpg","uploadId":"2PRfXUdQP9SaUSSTjxMZz2CoVEuTPjvS","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400.jpg","assetId":"7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86","_rev":"WSO6B79EPOqHAcfJ8ZBo0X","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-04-02T19:29:10Z","_updatedAt":"2024-04-02T19:29:10Z","originalFilename":"sstk-14411872r.jpg","sha1hash":"7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.7842465753424656,"x":0.4965753424657534,"y":0.4434365872722037,"height":0.7634620922292155},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock"},"body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"244e1618aed2","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/welcoming-guests-67-years-tropicana-las-vegas-casinos-final-day-arrive-rcna145992","_key":"b48f908a52f1"}],"children":[{"text":"It’s been nearly 70 years since the Tropicana first opened its doors to visitors in an emerging oasis of adult-themed fun in the Nevada desert. Las Vegas has changed a lot since then, but this","_key":"8b0eb3b948a20","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":" landmark casino and hotel ","_key":"c0e057e82d03","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"marks":[],"text":"remained a ","_key":"75e64128bdc3","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["b48f908a52f1"],"text":"constant","_key":"8b0eb3b948a21"},{"marks":[],"text":" throughout the subsequent decades.","_key":"8b0eb3b948a22","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"6b844bd02d3b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That era has now come to an end.","_key":"06fec90bb8770"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"186c1dde457f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"A star-studded legacy","_key":"d66dc40dd1900","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"When the Tropicana first opened, it was","_key":"0878bece70fd0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" three stories tall and had 300 rooms","_key":"102ee32ac011","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". Construction cost $15 million, which is nothing by today’s standards but was a massive investment at the time.","_key":"25de9ac5a17d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0e61cfa995fb"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And there wasn’t much around it, unlike the","_key":"6460af848fd40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" densely packed Strip","_key":"22be3d3fb28b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that now serves as the focal point of Las Vegas. Over the years, the Tropicana built on its nickname — the Tiffany of the Strip — by welcoming high rollers with an elegant experience and offering performances by some of the biggest stars of the day.","_key":"6e4d9c4fac39"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a1f03028575b"},{"children":[{"_key":"55cca90c4f760","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A few of the"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" most notable acts","_key":"0fb5de7ad484"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to play its showroom included:","_key":"6b8c83d5ece9"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"18c9814c5df5","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Frank Sinatra","_key":"de16b7cf69e80"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23efa2f176b0","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"cfcdfa3cd31c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Elizabeth Taylor"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1c97430be051"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Gladys Knight","_key":"862ef7f1e6980"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ee92688229dd","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73c07f1688a5","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Wayne Newton","_key":"a7d3845b04e30","_type":"span"}],"level":1},{"style":"normal","_key":"58472e708f1e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Debbie Reynolds","_key":"b0b723d7b86e0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5f287d5e489","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sammy Davis Jr.","_key":"8899a6cc476c0"}],"level":1},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4431c9eb2206","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"It was even good enough","_key":"1b896cd3cdcf0","_type":"span"},{"_key":"a332f25d978a","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" for James Bond himself"},{"_key":"4d62c1f360e1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the 1971 classic “Diamonds Are Forever.”"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But times have changed, and the Tropicana now only exists in the memories of those who have experienced it.","_key":"fa2a6829fb390"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ba9ece867bfc"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“It’s ran its course”","_key":"5fa009c180270"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c5dc5148f62e"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So why was yesterday the last for this historic location? It stems from a larger","_key":"11c42a5babe10"},{"text":" shift away from casinos","_key":"da44b360b52d","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"5d187152c0bc","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and toward other forms of entertainment — sports in particular."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36c5584ac132","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a6a60805523a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The hotel is set to be demolished in October and in its place will be a Major League Baseball stadium expected to cost 100 times more than the Tropicana did when it was built.","_key":"473cf8ca42250"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"66119d060e1a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Longtime Tropicana bartender Charlie Granado has mixed emotions, explaining: “It’s time. It’s ran its course. It makes me sad, but on the other hand,","_key":"a31f19695ec60"},{"_key":"b5cfeb93ff63","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" it’s a happy ending"},{"marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"07fe2249f343","_type":"span"}]}],"_createdAt":"2024-04-02T19:30:58Z"},{"_createdAt":"2024-03-31T20:18:39Z","publishDate":"2024-04-01","_id":"caef8461-614a-4acf-87d8-828c1b4466ba","slug":"/story/2024/04/the-case-of-the-disappearing-air-force-one-pillowcases","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"body":[{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The opportunity to grab a celebrity souvenir can be hard to resist — even if you’re a reporter and the celebrity in question is the president of the United States. That fact was ","_key":"4475436fe01b0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["8f886eb1ac67"],"text":"on display","_key":"4475436fe01b1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" recently when President Joe Biden flew to the West Coast aboard Air Force One.","_key":"4475436fe01b2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ebce486469ce","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702982","_key":"8f886eb1ac67"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sticky fingers","_key":"64eae9a7e9d50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"55777310a285","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"688cf591cf3f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f5781493494a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Journalists frequently accompany the commander-in-chief on these official flights, using the opportunity to pepper him with questions while"},{"_key":"58560ca37aad","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" enjoying the experience "},{"_key":"81a376eba4cf","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of being a passenger on perhaps the most famous jet on the planet."}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But sometimes that experience","_key":"989ea0b2643f0"},{"_key":"5d8182d8ac09","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" isn’t enough of a memento"},{"text":".","_key":"9b86affc81cc","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bfed35280651"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to reports that surfaced after Biden’s trip in February, a number of items bearing official White House designations were gone upon a post-flight inspection.","_key":"f099901269450"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8d25a47e25c1"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7cb7ac4932fa","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Among the items said to be missing were ","_key":"ab2f4423bfa70"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"pillowcases, glasses, and plates","_key":"f17ec01e0075"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — almost anything that wasn’t nailed down was fair game.","_key":"ab2459f61ae1"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A stern warning","_key":"bdfd5fb4d9000"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1d2af328e66","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"c2fa08d5fbac","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"To some, it might sound relatively innocent … like snagging a notepad from your hotel room’s nightstand. But for the WHCA,","_key":"e2673deb9c1e0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" this is a big deal","_key":"846975322b61"},{"marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e84cb3080b98","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Reports in the association received an email last month instructing them in no uncertain terms that these petty thefts from Air Force One are inexcusable and need to stop immediately.","_key":"6481ca33d8d30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"626c1bd72844"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9e4c406546aa","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although there have been reports of such pilfering (","_key":"5a4a7f93bbf10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"like disappearing flatware and Air Force One-branded towels","_key":"5fab0ea28671"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":") under other administrations, the problem has received more attention lately.","_key":"ae48eea37e47"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Of course, it’s not like journalists have to resort to a life of crime to collect Air Force One memorabilia. Voice of America White House correspondent Misha Komadovsky","_key":"d86e62469a2a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" proudly displays his collection","_key":"3b47ef9be946"},{"marks":[],"text":", which he put together one small piece at a time over the course of several Air Force One trips.","_key":"dea5116b0cb4","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"688cc59cab5d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a1fd98ae2c12","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"He’s got small items like","_key":"d150ec84c98d0"},{"_key":"86e48cb1857e","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a paper cup and a box of M&Ms"},{"marks":[],"text":", both of which bear the unmistakable symbol of the president’s plane.","_key":"44c96f784dce","_type":"span"}]}],"_type":"story","title":"The Case Of The Disappearing Air Force One Pillowcases","id":"JgfwtVWA","summary":"It's a story that put White House correspondents in the hot seat.","visibility":"true","_rev":"HDgWe7sT5BAsuHOLVarS4q","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_createdAt":"2024-04-01T01:25:59Z","extension":"gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c","source":{"name":"air force one GIF by ABC Network","id":"xT0xeEKZC9TI0PIQAE","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/abcnetwork-designated-survivor-designatedsurvivorabc-xT0xeEKZC9TI0PIQAE"},"size":1823025,"assetId":"f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c","originalFilename":"aef8ef2f-c210-4194-82c5-98d371b8226f.gif","metadata":{"blurHash":"M8A9yX0g={WBoI~CNHo{$#IpyCsmIsRkWV","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.34,"background":"#ae8a67"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0.48,"background":"#e7e479","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#6f5017","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.38},"lightMuted":{"population":1.34,"background":"#c8bdaf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#9c5c2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":8.67,"background":"#4f3727","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":8.67,"background":"#4f3727","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQHBv/EACIQAAICAgEEAwEAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQAESEGEhNBBSIxYf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME/8QAGxEBAAICAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACA1EREyL/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AIZc+c7IVSrI6Rjlt+8d6e6jhoJuVmk877YA8rmSrsTKoPI1+EY3KAIX0qg/xRg2qPljGRHklgWzeRFMfd43AZefRwyc1r1pa0QFiTQXQ+2GTdVtyoyV1P/Z","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true},"uploadId":"HAvAsMnX3uMzJ7kF2CVSiijEt6SFDVa3","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270.gif","_id":"image-f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270-gif","_rev":"HDgWe7sT5BAsuHOLVarRra","mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-04-01T01:25:59Z"}},"_updatedAt":"2024-04-01T01:26:00Z","category":"us-news"},{"_createdAt":"2024-03-24T19:30:01Z","publishDate":"2024-03-25","category":"us-news","_rev":"f3biNEq4HX8SzduM2rnLw6","_type":"story","title":"California Homeowners Receive More Bad News From State’s Largest Insurer ","slug":"/story/2024/03/california-homeowners-receive-more-bad-news-from-states-largest-insurer","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"hotspot":{"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.941780821917808},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"originalFilename":"de2080c7-6925-4194-902d-13e19ec012eb.gif","uploadId":"pzlWy8OiM4mi1HjHcTJUJ7kqMKtZrgg2","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":1149100,"assetId":"11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267.gif","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MEGjy.}@EkOYFs9Y5:OtxaxapHE*X9$#$+","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.55,"background":"#4a3c47","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.97,"background":"#94675b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#ec958c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#742c0c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"background":"#e6dadb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":5.3},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":4.83,"background":"#e5685b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.55,"background":"#4a3c47","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.797752808988764,"height":267,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480}},"mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"id":"CrvYx0hC04HXncghSL","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-46-CrvYx0hC04HXncghSL","name":"Kenan Thompson Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267.gif","sha1hash":"11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f","_createdAt":"2023-06-06T23:02:56Z","_updatedAt":"2023-06-06T23:02:56Z","extension":"gif","_rev":"enKcaDEmFQ6jW5XSnp7R3W","_id":"image-11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267-gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"id":"HSkwaw8T","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3a4348d83e07","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/state-farm-cuts-72000-california-home-insurance-policies-decision-was-not-made-lightly","_key":"0bc5cccaaf2e"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Given the Golden State’s elevated risk for natural disasters, among other factors, homeowners have been hit with higher insurance premiums and even an inability to secure policies altogether in recent years. Last week, the state’s largest insurance company ","_key":"e4e76395ca530"},{"_type":"span","marks":["0bc5cccaaf2e"],"text":"delivered","_key":"e4e76395ca531"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" the latest blow.","_key":"e4e76395ca532"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Tens of thousands affected","_key":"660e61ac2f310","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1a7c0ff44a49"},{"style":"normal","_key":"5819336d145a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to reports, State Farm will be ","_key":"3ce93274e36f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"discontinuing about 72,000 policies","_key":"f9995d910788"},{"marks":[],"text":" for California residences as early as this summer. Although the company reiterated its dedication to providing effective coverage for as many clients as possible, a recent statement asserted that it is simply unfeasible across much of the state.","_key":"6a8f130d98eb","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“State Farm takes seriously our responsibility to maintain adequate claims-paying capacity for our customers and to comply with applicable financial solvency laws,” the company stated. \"It is","_key":"20679a5b0d0d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" necessary to take these actions","_key":"146842506d0f"},{"_key":"bc0a50768807","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" now.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f2ad4d68b689","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The latest evidence of a trend","_key":"eab7a6f7f3b60","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"845fd87a7a5b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8a0f7f05c1b2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"According to early indicators, State Farm’s move is expected to impact coverage for about ","_key":"ed44b90ab5f30","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"30,000 homes and 42,000 commercial apartment buildings","_key":"a6c445c582f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_key":"ad0bf22fd600","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That is the equivalent of about 2% of the company’s policies in California."}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"But many others in the state have already been impacted by similar announcements from State Farm and other insurers.","_key":"6bb4af4da7eb0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"13cbca77751d"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"39e034e8f3a1","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Last year, the company cited “historic” cost increases in announcing it would","_key":"867eba31656b0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" not offer new home policies","_key":"d32ec9d3a4b2"},{"_key":"e029ecdcc424","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the state."}],"level":1},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"A subsequent update indicated that existing policyholders would ","_key":"70f88fc36b2a0","_type":"span"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"receive a 20% hike","_key":"16f3f6acc033","_type":"span"},{"text":" in their premiums.","_key":"8596cb54b3da","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5722030497e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a315aa075135","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"988f04881d0d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Allstate announced in 2022 that"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" high costs and wildfires","_key":"fe236791a593"},{"text":" contributed to its decision to pull out of California.","_key":"101333fba604","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1},{"_key":"09b45bca189c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"State Farm explains itself","_key":"b3708b6b74b00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a486a4e2d4c7","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A number of issues combined to impact a decision State Farm said “was ","_key":"ef3c4b2760980"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"not made lightly","_key":"65104662314f"},{"_key":"5661bc8f0480","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"86cf87de7f6f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to the statement, its determination came “only after ","_key":"f84acd0654eb0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"careful analysis ","_key":"3043390b5803"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of State Farm General’s financial health, which continues to be impacted by inflation, catastrophe exposure, reinsurance costs, and the limitations of working within decades-old insurance regulations.”","_key":"003f4b667078"}]}],"_updatedAt":"2024-03-24T20:44:06Z","summary":"The latest announcement affects approximately 72,000 properties. ","_id":"6d625080-16a4-40e1-84e2-a67d67b0fed3","visibility":"true"},{"id":"StHv3oVQ","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/03/one-state-is-home-to-7-of-the-top-10-fastestgrowing-metros-in-the-us","title":"One State Is Home To 7 Of The Top 10 Fastest-Growing Metros In The U.S.","_id":"19e9463a-05e5-4ffc-a57d-1e6a46128913","body":[{"_key":"f60f2383f583","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html","_key":"9bc972eb2bd4"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether for work, weather, family, or any number of personal reasons, Americans frequently pack up their things and move to another part of the country. But in recent years, one state has seen its population ","_key":"d58ec88cc2ec0"},{"text":"grow","_key":"d58ec88cc2ec1","_type":"span","marks":["9bc972eb2bd4"]},{"marks":[],"text":" at a significantly higher-than-average rate.","_key":"d58ec88cc2ec2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sunshine State stats","_key":"7add8248dbaa0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"09e8eaf3691f","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dc4a080b07b5","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html","_key":"fde8cdae9842"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Over the one-year period beginning in July 2021, the Census Bureau ","_key":"ff0a35c58e480","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["fde8cdae9842"],"text":"found","_key":"ff0a35c58e481"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that a whopping 70% of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country were all in Florida … including the retirement resort town of The Villages, which came out on top with ","_key":"ff0a35c58e482"},{"text":"a whopping 7.5% annual growth rate","_key":"e3f90875eef7","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"58ffca519aa5"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"44593e94b758","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The only metro area outside of the state ","_key":"d7b7a0740a570"},{"_key":"5d2b617d6d13","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"to crack the top five"},{"text":" was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which came in at number two.","_key":"b8c55d3ecf8a","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From there, the next four were, in order, the Florida cities of Lakeland, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and North Port.","_key":"da1185d80c420"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"72cf3d13fd4e"},{"style":"normal","_key":"18e199b224d0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"St. George, Utah,","_key":"9cf3a68bf5b30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" broke Florida’s streak","_key":"ec4e97f7ba73"},{"text":" at number seven.","_key":"ffbde15b9ec4","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While Florida has attracted transplants from other states based on factors like its nice weather and low taxes, population increases also include the birth rate, so some of the gains came from within the metro areas on the list.","_key":"58f62d92c37c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d48c112024cc"},{"style":"normal","_key":"cc0146751aba","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"And even though Florida clearly leads the way in terms of percentage, the Dallas, Texas, metropolitan area came out on top if you’re looking at raw numbers. Its population spiked by","_key":"c22ef4230f350","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" more than 170,000","_key":"20ef3f25a511"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" over the same year.","_key":"4749681aa770"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"At the bottom of the list","_key":"8d7d197deec30","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"888128cfd2d2","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"870799da2a5f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The gains in cities near the top came at the expense of places with declining populations. Nearly ","_key":"3ccc71e1749f0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"two-thirds of the 384 metro areas","_key":"0a00b2ad5a07"},{"_key":"55ee12c7eaf0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" studied saw increases, but there were plenty that lost a significant percentage of their population."}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Bringing up the rear was Houma, Louisiana, which","_key":"a1b083b6b6e00","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" lost 2.9% of its population","_key":"de52ab194149"},{"marks":[],"text":" in one year. It was one of three Louisiana metro areas in the bottom 10.","_key":"3a35a6f9c8a2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7fd87ff8d080"}],"category":"us-news","_rev":"FmA2Rjw7J9QUQYhZBXiKp3","publishDate":"2024-03-22","summary":"A popular retirement destination topped the list.","visibility":"true","image":{"hotspot":{"width":0.8390410958904105,"x":0.5753424657534245,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"_id":"image-aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000-jpg","sha1hash":"aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac","size":2637211,"_updatedAt":"2024-03-21T22:42:52Z","mimeType":"image/jpeg","_rev":"FmA2Rjw7J9QUQYhZBXiE1t","description":"Welcome to Florida sign in Yulee, Florida, United States on November 3, 2023. Welcome to Florida sign erected along Interstate 95 South coming in from Georgia.","creditLine":"Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock","assetId":"aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac","originalFilename":"sstk-14183641a.jpg","extension":"jpg","uploadId":"uZtmmcG26coqfIN6qbpmHSzT88DLr8mG","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-03-21T22:42:52Z","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"background":"#c1ddf7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.33},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#14242c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"background":"#aabac4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.91},"vibrant":{"population":0.04,"background":"#3a86c6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":8.38,"background":"#647378","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#344c64","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"population":8.38,"background":"#647378","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":4000,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":6000},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VgHoj|%Mt7xuWC_4tRRjxut8-;RkNGj@R*ayRjbIayWW"}},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0}},"_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-03-21T22:44:11Z","_updatedAt":"2024-03-21T22:44:11Z"},{"visibility":"true","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2024-03-12T23:10:50Z","image":{"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.9306147532858869,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9452054794520548,"x":0.49486301369863006,"y":0.4776975992704637},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"mimeType":"image/jpeg","originalFilename":"sstk-14386916a.jpg","metadata":{"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAOABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUDBAYH/8QAIxAAAQMDBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFEgYRFDEVIjNBgf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIE/8QAGhEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECITEDEf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A7hLX6iqJqxtBTwYiTGJ8h9QB2VHGdZEHIWwH9VvR8zpXXYO6jrHsaB1stE1VLpWIllC9F1pF14Y8mafkZH4utvpCZoQb9Ekf/9k=","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5000,"aspectRatio":1.4455044810638913,"height":3459},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VTPH5=M{adRjaxIVtRxuozt7%Lofayj[WC~pj?RjjsRj","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#44443a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.09,"background":"#5e7ea3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#a4d9f4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.01},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.07,"background":"#072c7d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#a1bdcf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.25},"vibrant":{"background":"#2258af","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.07},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.09,"background":"#5e7ea3"}}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459.jpg","size":2270874,"_updatedAt":"2024-03-12T23:09:17Z","_rev":"bkI29jzjU7cKTX5jQLo9Jf","description":"A bird is perched on a stick near the Boeing sign on the wall of the Boeing Distribution Services Inc. HQ in Hialeah, Florida, USA, 12 March 2024. According to officials in Charleston, South Carolina, John Barnett, a former Boeing employee known for raising concerns about the company's production standards, was found dead on 09 March 2024. The Charleston County Coroner's Office confirmed the identity of the deceased and that his death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-03-12T23:09:17Z","creditLine":"CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock","assetId":"7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b","_id":"image-7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459-jpg","extension":"jpg","uploadId":"mYZxobDzpjvxrSwW9ZoqCSmowqIxvayE"}},"body":[{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/boeing-737-max-8-all-about-the-aircraft-flight-ban-and-investigations/","_key":"4a5cd8f29305","_type":"link"},{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1237262132/why-flying-safe-united-airlines-boeing","_key":"0f49a15c86f4"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The air travel industry — and one manufacturer in particular — has been under tremendous scrutiny in recent months after a series of troubling mid-air mishaps. Years after serious safety concerns forced the ","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["4a5cd8f29305"],"text":"grounding","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a21"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, the company has weathered numerous ","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a22"},{"_type":"span","marks":["0f49a15c86f4"],"text":"near-misses","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a23"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" over the past few weeks","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a24"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" including a door plug failure","_key":"2faaafd76a5b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that necessitated an emergency landing.","_key":"30f04396b55c"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c8c18cec86f5"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1238033573/boeing-whistleblower-john-barnett-dead","_key":"61ec97947566"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"John Barnett, who previously worked as a quality control manager for Boeing, ","_key":"c84e40743c2c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["61ec97947566"],"text":"spoke out","_key":"c84e40743c2c1"},{"text":" publicly in an effort to bring attention to what he saw as serious oversights that could endanger passengers.","_key":"c84e40743c2c2","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7760bc193bf6"},{"_key":"8f1025a14d7e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What did he say?","_key":"ab8d6f7014010"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"The 62-year-old whistleblower began sharing his concerns as far back as 2019, detailing several issues he identified during the production phase of Boeing’s aircraft.","_key":"ab8219ee21540","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9417c8458813"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Among the most notable ","_key":"7bccc4500e430"},{"marks":["1eb648c2a503"],"text":"claims","_key":"7bccc4500e431","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" were:","_key":"7bccc4500e432"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bb93b8cdc6e9","markDefs":[{"_key":"1eb648c2a503","_type":"link","href":"https://globalnews.ca/news/10353532/boeing-whistleblower-dead-john-barnett-lawsuit/"}]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Metal shavings","_key":"52434f2ebee90","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that posed a risk to integral wiring systems","_key":"42faf8d888cd"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ff668e11cbf1"},{"style":"normal","_key":"43e921a07c9b","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"An","_key":"38ac94ec40ce0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" inadequate process","_key":"eed837292a9d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to track defective parts","_key":"85f1c71ec829"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"a83fc4ba8766","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A","_key":"8ea0b323897d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" failure rate of up to 25%","_key":"501ef9c8dcec","_type":"span"},{"text":" for oxygen mask deployment","_key":"3532594da8b7","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"18d7fc1481b40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"More recently, he provided testimony as part of an ongoing lawsuit against the company. Just one day after he participated in a related deposition, he was found dead inside his vehicle."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f198babdbdb6"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What were the circumstances?","_key":"a145597be7fd0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9f6bb51d5a57","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"8b19943905af","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Authorities in Charleston, South Carolina, confirmed that Barnett’s body was discovered on Saturday in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn. Officers were dispatched to the location after being contacted by individuals who had been unable to get in touch with him.","_key":"478ba71d8c460"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"f608e1db96b3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“","_key":"0b19531b6f670"},{"_key":"b2edab015052","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"He was pronounced dead at the scene"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” a police report confirmed, citing the apparent cause as “a gunshot wound to the head.”","_key":"f620ba6fdda6"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4dfd06bc39f2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The timing was seen as suspicious and sparked conspiracy theories, but the evidence seems to indicate that his fatal injury was self-inflicted.","_key":"55f7bbb2ceff0"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Boeing issued a statement in light of the news, asserting: “We are saddened by Mr. Barnett’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”","_key":"7b27abadaa010"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d2edff5b6085","markDefs":[]}],"summary":"His body was discovered the day after his latest testimony.","_rev":"bkI29jzjU7cKTX5jQLoxdz","title":"Whistleblower Found Dead After Sounding The Alarm About Boeing Jets","_type":"story","id":"yFRRug8r","_createdAt":"2024-03-12T23:10:50Z","category":"us-news","slug":"/story/2024/03/whistleblower-found-dead-after-sounding-the-alarm-about-boeing-jets","publishDate":"2024-03-13","_id":"4cedefe0-8c50-4100-a696-94ad0e6f03ae"}]