casino slot machine games

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Married couples across the U.S. have had access to no-fault divorce for more than 50 years, an option many call crucial to supporting domestic abuse victims and key to preventing already crowded family courts from drowning in complicated divorce proceedings. But some advocates for women worried as old comments from now Vice President-elect JD Vance circulated during the presidential campaign opposing no-fault divorce. After President-elect Donald Trump and Vance won the election, warnings began popping up on social media urging women who might be considering divorce to "pull the trigger" while they still could. Some attorneys posted saying they saw a spike in calls from women seeking divorce consultations. Donald and Ivana Trump pose in May 1988 outside the Federal Courthouse in New York after she was sworn in as a United States citizen. Trump — who is twice-divorced — hasn't championed overhauling the country's divorce laws, but in 2021 Vance lamented that divorce is too easily accessible, as have conservative podcasters and others. "We've run this experiment in real time and what we have is a lot of very, very real family dysfunction that's making our kids unhappy," Vance said during a speech at a Christian high school in California, where he criticized people being able to "shift spouses like they change their underwear." Marriage rates held steady but divorce rates of women age 15 and older declined from 2012 to 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in October. Despite concerns, even those who want to make divorces harder to get say they don't expect big, swift changes. There is not a national coordinated effort underway. States determine their own divorce laws, so national leaders can't directly change policy. "Even in some of the so-called red states, it hasn't gotten anywhere," said Beverly Willett, co-chair of the Coalition for Divorce Reform, whose group unsuccessfully attempted to convince states to repeal their no-fault divorce laws. A couple exchanges wedding bands Oct. 11, 2018, at City Hall in Philadelphia. Mark A. Smith, a political science professor at the University of Washington, said while many Americans became accustomed to no-fault divorce being an option, Vance's previous comments on making it more difficult to separate from a spouse could help jump-start that effort. "Even though he's not directly proposing a policy, it's a topic that hasn't gotten a ton of discussion in the last 15 years," Smith said. "And so to have a national profile politician talk that way is noteworthy." Meanwhile, Republican Party platforms in Texas and Nebraska were amended in 2022 to call for the removal of no-fault divorce. Louisiana's Republican Party considered something similar this year but declined to do so. A handful of proposals were introduced in conservative-led statehouses over the years, but all immediately stalled after they were filed. In January, Oklahoma Republican Sen. Dusty Deevers introduced legislation that would have removed married couples from filing for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility. Deevers backed the bill after writing a piece declaring no-fault divorce was an "abolition of marital obligation." Sen. JD Vance smiles as his wife Usha Vance applauds Nov. 6 at an election-night watch party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. Similarly, in South Carolina, two Republican lawmakers in 2023 filed a bill that would have required both spouses to file for a no-fault divorce application rather than just one. In South Dakota, a Republican lawmaker attempted to remove irreconcilable difference as grounds for divorce since 2020. None of the sponsors of these bills responded to interview requests from The Associated Press. All are members of their state's conservative Freedom Caucus. Nevertheless, some Democratic lawmakers say they remain worried about the future of no-fault divorce. They point to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional right to abortion in 2022 as an example of a long-accepted option that was revoked through a decades-long effort. "When you choose to be silent, you allow for this to creep in," said Democratic South Dakota Rep. Linda Duba. "These are the bills that gain a foothold because you choose to be silent." Before California became the first state to adopt a no-fault divorce option in 1969, married couples had to prove their spouse violated one of the approved "faults" outlined in their state's divorce law or risk a judge denying their divorce, said Joanna Grossman, a law professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Qualified reasons varied from state to state, but largely included infidelity, incarceration or abandonment. Donald and Marla Trump wave to photographers Dec. 20, 1993, as they enter their wedding reception in New York's Plaza Hotel. The system was a particular burden on domestic violence victims, who are often women who could be stuck in dangerous marriages while they try to prove their partner's abuse in court through expensive and lengthy legal proceedings. "If there was any evidence that the couple both wanted to get divorced that was supposed to be denied because divorce was not something you got because you wanted it, it was something you got because you've been wronged in a way that the state thought was significant," Grossman said. To date, every state in the U.S. adopted a no-fault divorce option. However, 33 states still have a list of approved "faults" to file as grounds for divorce — ranging from adultery to felony conviction. In 17 states, married people only have the option of choosing no-fault divorce to end their marriages. The link between rates of divorce and age at first marriage has been borne out over time, but it also explains geographic differences in rates of divorce. Today, most of the states with the lowest rates of divorce are also those with a higher median age for marriage. States like New Jersey, New York, California, and Massachusetts all stand out for having fewer than 10% of adults divorced and an age at first marriage above 30. One exception to this is Utah, which has the lowest overall median age for first marriage at 25.5 but also the third-lowest share of divorced adults at 9%, likely due in part to the state’s strong religious ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In contrast, Maine and Nevada lead all states in the share of the population currently divorced at 13.9% and 13.8%, respectively. And at the local level, many of the cities with the highest levels of divorce are found in Florida, Appalachia, and the Southwest. The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey . To determine the most divorced locations, researchers at ChamberOfCommerce.org calculated the percentage of adults currently divorced. In the event of a tie, the location with the higher percentage of adults currently separated was ranked higher. To improve relevance, only cities with at least 100,000 residents were included. Additionally, cities were grouped into cohorts based on population size: small (100,000–149,999), midsize (150,000–349,999), and large (350,000 or more). Here are the most divorced cities in the U.S. Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock Photo Credit: photo.ua / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Jonny Trego / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Tupungato / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Kevin J King / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Galina Savina / Shutterstock Photo Credit: f11photo / Shutterstock Photo Credit: CHARLES MORRA / Shutterstock Photo Credit: LHBLLC / Shutterstock Photo Credit: Valiik30 / Shutterstock Photo Credit: turtix / Shutterstock We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Defending the run has been one of the Green Bay Packers’ weaknesses over the last several years. Not so much lately, though. Green Bay limited San Francisco to 16 carries for 44 yards in a 38-10 rout of the 49ers on Nov. 24, with two-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey gaining 31 yards on 11 attempts. Four nights later, the Packers beat Miami 30-17 by holding the Dolphins to 39 yards on 14 carries. It was the first time since 1995 — and only the second time since 1950 — that the Packers had allowed fewer than 45 yards rushing in back-to-back games within the same season. “I think we’re playing harder and harder each week,” first-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “And that’s how you play good defense.” That defense needs to be at its best Thursday as the Packers (9-3) close a stretch of three games in 12 days by visiting the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions (12-1), who have the NFL’s highest-scoring offense thanks in part to a rushing attack featuring the speedy Jahmyr Gibbs and the physical David Montgomery. “Gibbs is a great running back,” defensive lineman Kenny Clark said. “I really think the offense really starts with him, honestly. He can do everything — receive, in-and-out runner, can do stretch, duo plays. We’ve got to have all hands on deck with Gibbs. And then Montgomery, he’s a great complement to him. He can do everything, also.” The Lions were the first team since the 1975 Miami Dolphins to rush for at least 100 yards and a touchdown in each of their first 11 games. The streak ended on Thanksgiving when the Lions rushed for 194 yards but didn’t have a touchdown on the ground in a 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears. Green Bay outrushed Detroit 138-124 in the Packers’ 24-14 loss to the Lions on Nov. 3 at Lambeau Field. Montgomery rushed for 73 yards while Gibbs ran for 65 yards and a touchdown. Gibbs has 973 yards this season, which ranks fourth in the NFL. Montgomery ran for a combined 192 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions’ two games against the Packers last season. Green Bay’s run defense has come a long way since. The Packers have allowed 106.6 yards rushing per game this season, which ranks eighth in the league. The Packers haven’t closed a season in the top 10 in run defense since 2016 and have finished outside the top 20 in four of the last six years, including 26th in 2022 and 28th in 2023. “I think Haf’s doing a good job of mixing up the fronts and some of the coverages, but really it’s ultimately about tackling, swarming, getting many hats to the football,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “And our guys have really embraced that style of play.” The Packers are yielding 4.2 yards per carry to rank seventh in the league after finishing 22nd or worst in that category each of the last three seasons. They haven’t closed a season ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed per carry since 2017. Hafley says the improvement starts up front. “The interior part of our D-line has done such a good job these last few games,” Hafley said. “They really have. They’re hard to block. They’re staying in their gaps. They’re tearing off of blocks, and it’s the same thing with those defensive ends. They’re setting edges, they’re forcing the ball back inside, they’re getting off blocks and then we’re tackling and we’re running to the ball and there’s multiple people to the ball. “And when you turn on our tape right now and when you freeze it, you see that. You see a lot of guys around the football. And then you’re not afraid, right? Like if I have an open-field tackle and I know eight other guys are coming, I’m going to take my shot because I know if I miss, it’s going to be, ‘Bang, bang, bang,’ we’ve got three or four other guys there, and we’re starting to play faster.” Green Bay's defense has the Lions’ attention. “They’ve been playing well,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said. “I mean, they have, really, all season, and nothing has changed.” ___ AP Sports Writer Larry Lage contributed to this report. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Steve Megargee, The Associated Presscasino slot machine games 。

‘Obscene’: Anger after cost of King Charles’s coronation revealed

JIMMY CARTER, THE former US president who rose from humble beginnings to became a tireless campaigner for justice and human rights, has died at the age of 100. Carter died at his home in Georgia this afternoon after nearly two years in hospice care. He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Carter died “peacefully” at his home in Plains in Georgia, “surrounded by his family,” the Carter Centre said in a statement. “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” Chip Carter, the former president’s son, said in the statement. Carter was the oldest living ex-US president and the longest-living American president too. Born in the small town of Plains in 1924, he joined the US Navy in 1943, graduating from the Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1946. In the same year, he met and married his sister’s friend Rosalynn Smith. In 1953, he returned to Plains following the death of his father to take over the family farm. In 1963, amid a background of racial tension and desegregation, Carter was elected to the State Senate. Carter served the state of Georgia as a state Senator and then Governor before turning his attention to the national stage. In 1976, he beat Gerald Ford, the Republican incumbent, in a hard-fought and bruising general election, to become the 39th President of the United States. However, he would never fully command the support of an America bitterly divided and sorely wounded after Vietnam and Watergate. His presidency is best remembered, perhaps unfairly, for the Iran hostage crisis, which saw 52 Americans held in Tehran for 444 days following the Islamic Revolution. Carter’s failure to secure their release, compounded by a failed military rescue attempt, would dog his presidency and scuttle his bid for a second term. The hostages were only released once Ronald Reagan came to office after comprehensively beating Carter in the 1980 election. Carter’s performance in that election remains the worst by a sitting US President. However, his tenure has been revisited in recent years and his reputation is much stronger today than it was when he left office. Reaching a peace deal between Israel and Egypt is now recognised as the zenith of his presidency and a major diplomatic achievement. But it was his work after leaving the White House that was most widely praised. He became extremely active as an ex-president, working as an elections monitor and lobbying for health campaigns via the Carter Center, which he founded in 1982. He participated in election monitoring in Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and East Timor, and in 2003 traveled to Cuba for a historic face-to-face meeting with longtime communist leader Fidel Castro. He also met with all sides in the North of Ireland on a number of occasions. He was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to promote social and economic justice. In 2007, he joined Nelson Mandela in forming a group known as The Elders, a group of statesmen and women who hoped to help end world conflicts.Algoma Steel Group to Participate in the Inaugural B. Riley Securities Energy Convergence Conference

Scott Turner, President-elect Donald Trump choice to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development , is a former NFL player who ran the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump’s first term. Turner, 52, is the first Black person selected to be a member of the Republican's Cabinet. Here are some things to know about Turner: From professional football to politics Turner grew up in a Dallas suburb, Richardson, and graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a defensive back and spent nine seasons in the NFL beginning in 1995, playing for the Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos. People are also reading... During offseasons, he worked as an intern then-Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. After Turner retired in 2004, he worked full time for the congressman. In 2006, Turner ran unsuccessfully as a Republican in California’s 50th Congressional District. Turner joined the Texas House in 2013 as part of a large crop of tea party-supported lawmakers. He tried unsuccessfully to become speaker before he finished his second term in 2016. He did not seek a third term. Motivational speaker and pastor Turner also worked for a software company in a position called “chief inspiration officer” and said he acted as a professional mentor, pastor, and councilor for the employees and executive team. He has also been a motivational speaker. He and his wife, Robin Turner, founded a nonprofit promoting initiatives to improve childhood literacy. His church, Prestonwood Baptist Church, lists him as an associate pastor. He is also chair of the center for education opportunity at America First Policy Institute, a think tank set up by former Trump administration staffers to lay the groundwork if he won a second term. Headed council in Trump's first term Trump introduced Turner in April 2019 as the head of the new White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump credited Turner with “helping to lead an Unprecedented Effort that Transformed our Country’s most distressed communities.” The mission of the council was to coordinate with various federal agencies to attract investment to so-called “Opportunity Zones," which were economically depressed areas eligible to be used for the federal tax incentives. The role of HUD HUD is responsible for addressing the nation’s housing needs. It also is charged with fair housing laws and oversees housing for the poorest Americans, sheltering more than 4.3 million low-income families through public housing, rental subsidy and voucher programs. The agency, with a budget of tens of billions of dollars, runs a multitude of programs that do everything from reducing homelessness to promoting homeownership. It also funds the construction of affordable housing and provides vouchers that allow low income families pay for housing in the private market. During the campaign, Trump focused mostly on the prices of housing, not public housing. He railed against the high cost of housing and said he could make it more affordable by cracking down on illegal immigration and reducing inflation. He also said he would work to reduce regulations on home construction and make some federal land available for residential construction. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Former President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday at age 100 after over a year in hospice care in Plains, Georgia, his son announced according to multiple outlets. Prior to his passing , Carter was subjected to several brief hospital visits over the past few years and chose to forgo additional medical attention in February 2023. Carter died in the company of his wife, Rosalynn, and several other family members. The former president had previously suffered from several health complications, including cancer, various falls and a brain bleed. Jason Carter told CNN on May 14 that his grandfather’s time was “coming to the end,” and another grandson, Josh, told People in mid-August 2023 that “we’re in the final chapter.” (RELATED: Former President Jimmy Carter Enters Hospice Care) The Carter Center also announced in May 2023 that Rosalynn Carter, a staunch advocate of mental health, was diagnosed with dementia, and later entered into hospice care in mid-November. The 96-year-old former first lady passed away days later at their home in Georgia. Carter was the 39th president of the U.S., was elected in 1976 and served the country for one term until 1981. He also served as Georgia’s 76th governor from 1971 to 1975 as a member of the Democratic Party. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter sit together during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary in Plains, Georgia, U.S. July 10, 2021. (John Bazemore/Pool via REUTERS) The Carter administration’s accomplishments included the Panama Canal treaties, the improving of U.S. relations with China, as well as programs and initiatives under the new Departments of Energy and Education. He established The Carter Center after his presidency, a humanitarian nongovernmental organization. Carter’s presidency faced several major challenges, like the Iran hostage crisis, decreased energy production and inflation, according to Reuters. He lost overwhelmingly lost his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan in 1980. Following his presidency, Carter was involved in numerous philanthropic and public service efforts. He engaged in “conflict mediation” in numerous countries worldwide and led efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease, according to The Carter Center. Carter and his wife volunteered annually for Habitat for Humanity, and Carter taught Sunday School at Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter was the longest living president in history, and he and his wife held the record for the longest first-couple marriage. He was born in Plains, Georgia, on Oct. 1, 1924, attended Georgia Tech and served in the U.S. Navy as a submariner. Mary Lou Masters contributed to this report All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

The secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets By RICHARD MARSDEN FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY Published: 06:49 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 06:54 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Some diligent planning ahead – combined with a few savvy crosschecks – can make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheap first-class ticket. Follow our guide to the ins-and-outs of travelling posh and a whole new world of British trains opens up, including bigger seats, soft drinks and snacks on shorter journeys, and hot meals and alcoholic drinks on long-distance services such as Avanti. We tried all the tricks to get first-class tickets at reduced prices – here’s what we found... Is there really a simple way of getting a cheap first-class ticket? Yes. Sign up to the Seatfrog auction app ( seatfrog.com ). After buying a standard-class fare for a journey, it’s possible to bid for an upgrade to first. On most trains, a limited number of such upgrades are available. It’s a straightforward system: the highest bid wins, with the auction closing 30 minutes before departure. On a random check, we found a standard ticket from London Euston to Penrith at 1.40pm was £94, while a first-class ticket was £230. Using Seatfrog you could bid for an upgrade for £36. So, effectively, the first-class ticket came to £130 – a saving of £100 (or 43 per cent off). Are first-class tickets for all train services offered on Seatfrog? Almost all. Transport for Wales has just joined but Scotrail and Hull Trains don’t take part. If not entering a Seatfrog auction, is it better to book in advance or wait till the last moment? Booking well in advance is usually best, says Mark Smith, of website Seat61.com . When we looked, a first-class fare from York to Edinburgh was £59.80 ten weeks in advance. This compared to £91.70 on the day (54 per cent more). Is there an exact best time to book ahead? Eight to 12 weeks is best for long-distance routes as this is when most rail operators release timetables and when prices are normally lowest. Fares may be up to 75 per cent cheaper during this ‘sweet spot’. Some operators allow you to book bargain advance fares even further ahead: LNER is 20 weeks and Hull Trains 26 weeks. What about very last-minute deals? These are possible and worth checking if the Seatfrog app is not for you. On trainline.com – on the day of travel – we found the difference between first-class and standard-class for Bristol to Penzance was a mere £22.10 – £83.50 instead of £61.40. For London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, a last-minute first-class ticket was £138.90 (booked 30 minutes before travel) while journeys later on that week were £173 to £299. Are some routes better for first-class deals than others? Yes. The best prices are usually available when travelling between regional stations and when avoiding London, says Railsmartr.co.uk. It highlights that a York to London first-class fare on the same day at around the same time can cost £95 (for a journey of 1h 52m), while York-Edinburgh in first class can be as low as £52 (for a journey of 2h 37m). Read More How to save a fortune by stocking up on booze in Calais: JEFF MILLS reveals the astonishing bargains What about upgrading once you’re onboard? This is sometimes possible if there’s availability – you’ll need to ask the guard. Especially low rates may be available at weekends and bank holidays. The cost on Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia is from £10, or it’s from £10 to £45 on LNER. You can pay there and then with your card and walk on through. What about on Avanti West Coast trains? It's different from the others with two upgrade possibilities: standard premium and first class. You sit in the same-style carriages for both – with wider seats and a guaranteed table – but with standard premium you do not get free food or drink. On-the-day first-class upgrade prices are similar to LNER. If booking in advance, Saturday fares between London and Glasgow might be £85 (standard), £120 (standard premium), and £199.50 (first class). On all journeys, standard premium is from £17.50 extra. Do railcard discounts apply to first-class tickets? Yes, when tickets are bought in advance. They do not work for upgrades available via Seatfrog or onboard. Any other travel tips? Try boarding a train with a restaurant car. Although first-class passengers get priority bookings, standard-class ticket holders can dine too on GWR. When do GWR dining cars run? GWR’s Pullman Dining is in a vintage-style Pullman carriage, available Mondays to Fridays on the 1.03pm and 7.04pm Paddington to Plymouth services; 5.48pm from Paddington to Swansea; 1.15pm and 6.16pm from Plymouth to Paddington; and the 12.23pm Swansea to Paddington (gwr.com). It’s £37 for two courses or £44 for three courses; wine is from £17 per bottle. What about the Transport for Wales dining service? Two courses £21.95 (with a bottle of wine £37) or three courses £24.95 (with a bottle of wine £40); for details, see First Class Menu at tfw.wales . Share or comment on this article: The secret hacks you need to know to save up to 54% on first-class train tickets e-mail Add comment