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lodigame vip download Lebawit Lily Girma | (TNS) Bloomberg News When winter rolls around, travelers predictably turn their attention to beaches. And this year, it’s the destination that comedian Tony Hinchcliffe called “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” that’s experiencing outsize demand from Americans planning a warm island vacation. Talk about trashing stereotypes. Related Articles Travel | TSA braces for more than 1 million holiday travelers at DIA Travel | Would you pay $700 a night to sleep under the stars at this Colorado resort? Travel | Thailand’s starring role in ‘The White Lotus’ is about to pay off Travel | 5 under-the-radar travel destinations the UN says you should visit Travel | Gift ideas for people planning their next trip Puerto Rico has recovered overseas visitors (excluding those from Canada and Mexico) faster than any U.S. state or territory — a staggering 85% increase over its 2019 overseas inbound visitor levels as of 2023, according to an October study from the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office. There are now more daily flights from the U.S. West Coast, and hotel bookings are 6% higher so far in this last quarter of 2024 year-over-year. It’s a trifecta of tourism growth: more visitors, but also longer stays and a higher spend that reached a record $9.8 billion in 2023, boosting small businesses as well as major brands. “We don’t have a slow season in Puerto Rico anymore,” says Brad Dean, chief executive officer at Discover Puerto Rico. Even if they’re not booking, people are dreaming about “La Isla.” By tracking flight searches for trips between November 2024 and February 2025, a measure of “inspirational” demand, tourism intelligence company Mabrian Technologies reports Puerto Rico is up 9% compared with the same period last year and leads Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and the Bahamas in the Caribbean proper. Only Costa Rica ranked higher in the wider region. Dean attributes Puerto Rico’s ongoing tourism growth to a strategic effort to reposition the island’s brand as more than a sun-and-sea destination, starting back in 2018. That led to the Live Boricua campaign, which began in 2022 and leaned heavily on culture, history and cuisine and was, Dean says, “a pretty bold departure” in the way Puerto Rico was showcased to travelers. He adds that at least $2 billion in tourism spend is linked to this campaign. “We (also) haven’t shied away from actively embracing the LGBTQ+ community, and that has opened up Puerto Rico to audiences that may not have considered the Caribbean before,” Dean says. Hotels are preparing to meet this growing demand: A number of established boutique properties are undergoing upgrades valued between $4 million and more than $50 million, including Hotel El Convento; La Concha, which will join the Marriott Autograph Collection; Condado Vanderbilt Hotel; and the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar. That’s in addition to ultra-chic options that are coming online in 2025, including the adults-only Alma San Juan, with rooms overlooking Plaza Colón in the heart of Old San Juan, and the five-star Veranó boutique hotel in San Juan’s trendy Santurce neighborhood. The beachfront Ritz-Carlton San Juan in Isla Verde will also be reopening seven years after Hurricane Maria decimated the island. The travel industry’s success is helping boost employment on the island, to the tune of 101,000 leisure and hospitality jobs as of September 2024, a 26% increase over pre-pandemic levels, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Efforts to promote Puerto Rico’s provinces beyond the San Juan metro area — such as surfing hub Rincón on the west coast, historical Ponce on the south coast and Orocovis for nature and coffee haciendas in the central mountains —have spread the demand to small businesses previously ignored by the travel industry. Take Sheila Osorio, who leads workshops on Afro-Puerto Rican bomba music and dance at Taller Nzambi, in the town of Loíza, 15 miles east of San Juan; or Wanda Otero, founder of cheese-producing company Vaca Negra in Hatillo, an hour’s drive west of Old San Juan, where you can join a cheese-making workshop and indulge in artisanal cheese tastings. “The list of businesses involved in tourism has gone from 650 in 2018 to 6,100, many of which are artists and artisans,” Dean says. While New Yorkers and Miami residents have always been the largest visitor demographic, Dean says more mainland Americans now realize that going to Puerto Rico means passport-free travel to enjoy beaches, as well as opportunities to dine in Michelin-rated restaurants, hike the only rainforest in the U.S. and kayak in a bioluminescent bay. Visitors from Chicago and Dallas, for example, have increased by approximately 40% from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, compared with the same period in 2022-2023, and more travelers are expected from Denver now that United Airlines Holdings Inc. has kicked off its first nonstop service to San Juan, beginning on Oct. 29. Previously, beach destinations that were easy to reach on direct flights from Denver included Mexico, Belize and California, but now Puerto Rico joins that list with a 5.5-hour nonstop route that cuts more than two hours from the next-best option. Given United Airlines’ hub in San Francisco, it could mean more travelers from the Golden State in the near future, too. In December, U.S. airlines will have 3,000 more seats per day to the territory compared with the same period last year, for a total of 84,731 — surpassing even Mexico and the Dominican Republic in air capacity, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s primary gateway, is projecting a record volume of 13 million passengers by year’s end — far surpassing the 9.4 million it saw in 2019. As for Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” line, Dean says it was “a terribly insensitive attempt at humor” that transformed outrage into a marketing silver lining, with an outpouring of positive public sentiment and content on Puerto Rico all over social media. Success, as that old chestnut goes, may be the best revenge. “It was probably the most efficient influencer campaign we’ve ever had,” Dean says, “a groundswell of visitors who posted their photos and videos and said, ‘This is the Puerto Rico that I know.’” ©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Former Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos officially transfers to Florida StateEASTON, Pa. (AP) — Louie Semona scored 15 points off of the bench to lead Stonehill over Lafayette 70-65 on Sunday. Semona had six rebounds for the Skyhawks (8-7). Hermann Koffi scored 13 points, shooting 4 for 8 (2 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Josh Morgan had 13 points and shot 4 of 9 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line. The Leopards (5-8) were led by Caleb Williams, who recorded 15 points. Lafayette also got 14 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks from Justin Vander Baan. Alex Chaikin also recorded 12 points, two steals and two blocks. Stonehill went into the half leading Lafayette 28-27. Semona put up seven points in the half. Stonehill used a 7-0 second-half run erase a five-point deficit and take the lead at 47-45 with 11:20 remaining in the half before finishing off the victory. Todd Brogna scored nine second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

Battle at the Bridge Boys & Girls: The Orange girls team scored 125.5 points, finishing top the field ahead of runner-up Woodbridge (107) and third-place Stafford (103) in the girls bracket of the 44-team tournament held at Woodbridge High School on Saturday. In the open meet, the Indians were the top local finisher in the 55-team field with 176 points to take fourth place in the two-day meet held on Friday and Saturday. West Springfield won the event with 228 points, followed by Strasburg (187.5) in second and Midd-west (Pa.) (183) in third. Four Fredericksburg-area wrestlers won their bracket in the open meet with unbeaten records, including Justin Jones (5-0), Jesse Gatto (6-0), William Etu (6-0, all pins) and Timmy Sullivan (5-0). Several wrestlers also finished with one loss, including Sarissa Tucker (6-1), Manley Nalls (5-1), Robert Coleman (5-1), Connor Nielsen (7-1), Jonre Fisher (7-1) and Jack Landauer (6-1). In the girls event, four wrestlers each won first place with pins coming in all their matches — Danika Castrejon (5-0), Abigail Deberry (4-0), Addison Smith (4-0) and Ciyanna Okocha (4-0) — with Sophia Slaughter (4-0) winning three via pin. Finishing with one loss were Kaitlyn Turner (4-1), Julie Gatto (3-1) and Maya Castrejon (4-1). Local open team standings: 4. Stafford 175, 8. Brooke Point 130, 9. Orange 127.5, 13. Spotsylvania 101.5, 14. Courtland 95, t21. Colonial Forge 85.5, t23. Mountain View 82.5, t31. King George 62.5, t47. Louisa 33.5. Local girls' team standings: 1. Orange 125.5, 3. Stafford 107, 5. Mountain View 73.5, 10. Courtland 60.5, 13. Louisa 51, t18. Spotsylvania 32, 38. King George 7, t40. Brooke Point 0. Local open top 4 finishes: 106—3rd place: Sarissa Tucker (MV) md. Mason Kerstetter (Midd-west) 12-4; 113—3rd place: Manley Nalls (Or) md. Joseph Fortunato (St. John Paul the Great) 12-0; 120—1st place: Brandon Cynar (Western Branch) tf. Robert Coleman (BP) 16-1, 3rd place: Connor Nielsen (CF) tb1. Bilegt Arslan (McLean) 7-3; 126—1st place: Justin Jones (Or) md. Isaac Slayter (St. John Paul the Great) 16-4, 3rd place: Jacob Daly (McLean) d. Danny Gatto (St) 14-8; 138—1st place: Jesse Gatto (Stafford) d. Peyton Dean (Strasburg) 4-1; 150—3rd place: Jonre Fisher (BP) utb. Abai Beishembiev (West Springfield) 1-0; 157—3rd place: Jack Landauer (KG) p. Artem Markovets (John Lewis) 1:53; 175—1st place: William Etu (St) p. Kyler Swensen (Western Branch) 2:31; 215—1st place: Timmy Sullivan (Sp) d. Andrew Weippert (J.R. Tucker) 4-2. Local girls top 4 finishes: 100—1st place: Olivia Mancha (Battlefield) p. Kaitlyn Turner (Or) 1:34; 107—3rd place: Julie Gatto (St) p. Gabrielle Garvey (West Springfield); 120—1st place: Danika Castrejon (MV) p. Addison Molina (Kellam) 3:59, 3rd place: Aeryn Ajot (Lightridge) p. Alejandra Miranda (St) 1:19; 126—1st place: Katherine Crockett (Oakton) p. Maya Castrejon (MV) 3:42; 132—1st place: Sophia Slaughter (Or) tf. Alessandra Morales (Woodbridge) 18-1; 138—1st place: Abigail Deberry (St) p. Gabriela Song (West Springfield) 1:21), 3rd place: Madison Arp (Temple) d. Chloe Boseman (Ct) 1-0; 152—1st place: Addison Smith (Or) p. Jazmin Orr (Millbrook) 1:33; 165—1st place: Ciyanna Okocha (Lo) p. Serena Mancuso (Woodson) 1:37; 235—4th place: Jiovana Velasquez (MV) in round-robin format. Richmond Invitational: Riverbend and Louisa each competed in the meet held at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Glen Allen on Friday and Saturday with Louisa's Lucas Phelps earning the highest Fredericksburg-area finish with second-place effort in the 113-pound weight class. The Bears were the top local team finisher, closing out the meet in a tie for fourth place with Salem (Salem) with 135 points. Frank Cox was the teams champion with 236 points, just ahead of runner-up Westfield (231). Paul VI was third with 182.5 points, while the Lions came in 19th place with 64.5 points. Phelps ended the event with a 4-1 record, his lone loss coming in the final against Frank Cox's Seth Pringle via pin. Luke Rowan added a fourth-place finished for Louisa after finishing with a 5-2 record. Riverbend was led by two third-place finishes. Ben Proper went went 6-1 with all of his victories coming via pins and Cameron Rasmussen went 5-1 at 150 with his lone loss coming in the championship semifinals against eventually champion Karl Ludwig of Frank Cox. JM Holiday Basketball Festival: In the final game of Saturday's Day 2 of the tournament, host James Monroe held off Massaponax in a tightly contested matchup to get a 61-56 win in the championship bracket semifinals. In Game 3 of the day, earned a low-scoring win against Heritage, 48-38, in the first championship bracket semifinal of the day. In the consolation bracket semifinals, Brooke Point exploded for 53 second-half points after holding just a 28-27 lead at the half to get an 81-52 victory over Hytlon in the opening game of Day 2 of the tournament. Lafayette pulled away from Warren County in second game of the day to get a 61-47 win in the other consolation semifinal. Placement games and the tournament championship are set for Monday's Day 3 of the event. Hytlon and Warren County will play for seventh-place at noon with Lafayette and Brooke Point meeting for fifth-place at 1:45 p.m. The third-place game pits Lafayette agains Massaponax at 3:30 p.m., with Courtland and James Monroe squaring off for the championship at 5:15. Godwin Holiday Classic: Culpeper's Allison Gabarrette went 2-0, winning both of her matches via pin, to take first-place in the 235-pound weight class of the girls' portion of the meet held at Mills Godwin High School in Richmond.Lumina Gold Announces Exploitation Contract Terms with the Government of EcuadorSome quotations from Jimmy Carter: We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?” I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — “Why Not the Best?” Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn’t mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy. This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977. It’s clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession. ... All the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America. ... It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979. But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981. We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. ... The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.” I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy. I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. ... No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama. I’m still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Center’s work to eradicate guinea worm disease. You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That’s 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending. I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.” I don’t think there’s any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We’ve gone a long way down the road of violating Americans’ basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on U.S. intelligence monitoring after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary – which is wonderful – but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act’s 40th anniversary. I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn’t know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I’m not sure we’re making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday. The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.”

The state of Illinois has the worst public employee pension shortfall in the country, even worse than the more populous California. In fact, the Illinois shortfall amounts to more than the shortfalls of about 36 other states combined. At a shortfall of $172 billion, Illinois’ deficit for fully covering its pension promises to public sector employees is worse than the $140 billion shortfall in California, worse than the $90 some billion shortfall in New Jersey, and worse than the deficits of between $30 billion and $80 billion seen in Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Kentucky. Art of the Deal! Trump Threatens Mexico and Canada with Tariffs; Guest John Carney As Wirepoints notes, Illinois is a dark blot of red ink and irresponsibility on the Midwest map compared to its neighbors. None of the six surrounding states bordering Illinois have anywhere near the pension bomb Illinois has. Kentucky comes in next worst at $34 billion, but that deficit isn’t even a third of what Illinois totals. Next comes Missouri at $13 billion, then Indiana at $11 billion, Michigan at $8 billion, Wisconsin at $4 billion, and Iowa at a mere $2 billion. But even with that adding up to $72 billion, all six surrounding states still total $100 billion less than the massive shortfall in Illinois. The problem, of course, is in politics. Both Republicans and Democrats in the state have played favoritism with the public employee unions by offering a never-ending hike in benefits and goodies despite the current promises already being out of reach financially. But Illinois has an even greater problem because the gravy train nature of the pensions is actually enshrined in the state constitution. The disastrous clause added to the state constitution during the 1970 Constitutional Convention maintains that it is actually unconstitutional to cut any part of a public pension. Meaning, no adjustments can ever be made to public pensions no matter how bad the debt bomb gets. The provision rules that public pensions are an “enforceable contractual relationship, the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.” This puts any possibility of reforms or adjustments out of reach for policy makers and legislators. Consequently, as each new legislature added more and more benefits and higher compensation, the time bomb was set off. Illinois has been fully controlled by the Democrat Party with a super majority for two decades. And the liberal Republicans who had some small semblance of power before that were no better on the issue. To further display how bad Illinois’ pension mess is, Fitch Ratings recently calculated the pension debts of the 50 states as a portion of the state’s economy. And, once again, Illinois soared above the rest for its worst-case situation. Illinois’ pension bomb is 19 percent of its economy, far above the 15 percent in Connecticut and the 14 percent in Kentucky, the next two worst states. Also, compared to the bordering states, Illinois stands out by drowning in a sea of red ink. Compared to its 19 percent pension crisis, Missouri’s and Indiana’s figure in at around 3% each, while Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa only reach up to one percent of their economies. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHuston

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U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume said Friday that he won’t attend President-elect Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration because it falls on the holiday marking Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday.After sitting out a week with a knee injury, running back is expected to be back in the ' lineup when they face the on Sunday at EverBank Stadium. "He looks good right now, so it's promising," interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Friday after practice. It didn't appear that way at midweek, when the Jets' leading rusher was "struggling a bit," according to Ulbrich. But Hall was a full participant as he returned to practice Friday and is listed as questionable for the struggling Jets (3-10), who have dropped four in a row. Chances are, Hall will have a reduced role against the Jaguars, especially with the emergence of rookies and , who combined for 148 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in last week's overtime loss to the . Hall injured his surgically repaired left knee Nov. 17 against the -- a hyperextension with an MCL issue, Ulbrich said. Hall rested over the Nov. 24 bye, then aggravated it Dec. 1 against the , causing him to miss last week. He lost a fumble in the 26-21 loss to the Seahawks, taking blame for the defeat and saying, "This year has probably been the most trying year of my life." Hall, who predicted a 1,000-yard rushing season, has only 692 yards and a career-high six fumbles (one lost). He has only one 100-yard rushing game, along with one 100-yard receiving game. The Jets are thin at running back. , who scored on a 99-yard kickoff return two weeks ago, is going on injured reserve with a broken hand. They also could be banged up at cornerback, with (groin) listed as doubtful and (shoulder) out. The Jets are hopeful that Reed can play against the Jaguars. If not, , a 2024 draft pick who played last season in the CFL, could make his NFL starting debut. Starting corner will return after missing one game with a hamstring injury.