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☆ Oil prices steady, with investors focusing on Fed decision
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices steadied on Wednesday, after rising in the previous two sessions, as investors await the U.S. Federal Reserve's anticipated interest rate cut, with the potential for more violence in the Middle East supporting the market. "Markets have calmed down as concerns over hurricane damage and escalating tensions in the Middle East have been factored in," said Mitsuru Muraishi, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities. "Now, investors are focusing on the Fed's rate cuts which could revitalize U.S. fuel demand and weaken the dollar," he said, predicting that oil prices are likely to maintain a bullish tone after Brent hit its lowest since 2021 last week. Traders kept bets the Fed will start an expected series of interest rate cuts with a half-percentage-point move downward on Wednesday, an expectation that may itself put pressure on central bankers to deliver just that. Oil stockpiles rose by 1.96 million barrels in the week ended Sept. 13, according to market sources citing the API figures, but gasoline and distillate stocks both rose by about 2.3 million barrels.

Persons: Hurricane Francine, Mitsuru Muraishi, Brent, Biden Organizations: U.S, U.S . Federal, Brent, Fujitomi Securities, Traders, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, American Petroleum Institute, Reuters, U.S . Energy Locations: U.S ., U.S, Israel, Lebanon, Beirut

One out of 4 of the 31,000 homeowners in the coastal parish live there without homeowners insurance — one of the highest percentages in the United States. Across the country, 13.4% of homeowners — about 1 in 8 — are unprotected by homeowners insurance, according to an NBC News analysis of new Census Bureau data. It’s a double-edged sword.”The Census Bureau data shows how many homeowners pay less than $100 — or nothing at all — for homeowners insurance. According to the Census Bureau survey, which was taken in 2023, 20.8% of homeowners without mortgages also lack meaningful homeowners insurance. Among mortgage-holders, 8.5% don’t have meaningful homeowners insurance — and while banks require owners with mortgages to have homeowners insurance, gaps in coverage do happen.

Persons: Hurricane Francine, “, ”, Shannon Martin, you’re, Martin, ” Martin, Mark Friedlander, ” Friedlander, There’s, Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s, ” Fairweather Organizations: NBC, Bankrate, Insurance Information Institute, “ Insurance Locations: Louisiana’s Terrebonne Parish, United States

☆ U.S. crude oil trades above $70 per barrel as Gulf of Mexico production recovers
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

U.S. crude oil traded above $70 per barrel on Tuesday, as production in the Gulf of Mexico is still in recovery mode after Hurricane Francine. More than 200,000 barrels per day remained offline in the Gulf as of Monday, according to Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Production from undamaged facilities will be brought back online immediately after checks have been completed, according to the agency. The central bank is widely expected to lower rates, though Wall Street is divided on the magnitude of the cut. U.S. crude oil is down more than 13% this quarter while Brent has fallen nearly 16% as demand slows in China, the world's largest crude importer, and OPEC+ plans to increase production in December.

Persons: Francine, Brent Organizations: of Safety, Environmental Enforcement, Federal Reserve Locations: Gulf, Mexico, China, OPEC

☆ Oil extends gains on U.S. output concerns, expected drop in stockpiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices extended gains on Tuesday as the market eyed U.S. output concerns in the aftermath of Hurricane Francine and expectations of lower U.S. crude stockpiles. The market is keeping a close watch on the upcoming decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve on the interest rate cut. A lower interest rate will reduce the cost of borrowing and can potentially lift oil demand by supporting economic growth. "Growing expectations of an aggressive rate cut boosted sentiment across the commodities complex," said ANZ analysts in a note, adding that ongoing supply disruptions also supported oil markets. China's oil refinery output fell for a fifth month in August amid declining fuel demand and weak export margins, government data showed on Saturday.

Persons: Hurricane Francine Organizations: Brent, Federal, U.S . Bureau of Safety, U.S . Federal Reserve, ANZ, Investors Locations: U.S . Gulf, Mexico, U.S, China

☆ Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 brings heavy rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic with millions under flood watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Kathryn-Prociv.Jpg | Kathryn Prociv | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An area of heavy rain and thunderstorms off the North Carolina and South Carolina coastlines Monday morning, designated Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 (or PTC 8 for short), is the next potential Atlantic system that may affect the continental United States. Meanwhile, Wilmington, North Carolina recorded a 60mph wind gust earlier on Monday morning. Minor storm surge of 1 to 3 feet is forecast from South Santee River, South Carolina to Oregon Inlet, North Carolina, and along the Neuse, Bay, Pamlico and Pungo Rivers in North Carolina. Six million people are under a Flood Watch from northeast South Carolina up through central North Carolina. For interior North Carolina 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts up to 6 inches, could fall through Tuesday.

Persons: Hurricane Francine, Gordon Organizations: National Weather Service, Carolina, NOAA, North Carolina ., Flood Locations: North Carolina, South Carolina, United States, Charleston , South Carolina, Wilmington, Carolina Beach , North Carolina, Louisiana, Carolina Beach, Pan, , North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach , North Carolina, Wilmington , North Carolina, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Carolina, Virginia , Maryland, Delaware , New Jersey, New York, South Santee River , South Carolina, Oregon, Pungo Rivers, Myrtle Beach , Wilmington , Cape Hatteras, Raleigh, Virginia

☆ Oil prices inch up on Fed rate cut outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices edged up in early trade on Monday amid expectations of a U.S. interest rate cut this week, though gains were capped by U.S. supply resumptions following Hurricane Francine and weaker China data. Brent crude futures for November were up 15 cents, or 0.2% at $71.76 a barrel at 0015 GMT. U.S. crude futures for October were up 23 cents, or 0.3%, at $68.88 a barrel. Still, nearly a fifth of crude oil production and 28% of natural gas output in the Gulf of Mexico remain offline in the hurricane's aftermath. A key factor that will dominate the market this week is how aggressive a rate cut the U.S. Federal Reserve will deliver following its Sept. 17-18 meeting.

Persons: Francine, Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: Brent, U.S . Federal, FedWatch, ANZ, Republican Locations: Tatarstan, Russia, U.S, China, Mexico, Gulf, Florida, Iran, Israel

☆ Oil prices extend recovery rally to cap volatile week
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brent crude futures rose by 34 cents, or 0.5%, to $72.31 per barrel by 0016 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose by 38 cents, or 0.6%, to $69.35 a barrel. Official data showed nearly 42% of the region's oil output was shut-in as of Thursday. A shift towards lower-carbon fuels is also weighing on China's oil demand, speakers at the APPEC conference said this week. China's crude oil imports averaged 3.1% lower this year from January through August compared to the same period last year, customs data showed on Tuesday.

Persons: Phillips, Hurricane Francine, Brent, Francine Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, UBS, Organization of Petroleum, International Energy Agency, U.S . Energy, Administration Locations: Linden , New Jersey, United States, U.S . Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, China, U.S

"Heavy rain is expected to continue through at least this afternoon, so please continue to stay weather aware,” Mississippi Gov. Jeff Landry was touring the hardest-hit areas across his state, while officials in New Orleans urged residents to conserve drinking water. The aftermath of a deluge from Hurricane Francine in Metairie, La., in Jefferson Parish, last night. The low-lying city was quickly deluged, with 7.33 inches of rain reported at New Orleans International Airport. In Lafourche Parish in southern Louisiana, 26 people trapped by rising floodwaters were rescued, local officials said.

Persons: Hurricane Francine, Tate Reeves, Jeff Landry, Miles Crawford, Crawford, Jonah Gilmore, “, ” Crawford, Francine, Matthew Hinton, Cynthia Lee Sheng Organizations: National Hurricane Center, Louisiana Gov, NBC, University Medical Center, Associated Press, New Orleans International Locations: Florida, New Orleans, Memphis , Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Jackson , Mississippi, Birmingham , Alabama, Memphis, Atlanta, Mississippi, WDSU, Terrebonne Parish, Metairie, La, Jefferson Parish, Kenner, Jefferson, Lafourche Parish

☆ Billionaire undertakes first civilian spacewalk and big moments from the VMAs: Morning Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Elizabeth Robinson | Elizabeth Robinson Is A Newsletter Editor For Nbc News | Based In Los Angeles. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +9 min

Some Donald Trump allies expressed concern over his debate performance. And Taylor Swift and Chappell Roan win big at the MTV VMAs. SpaceX / PolarisFour private citizens orbiting Earth in a SpaceX capsule are attempting to make history by completing the world’s first all-civilian spacewalk. During the outing, Isaacman and Gillis are expected to exit the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a tether. Trump’s conspiracy-laced debate performance prompts concernsFormer President Donald Trump declared Tuesday’s debate against Vice President Kamala Harris a win, but not all his allies see it that way.

Persons: Donald Trump, Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Francine drenches, Francine, Jared Isaacman, Scott “ Kidd ” Poteet, Sarah Gillis, Anna Menon, Isaacman, Gillis, Kamala Harris, Harris ’, Trump, David Ingram, Matt Dixon, ’, Megan Thee, Britney Spears, hird, ong, Joh, els, ord Organizations: MTV, Angeles National Forest, SpaceX, Polaris, Air Force, Tech, Republican, Senior, Trump, Megan Thee Stallion, Doha Madani Locations: Louisiana, Southern California, Francine drenches Gulf, New Orleans, Alabama, Florida, California, San Bernardino County, Orange County, ord

☆ Hurricane Francine: Man rescues driver in submerged truck on live television
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Henry Zeris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Oil prices flat as lower demand signs outweigh U.S. hurricane impact
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Oil prices were flat on Thursday as concerns about lower demand erased the gains from the previous session spurred by Hurricane's Francine's impact on output in the U.S., the world's biggest crude producer. But with the storm set to eventually dissipate after making landfall, the oil market's attention again turned to lower demand. U.S. oil stockpiles rose across the board last week as crude imports grew and exports dipped, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. The data also showed gasoline demand fell to its lowest since May at the same time distillate fuel demand dropped, with refinery runs also declining. Earlier in the week, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries cut its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2024 and also trimmed its expectation for next year, its second consecutive downward revision.

Persons: Hurricane's, Brent Organizations: Hurricane, Energy Information Administration, Organization of, Petroleum, International Energy, ANZ Research Locations: Nolan , Texas, U.S, U.S . Gulf, Mexico, Louisiana

☆ U.S. crude oil rises more than 1% as Francine disrupts production in Gulf of Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. crude oil jumped more than 1% to trade above $68 per barrel on Thursday, after Hurricane Francine churned through the Gulf of Mexico, disrupting oil production before making landfall in Louisiana. Oil futures rose more than 2% in the previous session as the storm threatened supplies. "Hurricane Francine has likely disrupted about 1.5mn barrels of US oil production, which we estimate will reduce September production in the Gulf of Mexico by around 50,000bpd," Giovanni Staunovo, an analyst at UBS, told clients in a Thursday note. Staunovo said the recent slump may be due to traders losing confidence in OPEC's ability to maintain compliance with production cuts at lower price levels. UBS expects oil prices will continue to rise, at least the short term.

Persons: Hurricane Francine, Francine, Giovanni Staunovo, Staunovo, Brent Organizations: UBS, bbl Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana, Gulf, Mexico, 50,000bpd

☆ Harris-Trump debate highlights and Hurricane Francine approaches Louisiana: Morning Rundown
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Elizabeth Robinson | Elizabeth Robinson Is A Newsletter Editor For Nbc News | Based In Los Angeles. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

And while Trump tried to tie Harris to President Joe Biden, he learned that she is a much tougher rival. While Trump tried to re-create the conditions of June’s fateful debate stage matchup, Harris reminded him, “You’re not running against Joe Biden. Harris tried to get under Trump’s skin, baiting him into a defensive posture that prevented him from attacking her weaknesses. And when Trump scolded Harris’ attempt to interrupt him, some allies lamented that he lost control at a key moment. Three Republican sources told NBC News after the debate that Trump came off as “angry” in that moment.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump’s, Francine churns, Harris, Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden, “ You’re, You’re, ” Harris, Harris ’, ” Trump, Louisiana Hurricane Francine, Joe Wilson of, ”, Republican Kelly Ayotte, Joyce Craig, Mauricio Pochettino, Dave Grohl, Hill, Jesse Dittmar, James Earl Jones ’, Darth Vader, Jones, Char Adams, — Joy Y, Wang, Dermatologists, Elizabeth Robinson Organizations: Trump, Republican, NBC News, Federal, Labor Statistics, Louisiana Hurricane, Public, Novo Nordisk, Foo Fighters, Police, Miami Dolphins, NBC Locations: Louisiana, Ohio, New Orleans, Mississippi, Novo, semaglutide, Wegovy, Joe Wilson of South Carolina, Washington, ” New Hampshire, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Video: Hurricane Francine strengthens ahead of expected landfall
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Meneida Bailey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

☆ With Strong Memories of Katrina, Mississippi Braces for Francine
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Isabelle Taft | More About Isabelle Taft | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

As Hurricane Francine pushed northeast through the Gulf of Mexico, preparations were underway in Mississippi, a state with only a short coastline — but one that has been repeatedly battered by hurricanes in the past. Tate Reeves declared a state of emergency. They poured the sand into white bags, tied them up and loaded them onto pickup trucks for residents to take home. They rode out Hurricane Katrina there in 2005, but said they wouldn’t stay if another storm of that strength threatened the area. Katrina came ashore in Louisiana and Mississippi as a Category 3 hurricane, with wind gusts of more than 120 miles per hour.

Persons: Francine, Tate Reeves, Danie Ladner, Gregory Organizations: Gov, Emergency, Center Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Hancock County, Louisiana, Dedeaux

☆ Oil prices rebound on fears of supply disruption from tropical storm
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pumpjack in the Inglewood Oil Field, seen from the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, on July 13, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. Crude prices bounced on Wednesday as concerns about Tropical Storm Francine disrupting supply of oil outweighed worries about demand. OPEC also cut its 2025 global demand growth estimate to 1.74 million bpd from 1.78 million bpd. But the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Tuesday global oil demand is set to grow to a bigger record this year while output growth will be smaller than prior forecasts. Meanwhile, China's daily crude oil imports rose last month to their highest in a year, customs data and Reuters records showed on Tuesday, as shipments staged a tentative recovery on lower crude oil prices and improving refining margins.

Persons: Kenneth Hahn, Brent, Hiroyuki Kikukawa, Storm Francine Organizations: Inglewood Oil, Recreation Area, Brent, NS, Nissan Securities, U.S, National Hurricane Center, U.S . Bureau of Safety, Environmental, Organization of, Petroleum, OPEC, U.S . Energy, Administration Locations: Inglewood, Los Angeles , California, Louisiana, Gulf, Mexico, U.S . Gulf, U.S

☆ Tropical Storm Francine forecast to strengthen into hurricane 'soon' as it aims for U.S. Gulf Coast
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dennis-Romero-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Dennis Romero | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

A strengthening Tropical Storm Francine is expected to become a hurricane long before it reaches the Louisiana coast Wednesday, federal forecasters said on Monday. Track Tropical Storm Francine’s path, forecast and hurricane statusThe hurricane center's latest forecast cone has the storm making landfall in Louisiana between the Texas border and New Orleans about 1 p.m. Wednesday. "Francine expected to become a hurricane soon," a National Hurricane Center said in the headline to its latest advisory. A hurricane watch remains in effect for almost the entire Louisiana coast from Cameron to Grand Isle. August’s tropical cyclone activity “was a little below normal” in terms of the number of named storms, the hurricane center said.

Persons: Francine, Jeff Landry, Monique B, Port Fourchon, Debby, Ernesto Organizations: National Hurricane Center, Lousiana, Mayor, NOAA, Atmospheric Administration Locations: Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, Rio Grande, Mexico, Texas, Gulf, Galveston, New Orleans, Lafayette , Louisiana, Port Mansfield, Rio, La, Cameron, Grand Isle, Mississippi, Island , Texas, Alabama, Vermilion, Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain, Bend, Florida, South Carolina, Bermuda, Pacific

Flooding rainfall, powerful winds and potentially life-threatening storm surge could pummel parts of the upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines as Francine passes through. In addition to a hurricane warning in Louisiana, tropical storm warnings and watches have been issued along a stretch of the Louisiana and Texas coast. A storm surge warning has also been issued from High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River. Storm surge and rough surf could also cause minor flooding on the Mexico coast early this week. Storm surge will begin to ramp up as Francine nears landfall, causing normally dry areas to be inundated with several feet of water.

Persons: Francine, Louisiana’s, It’s, Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s Cameron Parish, Ida, Francis, “ Francine Organizations: CNN, National Hurricane Center, Louisiana and, Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency Locations: Gulf, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, High Island , Texas, Louisiana’s Cameron, Jefferson Parish’s, Grand Isle, St, Mary, Terrebonne, Terrebonne Parish, Jefferson, Orleans, New Orleans, In Mississippi, . Texas

☆ U.S. crude oil sheds gains, falls more than 1% to trade below $68 per barrel as OPEC cuts forecast
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.S. crude oil futures on Tuesday fell more than 1%, shedding gains from the previous session as OPEC lowered its demand forecast for the second time in two months. OPEC now expects demand to grow by about 2 million barrels per day in 2024, some 80,000 bpd slower than its previous forecast. The group of oil producers sees demand growth of 1.7 million bpd next year, some 40,000 bpd lower than originally anticipated. OPEC had cut its demand outlook in August due to softening consumption in China, the world's largest crude importer. Here are Tuesday's energy prices:Worries about softening demand in China as electric vehicle sales surge has loomed over the oil market for months now.

Persons: Morgan Stanley Organizations: OPEC, Brent, Futures Locations: OPEC, China, Gulf

Tropical Storm Francine is expected to strengthen to a hurricane by midweek when it reaches the U.S. Gulf Coast. The storm started as a disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthened into a tropical storm Monday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had predicted above-normal hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin this year, forecasting 17 to 25 total named storms — which is defined as having winds of 39 mph or higher — with eight to 13 forecast to become hurricanes. The above-normal activity was forecast because of near-record warm ocean temperatures in the Atlantic, La Niña conditions in the Pacific, reduced Atlantic trade winds and less wind shear.

Persons: Francine Organizations: Atmospheric Administration Locations: Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific

☆ Traveling to die: The latest form of medical tourism
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Debwaldman | Kff Health News | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

At that point, she would have had to travel to Switzerland — or live in the District of Columbia or one of the 10 states where medical aid in dying was legal. (Montana effectively allows aid in dying through a 2009 court decision, but that ruling doesn’t spell out rules around residency. In Oregon, 23 out-of-state residents died using medical assistance in 2023, just over 6% of the state total, according to the Oregon Health Authority. She would’ve preferred to travel from her home in Pennsylvania to neighboring New Jersey for medical aid in dying, but it is allowed there only for state residents. Instead she has arranged to die in Vermont, one of two states that explicitly allow medical aid in dying for nonresidents.

Persons: Francine Milano, she’d, ”, “, Milano, Oncologist Charles Blanke, he’s, ” Blanke, Peg Sandeen, Kris Brackin, would’ve, nonresidents, Eric Harkleroad, Diana Barnard, there’s rescheduling, “ It’s, Anita Hannig, Sandeen, Barnard, Blanke, Airbnbs, Milano hasn’t, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, That’s, she’ll, it’s Organizations: Health, District of Columbia, Vermont Department of Health, Oregon Health Authority, KFF, Craigslist, CNN, CNN Health, KFF Health Locations: Pennsylvania, Vermont, Lancaster, Switzerland, District, Oregon, Montana, New York, California, Portland, U.S, Carolinas, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, America, . Delaware, Burlington, When Oregon

Following decades of grievances, the federal government on Thursday changed a policy that disqualified some disabled veterans from receiving subsidized housing. Advocates hope a new federal policy will help more disabled homeless veterans get off the streets. A homeless veterans encampment in Los Angeles in 2021. “No matter where veterans are, if we have homeless veterans, we are committed to them,” he said. About 1,834 homeless veterans were counted in Los Angeles this year, compared with 2,696 last year.

Persons: Al Seib, Denis McDonough, Francine Orr, Karen Bass, George Rose, ”, Mark Rosenbaum, Rosenbaum, Terrence Hayes, Hayes Organizations: of Housing, Urban, Veterans, Los Angeles Times, Getty, Veterans Administration, “ Veterans, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern, Los, Los Angeles, HUD Locations: Al, Los Angeles, ”, Westwood, Brentwood, American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, “, Los Angeles County, U.S

☆ Opinion | The Radical Message of ‘Sweet Valley High’
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-03 | by ( Sally Franson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When news broke that Francine Pascal, creator of the “Sweet Valley High” universe, died last weekend at the age of 92, appreciations began rolling across the internet like a certain red Spider through a high school parking lot. Nostalgic and bereaved, I drove to the library to check out a few, only to discover they had been removed from the catalog. “But I loved them.”This backhanded praise would have been familiar to Ms. Pascal, whose literary talents were either sneered at or dismissed for decades. Even as her franchise blanketed best-seller lists — 200 million books and counting, thanks to teenage readers like me — she, and they, received astonishingly little media coverage. For those affected by the blackout, the Sweet Valley universe comprises hundreds of novels and numerous spinoffs, all set in the eponymous Southern California town and starring Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield, identical twins with blue-green eyes, shining blond hair and sky-high ambitions — Elizabeth’s literary, Jessica’s social.

Persons: Francine Pascal, appreciations, Pascal, Jessica, Elizabeth Wakefield, — Organizations: Guardian, Playboy Locations: Sweet, Southern California

☆ Francine Pascal, creator of beloved ‘Sweet Valley High’ books, dies at 92
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-30 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

NEW YORK AP —Francine Pascal, a onetime soap opera writer whose “Sweet Valley High” novels and the ongoing adventures of twins Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield and other teens captivated millions of young readers, has died at age 92. Pascal died Sunday, her publisher, Penguin Random House, said. Starting in 1983, Francine Pascal oversaw the completion of more than 150 “Sweet Valley High” stories with the help of others. “Sweet Valley is the essence of high school,” Pascal told People magazine in 1988. John Pascal died in 1981.

Persons: Francine Pascal, Elizabeth, Jessica Wakefield, Pascal, ” Pascal, “, —, ”, Francine Paula Rubin, John Pascal, Dallas ”, Jessica, You’ll, Jerome Offenberg, Jamie Organizations: Sunday, Penguin Random, Wakefield, New York City, New York University, Cosmopolitan, Dallas, Entertainment Locations: Sweet, Angeles, New York

☆ Francine Pascal, Creator of ‘Sweet Valley High’ Book Series, Dies at 92
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Clay Risen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Francine Pascal, a former soap-opera scriptwriter from Queens who conjured up an entire literary universe among the blue-eyed cheerleaders and square-jawed jocks of suburban Los Angeles, most notably in her long-running and mega-best-selling “Sweet Valley High” series of young-adult novels, died on Sunday in Manhattan. Her daughter Laurie Wenk-Pascal said the death, at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, was caused by lymphoma. With covers instantly recognizable by their varsity-style lettering and soft-focus illustrations, “Sweet Valley High” books enraptured a generation of teenage readers with the lives of Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield, identical twins attending high school in the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Sweet Valley. The twins are “the most adorable, dazzling 16-year-old girls imaginable,” Ms. Pascal told People magazine in 1988. They, and the books, are also strikingly innocent: Even as the thoughtful Elizabeth and the scheming Jessica clash over boys, friends and spots on the cheerleading team, drugs, alcohol and sex barely permeate the 181 titles in “Sweet Valley High,” or the scores of others in the spinoffs — and the spinoffs of spinoffs — from the series.

Persons: Francine Pascal, Laurie Wenk, Pascal, Elizabeth, Jessica Wakefield, Ms, Jessica Organizations: Presbyterian Hospital Locations: Los Angeles, Sweet, Manhattan, NewYork, Sweet Valley

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