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Taking some risk could lead to best vacation travel deals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

There’s still time to book that summer vacation, but to get the best deals, you might have to get creative.According to Consumers’ Checkbook executive editor Kevin Brasler, there aren’t too many ways to save and shopping around may be a waste of time.“You can shop until you drop but overall you’re going to see mostly the same prices from place to place,” Brasler said.To find real bargains, Brasler said be flexible and patient. The earlier you can plan, the more time you have to identify deals.“We found that in many major vacation destinations, just leaving yourself flexibility in terms of what hotel chain you book at or which property or even changing dates could save you hundreds a night.”There are also other ways, according to Brasler, that require a little bit of a gamble, such as booking a nonrefundable stay.“There’s some risks here,” he said. “If you can’t make the trip, you’re going to lose that money. The good thing is we found that most hotel stays, they wo...

Lucas Glover stays hot with new long putter, leads Barbasol Championship with first-round 63

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Lucas Glover continued the hot streak that began when he switched to a long putter, shooting a 9-under 63 on Thursday for a one-shot lead in the Barbasol Championship.The 43-year-old Glover extended his run of consecutive rounds in the 60s to nine. After struggling with his putting for years, the 2009 U.S. Open champion began using the broomstick two weeks ago at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and finished tied for fourth. He followed that with a tie for sixth last week at the John Deere Classic.“Just got confidence in the putting and making some of those mid-range putts and very comfortable over the short ones again,” Glover said. “Anytime you’re putting well it takes pressure off the rest of your game. You don’t feel so much pressure to hit it perfect, which is not possible.”Fellow PGA Tour veterans Ryan Moore and Ryan Armour each shot 64 at Keene Trace Club.Glover made six birdies on the front nine to turn in 5-under 31. Then he holed his approach from 138 ...

Venezuela: observadores electorales europeos no podrán estar presentes en las elecciones presidenciales de 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

(CNN Español) — Diputados de la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela aprobaron este jueves un acuerdo en repudio a una resolución del Parlamento Europeo que condena la inhabilitación para ejercer cargos públicos a varios políticos que buscan la presidencia del país.En respuesta a la resolución que la Eurocámara aprobó este miércoles, el presidente de la Asamblea Nacional de Venezuela, Jorge Rodríguez, dijo que esa institución no permitirá la presencia de la misión de observación electoral de Europa durante el proceso electoral de 2024.OPINIÓN | Jorge Castañeda sobre inhabilitaciones en Venezuela: Maduro no quiere negociar“Aquí no va a venir ninguna misión de observación de Europa mientras nosotros seamos los representantes del Estado venezolano”, afirmó Rodríguez ante el pleno.Por su parte, el legislador que presentó el proyecto de repudio a la resolución del Parlamento Europeo, Rodolfo Sanz, les pidió a los eurodiputados que “dejen quieta a Venezuela, porque este ...

Denver police safety plan for mega event weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) – The Denver Police Department is ready with a plan to keep the downtown area safe during a huge weekend that will draw hundreds of thousands to four major events.Taylor Swift concerts are at Empower Field on Friday and Saturday nights. The Colorado Rockies take on the New York Yankees at Coors Field, and the Cirque du Soleil big tent show is located at Ball Area. And String Cheese Incident is playing three nights of shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Not every fan will get a chance to see their favorite music icon.“I was hoping to get Taylor Swift tickets but they're sold out,” said Misty. Taylor Swift in Denver: 5 things you need to know before the Eras Tour Many of those who landed tickets will crowd Empower Field, enjoy the show then merge with crowds from the Rockies games and other events. With less than two miles between the Cirque du Soleil big tent at Ball Arena and Denver's stadiums streets, bars and restaurants will be jam-packed.“We are here from Germany, e...

Group launches effort to cap increases in property tax revenue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Families across Colorado are still feeling the effects of high property tax rates that left people in sticker shock this past spring. A measure designed to bring a slight decrease to the state's assessment rate is on the ballot this year but that proposal will use some Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) dollars if passed. Now, one group is gaining signatures in an effort to make sure Coloradans don't ever see those increases again.There have been a few proposals raised this year to address high property tax. The new proposal is one you could end up voting on next year. How do Colorado property taxes stack against the rest of the US? "This is really a response to the lack of leadership at the Capitol to deal with this problem and to cap property taxes," FOX31 Political Analyst Michael Fields said.Fields is also the senior advisor of Advance Colorado Action, a conservative think tank. He has some experience with ballot propositions. FOX31 told you about one earlier thi...

'I'm never doing drugs again,' Man arrested after Caesars Palace standoff speaks from jail

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- Having time in jail to think about his actions, the 35-year-old man arrested for barricading himself in a hotel room, holding a woman hostage, and throwing furniture from a Strip hotel window is apologizing.“I thought the furniture was pretty, uh, pretty worn out and I just thought I was going to do everyone a favor by throwing it out the window,” Matthew Mannix of Golden, Colorado said from the Clark County Detention Center. Caesars Palace hostage standoff suspect had warrant for arrest in Jeffco Matthew Mannix of Golden, Colorado speaks to 8 News Now from the Clark County Detention Center. Matthew Mannix of Golden, Colorado speaks to 8 News Now from the Clark County Detention Center. Matthew Mannix of Golden, Colorado speaks to 8 News Now from the Clark County Detention Center.Mannix agreed to an interview with 8 News Now from jail. On Thursday, he agreed to be extradited to Colorado for charges he faces there.He is also facing several charges in Clark Count...

‘I wanna go monkey hunting!!’: BSO investigating online death threats against colony of wild vervet monkeys

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

Online death threats targeting a well-known colony of South Florida monkeys has a scientist scared and police investigating. Karen Hensel has tonight’s 7 Investigates.Their names are Bella, Andor and Spike. Three of the 40 wild, vervet monkeys living near the Fort Lauderdale airport.They have been here since the 1940s, when their ancestors escaped a Dania Beach research facility.But recently, they have become the target of death threats posted on Facebook.One person wrote: “I am planning on putting out some fruit cups, with rat poison for the monkeys!”Another commented: “I wanna go monkey hunting!!” To which someone replied: “I’m down, let’s roll at dawn.”Dr. Missy Williams, biologist: “I was appalled.”Dr. Missy Williams is a biologist who has studied monkeys extensively.Dr. Missy Williams: “Primates are highly social in nature, so each group does have a group of females that are all related. So you have grandma...

Miami Beach Police intervention specialists coax man threatening suicide off roof edge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

Two Miami Beach Police officers are being hailed as heroes after they talked a man out of making a deadly decision six stories above ground.Desperation played out on top of a building located at 1041 Collins Ave., Wednesday.Body-worn camera video and video from Only in Dade captured the man, whose legs at one point were dangling from the edge of the roof, as he threatened to take his own life.He would be up there for hours, as were the Miami Beach Police officers tasked with talking him down.“As I was coming up, I could hear him yelling,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Julio Blanco.It’s in situations like this when the police department’s crisis intervention specialists are called.“We were talking to him for an hour,” said Miami Beach Police Officer Noel Castillo.Castillo is the lead trainer for the Hostage Negotiation Team.“When we first got here, his feet were over the edge,” said Blanco.Blanco is a 20-year veteran with the Hostage ...

Swedish government tested by far-right alliance

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

STOCKHOLM — The Swedish government has a far-right problem.For Sweden’s minority center-right coalition, the six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union meant shepherding through key EU policy initiatives, including the Fit for 55 climate package and the landmark Migration Pact.For its supposed allies, the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), it meant a chance to attack those initiatives at every opportunity and remind Swedish voters of its own Euroskeptic credentials.And even as the EU presidency passed to Spain on July 1, SD seems intent on continuing to challenge Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson over Sweden’s relationship with the EU.“The Sweden Democrats want to reform the union and repatriate powers,” Charlie Weimers, an SD member of the European Parliament, told POLITICO. “We want many more decisions taken at the national level. Alternatively, we want many more opt outs for Sweden.”An opt out in justice and home affairs, for example, would enable Sweden to act ou...

Sportswashing allows autocrats to burnish their reputations — and leaves a stain on hosts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:38 GMT

Alex King is a freelance journalist writing about climate change, employment and politics.Given that Manchester City just won the Champions League for the first time in its history, it might sound like a strange time to argue that Abu Dhabi’s purchase of the club has had damaging impact on the city.But that’s the conclusion of “Easy Cities To Buy” — a new report examining the costs cities pay when autocratic states buy their football clubs. A comparative study of the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates’ takeover of Manchester City in 2008 and the Saudi-led Public Investment Forum’s (PIF) takeover of Newcastle United in 2021, it shows how sportswashing projects can not only burnish the reputations of these states, but also undermine the institutions that are meant to sustain local democracy in their host cities.In both Manchester and Newcastle, local political leaders have largely turned a blind eye to the dismal human rights records of their Gulf state partners, ranging from w...