[{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:47Z","_type":"story","title":"Here’s How Three States Are Taking On The 'Squatting' Issue","_rev":"ReC8dwFPgTpUpdBZu35fG6","visibility":"true","category":"us-news","publishDate":"2024-06-22","_createdAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:47Z","body":[{"markDefs":[],"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"},{"style":"normal","_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"},{"_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"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In ","_key":"c0e9ffbb64b50"},{"_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"}]},{"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"}],"_type":"block"},{"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","style":"normal","_key":"53cdfeae223c","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"984d76e6afce","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Florida","_key":"8c2cf7196ada0"},{"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","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f3ddcec60f210","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Georgia"},{"_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.”","_key":"20135652c452"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4d69da688769","listItem":"bullet"},{"style":"normal","_key":"6e90919a0ec8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Other states, from Pennsylvania to Texas, are in various stages of advancing bills aimed at bolstering homeowners’ rights.","_key":"0123ebb988d60"}],"_type":"block"}],"_id":"eae2f9a1-039a-4a26-bd2c-334afc8fa2c7","slug":"/story/2024/06/heres-how-three-states-are-taking-on-the-squatting-issue","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_createdAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:14Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-21T21:19:14Z","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268.gif","size":1643846,"metadata":{"palette":{"dominant":{"background":"#96816c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.66},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.44,"background":"#4e3c2c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.66,"background":"#96816c"},"lightVibrant":{"population":4.34,"background":"#e9d0a2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.37,"background":"#4a3523","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#ad9979","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":4.34},"vibrant":{"population":3.33,"background":"#cbae81","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAALABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGAwT/xAAiEAACAgIBBAMBAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEABEFEhMhQQciMnH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADBP/EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMR/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCeciTUcjDpDBh49464rh57s09uabtiKP6Aj9Eesl70jRMojYgHW8ffGtqe1zLxWZXljUNpWOwMi6LkUrMg+FqnemHUsigA61hnFfYpesKhIUSHwP7hjEV//9k=","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.791044776119403,"height":268},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MAFOlf4oES~U58I]%0xYE3%1E2t6-nM|j?","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"uploadId":"747oA98yTdTKjjeDvFjeb2gGRP4Eng4B","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_id":"image-b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268-gif","assetId":"b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9","originalFilename":"3bfbf633-9ff2-48f2-83e8-bea967666dc5.gif","extension":"gif","_rev":"6yhpv8Ex8x74bdbddvO1uM","source":{"name":"Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"QWkQAJ3Cz4J1Jw12KE","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-45-QWkQAJ3Cz4J1Jw12KE"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b0f9f64ddf3648fd65e2b8133b33ce3d890c24f9-480x268.gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.8869863013698628,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"}},"summary":"The topic has been in the news quite a bit in recent months.","id":"439Vlhil"},{"body":[{"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":"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"},{"marks":["e076aa42f66e"],"text":"jumped","_key":"f299208f33b01","_type":"span"},{"_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"},{"_key":"dd89cfb0a82d","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"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":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Identifying the problem","_key":"b6ef4a10b6a60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cc43b60dc7d5"},{"_key":"b06a7400be44","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","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":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"Instead of the smooth experience she anticipated, Nielsen said","_key":"4d99538f77830","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"56012a62380c","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" multiple dates were unavailable"},{"_key":"5709c4fcafa1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". And that’s when she got the ball rolling on a lawsuit that was recently settled for nearly $10 million."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f6d78a08b727","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","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":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1ca13affc21b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c311ec23cba6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Analyzing the solution","_key":"454ac26b92bf0"}]},{"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"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_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"},{"_key":"e221861aeea4","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", and everyone else will have a check sent to their last known address."}]},{"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"},{"style":"normal","_key":"5d8601b2479a","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"}],"title":"Disney Agrees To Huge Settlement After ‘Dream Key’ Fails To Deliver On Promise","_id":"b649966a-ad08-4d8b-bed4-a0af79e5d739","image":{"attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"extension":"gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360.gif","size":872631,"assetId":"0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645","_updatedAt":"2024-06-17T00:30:00Z","originalFilename":"64afc366-ba98-4c81-925d-f1f897cc6701.gif","_rev":"ZwKZYKXB2p60DDsNNZwkPy","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","source":{"name":"I Love La Los Angeles GIF by Randy Newman","id":"YX17XY4ZwPQ6rXP663","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/randynewmanofficial-YX17XY4ZwPQ6rXP663"},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360.gif","_id":"image-0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645-480x360-gif","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":360},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VyI#.Z4:xvohWY.AM|ofofbIIVt6M_oIj[%MadRiodae","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"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":{"population":2.87,"background":"#a4a7d5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.56,"background":"#647cc6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":6.47,"background":"#849aea"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.16,"background":"#53533a"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#5465ac"}}},"uploadId":"9b2FR7chrPaTWvqOU7LkwJxZIBGADckY","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"0d81853f913eef69dc4fe39492809ff050e02645","_createdAt":"2024-06-17T00:30:00Z"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.8676470588235298,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image"},"_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-06-17","visibility":"true","summary":"It's a lot of money, but it'll be split up among more than 100,000 people.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_createdAt":"2024-06-17T00:29:07Z","_rev":"lcpR92NLTSrr3jqAz62Zrl","slug":"/story/2024/06/disney-agrees-to-huge-settlement-after-dream-key-fails-to-deliver-on-promise","category":"us-news","id":"qUEDDyFe","_updatedAt":"2024-06-17T00:31:19Z"},{"visibility":"true","_rev":"1ClLZjTXhZNCk6cpMecZqA","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-06-07","title":"Why The Federal Government Might Be Suing The Nation’s Biggest Booze Distributor","image":{"asset":{"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif","size":742380,"extension":"gif","uploadId":"LSuMRHsicSSp5sluSTvdm9UrZHYnZofy","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360.gif","originalFilename":"6bd7c68d-0c9b-4ef0-912d-081bfbc32707.gif","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"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":{"darkVibrant":{"background":"#5f420c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.92},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.16,"background":"#cdc8bc"},"vibrant":{"population":0.07,"background":"#ef790b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.84,"background":"#6a5438"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#6a5438","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.84},"muted":{"population":1.98,"background":"#a39056","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.69,"background":"#f5e459","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}}},"source":{"name":"lights store GIF by Royal Smith","id":"3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/lights-store-liquor-3o6vY4Kp6x68p2mPN6"},"_id":"image-aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463-480x360-gif","_rev":"1ClLZjTXhZNCk6cpMecSl3","assetId":"aa7f22b1aa6a7137eaad93521e1102820fb6e463","_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-06T18:43:05Z"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.47303921568627455,"height":0.9068627450980393},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"body":[{"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","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_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":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And the largest distributor currently operating in the U.S. is ","_key":"93d71bfdac790"},{"_key":"93d71bfdac791","_type":"span","marks":["6a55376a89bd"],"text":"accused"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of running afoul of regulations aimed at preventing the formation of monopolies.","_key":"93d71bfdac792"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_key":"09407289fce10","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A possible lawsuit"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"23652b655992","markDefs":[]},{"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 "},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"offered “secret kickbacks” and encouraged boycotts","_key":"c5d7b4f51964","_type":"span"},{"text":" to prevent rivals from gaining a foothold in the industry.","_key":"3e552a0422cd","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"90a8a90d3bd5"},{"children":[{"_key":"e532ae4366220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Here’s what sources are saying at this point:"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"94469ed9b014","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"841a25d37fec0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The company potentially "},{"_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"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It’s been","_key":"d4fc7e680b330"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" nearly a quarter of a century","_key":"3c74f128afd2"},{"marks":[],"text":" since prosecutors have cited the 1936 law in a case.","_key":"ee0493388e77","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d2a77957903e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[]},{"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","style":"normal","_key":"d5e9ee0c2d4c"},{"_key":"4c6b7a03e34b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"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":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A competitor’s claim","_key":"6916eb1ea02a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b8586980e365"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The latest legal dust-up stems from accusations from Provi, a significantly smaller alcohol distributor.","_key":"f1fec543ca470"},{"_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","_key":"f78b5ea484e1"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b96b0d606eeb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"79730ca4e0f70","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The two defendants in that suit petition to dismiss the case, but a judge denied that request late last month,"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" potentially paving the way","_key":"9ad8bc590aa3"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for FTC action.","_key":"401cba86a4c6"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"518d0ba6c146","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Since alcohol distribution is generally regulated at the state level, federal authorities","_key":"1b4ab1ec88e70"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" will face some headwind ","_key":"d9b538c273d0","_type":"span"},{"_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"}],"_type":"block"}],"summary":"A rarely used law could be cited in a forthcoming antitrust case.","slug":"/story/2024/06/why-the-federal-government-might-be-suing-the-nations-biggest-booze-distributor","_createdAt":"2024-06-06T18:44:38Z","category":"us-news","id":"dtQplOyd","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_updatedAt":"2024-06-06T18:44:38Z","_id":"e3edac36-1870-4217-9caa-817e024cf3cb"},{"title":"Disney Reaches Possible Multibillion-Dollar Investment Deal With Florida","slug":"/story/2024/06/disney-reaches-possible-multibilliondollar-investment-deal-with-florida","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-06-06","visibility":"true","_id":"83e9666e-bbf6-4d95-b3a2-5eedbc3e2e10","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"M2s1msmPv2k7xL075lU74N","_createdAt":"2024-06-05T23:07:22Z","_updatedAt":"2024-06-05T23:07:22Z","category":"us-news","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381.gif","uploadId":"ahFCBPDkogkANpCltUDg3QUr0sRn0Pml","assetId":"818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c","_updatedAt":"2024-04-30T22:10:37Z","originalFilename":"8e64bd3c-6fbe-47b4-bbf3-53a04d47fb25.gif","metadata":{"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","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":10.74,"background":"#514c31","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.18,"background":"#a9a74b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#acbcdc"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.32,"background":"#4f1305","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#a1adbf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":12.66},"vibrant":{"background":"#b9b452","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.3},"dominant":{"background":"#a1adbf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":12.66}}},"_rev":"QgZWDsp3V84SPoY0Xd27fx","_createdAt":"2024-04-30T22:10:37Z","_id":"image-818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c-500x381-gif","extension":"gif","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"818fe7674e4d908e513f648c90e8e2ad3bee308c","source":{"name":"mickey mouse vintage GIF","id":"O8UDqywC49kac","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/disney-vintage-picture-O8UDqywC49kac"},"size":959206},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":1,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9460347830352984}},"body":[{"_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"}],"children":[{"_key":"eb6f79d575f60","_type":"span","marks":[],"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" dispute between Disney and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis","_key":"bc29a87f3dca"},{"text":" in recent years, there still appears to be room for the “Happiest Place On Earth” to get even ","_key":"044a71adaa24","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["11ec7415c0f9"],"text":"happier","_key":"eb6f79d575f61"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"eb6f79d575f62"}]},{"_key":"53a0d81fadd3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A tentative agreement","_key":"727d8a3b01f10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1226fc021a28","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","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"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" $17 billion investment in the state","_key":"c7b659b9ac87","_type":"span"},{"_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"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"54d71cb78893"},{"_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"},{"text":" with nearly half that amount being invested over the next decade.","_key":"a0315f30f66f","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"Among the other provisions discussed as part of the ongoing negotiations is","_key":"f9ca009006ee0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" $10 million for housing ","_key":"4422f39a97a7","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"and credits related to damage to wetlands and endangered species.","_key":"8017dedd06b7"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e0a521c11371","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Burying the hatchet","_key":"103d02ddd72b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e24b9e636c7a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_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.","_key":"4baea16f79cb0"}],"_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"},{"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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"059626143933"}],"summary":"There might even be another major theme park opening up in the state.","id":"xM28Etie"},{"image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"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":{"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":{"background":"#9f6753","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.54},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#5c2c34"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.54,"background":"#9f6753","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#dbe4f2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":0.07},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.79,"background":"#5a3528","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281.gif","_id":"image-2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c-500x281-gif","mimeType":"image/gif","_updatedAt":"2024-05-29T23:27:14Z","_rev":"UfWHJrdEgAKMZIu23ekAX4","size":2454439,"assetId":"2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c","extension":"gif","uploadId":"rFObJE1v9omPLnNAZaPuaZBReg7N0QLT","sha1hash":"2b82d4abb4ae4380fe22296beffbd08eb2379c2c","source":{"name":"british bake off paul GIF by BBC","id":"l0MYO02NgfgFjYBvW","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/season-6-2015-bbc-l0MYO02NgfgFjYBvW"},"_createdAt":"2024-05-29T23:27:14Z","originalFilename":"aab24688-db00-42f6-83a0-9a5b6a93d399.gif"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9623287671232875,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1}},"visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2024/05/beware-the-invasion-of-the-super-pig","summary":"These massive beasts appear poised to cross the border.","publishDate":"2024-05-30","id":"iRIdTToR","_updatedAt":"2024-05-29T23:28:36Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"UfWHJrdEgAKMZIu23ekBWf","_createdAt":"2024-05-29T23:28:36Z","_type":"story","category":"us-news","title":"Beware The Invasion Of The ‘Super Pig’ ","_id":"a6fe17f0-b722-48ac-9900-6a6370ea526b","body":[{"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"},{"marks":[],"text":" hogs that invade regions of North America where such beasts don’t typically roam, that’s a whole different story.","_key":"f87ab47d03f62","_type":"span"}],"_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":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"A new spin on an old story","_key":"aeb546a409900","_type":"span"}],"_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"},{"_key":"9c08feec224b","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"},{"_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"}]},{"_type":"block","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"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"An international incident","_key":"aadf1b8d0bbb0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3c8c9f15a782"},{"_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"},{"style":"normal","_key":"e799e34f6c78","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_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":"aa88edb742a30"},{"text":"highlights the massive risk","_key":"9bf8f175198c","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_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"}]},{"body":[{"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":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But in less than two months, the iconic hotel and casino will ","_key":"4c9b5d1fe5370"},{"_type":"span","marks":["07a1795a0048"],"text":"permanently","_key":"4c9b5d1fe5371"},{"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","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cb6a78192b1d","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Travel/mirage-las-vegas-closing-after-34-years/story?id=110303490","_key":"07a1795a0048"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a293199b1851","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What brought us here","_key":"be3a5b8fa2c50"}]},{"_type":"block","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"},{"text":" all casino operations will end ","_key":"29a5c63e688f","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"three days after that.","_key":"51c750adfa2c"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"e5b337c17b7a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d40b5a537b650","_type":"span","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 — "},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"like the MGM Grand, Luxor, and Excalibur","_key":"ff33e373e85d","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — soon made their debut in Sin City.","_key":"ddbb2467089a"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_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.","_key":"42b2d0f020d80"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b08ea37bc69a","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"What the future holds","_key":"fcd58860b8430","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"99f4178f3cde"},{"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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"97803456bbee"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"“The property will be reimagined and developed into a new integrated resort featuring","_key":"fa28d66c7f4e0","_type":"span"},{"_key":"31ee8e47a0f4","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a nearly 700 ft. guitar-shaped hotel"},{"_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":[{"_key":"b5ce58f633110","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Guitar Hotel Las Vegas are expected to open in 2027."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cd5a5794dd9c"}],"publishDate":"2024-05-17","title":"Sin City Is About To Lose A Major Landmark … Here’s Why ","_updatedAt":"2024-05-16T21:20:43Z","summary":"Las Vegas is changing, and this is just the latest proof. ","visibility":"true","image":{"asset":{"size":75377,"_id":"image-c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900-500x375-gif","extension":"gif","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.19,"background":"#602b34","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.17,"background":"#6eb1a9","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#f66c9c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.62,"background":"#5d0d18","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.17,"background":"#b4d7a8"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.1,"background":"#f2173b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":2.17,"background":"#b4d7a8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAPABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUHBP/EACMQAAEDBAEFAQEAAAAAAAAAAAMBAgQABQYREgcTImGBIUL/xAAWAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAH/xAAXEQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwCBYVhlxyPuGjBf2R/2rfF3rdNpnSjImtUoQNexdrpPzSUpxPOrpjwmRREUkBHcnA3rf2qnO6z2ZbE0kOFNZdOPHgr/AAT7RroeWG05ooJLASLJIAzeJBqrXJ7orbfrsa83Q06QxjSFXaoxNJRSUX//2Q==","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":500,"aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"height":375},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VFBzRPM|00%2RSDQxt%fIoRj00r]?aSx%K?[RQIBxur^"},"mimeType":"image/gif","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","_rev":"TrPpVOhlpnRSDfzu6a1Ucl","_updatedAt":"2023-06-12T22:45:13Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900-500x375.gif","uploadId":"0mWlF5l9Chnz9MuPGJKE4fV0kb6OMvkN","assetId":"c161be29e20cc75820bfc610aa42e633b8248900","_createdAt":"2023-06-12T22:45:13Z","originalFilename":"c8e6d8f5-2e4c-4438-a2c7-e7399f33f3ef.gif"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8750000000000003,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":0.9215686274509806},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"_rev":"YBM1ygjy3aIU2iuAhtbFye","_id":"2a2ecd70-52f7-4001-ab5b-c5ff77d05dbb","id":"jjr0DY82","slug":"/story/2024/05/sin-city-is-about-to-lose-a-major-landmark-heres-why","category":"us-news","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-05-16T20:58:25Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}},{"body":[{"_key":"bc8b0800fa72","markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["f2d35b85c1a3"],"text":"attention","_key":"9fd05831c52d1"},{"marks":[],"text":" these days.","_key":"9fd05831c52d2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9e4a0a3627e3","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/24153725/speed-limits-pedestrian-deaths-sammys-law-nyc","_key":"f2d35b85c1a3"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ae9a086f5117","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Drop and give me 20","_key":"cc2ef8441bd40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"688fde1322bb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_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 ","_key":"f97591656f5d0"},{"_key":"0482d13ec3f5","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"shouldn’t be any higher than 20"},{"_key":"31e7eda1fa99","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on most city streets."}],"_type":"block"},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" dropped the maximum speed ","_key":"fd7116ec284b"},{"text":"throughout much of the city and school zones statewide were limited to 20 mph or less.","_key":"fa7439c7fc63","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f2eaa9a2f2f9"},{"_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"},{"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Responding to tragedy","_key":"eb7bacce5d440","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a353348b8ed1","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"4671ebc72370","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"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some of the relevant stats show that:","_key":"5f373b0464c50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"19d0c9e60a7b"},{"markDefs":[],"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"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b87aecfcdca0","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"3a0e82c017f60","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A pedestrian hit at 30 mph is "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"70% more likely ","_key":"d733d97b78c6"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"to die than if he or she is hit at 25 mph.","_key":"d510ecfb6c74"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"_key":"17931b364558","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e3292490962c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"At 42 mph, a pedestrian has"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a 50% chance","_key":"4244df3282dc"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of being killed.","_key":"52f734bc9b02"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"0d7769109e8b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"4c7c832941120","_type":"span","marks":[],"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."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"title":"Not So Fast: Exploring The Effort To Lower The Nation’s Speed Limits","_id":"2d8fcc68-b00c-457a-853a-886fdf82fb27","slug":"/story/2024/05/not-so-fast-exploring-the-effort-to-lower-the-nations-speed-limits","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-05-14","category":"us-news","image":{"hotspot":{"height":0.9411722651741852,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8976234003656306,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358.gif","size":1373092,"_createdAt":"2024-05-13T20:49:19Z","_id":"image-89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358-gif","source":{"id":"xUySTDe5qllOS30Rfq","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/gilmoregirls-netflix-gilmore-girls-xUySTDe5qllOS30Rfq","name":"season 4 netflix GIF by Gilmore Girls "},"uploadId":"Afsf24y1ZKORvaXSuiYLFGCVzzXONlcQ","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f","extension":"gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f-480x358.gif","assetId":"89529754c5b637c50eb8e36587a0a8450c8dbc3f","_updatedAt":"2024-05-13T20:49:19Z","metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.3407821229050279,"height":358},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V4BCfg007#+d0dAo+Z?K0vxI005j+w?H$#tnI:R}=##k","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"population":0.72,"background":"#ada8dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#642c3f"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#d5a5c1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.05},"vibrant":{"population":0.65,"background":"#9097d0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":7.61,"background":"#a2687b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4e353b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.89},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.61,"background":"#a2687b"}}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","originalFilename":"412112b2-0d31-491a-a31a-ecac62a9d6f8.gif","_rev":"4iC5ZsZNZdYNHyHsiC4xbG"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0}},"visibility":"true","_createdAt":"2024-05-13T20:50:48Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"summary":"How fast is too fast on city streets? ","_updatedAt":"2024-05-13T20:50:48Z","_rev":"4iC5ZsZNZdYNHyHsiC585a","id":"7EPWGSao"},{"category":"us-news","_createdAt":"2024-04-24T23:18:16Z","_id":"a4d60bbf-db1b-45d2-8af8-441aff220649","slug":"/story/2024/04/npr-is-in-turmoil-will-its-new-president-make-things-better-or-worse","publishDate":"2024-04-25","title":"NPR Is In Turmoil. Will Its New President Make Things Better Or Worse?","summary":"Public radio has seen a big drop in the size of its audience recently.","body":[{"children":[{"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","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"text":"a reliable network with a loyal base","_key":"e0771ae034a9","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of listeners in communities nationwide.","_key":"c74fae0e7155"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a9612bb855e1","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[{"_key":"0e67d11f6472","_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/business/media/npr-uri-berliner-diversity.html"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That foundation is now showing some serious cracks, though, and much of it has been ","_key":"c19fc8469fdf0"},{"marks":["0e67d11f6472"],"text":"exposed","_key":"c19fc8469fdf1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in response to an article written by long-time NPR editor Uri Berliner.","_key":"c19fc8469fdf2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"45d3c7ec32db"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An identity crisis","_key":"5dd0760742440"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"805a8f310226"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":[]},{"_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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c9415f171c1a"},{"style":"normal","_key":"2dc50146c7a7","markDefs":[],"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"},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"c26170c8830f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"84bb2d1ab74d","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"87e6aa2c16ed","markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d4f17c651749","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Maher’s objective","_key":"aeda3add8ec00"}]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The new president came into the position with a vision to “","_key":"2d9b2ef1120c0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"reach audiences on new and existing platforms","_key":"4f0224fcf8d3"},{"marks":[],"text":",” and a few NPR programs have seen success as podcasts.","_key":"78a73f2f61cc","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e0032371ddd9","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"marks":[],"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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bf9bcb8eb697","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With an audience that has shrunk from ","_key":"99fd5880b69d0"},{"_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"}],"image":{"hotspot":{"width":0.85958904109589,"x":0.429794520547945,"y":0.5182810900404621,"height":0.9634378199190758,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Wikipedia/Cornellrockey04","asset":{"originalFilename":"North_capitol_&_L_street_NE.jpg","uploadId":"gKVXDOHUnU5TRMujmrhrGthUsXcBTJig","_rev":"DpWLjYkwm1nYY081ea0NnH","size":1218122,"_createdAt":"2024-04-24T23:16:43Z","_updatedAt":"2024-04-24T23:16:43Z","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3264,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":1836},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MrI6A[yFoIW=S~yZbwMxaft6bIRPjsofjE","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"title":"#000","population":0.05,"background":"#d1ccaf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03,"background":"#4a73b4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.35,"background":"#364360","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":6.35,"background":"#364360","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"population":5.47,"background":"#697991","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":5.01,"background":"#98c7f7"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#1a3664","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.62}},"hasAlpha":false},"mimeType":"image/jpeg","sha1hash":"b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836.jpg","_id":"image-b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836-jpg","extension":"jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1-3264x1836.jpg","assetId":"b702f5ea0eebf033b69f4bbec1d2dbb7789af7f1"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0}},"_rev":"DpWLjYkwm1nYY081ea0RyO","_type":"story","visibility":"true","author":{"_type":"reference","_ref":"phCNL32Gn"},"id":"jS1GCSRV","_updatedAt":"2024-04-24T23:18:16Z"},{"publishDate":"2024-04-19","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d99f3ed84840","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"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":"block","style":"normal","_key":"977702c5d4f4","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://apnews.com/article/atlantic-city-new-york-casinos-gambling-meadowlands-aec6dba0345cbc184c1add5eaa35328c","_key":"e5fd0149f328"}],"children":[{"_key":"87fe795dba3e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Neighboring New York has"},{"_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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["e5fd0149f328"],"text":"looming","_key":"87fe795dba3e1"},{"marks":[],"text":" from within the Garden State.","_key":"87fe795dba3e2","_type":"span"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"ddc117b0a067","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Bad news piling up","_key":"ba03e8b490b40","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_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"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And Atlantic City is acutely aware of this trend. According to recent data, ","_key":"da262f2e17160"},{"text":"seven out of the resort town’s nine casinos ","_key":"22116f8a41b8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"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":"ad82bc9dee28"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d1c62a528731","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"As New York plans to build up its own gaming footprint, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small is sounding the alarms.","_key":"b64561559bed0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"to put Atlantic City in a prime position","_key":"bc23c6a132c4"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", no matter where these casinos are, that we diversify our options.”","_key":"eff855f15f02"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e2b06aa1263a","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"59df98d7b58f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f4e584135df60","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The Meadowlands question"}],"_type":"block"},{"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","style":"normal","_key":"92619dbfa916"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3e4a09258dbe","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to Jeff Gural, who operates a racetrack in East Rutherford, casinos are","_key":"fa6e478817d10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" likely to pop up","_key":"1f5da0d31fec"},{"_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"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"paying an $18 toll ","_key":"4e7f26f9427c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"and sitting in traffic to go gamble?’”","_key":"d5989609ae95"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"64ff917c104d"}],"visibility":"true","image":{"asset":{"size":3247399,"_id":"image-f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402-jpg","description":"Atlantic City skyline at night, AC, NJ, New Jersey, America","mimeType":"image/jpeg","assetId":"f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256","_updatedAt":"2024-04-18T20:54:49Z","metadata":{"dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5113,"aspectRatio":1.5029394473838917,"height":3402},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VTC@K-NLNg$zJET5X9kCslR-ENs,nzNI$dtls8n~SjxB","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"background":"#f1a654","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.56},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.01,"background":"#197c96","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":10.15,"background":"#c8c9be","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.13,"background":"#4474bc"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":10.15,"background":"#c8c9be","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.2,"background":"#30335e"},"muted":{"background":"#567aa8","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.13}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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"},"_rev":"wmKFo0F7u4qLYW1dpdcYnO","creditLine":"John Greim/Shutterstock","_createdAt":"2024-04-18T20:54:49Z","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402.jpg","sha1hash":"f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/f0e6d0f36f8a2acb6a2630791261acf3e82a0256-5113x3402.jpg","originalFilename":"sstk-4842668lk.jpg","extension":"jpg","uploadId":"Gtf4PAZM8GtEe6dx3qmH2MfcqlGmBX5k"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.8197548666186013,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8904109589041095,"x":0.5547945205479452,"y":0.5669481923988058},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock"},"slug":"/story/2024/04/struggling-atlantic-city-is-likely-to-face-two-new-regional-challenges","_type":"story","category":"us-news","_createdAt":"2024-04-18T20:56:06Z","_rev":"wmKFo0F7u4qLYW1dpdcfRP","title":"Struggling Atlantic City Is Likely To Face Two New Regional Challenges","_updatedAt":"2024-04-18T20:56:06Z","summary":"Las Vegas isn't the only competition for this New Jersey resort town anymore. ","_id":"2432a807-be21-437f-8b54-d879595a931f","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"id":"anHxkWMF"},{"image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"B6aesXmrMfhlXGjc7IdYKO6yi3WkQdO7","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8-480x246.gif","assetId":"a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8","_updatedAt":"2024-01-12T23:49:39Z","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.99,"background":"#353947","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"background":"#90504e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.42},"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":{"population":6.42,"background":"#90504e","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.951219512195122,"height":246,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M.Mjv|adxst6M{~paekCj@aeWUayNGWBoL"},"mimeType":"image/gif","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","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8-480x246.gif","size":562836,"_createdAt":"2024-01-12T23:49:39Z","originalFilename":"839c736a-5ac2-4462-809f-b56f8a85fd8b.gif","extension":"gif","_rev":"1js8Eqc7nziBHN8dNDQBcv","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"a1a8157d0ffd52a0908cf433f5cea7d6cb2ac0f8"},"crop":{"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8321917808219177,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/04/new-york-is-pursuing-a-more-humane-approach-to-the-citys-rat-problem","title":"New York Is Pursuing A More Humane Approach To The City’s Rat Problem","_createdAt":"2024-04-14T20:28:55Z","_rev":"7JoDA4Sj5w9Jp2lYIemheu","_type":"story","publishDate":"2024-04-15","_updatedAt":"2024-04-14T20:28:55Z","_id":"15811578-3de2-4741-bdc4-a01e0cd13981","id":"tyOmAPHf","body":[{"children":[{"_key":"0820dc4522770","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“Pizza Rat” might’ve made for a viral meme a few years ago, but New Yorkers know that his"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" millions of friends across the city","_key":"b18b4ad4f089"},{"_type":"span","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","marks":["a8bb2d157927"],"text":"better","_key":"0820dc4522771"},{"_key":"0820dc4522772","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" way to reduce the rat population without causing unnecessary suffering to the rodents and other wild animals."}],"_type":"block","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":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Take it from Bob Barker","_key":"a790e72d41a80"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"feb86a0f3cd8","markDefs":[]},{"_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"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Last week, city council members moved to advance a program that would ","_key":"f969087048800"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"spread rat contraceptives far and wide","_key":"c1e7e85578f8"},{"_type":"span","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":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d4f0f2e4e425"},{"style":"normal","_key":"683b7d91c17b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_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.","_key":"e06137f55f6b0"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How would it work?","_key":"493f342d16180"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3362fac88b09"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7f4a48ae9f80","markDefs":[],"children":[{"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","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a37f9a5d9d28","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"ContraPest is a product that interrupts","_key":"211dfd5cef870"},{"text":" sperm production or ovarian function","_key":"d8af17f763a6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_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"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7d74057eda22","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","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"}]}],"visibility":"true","category":"us-news","summary":"One common strategy could soon be banned entirely."},{"slug":"/story/2024/04/leaving-las-vegas-sin-city-bids-farewell-to-an-iconic-casino","_id":"cbfd50e4-6da4-45fc-a154-2bda66bf3ffe","id":"7OZ4tUTm","image":{"hotspot":{"width":0.7842465753424656,"x":0.4965753424657534,"y":0.4434365872722037,"height":0.7634620922292155,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"assetId":"7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86","originalFilename":"sstk-14411872r.jpg","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VqB;X}ofR-R-Rjt:fQWYWXjYE3WBoej?t7M_oJs.ocbI","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#044c84","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.72,"background":"#b0b5bc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#2c7dcb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.2},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.2,"background":"#2c7dcb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#2b3647","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":3.36},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.33,"background":"#b58e57","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#8bb8e5","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.77}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3600,"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":2400}},"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","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400.jpg","creditLine":"MediaPunch/Shutterstock","size":925411,"extension":"jpg","uploadId":"2PRfXUdQP9SaUSSTjxMZz2CoVEuTPjvS","_rev":"WSO6B79EPOqHAcfJ8ZBo0X","mimeType":"image/jpeg","_id":"image-7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86-3600x2400-jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"7cbf921fc9c66aa0624586bc1c7bdac3b5b65d86","_createdAt":"2024-04-02T19:29:10Z","_updatedAt":"2024-04-02T19:29:10Z"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"publishDate":"2024-04-03","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":[{"_key":"8b0eb3b948a20","_type":"span","marks":[],"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" landmark casino and hotel ","_key":"c0e057e82d03"},{"marks":[],"text":"remained a ","_key":"75e64128bdc3","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["b48f908a52f1"],"text":"constant","_key":"8b0eb3b948a21"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" throughout the subsequent decades.","_key":"8b0eb3b948a22"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"6b844bd02d3b","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"That era has now come to an end.","_key":"06fec90bb8770"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"text":"A star-studded legacy","_key":"d66dc40dd1900","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"186c1dde457f","markDefs":[]},{"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":[{"_key":"6460af848fd40","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And there wasn’t much around it, unlike the"},{"_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"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A few of the","_key":"55cca90c4f760"},{"_key":"0fb5de7ad484","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" most notable acts"},{"_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"},{"style":"normal","_key":"1c97430be051","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Elizabeth Taylor","_key":"cfcdfa3cd31c0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"ee92688229dd","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"862ef7f1e6980","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Gladys Knight"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"73c07f1688a5","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Wayne Newton","_key":"a7d3845b04e30"}]},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Debbie Reynolds","_key":"b0b723d7b86e0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"58472e708f1e"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Sammy Davis Jr.","_key":"8899a6cc476c0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5f287d5e489","listItem":"bullet"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"1b896cd3cdcf0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"It was even good enough"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" for James Bond himself","_key":"a332f25d978a"},{"text":" in the 1971 classic “Diamonds Are Forever.”","_key":"4d62c1f360e1","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4431c9eb2206"},{"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":[]},{"_key":"c5dc5148f62e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“It’s ran its course”","_key":"5fa009c180270"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"36c5584ac132","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So why was yesterday the last for this historic location? It stems from a larger","_key":"11c42a5babe10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" shift away from casinos","_key":"da44b360b52d"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and toward other forms of entertainment — sports in particular.","_key":"5d187152c0bc"}]},{"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","style":"normal","_key":"a6a60805523a"},{"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"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" it’s a happy ending","_key":"b5cfeb93ff63","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"07fe2249f343","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"66119d060e1a"}],"_type":"story","visibility":"true","category":"us-news","title":"Leaving Las Vegas: Sin City Bids Farewell To An Iconic Casino","_rev":"ggXYGCakEYiQmkTQlu3Bex","_createdAt":"2024-04-02T19:30:58Z","summary":"After 67 years in operation, yesterday marked the end of an era.","_updatedAt":"2024-04-02T19:30:58Z"},{"summary":"It's a story that put White House correspondents in the hot seat.","_rev":"HDgWe7sT5BAsuHOLVarS4q","slug":"/story/2024/04/the-case-of-the-disappearing-air-force-one-pillowcases","body":[{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68702982","_key":"8f886eb1ac67"}],"children":[{"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","marks":[]},{"_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"},{"_key":"55777310a285","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"64eae9a7e9d50","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sticky fingers"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"688cf591cf3f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_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":"f5781493494a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" enjoying the experience ","_key":"58560ca37aad"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"of being a passenger on perhaps the most famous jet on the planet.","_key":"81a376eba4cf"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"bfed35280651","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"989ea0b2643f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But sometimes that experience"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" isn’t enough of a memento","_key":"5d8182d8ac09"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"9b86affc81cc"}],"_type":"block"},{"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"},{"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"},{"_key":"ab2459f61ae1","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" — almost anything that wasn’t nailed down was fair game."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7cb7ac4932fa"},{"children":[{"_key":"bdfd5fb4d9000","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A stern warning"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d1d2af328e66","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"c2fa08d5fbac","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e2673deb9c1e0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"To some, it might sound relatively innocent … like snagging a notepad from your hotel room’s nightstand. But for the WHCA,"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" this is a big deal","_key":"846975322b61"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"e84cb3080b98"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"626c1bd72844","markDefs":[],"children":[{"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":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9e4c406546aa","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5a4a7f93bbf10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although there have been reports of such pilfering ("},{"_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"}]},{"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","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"He’s got small items like","_key":"d150ec84c98d0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a paper cup and a box of M&Ms","_key":"86e48cb1857e"},{"text":", both of which bear the unmistakable symbol of the president’s plane.","_key":"44c96f784dce","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a1fd98ae2c12"}],"_type":"story","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"sha1hash":"f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c","extension":"gif","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M8A9yX0g={WBoI~CNHo{$#IpyCsmIsRkWV","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"population":8.67,"background":"#4f3727","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4f3727","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.67},"muted":{"background":"#ae8a67","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.34},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0.48,"background":"#e7e479","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.38,"background":"#6f5017","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"background":"#c8bdaf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.34},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#9c5c2c"}},"hasAlpha":true},"mimeType":"image/gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270.gif","_rev":"HDgWe7sT5BAsuHOLVarRra","assetId":"f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c","_createdAt":"2024-04-01T01:25:59Z","_id":"image-f474d59a87b3fb792a2917b964dd56ec8a36640c-480x270-gif","_updatedAt":"2024-04-01T01:25:59Z","originalFilename":"aef8ef2f-c210-4194-82c5-98d371b8226f.gif","uploadId":"HAvAsMnX3uMzJ7kF2CVSiijEt6SFDVa3","source":{"name":"air force one GIF by ABC Network","id":"xT0xeEKZC9TI0PIQAE","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/abcnetwork-designated-survivor-designatedsurvivorabc-xT0xeEKZC9TI0PIQAE"},"size":1823025}},"_id":"caef8461-614a-4acf-87d8-828c1b4466ba","category":"us-news","_updatedAt":"2024-04-01T01:26:00Z","visibility":"true","id":"JgfwtVWA","_createdAt":"2024-03-31T20:18:39Z","title":"The Case Of The Disappearing Air Force One Pillowcases","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"publishDate":"2024-04-01"},{"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"slug":"/story/2024/03/california-homeowners-receive-more-bad-news-from-states-largest-insurer","category":"us-news","summary":"The latest announcement affects approximately 72,000 properties. ","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-03-25","_id":"6d625080-16a4-40e1-84e2-a67d67b0fed3","_type":"story","title":"California Homeowners Receive More Bad News From State’s Largest Insurer ","_updatedAt":"2024-03-24T20:44:06Z","image":{"asset":{"_updatedAt":"2023-06-06T23:02:56Z","uploadId":"pzlWy8OiM4mi1HjHcTJUJ7kqMKtZrgg2","mimeType":"image/gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267.gif","_createdAt":"2023-06-06T23:02:56Z","_id":"image-11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267-gif","originalFilename":"de2080c7-6925-4194-902d-13e19ec012eb.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f-480x267.gif","size":1149100,"metadata":{"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"aspectRatio":1.797752808988764,"height":267,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MEGjy.}@EkOYFs9Y5:OtxaxapHE*X9$#$+","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":8.55,"background":"#4a3c47","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#94675b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.97},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#ec958c"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#742c0c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"title":"#000","population":5.3,"background":"#e6dadb","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"background":"#e5685b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.83},"dominant":{"background":"#4a3c47","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.55},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f","assetId":"11e4470e0abc34926d50ee22c10676e85275e97f","extension":"gif","_rev":"enKcaDEmFQ6jW5XSnp7R3W","source":{"name":"Kenan Thompson Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live","id":"CrvYx0hC04HXncghSL","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/snl-saturday-night-live-season-46-CrvYx0hC04HXncghSL"}},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.941780821917808,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"_rev":"f3biNEq4HX8SzduM2rnLw6","_createdAt":"2024-03-24T19:30:01Z","id":"HSkwaw8T","body":[{"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"},{"_key":"e4e76395ca531","_type":"span","marks":["0bc5cccaaf2e"],"text":"delivered"},{"text":" the latest blow.","_key":"e4e76395ca532","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3a4348d83e07"},{"_key":"1a7c0ff44a49","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Tens of thousands affected","_key":"660e61ac2f310"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5819336d145a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"According to reports, State Farm will be ","_key":"3ce93274e36f0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"discontinuing about 72,000 policies","_key":"f9995d910788"},{"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","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"f2ad4d68b689","markDefs":[],"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" now.”","_key":"bc0a50768807"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The latest evidence of a trend","_key":"eab7a6f7f3b60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"845fd87a7a5b"},{"_key":"8a0f7f05c1b2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"According to early indicators, State Farm’s move is expected to impact coverage for about ","_key":"ed44b90ab5f30"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"30,000 homes and 42,000 commercial apartment buildings","_key":"a6c445c582f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". That is the equivalent of about 2% of the company’s policies in California.","_key":"ad0bf22fd600"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But many others in the state have already been impacted by similar announcements from State Farm and other insurers.","_key":"6bb4af4da7eb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"13cbca77751d","markDefs":[]},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in the state.","_key":"e029ecdcc424"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"39e034e8f3a1","listItem":"bullet"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5722030497e","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","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","marks":[],"text":" in their premiums.","_key":"8596cb54b3da"}],"level":1},{"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,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a315aa075135","listItem":"bullet"},{"_key":"09b45bca189c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"State Farm explains itself","_key":"b3708b6b74b00"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"5661bc8f0480"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a486a4e2d4c7","markDefs":[]},{"_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"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}]},{"_rev":"FmA2Rjw7J9QUQYhZBXiKp3","body":[{"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"},{"_type":"span","marks":["9bc972eb2bd4"],"text":"grow","_key":"d58ec88cc2ec1"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" at a significantly higher-than-average rate.","_key":"d58ec88cc2ec2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f60f2383f583","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html","_key":"9bc972eb2bd4"}]},{"_key":"09e8eaf3691f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Sunshine State stats","_key":"7add8248dbaa0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"dc4a080b07b5","markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/subcounty-metro-micro-estimates.html","_key":"fde8cdae9842","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Over the one-year period beginning in July 2021, the Census Bureau ","_key":"ff0a35c58e480"},{"_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"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"44593e94b758","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d7b7a0740a570","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The only metro area outside of the state "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"to crack the top five","_key":"5d2b617d6d13"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" was Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, which came in at number two.","_key":"b8c55d3ecf8a"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"da1185d80c420","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"From there, the next four were, in order, the Florida cities of Lakeland, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and North Port."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"72cf3d13fd4e"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"18e199b224d0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"St. George, Utah,","_key":"9cf3a68bf5b30","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" broke Florida’s streak","_key":"ec4e97f7ba73","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" at number seven.","_key":"ffbde15b9ec4"}]},{"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","markDefs":[]},{"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"},{"_key":"4749681aa770","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" over the same year."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"cc0146751aba"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"888128cfd2d2","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"At the bottom of the list","_key":"8d7d197deec30"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"870799da2a5f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The gains in cities near the top came at the expense of places with declining populations. Nearly ","_key":"3ccc71e1749f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"two-thirds of the 384 metro areas","_key":"0a00b2ad5a07"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" studied saw increases, but there were plenty that lost a significant percentage of their population.","_key":"55ee12c7eaf0"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Bringing up the rear was Houma, Louisiana, which","_key":"a1b083b6b6e00","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" lost 2.9% of its population","_key":"de52ab194149"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in one year. It was one of three Louisiana metro areas in the bottom 10.","_key":"3a35a6f9c8a2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7fd87ff8d080","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"19e9463a-05e5-4ffc-a57d-1e6a46128913","publishDate":"2024-03-22","summary":"A popular retirement destination topped the list.","slug":"/story/2024/03/one-state-is-home-to-7-of-the-top-10-fastestgrowing-metros-in-the-us","id":"StHv3oVQ","image":{"hotspot":{"x":0.5753424657534245,"y":0.5,"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8390410958904105},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"assetId":"aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac","uploadId":"uZtmmcG26coqfIN6qbpmHSzT88DLr8mG","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.","sha1hash":"aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000.jpg","metadata":{"palette":{"darkMuted":{"population":0,"background":"#344c64","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#647378","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.38},"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0.33,"background":"#c1ddf7","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#14242c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":2.91,"background":"#aabac4"},"vibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0.04,"background":"#3a86c6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"dominant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":8.38,"background":"#647378","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":6000,"aspectRatio":1.5,"height":4000},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VgHoj|%Mt7xuWC_4tRRjxut8-;RkNGj@R*ayRjbIayWW","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"_rev":"FmA2Rjw7J9QUQYhZBXiE1t","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock","_createdAt":"2024-03-21T22:42:52Z","_id":"image-aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000-jpg","originalFilename":"sstk-14183641a.jpg","extension":"jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/aa426aeea3963c10b7a0a1b1b33ccf9565c247ac-6000x4000.jpg","size":2637211,"_updatedAt":"2024-03-21T22:42:52Z"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0}},"author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_createdAt":"2024-03-21T22:44:11Z","_type":"story","category":"us-news","_updatedAt":"2024-03-21T22:44:11Z","visibility":"true","title":"One State Is Home To 7 Of The Top 10 Fastest-Growing Metros In The U.S."},{"_type":"story","title":"Whistleblower Found Dead After Sounding The Alarm About Boeing Jets","_id":"4cedefe0-8c50-4100-a696-94ad0e6f03ae","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"bkI29jzjU7cKTX5jQLoxdz","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"extension":"jpg","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b","originalFilename":"sstk-14386916a.jpg","metadata":{"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAOABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGQAAAgMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUDBAYH/8QAIxAAAQMDBAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACAwQFEgYRFDEVIjNBgf/EABUBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIE/8QAGhEAAgMBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECITEDEf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8A7hLX6iqJqxtBTwYiTGJ8h9QB2VHGdZEHIWwH9VvR8zpXXYO6jrHsaB1stE1VLpWIllC9F1pF14Y8mafkZH4utvpCZoQb9Ekf/9k=","dimensions":{"height":3459,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":5000,"aspectRatio":1.4455044810638913},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VTPH5=M{adRjaxIVtRxuozt7%Lofayj[WC~pj?RjjsRj","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightVibrant":{"title":"#000","population":0.01,"background":"#a4d9f4","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.07,"background":"#072c7d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"population":0.25,"background":"#a1bdcf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"vibrant":{"background":"#2258af","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.07},"dominant":{"background":"#5e7ea3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.09},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":0.01,"background":"#44443a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"population":1.09,"background":"#5e7ea3","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"}}},"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.","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459.jpg","_createdAt":"2024-03-12T23:09:17Z","_id":"image-7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459-jpg","_updatedAt":"2024-03-12T23:09:17Z","uploadId":"mYZxobDzpjvxrSwW9ZoqCSmowqIxvayE","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b-5000x3459.jpg","size":2270874,"_rev":"bkI29jzjU7cKTX5jQLo9Jf","mimeType":"image/jpeg","creditLine":"CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock","assetId":"7f94d22b948ae61ecaa6b129ceea4c40a02cb97b"},"crop":{"right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop"},"hotspot":{"width":0.9452054794520548,"x":0.49486301369863006,"y":0.4776975992704637,"height":0.9306147532858869,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"}},"_createdAt":"2024-03-12T23:10:50Z","_updatedAt":"2024-03-12T23:10:50Z","id":"yFRRug8r","category":"us-news","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"c8c18cec86f5","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/boeing-737-max-8-all-about-the-aircraft-flight-ban-and-investigations/","_key":"4a5cd8f29305"},{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1237262132/why-flying-safe-united-airlines-boeing","_key":"0f49a15c86f4"}],"children":[{"_key":"fb9e7f4e60a20","_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 "},{"text":"grounding","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a21","_type":"span","marks":["4a5cd8f29305"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of Boeing 737 Max aircraft, the company has weathered numerous ","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a22"},{"marks":["0f49a15c86f4"],"text":"near-misses","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a23","_type":"span"},{"text":" over the past few weeks","_key":"fb9e7f4e60a24","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_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":"7760bc193bf6","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1238033573/boeing-whistleblower-john-barnett-dead","_key":"61ec97947566"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"John Barnett, who previously worked as a quality control manager for Boeing, ","_key":"c84e40743c2c0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["61ec97947566"],"text":"spoke out","_key":"c84e40743c2c1"},{"marks":[],"text":" publicly in an effort to bring attention to what he saw as serious oversights that could endanger passengers.","_key":"c84e40743c2c2","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8f1025a14d7e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What did he say?","_key":"ab8d6f7014010"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"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":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9417c8458813"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://globalnews.ca/news/10353532/boeing-whistleblower-dead-john-barnett-lawsuit/","_key":"1eb648c2a503"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Among the most notable ","_key":"7bccc4500e430","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["1eb648c2a503"],"text":"claims","_key":"7bccc4500e431"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" were:","_key":"7bccc4500e432"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bb93b8cdc6e9"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"52434f2ebee90","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Metal shavings"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that posed a risk to integral wiring systems","_key":"42faf8d888cd"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ff668e11cbf1","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":"43e921a07c9b","listItem":"bullet"},{"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a83fc4ba8766","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"A","_key":"8ea0b323897d0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" failure rate of up to 25%","_key":"501ef9c8dcec"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for oxygen mask deployment","_key":"3532594da8b7"}]},{"children":[{"_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.","_key":"18d7fc1481b40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f198babdbdb6","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"9f6bb51d5a57","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"What were the circumstances?","_key":"a145597be7fd0"}]},{"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","style":"normal","_key":"8b19943905af"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f608e1db96b3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“","_key":"0b19531b6f670"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"He was pronounced dead at the scene","_key":"b2edab015052"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” a police report confirmed, citing the apparent cause as “a gunshot wound to the head.”","_key":"f620ba6fdda6"}]},{"children":[{"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","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4dfd06bc39f2","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"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"}],"visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-03-13","slug":"/story/2024/03/whistleblower-found-dead-after-sounding-the-alarm-about-boeing-jets","summary":"His body was discovered the day after his latest testimony."},{"summary":"The decision came in direct response to a Colorado court's ruling.","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_id":"c9a343bb-649c-429b-a11b-9b73ae331def","category":"us-news","title":"Supreme Court Sides Against States Trying To Boot Trump From The Ballot","_createdAt":"2024-03-05T00:32:05Z","_rev":"W9a3BRIqTUO2NUyYsxYbWP","visibility":"true","slug":"/story/2024/03/supreme-court-sides-against-states-trying-to-boot-trump-from-the-ballot","_updatedAt":"2024-03-05T00:32:05Z","publishDate":"2024-03-05","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c8828f853165","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-trump-cannot-kicked-colorado-ballot-rcna132291","_key":"baa708831233"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be a rematch of 2020, but there are some unique issues yet to be settled. In a ","_key":"ce40569c438e0"},{"text":"decision","_key":"ce40569c438e1","_type":"span","marks":["baa708831233"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" handed down on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court took care of one such dispute.","_key":"ce40569c438e2"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"d2d30f8f58c9","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Background on the case","_key":"8941af858c680"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A number of states have pursued various efforts to disqualify former President Donald Trump using the argument that he","_key":"4a5a867e36310"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" violated the so-called “insurrection clause”","_key":"5f07ee01d26a"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment with his actions ahead of the demonstration on Capitol Hill in early 2021.","_key":"e7b209b6c9da"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4209805981d6"},{"children":[{"_key":"8ccb1a32f3430","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled that Trump should be removed from the state’s ballot, and that decision was appealed all the way to the nation’s highest court. In oral arguments, both conservative and liberal justices expressed"},{"_key":"e8f340e7a5b8","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" concerns about the state’s position"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"ec208a1a86da"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d751dbf0e0c7","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"aed87ab88e09","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In an unsigned ruling that did not include a dissenting opinion, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state court’s determination, finding that individual states do not have the authority to unilaterally disqualify a federal candidate.","_key":"1231edf8fae60"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Ramifications of the ruling","_key":"d9f3768371fc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bfd6d3677919","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"6b39829ec3ca","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not only did Monday’s decision stymie the Colorado effort, but it similarly shot down similar plans underway in Maine and Illinois.","_key":"4c6e27384ed50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As the justices wrote: “Because the Constitution makes Congress, rather than the states, ","_key":"73b97502b0f20"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"responsible for enforcing section 3","_key":"ea05792a3246"},{"_key":"51129e0026b2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" [of the 14th Amendment] against all federal officeholders and candidates, we reverse.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0b8d019a00ce"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The ruling came just one day before Colorado’s primary election, though Trump’s name was already certified to appear on that ballot.","_key":"61ba53424e890","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7e7936e1dff3"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state and a supporter of the effort to disqualify Trump, said she was disappointed in the ruling and not optimistic about the likelihood that Congress will intervene.","_key":"c7f45fd4067a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3dc90e2f5e00"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The former president, who is expected to secure his third straight GOP presidential nomination, celebrated the decision in a social media post, writing: “","_key":"bf9747b7f7600"},{"_key":"c513ee76404e","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Big win for America!!!"},{"text":"”","_key":"4ebc015dfcfe","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f9e619d52f1a"}],"id":"ujpvXCPU","image":{"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.8767123287671232,"x":0.5154109589041093,"y":0.6002715043810934,"height":0.7994569912378131,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"_id":"image-e52fe329df94b498897e73bcf9676f60d04e4f8d-4000x2666-jpg","sha1hash":"e52fe329df94b498897e73bcf9676f60d04e4f8d","assetId":"e52fe329df94b498897e73bcf9676f60d04e4f8d","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/e52fe329df94b498897e73bcf9676f60d04e4f8d-4000x2666.jpg","creditLine":"Bonnie Cash/UPI/Shutterstock","_createdAt":"2024-03-05T00:30:24Z","_updatedAt":"2024-03-05T00:30:24Z","metadata":{"palette":{"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":7.23,"background":"#b2bbd2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#3c5474","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#5c7cac"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#a9c1ec","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.04},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#2c447c"},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":7.23,"background":"#b2bbd2","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.09,"background":"#7397cd"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":4000,"aspectRatio":1.5003750937734435,"height":2666},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VaHx]O9a.8M{WB?wM|t7RkofM{obITofofD%ofaxj[t7","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"uploadId":"WkbdxAL6oC4NxetHfoH2aSDt6KuSrTHw","originalFilename":"sstk-14337746a.jpg","_rev":"W9a3BRIqTUO2NUyYsxYW6X","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/e52fe329df94b498897e73bcf9676f60d04e4f8d-4000x2666.jpg","size":1861626,"extension":"jpg","description":"Police stand outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC as oral arguments are heard on whether former President Donald Trump can remain on Colorado's Republican Primary ballot for the 2024 election on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Trump is appealing the Colorado Supreme Court's December 2023 ruling, which claimed he \"intentionally organized and incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol in a desperate attempt to prevent the counting of electoral votes cast against him.\""}},"_type":"story"},{"slug":"/story/2024/02/billionaires-are-building-guarded-underground-bunkers-should-you-be-worried","_createdAt":"2024-02-25T23:56:08Z","id":"nZUlC7bq","_type":"story","category":"us-news","summary":"If doomsday is coming, the elite want to continue living it up in style.","image":{"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"height":1,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.8801369863013697,"x":0.5,"y":0.5},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"metadata":{"blurHash":"MOGltk}~I+-N-:^w-$c7xWxb9IN1t8WCNa","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkVibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.33,"background":"#665c25","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.32,"background":"#88b5bd","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":9.25,"background":"#e5ed38","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"title":"#fff","population":19.29,"background":"#548c8c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":2.16,"background":"#4c2c28","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":19.29,"background":"#548c8c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#e3d6b1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#000","population":15.59}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":270},"isOpaque":true},"uploadId":"p9IJDSpZGOEYq9pxR2h2Egjl6Ym7L5Gb","_rev":"HiNkyB3IM691k9R9JQ3QXL","mimeType":"image/gif","source":{"name":"Mr Mackey Drill GIF by South Park","id":"JD7WmQohVz8XIIo4Qw","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/southpark-south-park-s25e4-JD7WmQohVz8XIIo4Qw"},"_id":"image-72828d3266b1400f63bbfd18b4fe7504667d2980-480x270-gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/72828d3266b1400f63bbfd18b4fe7504667d2980-480x270.gif","_updatedAt":"2024-02-25T23:54:17Z","extension":"gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"72828d3266b1400f63bbfd18b4fe7504667d2980","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/72828d3266b1400f63bbfd18b4fe7504667d2980-480x270.gif","size":1181241,"assetId":"72828d3266b1400f63bbfd18b4fe7504667d2980","_createdAt":"2024-02-25T23:54:17Z","originalFilename":"71b92ba7-1d1c-4a38-88f8-519a28c4ed34.gif"}},"body":[{"markDefs":[{"_key":"d3aa3d07f53f","_type":"link","href":"https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/25/billionaire-doomsday-bunkers-end-times"}],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"It’s not hard to tell that those ultra-wealthy individuals in the 1% live much different lives than the rest of us (assuming you’re not one of our multi-billionaire chirpers). But there’s a big ","_key":"24d106039d0e0","_type":"span"},{"_key":"24d106039d0e1","_type":"span","marks":["d3aa3d07f53f"],"text":"difference"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" between buying another megayacht or private jet and the latest acquisition of choice for the world’s most elite.","_key":"24d106039d0e2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"85044b86e8f5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Planning for doomsday","_key":"2cbe801f12e40","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"202c3020cf52"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Whether it’s scenarios involving climate change, international turmoil, or an asteroid collision, there’s been","_key":"de9c5774532e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a lot of speculation","_key":"c1b99622b52e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" about apocalyptic events in recent years. But those with plenty of cash to spend might be able to ride it out with little noticeable impact on their privileged lifestyle.","_key":"c9eabc4f63a2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"dc28a3435ec5"},{"_key":"c1b44dc9f206","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"And many of them are busy planning for it already.","_key":"bd4399ed7ab40"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Bunkers are nothing new, and rich people have been building them as a last resort for generations. But these days, billionaires are reportedly sinking ","_key":"4add958db3540"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"much more money","_key":"2188a1580fb9"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" into these projects … not just to make sure those inside are kept safe, but to prevent anyone who’s not on the guest list from getting in.","_key":"5a1a7ef59c9d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"424c9df70b8f"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"bb721e841beb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"An insider’s revelation","_key":"3ab53239c09d0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f406431d1a79","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"Al Corbi, who runs a company called Strategically Armored & Fortified Environments, makes these bunkers for wealthy clients. Even though details about individual projects are generally","_key":"62600c9f1bc90","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" kept under wraps","_key":"238e4e80e9e5"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", he provided a glimpse into what sort of features are often integrated into such shelters.","_key":"c18608a98a8a"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One bunker is on a private island surrounded by a 30-foot-deep lake “skimmed with a lighter-than-water flammable liquid that can transform into a ring of fire” to keep out the hoi polloi if the you-know-what hits the fan.","_key":"8265cd48d4b80"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"22d12b6df66d"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Then there’s Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who’s spending ","_key":"91f839cbd1d90"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"$270 million","_key":"afa3df2a4244"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" on a ","_key":"753b70754c10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"5,000-square-foot","_key":"b1098e608e19"},{"text":" underground bunker in Hawaii.","_key":"f98b6b14d470","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"48eed8caf85b","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"a5793b5ccb6c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So do they know something that we don’t? Maybe. But if they’re planning to escape an anticipated apocalypse, they probably won’t tell us from inside their fortified walls.","_key":"5f63db7d38a20"}],"_type":"block"}],"publishDate":"2024-02-26","_rev":"HiNkyB3IM691k9R9JQ44fn","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Billionaires Are Building Guarded Underground Bunkers … Should You Be Worried?","_id":"f6c78991-8ad2-4608-b426-6cf5156cc0bd","_updatedAt":"2024-02-25T23:56:08Z","visibility":"true"},{"_updatedAt":"2024-02-19T03:32:58Z","visibility":"true","_rev":"TpPLOW0DV9lP6b1mV27bxd","category":"us-news","summary":"Minneapolis has already utilized this strategy with some impressive results.","publishDate":"2024-02-19","title":"Here’s How Zoning Laws Could Help Solve America’s Housing Crisis","slug":"/story/2024/02/heres-how-zoning-laws-could-help-solve-americas-housing-crisis","body":[{"children":[{"_key":"83ca99d9af4b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There are several major reasons that so many Americans are having such a hard time finding affordable housing. But one of the factors that hasn’t received as much attention as others is "},{"text":"zoning","_key":"83ca99d9af4b1","_type":"span","marks":["49ae5a224fe0"]},{"_key":"83ca99d9af4b2","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" … and a growing number of local and state governments are starting to address the issue head-on."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"66af91e14c4c","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.npr.org/2024/02/17/1229867031/housing-shortage-zoning-reform-cities","_key":"49ae5a224fe0"}]},{"style":"normal","_key":"f88c7b148521","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"How it could work","_key":"4a2b0d30564b0"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f02186bc5e26","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The process, broadly referred to as “zoning reform,” essentially allows officials to change the specified use of certain areas in order to allow residential units to be built in areas that were previously off-limits.","_key":"b05f14fc2fca0","_type":"span"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In addition to addressing a shortage of housing, this could also ","_key":"bc1bd5f1669a0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"stem the tide of unused office space","_key":"920d8b782462","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" that has dominated many areas of cities since remote work became so popular.","_key":"61a4f522cca7"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2980e7ca026a","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Not only does this reform involve changing rules at the government level, but it can also clear out some of the bureaucratic red tape that has stymied efforts by investors and developers to build apartment complexes and other multi-family dwellings.","_key":"6dea1b1e0bcb0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"131a498c20b7"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"An emerging leader","_key":"60c24000e8b60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"93ca85259dd6"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although projects are in varying stages of development across the U.S., one city has emerged as a beacon of what zoning reform can accomplish.","_key":"084493b389330"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5fba5c94603e","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"aee8a3caa714","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"0b460823e1ab0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Minneapolis, Minnesota took the bold step of "},{"_key":"cdf3073387d6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"removing single-family zoning altogether"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". This meant that larger dwellings could be built in areas of the city that had previously been reserved only for structures meant to house one family.","_key":"241aaa6a94fb"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Some other steps that have helped create more living space within a finite area have included:","_key":"3b20cac8e7ba0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0b976237f00e"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Eradicating ","_key":"093569c26a0d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"parking requirements","_key":"1a178446faf8","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in certain parts of the city","_key":"32edb6aa2e2a"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b1bd0840efc2","listItem":"bullet"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Permitting ","_key":"e6d836514cb20"},{"_key":"4f1feae42145","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"more housing density"},{"marks":[],"text":" in the downtown area","_key":"8a23cb747c19","_type":"span"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8f25285242d3"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c9e48f150eea","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"c78dc014ae4d0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Allowing the"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" construction of secondary homes","_key":"cea874e4727c"},{"marks":[],"text":" on existing lots","_key":"493bd1567ace","_type":"span"}],"level":1},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Pew Research’s Alex Horowitz said the proof is in the pudding, explaining: “We saw Minneapolis ","_key":"5554b632718b0"},{"_key":"af621a5d58e6","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"add 12% to its housing stock"},{"text":" in just that five-year period [2017 to 2022], far more than other cities.”","_key":"578bacfc8aa6","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6471c5d1dafe","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"855f14ad-c09f-43a2-b1c2-5c10e90119d0","_type":"story","_createdAt":"2024-02-18T23:49:12Z","id":"qspcsl49","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.8676470588235297,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9852941176470589,"x":0.5073529411764706,"y":0.5661764705882352},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy","asset":{"uploadId":"TmUZJbIcB2332dJEyACw8WIzn85qVufy","source":{"id":"h8yWUQXzorvrPMJRoa","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/barstoolsports-marty-mush-making-a-gambler-episode-9-h8yWUQXzorvrPMJRoa","name":"Comedy Marty GIF by Barstool Sports"},"path":"images/8mioycse/v3/5d33438142564722eb39b07e7f661bb8e302620d-480x480.gif","assetId":"5d33438142564722eb39b07e7f661bb8e302620d","sha1hash":"5d33438142564722eb39b07e7f661bb8e302620d","size":4053604,"_createdAt":"2024-02-18T23:47:36Z","_updatedAt":"2024-02-18T23:47:36Z","originalFilename":"af692345-4940-4474-b2ea-a59928205232.gif","_rev":"TpPLOW0DV9lP6b1mV1fxBe","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"eICGJp?wNIt8-;xqV?oHV?WAD%M{ofWCWBt8NGM}SOofofWBt7azRj","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"background":"#cac1be","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":4.89},"vibrant":{"background":"#3f5fbf","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0},"dominant":{"background":"#727b9b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.67},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"population":0.01,"background":"#242a44","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"muted":{"background":"#727b9b","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.67},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#9bacdd"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#04060c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1,"height":480}},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/5d33438142564722eb39b07e7f661bb8e302620d-480x480.gif","_id":"image-5d33438142564722eb39b07e7f661bb8e302620d-480x480-gif","extension":"gif"}}},{"_type":"story","category":"us-news","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Could Universal “Social Housing” Ever Take Root In America?","visibility":"true","_createdAt":"2024-02-11T21:27:31Z","_rev":"dLUUcnaW316X3m8PIyPbht","body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ba62b3bf449c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Home ownership has long been considered by many to be a key factor in realizing the “American dream.” In recent years, however,"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" limited inventory and skyrocketing costs","_key":"20f01ec27b88"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", have resulted in an unavoidable housing crisis.","_key":"c6f61d9eff59"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"68aca373a6f1"},{"_key":"dae55880c82e","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/policy/2024/2/10/24065342/social-housing-public-housing-affordable-crisis","_key":"9f3acdbe3ded"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One proposed ","_key":"ea803c8afabb0"},{"marks":["9f3acdbe3ded"],"text":"solution","_key":"ea803c8afabb1","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" involves the government buying homes to rent back to Americans.","_key":"ea803c8afabb2"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"children":[{"text":"How would it work?","_key":"02b09f564e040","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c0a2f9621b90","markDefs":[]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b8c14a44d900","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"7fd126a89b460","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"A number of nations around the world have pursued robust public housing programs, but in America, such provisions have generally been reserved for low-income residents. In some areas dealing with particularly acute housing shortages, however, there’s a shift toward "},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"what is being called “social housing,” ","_key":"f97d7b64d4ba"},{"_key":"8997c71fd297","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"which would open up government-owned residences to people regardless of their income."}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Zachary Marks of the Montgomery County, Maryland, housing authority, has been a proponent of this model for years, explaining in 2022 why he believes it could be successful.","_key":"862f5b44d0940"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"166abbaa0cca","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"7ae3e032d1c6","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“What I like about what we’re doing is all we have effectively done is ","_key":"20406bf218d20"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"commandeered the private American real estate model","_key":"254e5f035b75","_type":"span"},{"text":",” he said. “We’re replacing the investor dudes from Wall Street, the big money from Dallas.”","_key":"df2b8cbe0658","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"076b64da4398","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Could it actually succeed?","_key":"39c583d949090","_type":"span"}]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Even Marks has acknowledged that implementing the “social housing” system would be met with some serious pushback. But while the model might not be right for every community, ","_key":"4f660632a5270"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"he has seen some encouraging response","_key":"5fb09fab03f6"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to the work thus far in his county.","_key":"2528f1df80d8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0fcf8b89e6c1","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"e992718d33af","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"There are tentative plans to fund thousands of rental units in the area with public money, but just one such building currently exists. It contains 268 apartments and has been open for less than a year.","_key":"1766ab2d226a0","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"ab4570a3511b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“We’re 97% leased today and it’s just been incredibly successful and happened so fast,” Marks said."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"907f341bc217"},{"_key":"2ad57228716e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Now officials from big cities like","_key":"5bf029b5849c0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" Chicago, New York City, and Boston","_key":"746aee349e71","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are reaching out to Montgomery County to find out if the program could address their housing problems too.","_key":"a78999ebedd8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"}],"_id":"ef3c05fc-753d-4094-863c-23957625efbf","_updatedAt":"2024-02-12T05:11:26Z","summary":"A lot depends on escaping the existing stigma surrounding public housing.","slug":"/story/2024/02/could-universal-social-housing-ever-take-root-in-america","publishDate":"2024-02-12","id":"MXQZu6NN","image":{"asset":{"mimeType":"image/webp","sha1hash":"4acd4fc8a483dc3376844fdb24321619815a0b78","metadata":{"_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"darkMuted":{"background":"#2b3946","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.11},"muted":{"background":"#58708c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.45},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#92ccfc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.34},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#403314","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":4.01},"lightMuted":{"background":"#b3c9dc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":4.12},"vibrant":{"population":8.42,"background":"#7caedc","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":8.42,"background":"#7caedc"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette"},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1820,"aspectRatio":1.5004122011541632,"height":1213},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VkF~{,-o%gbcNeu6M{ogo#WXR.RjM{f,WBbcozf5ofa}"},"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","size":193450,"assetId":"4acd4fc8a483dc3376844fdb24321619815a0b78","_id":"image-4acd4fc8a483dc3376844fdb24321619815a0b78-1820x1213-webp","_rev":"ls7YSyy94bVMOFi5maP6gO","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/4acd4fc8a483dc3376844fdb24321619815a0b78-1820x1213.webp","_createdAt":"2024-02-11T21:25:47Z","_updatedAt":"2024-02-11T21:25:47Z","originalFilename":"Exterior_Full_Bldng_View_Rendering.0.jpg.webp","extension":"webp","uploadId":"ANJ55A4BelevxmpcAhVoe7jILJKfm60R","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/4acd4fc8a483dc3376844fdb24321619815a0b78-1820x1213.webp"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"width":0.9075342465753423,"x":0.45376712328767116,"y":0.5128553210744992,"height":0.9280102019828047,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot"},"_type":"image","attribution":"Montgomery County’s Housing Opportunities Commission"}},{"id":"G0n3oLK7","_updatedAt":"2024-02-01T21:32:13Z","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"_rev":"jC4xndmAc1uvhIjyrWJKbO","_type":"story","body":[{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"df08d8bc4f6b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://themarkup.org/still-loading/2024/02/01/los-angeles-becomes-first-us-city-to-outlaw-digital-discrimination","_key":"fdcc7bc1dbb1"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Various other forms of discrimination against certain communities — from hiring to housing — have been banned for generations, but leaders in Los Angeles say there’s a more recent ","_key":"7aca5f876f260"},{"_type":"span","marks":["fdcc7bc1dbb1"],"text":"development","_key":"7aca5f876f261"},{"marks":[],"text":" that applies similar inequities in a less conspicuous way.","_key":"7aca5f876f262","_type":"span"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":["strong"],"text":"Battling “digital discrimination”","_key":"376796d3cc2f0","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"63d1bb8eecf4"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e357121764930","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As city council members argued prior to passing a motion aimed at addressing the issue, “digital discrimination” refers to unfair practices by internet service providers whereby better deals and faster connections are reserved for neighborhoods that reflect certain demographics."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ef6aa7d29c4f"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"City leaders borrowed the definition provided by the Federal Communications Commission last year, which prohibits practices that “","_key":"88d3d927f0880"},{"_key":"01979fe6cccb","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"differentially impact consumers’ access"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" to broadband internet access service based on their income level, race, ethnicity, color, religion, or national origin.”","_key":"830e1e4c6a5f"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a95fe26a17fc","markDefs":[]},{"_key":"2a7249196aa0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"The new policy will allow those who believe they have been targeted by such discriminatory behavior to file a complaint that will be investigated by the Civil, Human Rights and Equity Department.","_key":"89e19b2bb828","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who wrote the legislation, called its passage “","_key":"0ac168d6609d0"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"a big win","_key":"d02e5464614c","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” for marginalized communities in the city.","_key":"013598e27336"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"036e2e7eee28"},{"children":[{"text":"Behind the numbers","_key":"cfe146b66b750","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"96f892ffb29c","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The legislation cites “multiple studies showing the impact of industry pricing practices that worsen the digital divide by exacerbating the challenge of affordability.”","_key":"01113aa210930"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"d7ec1e227050","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One such study was conducted by the California Community Foundation and determined that Charter Communications “offered ","_key":"6709dd77019e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"slower service at higher prices","_key":"2b264ca71b28"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” as well as “contracts with ","_key":"c4bf9951ae69"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"worse terms and conditions","_key":"98fca219578b","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"” to communities with higher poverty rates.","_key":"68f677bffbc1"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"baf2dbd70f24"},{"_key":"6cb27a7e85f3","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"d9189bd8431c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Charter pushed back against the findings, asserting that the foundation’s conclusions were “intentionally misleading.”"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"d5eabbf4c5dc","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Additional criticism came from the Central City Foundation of Los Angeles, which represents the interests of businesses including both Charter and AT&T. It described the L.A. measure as duplicative since the FCC already prohibits digital discrimination.","_key":"0934ac6cd1330"}],"_type":"block"},{"style":"normal","_key":"95e63a9954df","markDefs":[],"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"CEO Nella McOsker advised that the city should instead focus on “digital education, affordability programs and device availability.”","_key":"71ac5681fdc00","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"}],"_createdAt":"2024-02-01T21:25:49Z","image":{"asset":{"_type":"sanity.imageAsset","mimeType":"image/gif","sha1hash":"6179053042b19a33c30c65737cec340ac61aa74b","assetId":"6179053042b19a33c30c65737cec340ac61aa74b","_updatedAt":"2024-02-01T21:30:39Z","extension":"gif","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":480,"aspectRatio":1.7518248175182483,"height":274},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M%DmBzofbIofWV.Aj[flj[f6yFj[j[a}ay","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"dominant":{"population":7.98,"background":"#9eb9f6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4a392f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.63},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":7.16,"background":"#8d7264"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.98,"background":"#9eb9f6"},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#61210d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.08},"lightMuted":{"title":"#fff","population":2.53,"background":"#ceab93","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000"},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.58,"background":"#cd9161","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"}},"hasAlpha":true},"url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/6179053042b19a33c30c65737cec340ac61aa74b-480x274.gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/6179053042b19a33c30c65737cec340ac61aa74b-480x274.gif","size":3541324,"_id":"image-6179053042b19a33c30c65737cec340ac61aa74b-480x274-gif","uploadId":"lFvBDVl6PwW4GSHaOGuu2T8odhuFoNGT","source":{"name":"los angeles la GIF by The Hills","id":"xT5LMWGwEPNVep0iBO","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/thehills-the-hills-1x05-105-xT5LMWGwEPNVep0iBO"},"_createdAt":"2024-02-01T21:30:39Z","originalFilename":"b143c7b4-5633-4a0e-ac40-bd100b760ad5.gif","_rev":"jC4xndmAc1uvhIjyrWJ8gn"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.893835616438356,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"summary":"The FCC has already defined the practice and implemented a federal ban.","slug":"/story/2024/02/what-is-digital-discrimination-and-what-is-la-doing-to-stop-it","publishDate":"2024-02-02","visibility":"true","category":"us-news","title":"What Is ‘Digital Discrimination’ And What Is LA Doing To Stop It?","_id":"b8c88e78-b1d5-4753-9176-ecf88c3e8390"},{"body":[{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you’re a U.S. history buff or a sucker for a good true-crime tale, you’ve probably come across more than a few stories about","_key":"f88caecea7510"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" brazen train robberies","_key":"77eb8c3e5b18"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" by the likes of Butch Cassidy or Jesse James.","_key":"435ce83de324"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"433a98dbf3ac"},{"markDefs":[{"_key":"771e02426436","_type":"link","href":"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/magazine/train-robbery-amazon-packages.html"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But trains are still chugging along tracks in every corner of the country, and the rise in online shopping has once again made them attractive ","_key":"9bf5f7de25a90"},{"_type":"span","marks":["771e02426436"],"text":"targets","_key":"9bf5f7de25a91"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" for thieves.","_key":"9bf5f7de25a92"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5da27b6cfe25"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2df19d826198","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“It was euphoric for him”","_key":"3cb6f647bc3f0"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Just as during the 19th century spike in train robberies, there are countless criminals finding new ways to pilfer the goods aboard these cars — with a few names that stand out as among the most prolific and daring.","_key":"019f1d2c12730"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"5f677e91604a"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"One such individual is Victor Llamas, according to Los Angeles detective Joe Chavez, whose investigation of a rise in train robberies sent him on a collision course with the unrepentant offender.","_key":"3c33ad7908d60","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4be2b806ec75"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Chavez said the suspect seemed ","_key":"99181c9d830c0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"driven not only by profit","_key":"9aead40d6484"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", but also by the thrill he got in the process.","_key":"c8ed36be1360"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"0946753b1919"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“He said that was the best feeling he’d ever had, jumping on the train while it was moving,” the detective said. “It was euphoric for him.”","_key":"6738bcd98d9c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1bbfa5bff67d"},{"style":"normal","_key":"02c7166a83ca","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“What the hell is going on?”","_key":"b7fec3e6bf900"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"marks":[],"text":"L.A. has received the dubious distinction as the epicenter of this recent spike in train robberies, but it’s happening at a troubling rate all over the U.S. In November 2021, footage showed a section of track","_key":"6d6cd8b5b27d0","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" littered with goods and debris","_key":"3e92de5f9a6b"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" after thousands of boxes were nabbed from a train.","_key":"3e9811638be0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ad70bbf00788","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"aa2f236f51b00","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Cargo theft has more than doubled since 2019 and Union Pacific said in early 2022 that such reports on its trains increased 160% in just one year."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a55ef8ee7728"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"California Gov. Gavin Newsom said what many folks were thinking when he showed up at the site of a post-robbery litter-covered track: “What the hell is going on?”","_key":"fecb362a101a0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e38d12135ad9","markDefs":[]}],"_id":"976c2cb6-4661-4f5e-b423-99a311121d3b","_createdAt":"2024-01-24T22:30:09Z","visibility":"true","publishDate":"2024-01-25","summary":"The rise in e-commerce has given modern-day thieves a new incentive.","category":"us-news","slug":"/story/2024/01/heres-why-train-robberies-are-becoming-a-big-problem-again","id":"5oh8kj0N","_rev":"haX3qlMc71eU6YHcYEtfGh","_type":"story","title":"Here’s Why Train Robberies Are Becoming A Big Problem Again","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"Shutterstock","asset":{"extension":"jpg","_rev":"haX3qlMc71eU6YHcYEqpMM","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/7343205e39a5804328ba4fdb5cca92023aec8c5a-3800x2533.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/7343205e39a5804328ba4fdb5cca92023aec8c5a-3800x2533.jpg","creditLine":"CAROLINE BREHMAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock","_id":"image-7343205e39a5804328ba4fdb5cca92023aec8c5a-3800x2533-jpg","_updatedAt":"2024-01-24T23:09:56Z","originalFilename":"sstk-12769350a.jpg","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAANABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGAQP/xAAhEAACAQQCAgMAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMABBEhBRIGEzJBYf/EABYBAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQBAv/EABgRAQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhES/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwBPc+Pxw8ZJLbzxmdcFVaTRH2ayy4rjruPob9xLjZxoGo+3BOezMV0AMmu7KEl6KXH6GNFcsk2TubxeH3OBeZAOAaKkVkldnJmlGGI+RorXGnq//9k=","dimensions":{"height":2533,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":3800,"aspectRatio":1.5001973943939992},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"V9D+e,x[Si-pD*~Cs.ayt7WC00jEM{Rk%102bIoJM|t7","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#503f30","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.77},"muted":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.39,"background":"#a88555","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#e4b98a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.02},"darkVibrant":{"title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#1c3c54","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.66,"background":"#c2aa93","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"population":0,"background":"#b48444","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"background":"#c2aa93","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":7.66}},"hasAlpha":false},"uploadId":"EnD0IJKRQNZ651jNCyp2LrvY1ThCL36I","sha1hash":"7343205e39a5804328ba4fdb5cca92023aec8c5a","size":741781,"assetId":"7343205e39a5804328ba4fdb5cca92023aec8c5a","description":"Destroyed boxes, packages, and debris, line a section of the Union Pacific train tracks after being looted from cargo trains hauling Fed Ex, Amazon, UPS, and other box cars through the Lincoln Heights area in Los Angeles, California, USA, 20 January 2022.","_createdAt":"2024-01-24T23:09:56Z"},"crop":{"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0},"hotspot":{"height":0.938294458842404,"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9280821917808216,"x":0.4914383561643835,"y":0.469147229421202}},"_updatedAt":"2024-01-24T23:11:30Z"},{"slug":"/story/2023/12/evidence-shows-more-crimes-are-going-unsolved-this-police-chief-explained-why","_createdAt":"2023-12-25T19:04:31Z","visibility":"true","_id":"c036896f-0177-428e-bd31-f9accd1a65f0","category":"us-news","_type":"story","id":"96alnwWj","summary":"The rate has been trending downward for the past several years.","_rev":"w5bEdlhABDOfP4EIN9574L","body":[{"style":"normal","_key":"c67fc7da7c6c","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"America remains divided on a number of important issues, but one thing we can all pretty much agree on is that","_key":"f9e7ea54785f0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" serious crimes should be solved","_key":"a33d652769d7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and the perpetrators punished appropriately.","_key":"d269538bee9a"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ee531d0ae67b","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.vox.com/2023/12/23/24012514/police-crime-data-solve-rate-eddie-garcia-today-explained","_key":"24edac3b390e"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But data ","_key":"8c6c73ff3dac0"},{"_key":"8c6c73ff3dac1","_type":"span","marks":["24edac3b390e"],"text":"released"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" over the past several years shows that a lower percentage of crimes across a number of categories are ever actually solved.","_key":"8c6c73ff3dac2"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A look at the stats","_key":"5fa6967959c60","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"608ae6f73ee5"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The best way to gauge what crimes are being committed and how many of them are eventually cleared is found within the Uniform Crime Reporting Program report compiled by the FBI.","_key":"371adac114a20"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a744d7b94b0b"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As analyst Jeff Asher explained, this report “is sort of the best source of crime data that’s released each year” and “provides a trove of information on what’s happening nationally.”","_key":"d33dff4925f30"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"3bb3281dafa4","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"In a nutshell, the latest statistics aren’t all that encouraging:","_key":"6c54008f68b50"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8a33201c176b"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The clearance rate for murder","_key":"1b0190109bef0"},{"text":" dropped from 60%","_key":"860529273e80","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" in 2019 to 52% last year.","_key":"2479464669f0"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"67c75f7c9ab0"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b425d08a6317","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Among all violent crimes, the rate fell","_key":"d6a6f1c995ea0"},{"_key":"4fb6d8cfbbaf","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" from 46% to 36.7% "},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"during the same period.","_key":"870855205bba"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Property crimes were","_key":"1bd103cccca50","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" down to just 12%","_key":"e3743284571e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" solved in 2022 compared to 17% in 2019.","_key":"9189dae84ede"}],"level":1,"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"1ca05ad49819"},{"style":"normal","_key":"ba1aa32fd9d3","listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"All crime categories","_key":"11b0991d552e0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" except for burglary","_key":"6d5c339f9e0c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" decreased over the three-year span.","_key":"15f9c3b17291"}],"level":1,"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"So what’s going on? Let’s see what one expert has to say about the troubling trend.","_key":"c6d41dad4c260"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"22a52754678f","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"6fdd47f691dd0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A police chief’s perspective"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"4c8e0ecdefd1"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Asher pointed to the fact that the number of police officers on the job started declining in 2020, in part due to the pandemic and in part as a result of anti-police backlash in the wake of George Floyd’s death.","_key":"0d74c5049ca10"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"8ea9d18a7d82","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia offered some additional context.","_key":"cce97711027b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"e42e766595b7"},{"style":"normal","_key":"3c3b3a762951","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"5382f033564b0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“There’s"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" a lot more on officers’ plates","_key":"f14ca49a340b","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", quite frankly,” he said, adding that they often feel “overworked,” unsupported, and unfairly compensated.","_key":"38cda807fab5"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The answer, he concluded, is “strong leadership” from local governments as well as “great community trust and great community understanding.”","_key":"dbf220e6f6b60"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"2584ecffe5f9","markDefs":[]}],"image":{"asset":{"size":1543562,"_updatedAt":"2023-12-25T19:06:48Z","_rev":"m0kd2z7be8Dsm3U2v7i876","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/1d318df39addea8663132d89878e08f765c801aa-400x225.gif","_id":"image-1d318df39addea8663132d89878e08f765c801aa-400x225-gif","originalFilename":"9947c4a9-a412-45c7-bed5-3129aeb2a283.gif","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","sha1hash":"1d318df39addea8663132d89878e08f765c801aa","source":{"name":"stephen king GIF by Mr. Mercedes","id":"oHxwK9spidClupK1Ar","url":"https://giphy.com/gifs/mrmercedestv-mr-mercedes-mrmercedes-stephenking-oHxwK9spidClupK1Ar"},"assetId":"1d318df39addea8663132d89878e08f765c801aa","_createdAt":"2023-12-25T19:06:48Z","uploadId":"K6Fje17GW0tHBGi1Fk7vzykePmmCkS5C","metadata":{"palette":{"lightVibrant":{"background":"#50bcd0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.01},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#044c94","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01},"lightMuted":{"background":"#bccace","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.88},"vibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.01,"background":"#2084d4"},"dominant":{"background":"#534934","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.24},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#534934","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.24},"muted":{"title":"#fff","population":0.44,"background":"#6681a0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff"}},"hasAlpha":true,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":400,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":225},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M868puY8bbVWVrD*jEROt8bcHqmixZb{tm","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata"},"mimeType":"image/gif","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/1d318df39addea8663132d89878e08f765c801aa-400x225.gif","extension":"gif"},"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.9280821917808217,"x":0.5,"y":0.5,"height":1},"_type":"image","attribution":"Giphy"},"publishDate":"2023-12-26","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"Evidence Shows More Crimes Are Going Unsolved. This Police Chief Explained Why.","_updatedAt":"2023-12-25T19:08:34Z"},{"id":"fsw6xnII","category":"us-news","slug":"/story/2023/12/baby-found-alive-in-tree-after-twister-ripped-through-tennessee","image":{"attribution":"GoFundMe/Caitlyn Moore","asset":{"_rev":"m0kd2z7be8Dsm3U2v741Fj","mimeType":"image/webp","sha1hash":"e36acbe136367ce71bdf413eb1966bb346f3b254","_id":"image-e36acbe136367ce71bdf413eb1966bb346f3b254-1024x576-webp","originalFilename":"tornadobabies.webp","extension":"webp","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"MCGad[~U0gs*5l;c}=~A0g9^OZS#v~R-xZ","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"background":"#a78364","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":9.29},"lightVibrant":{"background":"#f5a98d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.09},"darkVibrant":{"background":"#05254f","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":6.23},"lightMuted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.49,"background":"#cebdb0","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"vibrant":{"background":"#c95f3a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.23},"dominant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":9.29,"background":"#a78364"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#553f3d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":5.49}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"width":1024,"aspectRatio":1.7777777777777777,"height":576,"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions"}},"uploadId":"q0MNYHP31M3keOMyla2CgeEuTzR3VsQu","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/e36acbe136367ce71bdf413eb1966bb346f3b254-1024x576.webp","assetId":"e36acbe136367ce71bdf413eb1966bb346f3b254","_createdAt":"2023-12-25T00:42:00Z","_updatedAt":"2023-12-25T00:42:00Z","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/e36acbe136367ce71bdf413eb1966bb346f3b254-1024x576.webp","size":31640},"_type":"image"},"title":"Baby Found Alive In Tree After Twister Ripped Through Tennessee","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"body":[{"_key":"f5977a4a9cac","markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67732126","_key":"364636648f40"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Call it a Christmas miracle or just a fortunate turn of events, but one Tennessee family is having a much ","_key":"f47da1e59d000"},{"marks":["364636648f40"],"text":"happier","_key":"f47da1e59d001","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" holiday after being reunited with a 4-month-old baby they were afraid didn’t survive a powerful tornado over the weekend.","_key":"f47da1e59d002"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"9e60fa6c51b0","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“I couldn’t breathe”","_key":"1ab001ee47860"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"87c2c0fd1ba4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Sydney Moore, who was with her boyfriend and two young children in their Tennessee home when the twister hit on Saturday, said the wind almost immediately sucked up the baby and its bassinet upon tearing through the residence.","_key":"f963a9da551f0","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"c0aa9c3ee9fd","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The tip of the tornado came down and picked up the bassinet with my baby, Lord, in it,” she said. “","_key":"372d2172587a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"He was the first thing to go up","_key":"fbd54c62151d"},{"text":".”","_key":"21b60d5c8b7d","_type":"span","marks":[]}]},{"_key":"5ae9b61035e4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The child’s father, who attempted to leap on top of the baby to save him, was also blown away in the process.","_key":"7915ed35f51b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"b260ae23f332","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Meanwhile, Sydney jumped to save Lord’s older brother just as the walls of the mobile home came tumbling down.","_key":"c1e56c86d4e40"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“","_key":"de148d443afb0"},{"text":"I was being really crushed","_key":"7993fcfc82be","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” she recalled. “I couldn’t breathe.”","_key":"172112bb95c0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"933cedd985a5"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"b6b6c229181f","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"After she and her boyfriend were reunited, they began looking for Lord … and were increasingly worried that he didn’t survive the ordeal.","_key":"621cb058a8160"}]},{"_key":"c7e946d29413","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“By the grace of God”","_key":"caecfcccc4ce0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"7eadc3170d81","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The rain continued to pour on them as they scoured the demolished surroundings until they finally found something that “looked like","_key":"5104f87d20a50"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" a little tree cradle","_key":"630815a4c3b5"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".”","_key":"04c5c7c742f3"}],"_type":"block"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"They examined it and were overjoyed to find Lord.","_key":"2d6d4202c2600"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"327f214b98e4","markDefs":[]},{"style":"normal","_key":"b1df4c69752a","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“I was","_key":"ad4b1ecd8bc40"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" pretty sure he was dead","_key":"b6a77124639c"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and we weren’t going to find him,” Sydney said. “But he’s here, and that’s by the grace of God.”","_key":"123b53958924"}],"_type":"block"},{"_key":"7b5687d7c9a8","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"There were some injuries and most of their possessions were destroyed … but they’ll heal and an online fundraiser will help replace their stuff. What’s important is that everyone is together.","_key":"6623bc6bf8fc0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ac50892b91e5","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"f0e34f931dda0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":"I will die for my kids","_key":"d121584ef197","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” Sydney concluded. “That’s not even a question. And my boyfriend would do the same thing.”","_key":"1abb8cdf8328"}]}],"summary":"The 4-month-old was blown away while inside its bassinet. ","_rev":"82FHgd9pw3o6Yf54dERbbw","publishDate":"2023-12-25","_createdAt":"2023-12-24T20:39:33Z","_id":"779163e3-206d-4cfe-935b-42118f219027","_updatedAt":"2023-12-25T00:42:04Z","visibility":"true","_type":"story"},{"body":[{"markDefs":[{"href":"https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/21/us/glynn-simmons-declared-innocent-oklahoma/index.html","_key":"8b2c599ee74b","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While any wrongful conviction is both a","_key":"b07d8b2602540"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" personal and societal tragedy","_key":"8f739c0ae501"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", some cases are more upsetting than others. And one Oklahoma man’s ","_key":"cfd63e4d68ab"},{"_type":"span","marks":["8b2c599ee74b"],"text":"story","_key":"b07d8b2602541"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is among the worst.","_key":"b07d8b2602542"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"6836943d7a1b"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"efa556afea93","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"“Justice was done today”","_key":"090a09b9c5100"}]},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eae7db8a5863","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"A liquor store robbery in late 1974 cost one woman her life and one man nearly five decades of his freedom. Glynn Simmons","_key":"bf84cd5f1db30","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_key":"4d0dd10565da","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" was just 22"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" when he was convicted and despite consistently pleading his innocence, he remained in prison until earlier this year.","_key":"c54f323c6807"}]},{"_key":"974b52265207","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"Now, at the age of 70, a judge has added the final punctuation to this unfathomable chapter in his life, declaring him innocent of the charges.","_key":"242c2a8c54e80","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“This is a day we’ve been waiting on for a long, long time,” he said after Tuesday’s hearing. “It finally came. We can say justice was done today, finally — and I’m happy.”","_key":"ed2e6732eb340"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"45143c619adb"},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"With over","_key":"243e02f993390"},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" 48 years of his life","_key":"9b4bd3f8e216","_type":"span"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" spent incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit, records indicate Simmons has served more time than anyone else in American history who was wrongfully convicted and ultimately released. The average term is a little over nine years before being exonerated.","_key":"eb167edc52c6"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ff18b3dbb638","markDefs":[]},{"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A bittersweet victory","_key":"b019150612740"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"160b3c0bbeea","markDefs":[]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"While it’s clearly a good thing that Simmons was released and subsequently exonerated, he’s facing some serious challenges during his twilight years. For starters, the world has changed tremendously since his conviction in the ‘70s.","_key":"066c05bd039b0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"aa758995acbc"},{"style":"normal","_key":"2f17f4f83ff4","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"But on a personal level, state law limits the amount of compensation he can receive to","_key":"bd24876040e80","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"marks":["strong"],"text":" just $175,000","_key":"ca9265c5ae27","_type":"span"},{"marks":[],"text":", and there’s no guarantee that he’ll even get that.","_key":"2a382cd5aeb4","_type":"span"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[{"_type":"link","href":"https://www.gofundme.com/f/glynnrsimmons","_key":"d17901249819"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"The declaration of innocence this week is the first step toward ensuring he gets some money for the unimaginable hardship he’s endured over the past several decades. For a retirement-age man without any real-world skills that would translate to a lucrative career, he’s dependent on others (including an online ","_key":"81c36ce755f90"},{"_type":"span","marks":["d17901249819"],"text":"fundraiser","_key":"81c36ce755f91"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":") for his income.","_key":"81c36ce755f92"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"7517655f6ba3"}],"_updatedAt":"2023-12-23T03:34:28Z","_type":"story","slug":"/story/2023/12/an-innocent-man-who-spent-nearly-50-years-behind-bars-is-finally-free","_createdAt":"2023-12-23T00:32:45Z","_id":"0dcb0c92-bb51-41ed-9cd6-cc8a1bae9e37","summary":"He's finally been declared innocent at the age of 70 ... but what happens now?","image":{"crop":{"bottom":0,"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.7089041095890402,"x":0.4828767123287674,"y":0.4432513520982194,"height":0.8865027041964388},"_type":"image","attribution":"Glynn Simmons/GoFundMe","asset":{"_id":"image-8a3650d818ebb797f1010aabe4b661bb76e86779-1158x804-png","_updatedAt":"2023-12-23T00:31:06Z","_rev":"82FHgd9pw3o6Yf54d3U2ve","mimeType":"image/png","sha1hash":"8a3650d818ebb797f1010aabe4b661bb76e86779","extension":"png","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/8a3650d818ebb797f1010aabe4b661bb76e86779-1158x804.png","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/8a3650d818ebb797f1010aabe4b661bb76e86779-1158x804.png","assetId":"8a3650d818ebb797f1010aabe4b661bb76e86779","size":1493719,"_createdAt":"2023-12-23T00:31:06Z","originalFilename":"Screenshot 2023-12-22 at 7.30.48 PM.png","metadata":{"lqip":"data:image/png;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1158,"aspectRatio":1.4402985074626866,"height":804},"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"VIJuDZkF~V%L9G00V{9FoI%L9F?bIWjrtQ?u%3WBRitQ","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"muted":{"foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":0.63,"background":"#a09f52","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"lightVibrant":{"population":1.37,"background":"#d1c29d","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"darkVibrant":{"population":0.01,"background":"#547420","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff"},"lightMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":4.73,"background":"#bcbbb1"},"vibrant":{"population":0.03,"background":"#b1c756","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"dominant":{"population":4.73,"background":"#bcbbb1","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"background":"#4c5a2a","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":2.06}},"hasAlpha":true},"uploadId":"TaVx3EAmQyoKS1cOpEgwCeXZpcLdUCo1","_type":"sanity.imageAsset"}},"publishDate":"2023-12-23","visibility":"true","_rev":"m0kd2z7be8Dsm3U2v4IzuU","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"},"title":"An Innocent Man Who Spent Nearly 50 Years Behind Bars Is Finally Free","id":"sJ2OgNKI","category":"us-news"},{"id":"Wuk4d9XJ","category":"us-news","_createdAt":"2023-12-11T00:15:33Z","title":"This Female Soldier Just Demolished The Army’s Sniper Gender Barrier","_updatedAt":"2023-12-11T00:26:07Z","slug":"/story/2023/12/this-female-soldier-just-demolished-the-armys-sniper-gender-barrier","publishDate":"2023-12-11","summary":"She's been working toward this accomplishment most of her life.","_rev":"RVY9BlbeWUbfeUlXYqYf9j","image":{"_type":"image","attribution":"U.S. Army","asset":{"size":97482,"_id":"image-8b31d4848214cb243ae8fd6128b711cfa667db58-1440x806-jpg","metadata":{"isOpaque":true,"blurHash":"M8DSUi00?^hfE,[^Mcu5,?O[R6?IITT0Z~","_type":"sanity.imageMetadata","palette":{"lightMuted":{"background":"#9cb2c6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":5.79},"vibrant":{"foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.02,"background":"#c0365c","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch"},"dominant":{"population":5.79,"background":"#9cb2c6","_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff"},"_type":"sanity.imagePalette","darkMuted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0,"background":"#2c4c5c"},"muted":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":1.72,"background":"#8f5b6b"},"lightVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#000","title":"#fff","population":1.65,"background":"#c69081"},"darkVibrant":{"_type":"sanity.imagePaletteSwatch","foreground":"#fff","title":"#fff","population":0.03,"background":"#880424"}},"hasAlpha":false,"lqip":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","dimensions":{"_type":"sanity.imageDimensions","width":1440,"aspectRatio":1.7866004962779156,"height":806}},"_rev":"RVY9BlbeWUbfeUlXYqY9gw","_type":"sanity.imageAsset","_updatedAt":"2023-12-11T00:20:40Z","extension":"jpg","uploadId":"4bGaLT3qLEPXhLVEXDmE2ndcsrY2cGDy","sha1hash":"8b31d4848214cb243ae8fd6128b711cfa667db58","originalFilename":"sniper.jpg","mimeType":"image/jpeg","url":"https://cdn.sanity.io/images/8mioycse/v3/8b31d4848214cb243ae8fd6128b711cfa667db58-1440x806.jpg","path":"images/8mioycse/v3/8b31d4848214cb243ae8fd6128b711cfa667db58-1440x806.jpg","assetId":"8b31d4848214cb243ae8fd6128b711cfa667db58","_createdAt":"2023-12-11T00:20:40Z"},"crop":{"_type":"sanity.imageCrop","right":0,"top":0,"left":0,"bottom":0},"hotspot":{"_type":"sanity.imageHotspot","width":0.5342465753424656,"x":0.7328767123287672,"y":0.5,"height":1}},"visibility":"true","_type":"story","body":[{"_key":"0367d3eda58e","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although men still outnumber women across the branches of the U.S. armed forces, a growing number of women are proving that they’re just as capable of meeting the high standards of military service.","_key":"f61ca55c62da0"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"0e66831a866f","markDefs":[{"href":"https://taskandpurpose.com/news/first-female-active-duty-soldier-graduates-from-sniper-schools/","_key":"f23d2af979b8","_type":"link"}],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"One recent ","_key":"27de5f7b76fa0"},{"_key":"27de5f7b76fa1","_type":"span","marks":["f23d2af979b8"],"text":"example"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" is Army Sgt. Maciel Hay, a non-commissioned officer who recently became","_key":"27de5f7b76fa2"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" the first active-duty soldier","_key":"2f9d28421b12"},{"text":" to pass the grueling five-week sniper course.","_key":"2fd83537c422","_type":"span","marks":[]}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"A lifelong destiny","_key":"6fa6de2e62e90"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"79ea90bd2255"},{"style":"normal","_key":"aa49ccc2ae30","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As Hay explained, much of her life has been","_key":"c002189860640"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" leading up to this moment","_key":"b75c21a57df3"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":".","_key":"1e823696ed0f"}],"_type":"block"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“My nickname growing up was ‘Sniper,’” she said.","_key":"43b9768c9ab70"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"44879f782305"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"a65a6c79ef43","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"e06109aa887f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"As a young person on her family’s property in California and Oregon, Hay received"},{"text":" ample firearms training","_key":"a39dbb29f6b9","_type":"span","marks":["strong"]},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" and frequently fired rifles and handguns under appropriate supervision. But aside from being a good shot, she noted that her sobriquet stemmed from a particular skill that served her well in sniper school.","_key":"eba3d6d5a90f"}]},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"“The nickname came from the fact that","_key":"68abaaf9a4b10"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" I could find things really fas","_key":"2baa8c2d28af"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"t, similar to how a sniper does target detection,” Hay said.","_key":"9f2de46072d8"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"eb04d46196f4"},{"markDefs":[],"children":[{"_key":"a432d27089fc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Despite her obvious talent, the soldier said that she encountered plenty of naysayers along the way — including a now-former close friend who said she wouldn’t succeed."}],"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"ce7b3b72efd2"},{"_key":"a4b582a97beb","markDefs":[],"children":[{"text":"“Needless to say, that person is","_key":"e832b2e6630d0","_type":"span","marks":[]},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" no longer part of my life","_key":"8f9bf8bc34d7"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":",” she quipped. “But now that I look back at it, I really do appreciate the motivation.”","_key":"fde82a054d7d"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"0c8682055a43","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The latest step","_key":"d40d96ee01410"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"_key":"15c56b4a520d","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Although Hay is the first active-duty female to accomplish this feat, she’s not the first woman to become a military sniper. More than two years ago, a soldier in the Montana National Guard completed the Army’s sniper course ","_key":"e32c38b040070"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"at two separate bases.","_key":"7889d0461dee"}],"_type":"block","style":"normal"},{"style":"normal","_key":"33b75e719309","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"About two decades before that, a female member of the Air National Guard graduated from that branch’s Counter Sniper School.","_key":"273b590ba1a70"}],"_type":"block"},{"_type":"block","style":"normal","_key":"f5875edf3962","markDefs":[],"children":[{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"But Hay","_key":"5438a9bc123a0"},{"_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":" isn’t done yet","_key":"a728e0fad03e"},{"_type":"span","marks":[],"text":". She’s currently on course to become a jumpmaster and might even attend Ranger school in the future.","_key":"b02f2bbfd851"}]}],"_id":"208da12b-2404-4950-9cad-9c9dcd03dd80","author":{"_ref":"phCNL32Gn","_type":"reference"}}]