What is 'funflation'? And what does Taylor Swift have to do with it?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

What is 'funflation'? And what does Taylor Swift have to do with it? (NEXSTAR) — As Americans continue dealing with inflation in their everyday lives, a new term related to higher costs/lower gains is vexing many business owners. The new term is called "funflation" — but what does it mean exactly?"Funflation" is a word economists are using to refer to a current trend that bucks traditional consumer behavior during times of inflation. Historically, consumers have tended to cut back overall and spend only on necessary items, like replacing a washing machine or getting a new car. As explained by the New York Times, however, consumers chose to keep spending money on "fun" experiences (not products) through summer 2023. Terrell Owens, NFL Hall of Famer, hit by car in California After several years of COVID-19 shutdowns or limited events, many economists and bankers say data shows people are spending money on experiences they might have missed during lockdowns or illness.It's part of the reason the live entertainment industry is currently booming — espec...

'Kids were banging on the windows': Chaotic Florida school bus incident caught on video

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

'Kids were banging on the windows': Chaotic Florida school bus incident caught on video TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — An altercation at a bus stop led to early morning chaos for students and parents in Tampa, Florida. The Hillsborough School District said bad behavior by parents was to blame, but parents are blaming the bus driver. Parents of students at Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary School contacted Nexstar's WFLA after witnessing a confrontation between a father and a bus driver at a bus stop before their children were dropped off at school. "He [the father] got on the bus because his daughters wouldn't sit down,” one parent, Lakeisha Brown, recalled. “He told his kids to sit down (and) the bus driver started telling him, 'Hey, you can't be on the bus. It's trespassing.'" Christopher and Roberta Laundrie send settlement proposal to Gabby Petito’s parents Brown said the driver and the parent started arguing. The father reportedly yelled profanities, according to a police report, then got off the bus. A video shows the bus driver close the doors and drive off for a moment, t...

Sorry, Barbie? SAG-AFTRA issues Halloween costume rules amid strike

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

Sorry, Barbie? SAG-AFTRA issues Halloween costume rules amid strike (NEXSTAR/KTLA) – SAG-AFTRA is instructing members to be mindful of their Halloween costumes lest they "inadvertently break strike rules" during the actors' strike.On Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA posted an infographic containing its costume guidelines for striking actors, which included "strike-friendly tips and tricks" for avoiding any costumes that would promote, or take inspiration from struck work.The infographic did not provide any examples of costumes to avoid, but instead suggested several safe choices."Choose costumes inspired by generalized characters and figures (ghost, zombie, spider, etc.)," one section reads."Dress up as characters from non-struck content, like an animated TV show," another tip suggests.SAG-AFTRA further instructed members to not even post any social-media photos of other people in costume, if those costumes are "inspired" by struck shows or movies. A-list actors offer $150M to end SAG strike A representative for SAG-AFTRA was not immediately available to spec...

DePaul brings back a legend to its athletic department

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

DePaul brings back a legend to its athletic department CHICAGO — One of the greatest players in the history of DePaul athletics is making a return to the school to take a new position. Chicago native Mark Aguirre, who was a star for the Blue Demons in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is returning to the school to be a special assistant to athletic director DeWayne Peevy. The role begins immediately for a player who earned accolades in high school and college in Chicago before a lengthy NBA career in Dallas, Detroit, and Los Angeles. "It's such an honor to partner and work alongside such a distinguished alumnus as Mark," said Peevy in a statement released by the school. "As we have gotten to know each other over the past few years, it's been apparent we are aligned in our vision for DePaul University, and specifically the athletics department. "I look forward to working more closely with Mark to develop a championship experience in Lincoln Park for our athletes, and jointly pursue community and donor engagement initiatives that allow us ...

Bullet goes through windshield, knocks off driver's glasses

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

Bullet goes through windshield, knocks off driver's glasses MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WREG) - A man is lucky to be alive after a bullet came through his windshield and knocked off his glasses while he was driving in Memphis Monday night.The victim told police he heard several gunshots and realized a bullet had come through his windshield.Driver's windshield hit by bullet on Poplar Avenue Monday night (submitted photos)The driver said he heard a very loud noise, noticed his glasses were gone, and ultimately saw the bullet hole.The victim drove to a nearby restaurant for help. ‘Could have been a lot worse’: Police hail NJ school bus driver as ‘hero’ after brakes fail A customer snapped pictures of the damage showing the bullet had gone all the way through the car and exited through the rear windshield.A bullet went through the rear windshield of a car in Memphis while the driver was operating the vehicle. (Submitted photo)Memphis police responded to the shooting on Monday night. (Submitted)According to witnesses, the victim was not hurt, but shaken u...

New 'Ferrari' trailer teases Adam Driver’s performance as Enzo

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

New 'Ferrari' trailer teases Adam Driver’s performance as Enzo (Motor Authority) -- A movie about Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari that’s been decades in the planning is finally coming to theaters on Dec. 25, and a new trailer has just been released.It follows the first trailer released in August, but this time it has some dialog, giving us our first real taste of Adam Driver’s performance as Il Commendatore.The Michael Mann-directed “Ferrari” focuses on Ferrari’s life during the highly difficult year of 1957, when he was close to 60 years of age, hence the gray hair on Driver.In that year, a Ferrari 335 S race car lost a tire during the Mille Miglia. The car careened into a crowd where it killed the driver, co-driver, and nine spectators, many of whom were children. Ferrari, still mourning from the death of his first son Dino the year earlier, and teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, was put on trial for manslaughter but the case was ultimately dismissed.The movie also stars Penélope Cruz and Shailene Woodley, playing the roles of F...

Astros pull even in ALCS with 10-3 win over Rangers in Game 4

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

Astros pull even in ALCS with 10-3 win over Rangers in Game 4 ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Houston manager Dusty Baker and third baseman Alex Bregman really have no explanation for why the Astros have been so good in that other retractable-roof stadium in Texas.“I have no clue, to be honest with you,” Bregman said. “But I think the focus has been really good in that clubhouse.”They do know the 250-mile trip north and another big-scoring road game against the Rangers has pulled Houston even in the AL Championship Series.José Abreu hit a three-run homer right after Yordan Alvarez’s go-ahead sacrifice fly, and the Astros rolled to a 10-3 victory in Game 4 on Thursday night. They led 3-0 only four batters into the game, and responded immediately after Texas tied it on Corey Seager’s opposite-field homer in the third inning.Adolis García also homered for the wild-card Rangers, who have dropped two games in a row at home after starting this postseason with seven consecutive wins — six on the road. That included sweeps of the AL’s two winningest...

High School Football: Check out the Class 6A, 32-team state playoff bracket

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

High School Football: Check out the Class 6A, 32-team state playoff bracket Class 6A’s March Madness style, 32-team bracket dropped Friday morning, setting the stage for next week’s first round.Lakeville South, Centennial, Stillwater and Eden Prairie received the No. 1 seeds, as expected.Teams are seeded by section, and then the seeds are scrambled into four separate quadrants of a full-on, single elimination bracket. So a No. 4 seed from one section plays a No. 5 seed from another section, and so on. No teams from within the same section meet in the first round.The Cougars nabbed the top spot in its section by virtue of its mid-September victory over rival Lakeville North. At first glance, that victory carries a lot of weight. As Lakeville South ended up on the opposite side of the bracket as Lakeville North, top-ranked Eden Prairie and defending state champion Maple Grove, and wouldn’t play any of those teams until a potential state championship game.Lakeville North, meanwhile, appears to be on a collision course with Eden Prairie in the...

Twins position breakdown: catcher

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

Twins position breakdown: catcher The Twins knew they needed another catcher to pair with Ryan Jeffers last offseason and went out and addressed that need by signing veteran Christian Vázquez to a three-year, $30 million deal.When the season began, Vázquez was starting two out of every three games. But Jeffers’ performance led the Twins into a fairly even playing time split for most of the season, and by the time the postseason rolled around, Vázquez never even saw the field.The Twins seem to prefer having two catchers share the duties to keep both of them fresh so as they move into next year, with both under contract, a similar split seems like the likely path moving forward.2023 RECAPOn the day that the Twins officially signed Vázquez last December, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said that the two-time World Series-winning backstop would take on “primary duties” behind the plate. And in the first month of the season, he did, playing in 20 games to Jeffers’ 12.But a strong offensive season from Jeffe...

Police arrest alleged Northeastern Fine Jewelry thief

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:04:38 GMT

Police arrest alleged Northeastern Fine Jewelry thief GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A 34-year-old was arrested for allegedly breaking into Northeastern Fine Jewelry and stealing over $12,000 worth of merchandise. Glens Falls Police charged Bobby Wells with burglary in the third degree, grand larceny in the third degree, and criminal mischief in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police say Wells broke into the store on August 12th and broke a glass display case. He was arraigned in Glens Falls City Court on October 6 and remanded to the Warren County Jail. Wells was already in the custody of the jail after police arrested him on September 7 for a separate incident. Police say Wells had multiple stolen credit cards and used them to make purchases at Lukoil in Glens Falls.