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☆ Mississippi Schools Are Offering Lessons for America on Education - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Nicholas Kristof | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

— The refrain across much of the Deep South for decades was “Thank God for Mississippi!” That’s because however abysmally Arkansas or Alabama might perform in national comparisons, they could still bet that they wouldn’t be the worst in America. That spot was often reserved for Mississippi. So it’s extraordinary to travel across this state today and find something dazzling: It is lifting education outcomes and soaring in the national rankings. In the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a series of nationwide tests better known as NAEP, Mississippi has moved from near the bottom to the middle for most of the exams — and near the top when adjusted for demographics. Among just children in poverty, Mississippi fourth graders now are tied for best performers in the nation in NAEP reading tests and rank second in math.

Persons: JACKSON, — Organizations: Miss Locations: Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, America, , Mississippi

☆ Natalee Holloway case suspect Joran van der Sloot beaten in Peruvian prison, attorney tells ABC News
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Tatiana Arias | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, was “severely” beaten in a Peruvian prison, his attorney told ABC News on Monday. It may be connected to gang rules inside the Challapalca Prison where van der Sloot is being held, Altez said. Natalee Holloway was last seen alive with van der Sloot and two other men 18 years ago leaving a nightclub in Aruba. The three men – van der Sloot and brothers Deepak and Satish Kalpoe – were arrested in 2005 and released due to insufficient evidence. They were rearrested and charged in 2007 for “involvement in the voluntary manslaughter of Natalee Holloway or causing serious bodily harm to Natalee Holloway, resulting in her death,” Aruban prosecutors said at the time.

☆ A 34-year-old who achieved financial independence and quit his day job after setting up 2 bachelorette-themed Airbnbs in Scottsdale explains how he uses data to find 'outsized opportunities'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( Kathleen Elkins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

When Kent He decided to invest in short-term rentals, he started looking at data. To find a market to invest in, he looked at rental demand using AirDNA. It took about six months from the time he started looking at markets to when he closed on his first property. In this particular example, the rental demand score is 81. In 2021, when he first started looking at markets, "the demand was right around 66 to 68," he noted.

☆ These are the 10 cheapest places in the U.S. to buy a beach house
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-27 | by ( Celia Fernandez | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Gulfport, Mississippi, ranked as the cheapest town in which to buy a beach house, according to Realtor.com. Dszc | Istock | Getty ImagesTop 10 cheapest places in the U.S. to buy a beach houseGulfport, Miss. In Newport News, the median price within one mile of a beach is $200,000 and the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach is $150. It has one of the best public beaches in the state, Ocean Beach Park, which sits on the Long Island Sound. The median price within one mile of a beach is $257,000 in New London, while the median price per square foot within one mile of a beach is $175.

☆ Ultrasound Pulses to Brain Send Mice Into a Hibernation-Like State
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Veronique Greenwood | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Hibernating creatures curl up underground in winter, slowing their metabolism so they can make it to spring without food. Even laboratory mice, if deprived of food, can enter a state called torpor, a kind of standby mode that economizes energy. But as scientists work to understand states like torpor and hibernation, tantalizing details about how the brain controls metabolism have emerged. Researchers reported in the journal Nature Metabolism on Thursday that they’ve been able to send mice into a torpor-like state by targeting a specific part of the brain with short bursts of ultrasound. A growing body of work is exploring ultrasound as a treatment for disorders like depression and anxiety.

Persons: they’ve, neuroscientists, Hong Chen, Louis, William Tyler Organizations: Washington University, University of Alabama Locations: St, Birmingham

☆ Lowe's is trying to lure rural shoppers by copying Tractor Supply and selling livestock products, Carhartt, and Wrangler
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Ben Tobin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Analyst group Jeffries says Lowe's may cut into Tractor Supply Co.'s rural-customer market share. They will roll out in up to 300 Lowe's stores by the end of the year and include new Carhartt apparel, an expanded Wrangler lineup, as well as items for pets, livestock, and trailers. Lowe's push to expand farm and ranch offerings could be troubling news for Tractor Supply Co., which has more than 2,000 stores nationwide. Per the Jeffries report, Lowe's rolled out a pilot of its rural concept in two stores in rural parts of Tennessee in 2020. Tractor Supply could face greater competition from Lowe's.

☆ As South Carolina governor signs new law, abortion restrictions strain providers in U.S. South
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The South Carolina House of Representatives is called back by Gov. "This is a great day for life in South Carolina, but the fight is not over. We stand ready to defend this legislation against any challenges and are confident we will succeed," Republican South Carolina Gov. The new law signed by South Carolina governor's will change that status, according to Caitlin Myers, an economics professor at Middlebury College. Over the past two months, Republican officials in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have pushed Virginia closer to being a regional outlier as a place with relatively permissive access.

☆ How tornadoes, crypto and mudslides pushed up the debt default deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

While the Treasury Department hasn’t explicitly given a reason for its tax revenue deficiency, experts have said two main factors may have caused a shortfall. Pugliese said that last year, capital gains taxes paid to the government were “unusually strong” due to a market boom. That led to really strong capital gains tax revenue increases,” he said. Tornadoes, winter storms and mudslides pushed deadlines for millions of taxpayersAnother factor that may have lowered the federal government’s tax income this year: unexpected natural disasters. California’s payments might have had an outsized effect on the federal government’s tax revenue shortage, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics.

☆ America has an umpire shortage. Unruly parents aren’t helping
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Vanessa Yurkevich | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In one Little League game in Alabama, a coach was seen grabbing an umpire and throwing him to the ground, while kids looked on in bewilderment. In another viral video, parents in Texas aggressively yelled at an umpire, who ended the game early over the disruption. It doesn’t mean I enjoy the way you are calling the game,” Wood told the umpire. The average pay for a youth umpire is $45 to $85 a game, according to the Babe Ruth League. Kelly Peterfriend, who also has a son in Ramsey’s Little League, says she gets most animated during her son’s soccer games.

Compare Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank of AmericaWells Fargo Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. See the best bank account bonuses right now>>Winner: Wells Fargo The Wells Fargo Everyday Checking Account has a lower opening deposit requirement and makes it easier to waive the monthly service fee. Winner: Wells Fargo If you're eligible for the Wells Fargo savings bonus, this bank is the clear winner. Winner: Bank of America If looking for a variety of term options or a low minimum opening deposit, Bank of America easily tops Wells Fargo. Bank of America and Wells Fargo: Frequently Asked QuestionsIs Bank of America better or Wells Fargo?

The average FICO credit score in 2022 was 714, and the average VantageScore credit score was 701. 10 states with the highest average credit scoreAccording to data gathered by Experian, the 10 states with the highest average credit scores in 2022 are as follows:States Credit Scores (FICO) Minnesota 742 Vermont 736 Washington 735 Wisconsin 735 New Hampshire 734 South Dakota 734 North Dakota 733 Hawaii 732 Massachusetts 732 Oregon 732The 10 states with the lowest average credit scoreOverall, credit scores have risen over the past couple of decades. How credit scores are categorizedThe range of possible credit scores spans from 300 to 850, which FICO categorizes into five levels called risk categories. Minnesota, with a 742 average score, is the only exception, nudging its way into a "very good" average score. Average credit scores by state frequently asked questionsWhy are credit scores worse in the South?

☆ Interested in Polyamory? Check Out These Places
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Valeriya Safronova | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Jace Knight had heard about Somerville, Mass., while working on a Ph.D. at the University of Alabama in 2020. In late March, Somerville passed two more laws extending the rights of nonmonogamous residents, this time banning discrimination on the basis of “family or relationship structure” in city employment and policing. (A similar ordinance, focused on housing, is currently being discussed by the Somerville City Council.) Around the same time these new laws passed, Mx. The city’s attitude toward nonmonogamy was a big factor in the group’s decision to move there, Mx.

☆ The 12 best places to live in the US, which have cheaper homes, good weather, and lots of jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

US News & World Report released its 2023 list of best places to live in America on Tuesday. 2023 list of best places to live in America on Tuesday. The top 12 cities have affordable homes, a high quality of life, and are popular with movers. Indeed, the cities on this list all have below-average crime rates, good schools, happy residents, easy commutes, and clean air, according to the report. Without further ado, here are the 12 best places to live this year, and their metro area population, housing costs, and yearly salaries, according to US News & World Report.

☆ Homebuilder sentiment pulls out of negative territory for the first time in nearly a year
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

It's the fifth straight month of gains and the first reading of builder sentiment since July that wasn't negative, which would be a reading below 50. With mortgage rates now double what they were a year and a half ago, some potential sellers may be reluctant to trade to another home at a higher rate. Homebuilders also drew more buyers by offering incentives, like buying down mortgage rates. Sentiment in the Midwest rose 2 points to 39. In the South, it increased 3 points to 52, and in the West moved 3 points higher to 41.

☆ Illumen Capital just closed its second fund worth $168 million to tackle racial and gender bias in asset management using this 10-slide LP deck
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A fund of funds investing to make venture capital more equitable just closed its second fund. Oakland-based Illumen Capital secured $168 million to back people of color and women. An impact fund of funds tackling racial and gender bias in asset management has just closed its second $168 million fund with the Ford Foundation and W.K. As a fund of funds, Illumen Capital hopes to solve this by addressing implicit biases. When looking at the data, Illumen Capital found that they had the same revenue marks as white entrepreneurs not considered too early.

☆ What’s a President to Do When a Nation’s Capital Is Sinking? Move It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Hannah Beech | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +38 min

A new capital city for a place with such disparities and diversity presents both a challenge and a chance for reinvention. Moving the Seat of Power From Java to Borneo Detail area Malaysia Nusantara Borneo Java Sea Indonesia Jakarta Java Indian Ocean Detail area Malaysia Nusantara Borneo Java Sea Indonesia Jakarta Java Indian Ocean Indonesia’s new capital, Nusantara, will be about 800 miles from the current capital, Jakarta. It cannot be overnight, it’s not like Aladdin comes with his genie,” said Bambang Susantono, the head of the Nusantara Capital City Authority. We have to prove that this will be a self-propelling city.” — Bambang Susantono, head of the Nusantara Capital City AuthorityCritics of I.K.N. Indonesia’s capital city faces sinking land and rising seas.

☆ How Reuters pinpointed bat-virus risk zones worldwide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Areas where conditions are similar are more prone to spillover, scientists say. The Reuters analysis, which assessed spillover risk through 2020, has proven to have some predictive power. Similar statistical models are used widely to analyze data in ecology, and researchers use them to understand spillover risk. More than one of every five people on the planet is living in areas where the risk is highest for spillover. Using epidemic modeling software called GLEAMviz, the news agency simulated a worldwide pandemic originating from the spillover of a theoretical novel virus.

☆ Biden may be punishing Alabama for its harsh abortion law by preventing the Space Command headquarters from relocating to the state
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The White House may be walking back a decision to relocate the US Space Command headquarters to Alabama. "This is all about abortion politics," one official told NBC. Space Command is a department of the Air Force that protects the United States and its allies "in, from, and to space." "The belief is they are delaying any move because of the abortion issue," another US official told NBC, referring to the Biden administration. A White House official told Insider that laws regarding reproductive health were not considered in the decision-making process, questioning the accuracy of NBC's reporting.

☆ U.S. Supreme Court allows death row inmate's lawsuit after failed execution
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Andrew Chung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

A majority of the justices in November cleared the way for the execution of Smith, sentenced to death for his role in a 1988 murder-for-hire plot. The method in Alabama posed an "intolerable risk of torture, cruelty or substantial pain," Smith's lawsuit stated. A judge dismissed Smith's lawsuit, but on Nov. 17, the day of his scheduled execution, the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. The 11th Circuit also in a separate decision stayed his execution, but after the state appealed to the Supreme Court, the justices allowed it to proceed. Smith's case is not a challenge to the death penalty itself.

☆ Premarket stocks: What happens if the debt ceiling and banking crisis collide?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —President Joe Biden said over the weekend that debt ceiling negotiations were moving along and that talks between the White House and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy would resume on Tuesday. It may become more difficult to access credit, further exacerbating the challenges individuals and companies are already facing because of the banking crisis. Before the Bell: What do the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations mean to small and medium businesses? Do you think bank executives and members of the business community can put pressure on Congress and the White House to come to a deal? The White House has estimated more than 8 million jobs would get wiped out if there is a protracted default.

☆ Opinion | Against Despair: An Open Letter to Graduates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Margaret Renkl | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

As you enter the world, remember, too, how beautiful this place is. It will make you feel better about the mess your species has made of things if you can find a way to help. Being in the wild world will make you feel better. I promise you will feel better. Fall in love with the wild world, and you are taking the first step toward saving it.

FreeKick is a credit-builder product that can help parents build credit for their children ages 14-25. Depending on the size of the deposit, a FreeKick account will cost $0 - $99 annually. Traditionally, the easiest way for parents to help their children build credit is by adding them as an authorized user on a credit card. Austin Capital Bank, a savings bank out of Austin, Texas, is launching FreeKick Credit Builder, a new credit-building product that allows parents to help their children build credit without risking their own credit. No credit check Check mark icon A check mark.

☆ 19 Republican states accuse JPMorgan of closing bank accounts and discriminating against customers due to their religious or political beliefs
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

19 Republican states accused JPMorgan of closing bank accounts on political or religious grounds. Republican attorneys general from 19 states have accused JPMorgan Chase of closing accounts and discriminating against customers due to their political or religious beliefs, a report says. Further, the letter claimed JPMorgan asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to ignore a proposal for the bank to disclose its policy for closing accounts. A JPMorgan representative told The Journal: "We have never and would never exit a client relationship due to their political or religious affiliation." A spokesperson for JPMorgan said: "We do not close accounts due to religious or political affiliations, and did not in these cases."

☆ Pickleball is replacing Bed Bath & Beyond and Old Navy at malls
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Pickleball is coming to your local mall, replacing shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, and Saks Off 5th stores. Malls need new tenants to fill vacant spaces and draw customers beyond their traditional department store anchors and clothing stores. Backers of the game and developers are desperate to find vacant spaces to build courts. The Meadows at Lake Saint Louis, an outdoor mall, plans to fill the space once occupied by Bed Bath & Beyond with a pickleball club. A pickleball facility recently opened in a former Burlington store space at Shore Mall in New Jersey, and a pickleball club took over an Old Navy space at a New Hampshire mall.

☆ The agony and ecstasy of scoring last-minute face value Taylor Swift tickets
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“My family [last weekend] took the gamble to drive down the 5 hours to Nashville to see if we could get face value tickets,” she said. Another Twitter account called @ErasTourResell, which has 120,000 followers, has gained significant traction working with resellers who want to sell their tickets at face value. The trio of twenty-somethings aim to make Swift tickets as accessible to fans as possible without them overpaying or getting scammed. “So far we’ve posted somewhere between 2,700 and 3,000 tickets, all for face value,” the trio said in a DM conversation on Twitter. “It’s truly so rewarding seeing these tickets go to real fans for face value when the resale market has insane prices with people making three times the profit.

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