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Are open houses no longer relevant in a post-pandemic world?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

In 2002, 16% of homebuyers identified their new homes by attending an open house. The National Association of Realtors 2022 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers report shows that two decades later that number plummeted to 4%.The coronavirus pandemic further solidified the declining popularity of open houses as more buyers turn to online searches to find their dream homes.Data from the report states only 5% of buyers frequently use open houses, while 23% occasionally do and 72% rarely do.Furthermore, when asked if an open house is a valuable source of information during a home search, only 10% say they’re very useful, whereas 22% say somewhat useful, and 68% state they aren’t useful.Britta Nancarrow with West + Main says it may be time to end the practice.“Unless you can advertise them well, open houses may not generate much traffic,” she says. “The era of just putting up the garage sale style sign is over.”Esperanza Wardroup with West + Main says ha...

Van Gundy, Kolber, Rose and Young are among roughly 20 ESPN personalities laid off

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Jeff Van Gundy, Suzy Kolber, Jalen Rose and Steve Young are among roughly 20 ESPN commentators and reporters who were laid off on Friday as part of job cuts by the network.ESPN had planned this additional round involving on-air talent to prevent further reductions to off-air staff after two rounds of mandated cuts by its corporate owner, the Walt Disney Company.Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in February that the company would reduce 7,000 jobs either through not filling positions or layoffs.Friday’s announcement resembled what happened in April of 2017, when reporters and hosts were informed at one time that they would no longer be on the air.“Given the current environment, ESPN has determined it necessary to identify some additional cost savings in the area of public-facing commentator salaries, and that process has begun. This exercise will include a small group of job cuts in the short-term and an ongoing focus on managing costs when we negotiate individual contract re...

What Colorado student loan borrowers should do after Supreme Court’s rejection of debt cancellation

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Kelsey Lesco, Colorado’s student loan ombudsperson, said the 796,900 Coloradans with federal student loan debt who are wondering what to do following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rejection of President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel or reduce federal student debt for millions should start by following a few simple steps.1. Borrowers should identify who their student loan servicers are, Lesco said. During the pandemic when many student loan payment plans were paused, Lesco said about 10 million borrowers had their loans transferred to a new servicer. To figure out which servicer their loans belong to, borrowers can go to studentaid.gov.2. Make sure your contact information is up to date with your borrower and the Federal Student Aid Office of the U.S. Department of Education. Borrowers can expect updates from the federal office and the loan servicer with important information regarding loans, so Lesco said it’s crucial to provide correct mailing or email addresses.3. ...

Electrical equipment catches fire on Warner Bros. lot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

A transformer caught fire at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, causing a thick cloud of black smoke to fill the air Friday afternoon. The fire was first reported around 1:40 p.m. at the movie studio lot located at 4300 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank.The fire was knocked down about 20 minutes after fire crews arrived, officials said. The source of the smoke appeared to be an electrical transformer located atop a studio building. Smoke emanates from a piece of electrical equipment that caught on fire at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank on June 30, 2023. (KTLA)Video from Sky5 showed firefighters on the roof of the building with light smoke emanating from what appeared to be the involved transformer. Prior to the fire being snuffed out, large clouds of black smoke were visible across much of the San Fernando Valley. These employees were let go from ESPN No injuries were reported and no buildings were damaged, according to fire officials. The cause of the fire is under investigation.Fires on s...

California bacon law takes effect

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

A California law approved by voters that promises to get breeding pigs out of narrow cages that prevent them from standing or turning will finally take effect Saturday, after years of delays and warnings that the rules could lead to price spikes and pork shortages.But it will be six months before California grocery shoppers can be sure that pork chops they buy under the new law will be from a pig whose mother wasn’t confined in a so-called gestation crate.That’s because while the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law, the state recently agreed to allow pork slaughtered before July 1 to be sold in California markets and restaurants for the rest of the year. That decision gives farmers and grocery stores time to adjust. But it's exasperating to supporters of the new rules that the effective implementation of the law would again be delayed — four years after voters approved it. California researcher gunned down in Mexico “This development compounds the instability and confusion in the ma...

Rider Dead, Two Injured in Motorcycle Crash on 605 Freeway [Lakewood, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Two-Vehicle Collision Near South Street Left Motorcyclist DeadLAKEWOOD, CA (June 30, 2023) – Early Saturday morning, a motorcycle crash on 605 Freeway left a rider dead and two other people injured.The fatal incident happened around 3:20 a.m. at the southbound San Gabriel River (605) Freeway, north of South Street.According to the report, a vehicle hit the motorcyclist and overturned in the roadway. However, the circumstances that led up to the collision of the two vehicles remain unclear.Unfortunately, paramedics declared the motorcyclist dead at the scene. Responding units also transported two people to Long Beach Memorial Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries.At this time, authorities have not disclosed the identity of the deceased motorcyclist, pending notification from their next of kin.No further details regarding the 605 Freeway motorcycle crash have been released to the public. Lakewood Officials will provide more information once available.Sincere sympa...

The Three Pursuits: Bill Xiang’s Journey from Salesman to Rising Beauty Industry Star

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Beauty is big business. The US beauty and personal care market is projected to bring in a revenue of $92.8 billionin 2023, and is expected to grow by around 2.5% annually for the next five years. Many new brands have emerged in recent years, as entrepreneurs have seen the market’s potential and have thrown their hats in the ring. Among them is Bill Xiang, CEO of beauty brands Lorde + Belle and RealHer, who shared his inspiring story in becoming one of the rising stars of the US beauty industry, involving three major life pursuits.Bill was born in Wenzhou, China to a low-income family. His father, who was a carpenter, struggled to make ends meet. The moment Bill was old enough to comprehend his family’s financial situation, he promised himself that he would work hard to change their fortunes, a phase of his life he calls the pursuit of money. He started as a salesman for his father’s carpentry business and later, sold computer parts to help fund his college studies....

Vasaro Presents Pur Fae Swim Show Teaser: Revolutionizing Swimwear with Deep-V Technology

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Models Will Strut Down the Runway and Pull a Piece of Fabric Bottom Off to Show How the Designer will Solve Diaper Butt Crisis In the world of swimwear fashion, innovation is the driving force that propels boundaries and captivates audiences. Miami Swim Week is about to witness a game-changing event on July 7th, 2023 at 9:12 pm with affordable luxury line Vasaro’s exclusive sneak peek into the highly anticipated Pur Fae Swim show. This showcase promises to pioneer the industry through avant-garde designs and a unique approach to fashion. Designer Armani Sadeghi introduces the world to the groundbreaking Deep-V technology, tackling the long-standing issue of “diaper butt” in bikinis. Let’s delve into the details of this extraordinary event that unites fashion, science, and the power of diversity.**Diaper Butt No More: The Deep-V Patent- Pending Technology**Vasaro is determined to combat the age-old problem of “diaper butt” that plagues bikini weare...

James Allan Willis, Patricio Cabrera Jr. Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash on Highway 1 [San Mateo, CA]

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Astrid Willis Injured after a Deadly Two-Vehicle Accident near Bean Hollow State BeachSAN MATEO, CA (June 30, 2023) – Tuesday evening, a two-vehicle crash claimed the lives of James Allan Willis and Patricio Cabrera Jr.The incident happened on May 30th, shortly before 6:40 p.m., on Highway 1 near Bean Hollow State Beach.According to the police, a 2022 Tesla driven by driven by Cabrera Jr. and a Subaru driven by Willis, with passenger Astrid Willis, were involved in a crash. Reports state that the Tesla was headed southbound on the highway and the Subaru was headed northbound when one of the vehicles crossed the double yellow. As a result, the vehicles crashed head-on. The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to roll down an embankment into a body of water.Emergency crews arrived to the site of the collision shortly after. There, they found the Tesla fully immersed and the Subaru half-submerged.Officials pronounced 66-year-old James Allan Willis, of Davenport and 29-yea...

Apps for Immigrants: Navigating a New Country Easily

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:39 GMT

Immigrants face significant hurdles, especially when they’ve just settled into a new country. Some of the common challenges immigrants encounter include language barriers, cultural differences, lack of or limited employment opportunities, and a sense of isolation.However, modern technology has come a long way in helping immigrants overcome such challenges. For instance, access to the internet and apps, such as US immigration apps, can provide them with the information or tools they need to learn more about their destination countries pre-migration. Through digital connectivity, they can stay connected to their families back home and even send them financial support.In this article, we’ll explore some useful apps for immigrants that can help them navigate a new country easily.Top-Up ConnectivitySmartphones have become essential for migrants, helping them to stay connected with their loved ones back home. It also lets them look up vital information that can help with their journey. Mo...