GENEVA (AP) — World Cup sponsor Bank of America teamed with FIFA for a second time Tuesday, signing for the Club World Cup that still has no broadcast deals just over six months before games start. Bank of America became FIFA’s first global banking partner in August and sealed a separate deal for a second event also being played in the United States, two days before the group-stage draw in Miami for the revamped 32-team club event . It features recent European champions Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea. “FIFA is going to take America by storm and we’re going to be right at their side,” the bank’s head of marketing, David Tyrie, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Bank of America joins 2026 World Cup sponsors Hisense and Budweiser brewer AB InBev in separately also backing the club event, and more deals are expected after Saudi Arabia is confirmed next week as the 2034 World Cup host. While games at the next World Cup, co-hosted with Canada and Mexico, will be watched by hundreds of millions globally mostly on free-to-air public networks, the Club World Cup broadcast picture is unclear. RELATED COVERAGE AC Milan and Bologna reach Italian Cup quarterfinals with convincing wins USWNT beats Netherlands 2-1 in goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s final match Neuer gets sent off for 1st time and Bayern Munich exits German Cup early again FIFA has promised hundreds of millions of dollars in prize money for the 32 clubs to share but is yet to announce any broadcast deals for the month-long tournament. It is expected to land on a streaming service. “You have to think about how you are going to connect with these fans,” Tyrie told the Associated Press from Boston. “TV is one, sure, social media is a big avenue. “The smart marketing capabilities are able to say ‘Hey, we need to tilt this one a little bit more away from TV-type marketing into social-type marketing.’ We have got a pretty decent strategy that we’re putting in place to do activation.” Engaging Bank of America’s customers and 250,000 employees are key to that strategy, Tyrie said. “It’s going to be for our clients, and entertainment, it’s going to be for our employees in creating excitement. All of the above.” The Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums across 11 cities, including Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C, and Lumen Field where the hometown Seattle Sounders play three group-stage games. European powers Madrid, Man City and Bayern Munich lead a 12-strong European challenge. Teams qualified by winning continental titles or posting consistently good results across four years of those competitions. The exception is Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami, who FIFA gave the entry reserved for a host nation team in October based on regular season record without waiting for the MLS Cup final. LA Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls playing for that national title Saturday. Messi’s team opens the FIFA tournament June 15 in the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will play its three group games in Florida. “The more brand players you bring in, the bigger the following you have got,” Tyrie acknowledged, though adding Messi being involved was “not a make or break for the event.” The Club World Cup final is July 13 at Met Life Stadium near New York, which also will host the World Cup final one year later. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerPresident Joe Biden mourns Jimmy Carters death, orders official state funeral to honor him
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Right when the Los Angeles Rams' offense has dropped into a disconcerting slump, their defense has held three straight opponents under 10 points for the first time in decades. Although the Rams (10-6) are closing in on an NFC West title and another playoff berth with a five-game winning streak, the way they're doing it makes their postseason prospects quite unpredictable. The methodology has been strange, but the results are not: After holding off Arizona 13-9 on Saturday night, Los Angeles has won nine of 11 and is very close to claiming its fourth division title and sixth playoff berth in coach Sean McVay's eight seasons. “I’m proud of this group and the way they battled back,” Matthew Stafford said. “A lot of people doubted us, and a lot of people wrote us off at 1-4. To be able to sit here with our record what it is right now, I feel proud of this group.” The Rams hadn't held three straight opponents to single-digit scoring since 1975, but rookie coordinator Chris Shula's defense has done it with a strong front and a little luck on the back end, including the last-minute interception by Ahkello Witherspoon on a pass that deflected off star Arizona tight end Trey McBride's head at the goal line. Kyler Murray threw it before McBride was probably ready because Shula had called a zero blitz on first down at the Los Angeles 5. “I want to make more plays to make sure they don’t have to do as much as they did (against Arizona), but I’m proud of them,” Stafford said of the Rams' defense. "It’s awesome to watch where they were in training camp to where they are now. Shula is doing a hell of a job. We all knew he would. Those guys are playing hard for him.” But the Rams have scored more than 21 points just once during their five-game winning streak, their longest since their Super Bowl championship season in 2021. They’ve managed only three touchdowns in their last three games while scoring fewer than 20 points each time out, although that stretch includes games played in the rain (San Francisco) and in subfreezing temperatures (New York Jets). Against the Cardinals in Inglewood's ideal weather, the Rams’ offense still produced one TD, a season-worst 12 first downs and only 257 total yards — 139 fewer than Arizona. The running game struggled again, as it often does when all five starting offensive linemen aren't healthy, while the entire roster aside from Puka Nacua combined for just seven receptions for 60 yards — a surprising number for a McVay offense. “I don’t think there’s one thing I can point to,” McVay said Sunday. “I could go on and on about some of the things, starting with me, but then also about our execution in terms of getting connected in the run game, targeting the right way, making sure that the ball is going where it should go, and guys that I know are capable of playing the way that we’ve seen. If they do that, then I know that it’s not as far as sometimes it can feel like. But ultimately, we’ve got to do it.” What's working The young front four remains the strength of the defense. Jared Verse had a tremendous game on the edge against Murray and Arizona's running game, while fellow rookie Braden Fiske and second-year pros Kobie Turner and Byron Young all recorded sacks. What needs help The Rams again failed to establish the running game despite never trailing Arizona. Kyren Williams got his second-fewest carries of the season (13, with just five in the second half), while rookie Blake Corum was barely involved. Los Angeles' 3.9 yards per rush is the second-lowest mark in the NFL even though Williams began Sunday third in the league with 1,299 yards. Stock up Witherspoon not only made the game-saving interception, but the eight-year veteran who went unsigned until September also has seized the starting cornerback job from Cobie Durant, who didn't play on defense against the Cards despite being healthy again. McVay said Witherspoon's play during Durant's brief injury absence resulted in the change. Stock down Cooper Kupp had one catch against Arizona, and he has just 12 receptions in the past five games, matching the least productive five-game stretch of his eight-year career. Stafford has said the Rams need to get their Super Bowl 56 MVP more involved, and Kupp says he's healthy — yet it isn't happening. Injuries McVay believes the Rams stayed healthy outside of a stinger for rookie safety Kam Kinchens, but they felt the absence of RT Rob Havenstein, who injured his shoulder last week during an unpadded practice. Backup Joe Noteboom committed three holding penalties and got beaten repeatedly. Key number 4 — Stafford's consecutive games without taking a sack. That's the longest streak of his 16-year career, yet he has only one 200-yard passing game in that stretch. Next steps The Rams began Sunday preparing as if they'll play the Seahawks (9-7) next Saturday, although the game could happen a day later. McVay won't show his cards, but if the Rams have clinched, they seem likely to rest several regulars for the playoffs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated PressHouse approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minorsHere are the scores from the 16 games involving teams from Broward and Palm Beach counties in the second round of the high school football playoffs.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Cameron Haffner scored 13 points as Evansville beat Missouri State 57-40 on Sunday to snap a five-game losing streak. Haffner went 5 of 12 from the field (3 for 7 from 3-point range) for the Purple Aces (4-9, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference). Joshua Hughes added 11 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Tayshawn Comer scored 11. Dez White finished with 12 points, four assists and six steals for the Bears (7-6, 0-2). Missouri State also got 10 points, 12 rebounds and two steals from Michael Osei-Bonsu. Zaxton King had eight points. Evansville carried a slim three-point lead into halftime, as Haffner led the way with seven points. Evansville took the lead for what would be the final time on Haffner's 3-pointer with 18:44 remaining in the second half. His team would outscore Missouri State by 14 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .From peanut farmer to president: How Jimmy Carter rose to the Oval Office James Earl Carter Jr was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia, a tiny town The eldest son, he was named after his father, a peanut farmer and businessman He married Rosalynn Smith on July 7, 1946 and they were together 77 years DEEP DIVE: Step by step, how Hamas carried out Oct 7 atrocities inside Israel By TATE DELLOYE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and KATELYN CARALLE SENIOR U.S. POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 23:00, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 23:16, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, has died at the age of 100. His humble roots and astonishing life story encapsulated the American Dream. Born the son of a peanut farmer in rural Georgia, Carter began his path to the presidency as the longest of longshot candidates. As a one-term Georgia governor with little national recognition, he became America's first president from the Deep South since 1850. His devout Baptist faith perplexed the Northern establishment. As one Washington Post columnist joked at the time, 'Relax, He's not crazy. He's just Southern.' Carter ascended to the White House in 1977 in the shadow the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon's blighted administration. As a political outsider, he ran on a platform to 'clean up the mess in Washington'— a strategy that reverberated almost 40 years later when a fast talking interloper from New York named Donald Trump pledged to 'drain the swamp' during his 2016 campaign for the Oval Office. Carter's single term was marred by an oil crisis that saw Americans waiting in line for gas, and the scourge of 'stagflation' - which is high inflation coupled with slow economic growth. It culminated in the Iran hostage crisis which saw 52 Americans held in the US Embassy in Tehran for 444 days. But as president he also had his victories, including the signing of a formal peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979, known as the Camp David Accords. His decades-long focus on humanitarian and diplomatic efforts eventually earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Until he was sidelined by the 2020 pandemic, Carter continued to teach Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. He was married to his wife Rosalynn, for 77 years until her death in November 2023. They were the longest-married presidential couple. Together they raised four children and enjoyed dozens of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After surviving metastatic brain and liver cancer in 2015, Carter began hospice care in February 2023 from his two-bedroom Georgia home that he has owned for more than six decades. His grandson, Jason, told the New York Times in January 2024: 'He was really honored and glad that he made it to the end with my grandmother, and that was a real treasure for him.' 'I think that for whatever reason, the way he approaches this is from a place of enormous faith. And so he just believes that for whatever reason, God’s not done with him yet.' Jimmy Carter, above in 2018, was the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. After his one term, Carter went on to found a nonprofit and worked closely with Habitat to Humanity. His decades-long focus on humanitarian and diplomatic efforts earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 James Earl Carter Jr was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia, a village that now has a population of around 725. He has the distinction of being the first US president to be born in a hospital. His father, whom he was named after, was a hardworking farmer and businessman, and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a nurse. Jimmy, as he would be called, was raised on his family's peanut farm outside of Plains in a rural community of 200 people called Archery. His father, James Earl Carter Sr, also operated a store for his workers that sold essentials such as salt and sugar and goods like soap, overalls and work shoes, according to Peter G Bourne's 1997 biography on Jimmy Carter. His father was 'fastidious about every dollar, (and) had a rule that everything on the farm had to pay its way.' Carter later attributed 'his fiscal conservatism to the teaching of his father during these depression years,' according to the biography. James Earl Carter Jr was born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia. His father was a hardworking farmer and businessman, and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a nurse. Jimmy, as he would be called, was raised on his family's peanut farm outside of Plains in a rural community called Archery. Above, Carter in 1937 with his pet dog Bozo Carter when he was a student at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis in an undated photo. He was admitted in 1943 and graduated in 1946 While on leave from the Naval Academy and back home in Plains two years later, Carter went on a date with 17-year-old Rosalynn Smith, a local girl he had known his whole life. Above, the couple on their wedding day on July 7, 1946 Rosalynn rejected his first proposal, telling Carter she promised her father she would finish college before marriage. They continued to write each other until she eventually accepted his proposal. Above, the couple on their wedding day in Plains, Georgia. 'Jimmy was wearing his white navy summer uniform and Rosalynn wore a white-and-blue dress,' Bourne wrote Carter's growing family moved around while he was deployed in the Navy. Above, Carter sits alongside his wife, and three sons in the 1950s, left to right: Chip, Jack, Rosalynn, Carter and Jeff Life on the farm, where he did chores from a young age - gathering eggs and pumping water - 'was a Huckleberry Finn existence,' wrote Bourne, who served as a special assistant to Carter during his presidency and who had known him since the 1960s. His mother worked as a nurse while his father became a community leader and, at one point, served in Georgia's state legislature. Carter was the first of four children. His sister, Gloria, was born on October 22, 1926, then Ruth, born on August 7, 1929, and the youngest, his brother, Billy, on March 29, 1937. All three of his younger siblings later died of pancreatic cancer. While the family would eventually become somewhat affluent, Carter's childhood home lacked electricity and indoor plumbing. At age ten, Carter stacked produce from his family farm onto a wagon and began selling it in town. After saving his money by age 13, Carter purchased five houses around Plains that the Great Depression had put on the market at rock-bottom prices. Postcards from his uncle, Tom Gordy, during his travels as part of the US Navy, interested the young Carter, and from an early age he set his sights on going to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, which has a high bar for admission. After Carter graduated from high school in 1941, he attended Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology in order to get into the academy. He was admitted in 1943. Carter left the Navy and took over the struggling family farm in 1953 when his father died of pancreatic cancer, eventually turning the business around. Above, Carter, who was then the governor of Georgia, announces his intention to seek the Democratic nomination for president on December 12, 1974 While working and managing the peanut farm and business, Carter also started becoming more involved in his community, and by 1955, he ran his first successful campaign: a seat on the Sumter County Board of Education. By 1962, Carter was a Georgia state senator, and won governor in 1970. Above, Walter Mondale (his selection for vice president) and Carter talking to reporters during their campaign for the White House in 1976 Carter wasn't well known when he announced his run for presidency in 1976. The leading newspaper in his home state ran a headline the day after his announcement that proclaimed, 'Jimmy Who Is Running For What!?' Above, Carter, campaigning for president in 1976, shakes hands with a factory worker who makes costume jewelry Carter positioned himself as a Washington outsider and the strategy worked. Above, Carter and Walter Mondale accept the Democratic nomination for president at the party's convention in New York City in 1976 with their wives, Rosalynn Carter, left, and Joan Mondale, right While on leave and back home in Plains two years later, Carter went on a date with 17-year-old Rosalynn Smith. He had known Rosalynn since she was born, and he was just three years old. Rosalynn was friends with his younger sister Ruth. The morning after the date, he told his mother: 'She's the one I'm going to marry,' Carter recalled in his 2015 book, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety. 'She was remarkably beautiful, almost painfully shy, obviously intelligent, and yet unrestrained in our discussions on the rumble seat of the Ford Coupe,' he wrote. Eleanor Rosalynn Smith was born on August 18, 1927. Growing up in Plains, she excelled academically and was her class valedictorian, and had a strong relationship with God and her faith. Carter grew up in the Baptist church, according to Bourne's biography. Rosalynn rejected his first proposal, telling Carter she promised her father she would finish college before marriage. They continued to write each other, however, when he went back to Annapolis, and by the next February, she accepted his proposal, according to the book. They were married on July 7, 1946 in Plains. 'Jimmy was wearing his white navy summer uniform and Rosalynn wore a white-and-blue dress,' Bourne wrote. After he graduated from the Naval Academy with a bachelor's degree, Carter's Naval career started in Norfolk, Virginia where he trained enlisted men. The couple had their first child, John William Carter, known as Jack, on July 3, 1947. He then applied to the Navy's submarine program and the young family moved to New London, Connecticut. The couple would have three more children: James Earl Carter III, known as Chip, on April 12, 1950, Donnel Jeffrey, known as Jeff, born on August 18, 1952, and Amy Lynn, the youngest who was born on October 19, 1967. Americans would get to know her later as a young child in the White House. After about six years in the Navy and moving around the country depending on his deployment, Carter began working under then Captain Hyman G Rickover, who was overseeing the branch's nuclear-powered submarine program. But then Carter had 'a major existential crisis,' according to Bourne's biography. His father, 58, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He died on July 22, 1953. His mother, Lillian, wanted Carter to come back to Plains to take over the family's business, which was struggling. But Rosalynn did not want to go back. 'It precipitated the greatest crisis of their marriage,' according to the biography with Carter saying: 'She almost quit me.' Nonetheless, Carter resigned from the Navy after serving for seven years and the family moved back to Plains. By the end of the decade, Carter and Rosalynn were able to turn around the farm and business, which was called Carter's Warehouse, 'a general-purpose seed and farm supply company,' according to the biography on his presidential library website. Above, Rosalynn, Amy and Jimmy Carter during one of his inaugural parties in 1977. Amy, the couple's youngest child, was nine-years-old when her father became president. Like many president's children, she was covered by the media during her time in the White House, including the fact that she had a cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang. Amy was the first child to live in the White House since the Kennedys 'The Carters were, by and large, unpretentious people. Much of the pomp and circumstance that had been a feature of previous administrations was frowned upon. Richard Nixon's huge presidential limousine was retired and replaced by a smaller one,' Robert A Strong wrote in his essay, Jimmy Carter: A Family Life. Above, during his inaugural parade on January 21, 1977, newly-elected Jimmy Carter walks with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, followed by the rest of the family, including the Carters' three grown sons. It was the first time in history that a president had not rode to the White House in a carriage or car Jimmy Carter was born in Plains, Georgia to a father who was a peanut farmer and businessman. Carter joined the Navy but resigned after his father, James Earl Carter Sr, died at age 58 in 1953. He went back to Plains with his family, and rebuilt the family's farm and business, which were close to ruin. Above, a peanut-shaped float passes by Carter during his inauguration in Washington, DC in 1977. Before he became president, Carter told reporters that his peanut farm and business would by handled by trustees to avoid any conflict of interest Carter also started becoming more involved in his community, and in 1955, he ran his first successful campaign: a seat on the Sumter County Board of Education. By 1962, Carter was a Georgia state senator, serving two terms. He ran for governor in 1966 but lost. After the loss, Carter 'turned increasingly for solace to his faith' and became a born-again Christian, according to Bourne's biography. In his book, A Full Life, Carter noted that it took him running for office in 1962 for some of the dynamics in his marriage to Rosalynn to change, writing that they became 'real partners.' Bourne pointed out that Rosalynn became his 'political partner,' and she chose to focus on mental health issues. 'Few were aware of what a significant role she played in their political symbiosis,' Bourne wrote. Carter tried again for governor, this time winning in 1970. While governor, Carter served both as chair for the Democratic Governor's Campaign Committee in 1972 and then the campaign chairman of the Democratic National Committee in 1974. When he announced his candidacy for president in 1974, Carter was not well-known on a national level. 'Public reaction to his candidacy revealed that exposure to his party was not enough to gain him wide recognition,' said his biographer. In fact, the leading newspaper in his home state ran a headline the day after his announcement that proclaimed, "Jimmy Who Is Running For What!?"' But the country was reeling. President Richard Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974 after three articles of impeachment, including obstruction of justice, were adopted by a House of Representatives' committee. The scandal began after the arrest of the five men who broke into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washington, DC, and subsequent cover-up. Meanwhile, the war in Vietnam continued and did not end until the next year under Gerald Ford, who became president after Nixon's resignation. 'In response to the twin nightmares of Vietnam and Watergate that had shattered public confidence in government... Americans gravitated toward leaders who were outside the Washington sphere. Answering the nation's need, Carter's slogan was 'A Leader, For A Change,' and Carter portrayed himself as an outsider who could 'clean up the mess in Washington.' It worked, and Carter won the Democratic nomination, and chose Walter Mondale, a senator from Minnesota, as his running mate. Gerald Ford had represented Michigan's 5th congressional district since 1949 when then Vice President Spiro T Agnew resigned on October 10, 1973 due to a corruption scandal that was separate from Watergate. Ford then became vice president and after Nixon resigned, president. He secured the Republican presidential nomination and chose Bob Dole, a senator for Kansas, as his running mate. The election was close but Carter won. When Carter took office on January 20, 1977, he 'sought to run the country the way he had run his farm - with unassuming austerity. Above, Carter signs an extension of the Equal Rights Amendment, which was passed by both the House and the Senate in the 1970s but had yet to be ratified (and still has not), at the White House on October 20, 1978 During Jimmy Carter's one term, there were many foreign policy issues, including the negotiation of the treaty that gave Panama control over the Panama Canal. It was officially handed over to Panama on December 31, 1999. Panamanians had rioted over American control of the canal in 1964. The treaty was signed on September 7, 1977. Above, Muhammad Ali, left, with Jimmy Carter, right, at a White House dinner in 1977 to celebrate the treaty signing Left photo: President Jimmy Carter, left, with Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, middle, and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, right, start peace talks between the two nations on September 6, 1978 at presidential retreat Camp David. Right photo: Pope John Paul II, left, with President Jimmy Carter, right, at the White House on October 6, 1979 Once he took office in 1977, Carter sought to revive the Middle East peace process. Diplomatic efforts between Israel, Egypt and the US bore fruit when Carter met with Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin, right, and Egypt's President Anwar Sadat, left, at Camp David for a peace summit that lasted 13 days starting on September 6, 1978. Above, the trio join hands after what would become known as the Camp David Accords in the White House's East Room on September 18, 1978. The treaty, which was signed on March 26, 1979, normalized relations between the two countries Carter and Leonid Brezhnev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, right, talk before signing the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, known as SALT, treaty on June 18, 1979 in Vienna, Austria. The first agreement between the two superpowers limiting nuclear armaments was signed in May 1972. This was the second arms control accord, known as SALT II, between the countries. However, after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, Carter did not pursue the Senate's approval of the treaty A little less than two years into his tenure, Carter would face the crisis that some contend was partly why he lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980: Iranian students took over the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, taking 66 Americans hostage. While some of the hostages were freed, 52 people were held for 444 days until January 20, 1981 when Reagan took office. Above, Carter announces the settlement of the crisis on January 19, 1981 at the White House 'With hard work and favorable circumstances, I was chosen, and I relished the challenges and opportunities to make important decisions as president,' Carter wrote in his book, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety. When Carter took office on January 20, 1977, he 'sought to run the country the way he had run his farm - with unassuming austerity. This would be no "imperial presidency" like those of (Lyndon B) Johnson and Nixon,' Robert Strong wrote. Carter wanted to 'portray himself as a president close to the people,' and to that end, 'carried his own suit bag when he traveled,' 'ended the practice of "Hail to the Chief" played whenever he made a public appearance,' and Amy was enrolled in a public school, Bourne wrote in his biography. He wanted to balance the budget and reduce the deficit, reorganize the federal government and establish 'a long-range energy policy for the nation,' according to the biography. But he had a contentious relationship with Congress despite the fact that Democrats had majorities in both the Senate and the House. Carter tried to reduce the country's dependence on oil – there had been an earlier energy crisis in 1973 – and created the Department of Energy while enacting conservation measures. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, known as OPEC, pushed the price of oil higher from $13 to over $34, and Strong noted in his essay that 'this huge price increase resulted in a run-up in inflation.' By Independence Day in 1979, many Americans had to wait in line to get their gas. Soon after, Carter gave his so-called 'malaise' speech, which according to NPR, was 'to address the energy crisis, unemployment, inflation and something else a bit more nebulous: 'The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways. It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation,' Carter said. Initially, the speech was received positively, but then several members of his cabinet left – some resigned, some were fired. 'It's from then on that Carter had a really difficult time at bouncing back and being seen on the part of the American people as a strong and significant leader - especially a leader that could take America through solving the energy crisis,' Kevin Mattson, author of What the Heck Are You Up To, Mr. President?, told NPR . After Carter lost to Ronald Reagan, he and his wife, Rosalynn, founded the Carter Center in 1982, partnering with Emory University in Atlanta. The nonprofit's mission is to 'advance peace and health worldwide,' with numerous programs and democratic initiatives. Carter, left, and President George H W Bush, right, in the Oval Office on April 1, 1992. A reporter had asked who Carter was supporting in the 1992 presidential election between Bush and the Democratic nominee Bill Clinton. Carter, a Democrat, had said Clinton to laughs On August 9, 1999, President Bill Clinton awarded Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After leaving the White House, Carter and his wife worked on humanitarian and philanthropic efforts, including helping to build houses for Habitat for Humanity. At the ceremony, Clinton said that Carter's work was 'truly unprecedented in American history, but to call him the 'greatest former president' does not do justice to him or his work' 'As a one-term southern governor with no national experience, it was presumed Carter came to office with little knowledge or interest in foreign policy. In fact, Carter saw foreign affairs as the most exciting and intellectually stimulating challenge of his presidency,' Bourne wrote. Carter's biggest success and, perhaps, failure both came on the foreign policy front. Strong wrote that the 39th president was 'determined to make human rights considerations integral to US foreign policy... Just as important, Carter's emphasis on human rights was consistent with his own beliefs on the necessity of living one's life in a moral way.' Once he took office, Carter sought to revive the Middle East peace process. Diplomatic efforts between Israel, Egypt and the US bore fruit when Carter met with Israel's Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt's President Anwar Sadat at Camp David, the president's retreat in Maryland, for a peace summit that lasted 13 days starting on September 6, 1978. The treaty, which was signed on March 26, 1979 normalized relations between the two countries. Carter also normalized relations between China and the United States in 1979. About two years into his tenure, Carter would face the crisis that some contend was partly why he lost to Ronald Reagan in 1980: Iranian students took over the American Embassy in Tehran, holding 66 Americans hostage on November 4, 1979. 'It was the most fateful day of the Carter presidency,' Bourne wrote. 'The nightly television pictures of Iranian students - burning the American flag, parading the hostages blindfolded, and shouting defiant anti-American slogans - enraged the American public.' A failed attempt to rescue the hostages in April 1980 along with an economic downtown lingered in the mind of voters during an election year. Carter was able to fend off a challenge from Ted Kennedy, then senator of Massachusetts, for the Democratic nomination but he was no match for Reagan, who beat him soundly: 489 electoral votes to Carter's 49. While some of the hostages were freed, 52 people were held until January 20, 1981 when Reagan took office. After his presidency, the Carters started working with Habitat for Humanity, a Christian nonprofit that builds affordable houses for those in need. The Carters contributed financially to the international organization, and helped build homes since 1984. Above, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter attach siding to a Habitat for Humanity home in LaGrange, Georgia in June 2003 Carter noted that it took him running for office in 1962 for some of the dynamics in his marriage to Rosalynn to change, writing that they became 'real partners.' His biographer pointed out that Rosalynn became his 'political partner,' and she chose to focus on mental health issues, which she did for decades. 'Few were aware of what a significant role she played in their political symbiosis,' he wrote In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, according to its website, '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.' Above, the former president shows the award after the ceremony in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2002 In May 2002, Carter became the first US president - in or out of office - to visit Cuba since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 Carter continued to put his foreign affair expertise to use, and served as a freelance ambassador for a variety of international missions. During his post-presidency, Carter, right, also met with several leaders, including Nelson Mandela, left, the former president of South Africa, celebrating his 89th birthday in Johannesburg on July 18, 2007 After the loss, Carter and his wife went back to Plains, but all was not well with the family's business, which had been put in a trust to avoid conflict of interests during his presidency. Bourne wrote that their warehouse business was 'more than $1 million in debt. They still owned approximately 4,000 acres of farmland, but in terms of cash they were near bankruptcy.' The couple wrote their memoirs, and Carter has authored more than 30 books. While working on his presidential library, Bourne wrote that Carter 'could not summon much enthusiasm for building a mausoleum to his presidency,' and that even before he left the White House, 'he had the idea of creating an institutional base for his continuing role in public life.' Carter said to Rosalynn, according to the book: 'We can develop a place to help people resolve disputes.' This was how the Carter Center, was born, according to the biography. The Carters founded the center in 1982, partnering with Emory University in Atlanta. The nonprofit's mission to 'advance peace and health worldwide,' with numerous programs and democratic initiatives that includes observing elections, according to its website. Carter also continued to put his skills as a negotiator and foreign affairs knowledge to use, and 'served as a freelance ambassador for a variety of international missions, including soothing disputes between countries, observing elections in nations with histories of fraudulent voting processes, and advising presidents on Middle East issues,' Strong wrote. In 1994, he helped the US to mediate with Kim Il-sung of North Korea regarding a pact on nuclear weapons. He also worked on other negotiations, such as the Nairobi Agreement in 1999 between Sudan and Uganda. He went on a mission to Haiti, and in 2002, a trip to Cuba where he met with Fidel Castro, according to Strong. The Carters also worked with Habitat for Humanity, a Christian nonprofit that builds affordable houses for those in need. The Carters contributed financially to the international organization, and helped to build homes since 1984. 'Habitat, apart from the Carter Center, (is) the only organization for which they would allow their names to be used for fund-raising purposes,' Bourne noted. Indeed, even after a fall in October 2019, Carter was seen working and drilling on a Habitat home with Rosalynn. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, according to its website, '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, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2015 but beat it, told People that he had been at ease with having a few weeks left. In the July 2023, Carter's family announced that he was receiving hospice care at his two-bedroom home that he has lived in for the last 60 years. Carter taught Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown up until he was sidelined by the 2020 covid pandemic 'It's hard to live until you're 95 years old,' Carter told People. 'I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life' Jimmy Carter (pictured above in 2018) was a Naval officer, peanut farmer and businessman, one-term President of the United States, founder of a nonprofit, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his diplomatic and humanitarian efforts over decades, author of over 30 books, devout Christian, husband of 77 years, and father of four His long goodbye had seemingly defied the odds of those who enter hospice care at the end of their life. 'He has also always been very ambitious — and that ambition extends to wanting to stick around and see what happens in the world,' said his biographer, Jonathan Alter. 'Carter once told me that he thought the biggest misconception about him was that he is weak,' Alter added. 'He’s been a record-breaker for decades — the oldest-living president, the longest-married president,' said longtime friend, Jill Stuckey, to the New York Times in February. 'It’s always been on President Carter’s terms. That’s how he’s living, and that’s how he’s going to die,' she added. 'It's hard to live until you're 95 years old,' he told the magazine for an article published in October 2019. 'I think the best explanation for that is to marry the best spouse: someone who will take care of you and engage and do things to challenge you and keep you alive and interested in life.' Israel-Hamas Politics New York Times Share or comment on this article: From peanut farmer to president: How Jimmy Carter rose to the Oval Office e-mail Add comment
WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a $895 billion measure that authorizes a 1% increase in defense spending this fiscal year and would give a double-digit pay raise to about half of the enlisted service members in the military. The bill is traditionally strongly bipartisan, but some Democratic lawmakers opposed the inclusion of a ban on transgender medical treatments for children of military members if such treatment could result in sterilization. It passed by a vote of 281-140 and next moves to the Senate, where lawmakers sought a bigger boost in defense spending than the current measure allows. The Pentagon and the surrounding area is seen Jan. 26, 2020, from the air in Washington. Lawmakers are touting the bill's 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others as key to improving the quality of life for those serving in the U.S. military. Those serving as junior enlisted personnel are in pay grades that generally track with their first enlistment term. Lawmakers said service member pay failed to remain competitive with the private sector, forcing many military families to rely on food banks and government assistance programs to put food on the table. The bill also provides significant new resources for child care and housing. "No service member should have to live in squalid conditions and no military family should have to rely on food stamps to feed their children, but that's exactly what many of our service members are experiencing, especially the junior enlisted," said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. "This bill goes a long way to fixing that." The bill sets key Pentagon policy that lawmakers will attempt to fund through a follow-up appropriations bill. The overall spending tracks the numbers established in a 2023 agreement that then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., reached with President Joe Biden to increase the nation's borrowing authority and avoid a federal default in exchange for spending restraints. Many senators had wanted to increase defense spending some $25 billion above what was called for in that agreement, but those efforts failed. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., who is expected to serve as the next chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the overall spending level was a "tremendous loss for our national defense," though he agreed with many provisions within the bill. "We need to make a generational investment to deter the Axis of Aggressors. I will not cease work with my congressional colleagues, the Trump administration, and others until we achieve it," Wicker said. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks with reporters Nov. 21 on Capitol Hill in Washington. House Republicans don't want to go above the McCarthy-Biden agreement for defense spending and are looking to go way below it for many non-defense programs. They are also focused on cultural issues. The bill prohibits funding for teaching critical race theory in the military and prohibits TRICARE health plans from covering gender dysphoria treatment for children under 18 if that treatment could result in sterilization. Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the ranking Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, said minors dealing with gender dysphoria is a "very real problem." He said the treatments available, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy, have proven effective at helping young people dealing with suicidal thoughts, anxiety and depression. "These treatments changed their lives and in many cases saved their lives," Smith said. "And in this bill, we decided we're going to bar service members' children from having access to that." Smith said the number of minors in service member families receiving transgender medical care extends into the thousands. He could have supported a study asking medical experts to determine whether such treatments are too often used, but a ban on health insurance coverage went too far. He said Speaker Mike Johnson's office insisted on the ban and said the provision "taints an otherwise excellent piece of legislation." Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called the ban a step in the right direction, saying, "I think these questions need to be pulled out of the debate of defense, so we can get back to the business of defending the United States of America without having to deal with social engineering debates." Smith said he agrees with Roy that lawmakers should be focused on the military and not on cultural conflicts, "and yet, here it is in this bill." Branden Marty, a Navy veteran who served for 13 years, said the loss of health coverage for transgender medical treatments could prompt some with valuable experience to leave the military, affecting national security because "we already struggle from a recruiting and retention standpoint." He also said the bill could regularly force service members into difficult choices financially. "It will be tough for a lot of them because of out-of-pocket expenses, especially enlisted members who we know already struggle with food insecurity," said Marty, the father of a transgender teenager. "They don't get paid very much, so they're going to be making a lot of choices on a day-to-day, tactical level." House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., responds to reporters Dec. 6 during his weekly news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, said his team did not tell Democrats how to vote on the bill. "There's a lot of positive things in the National Defense Authorization Act that were negotiated in a bipartisan way, and there are some troubling provisions in a few areas as well," Jeffries said. Overall, 81 Democrats voted for the bill and 124 against it. On the Republican side, 200 voted for the bill and 16 against it. "It's disappointing to see 124 of my Democrat colleagues vote against our brave men and women in uniform over policies that have nothing to do with their intended mission," Johnson, R-La., said. The defense policy bill also looks to strengthen deterrence against China. It calls for investing $15.6 billion to build military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Biden administration requested about $10 billion. On Israel, the bill, among other things, includes an expansion of U.S. joint military exercises with Israel and a prohibition on the Pentagon citing casualty data from Hamas. The defense policy bill is one of the final measures that lawmakers view as a must-pass before making way for a new Congress in January. Rising threats from debt collectors against members of the U.S. armed forces are undermining national security, according to data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a federal watchdog that protects consumer rights. To manage the impact of financial stress on individual performance, the Defense Department dedicates precious resources to improving financial literacy, so service members know the dangers of notorious no-credit-check loans. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities,” said Andrew Cohen, the director of financial readiness in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. But debt collectors are gaining ground. Last quarter, debt collection complaints by U.S. military service members increased 24% , and attempts to collect on “debts not owed” surged 40%. Complaints by service members against debt collectors for deceptive practices ballooned from 1,360 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 1,833 in the first quarter of 2024. “There’s a connection between the financial readiness and the readiness of a service member to perform their duty,” said Jim Rice, Assistant Director, Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Laws exist to protect the mission readiness of U.S. troops from being compromised by threats and intimidation, but debt collectors appear to be violating them at an alarming pace. “If they’re threatening to call your commander or get your security clearance revoked, that’s illegal,” says Deborah Olvera, financial readiness manager at Wounded Warriors Project, and a military spouse who’s been harassed herself by a collection agency that tried to extort money from her for a debt she didn’t owe. But after she requested the name of the original creditor, she never heard from them again. “The financial well-being of service members and their families is one of the Department’s top priorities.” —Andrew Cohen, Director of Financial Readiness at the Pentagon Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, it’s illegal for debt collectors to threaten to contact your boss or have you arrested because it violates your financial privacy. The FDCPA also prohibits debt collectors from making false, deceptive, or misleading representations in connection with the collection of a debt, even for borrowers with bad credit scores. But according to the data, debt collectors are increasingly ignoring those rules. “Debt collection continues to be one of the top consumer complaint categories,” said a spokesperson at the Federal Trade Commission. The commission released a report earlier this year revealing that consumers were scammed $10 billion in 2023, a new benchmark for fraud losses. In his book Debt: The First 5,000 Years, David Graeber argues that debt often creates a relationship that can feel more oppressive than systems of hierarchy, like slavery or caste systems because it starts by presuming equality between the debtor and the creditor. When the debtor falls into arrears, that equality is then destroyed. This sense of betrayal and the subsequent imbalance of power leads to widespread resentment toward lenders. Photo Credit: Olena Yakobchuk / Shutterstock The debt collector reportedly harassing military service members most was Resurgent Capital Services, a subsidiary of collection giant Sherman Financial Group. The company tacks on accrued interest and junk fees and tries to collect on debts purchased for pennies on the dollar from cable companies, hospitals, and credit card companies, among others. Sherman Financial Group is run by billionaire Benjamin Navarro, who has a reported net worth of $1.5 billion, according to Forbes. Sherman Financial also owns subprime lender Credit One Bank and LVNV Funding, which outsource collections to Resurgent Capital. According to CFPB data, the second worst offender is CL Holdings, the parent company of debt-buyer Jefferson Capital Systems. The company has also been named in numerous complaints to the Better Business Bureau for alleged violations of the FDCPA, such as failing to properly validate debts or update credit reports with accurate information. Under the leadership of CEO David Burton, Jefferson Capital Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of CompuCredit Corporation, which markets subprime credit cards under the names Aspire, Majestic, and others. The third most referenced debt collector is publicly traded Portfolio Recovery Associates [NASDAQ: PRAA], which was forced to pay $27 million in penalties for making false representations about debts, initiating lawsuits without proper documentation, and other violations. Portfolio Recovery Associates is run by CEO Vikram Atal. Fourth place for alleged worst offender goes to Encore Capital Group [NASDAQ ECPG], which was required to pay $42 million in consumer refunds and a $10 million penalty for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Encore collects under its subsidiary Midland Credit Management Group. These debt collectors all operate under a veritable shell game of company and brand names, almost none of which are disclosed on their websites, sending consumers on a wild goose chase to try and figure out how they’re related to each other. But despite their attempts to hide their tracks behind a smoke screen of subsidiaries, a leopard can’t change its spots, and the CFPB complaint database makes it harder for them to try. Photo Credit: Bumble Dee / Shutterstock Although widely considered a consumer-friendly state, complaints spiked most in California, which saw a 188% increase in complaints filed from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. California is home to 157,367 military personnel, making it the most populous state for active-duty service members. The second-largest increase in debt collection complaints was in Texas, which saw a 66% jump from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. The U.S. Department of Defense reports 111,005 service members stationed in the Lone Star State, which is the third-most populous state for active-duty military. The rising trends do not correlate to the number of military personnel by state. Complaints against debt collectors in Virginia, the second most populous state with 126,145 active duty personnel, decreased by 29% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. And complaints filed quarter-over-quarter in North Carolina, the fifth most populous state with 91,077 military personnel, decreased by 3% in the same period. The third largest percentage increase in debt collection complaints was from service members stationed in Maryland, where alleged harassment reports jumped 112% from the fourth quarter of 2023 to the first quarter of 2024. Maryland ranks number 12 with just 28,059 active duty service members. Fourth place goes to Ohio – the 28th most populous active-duty state – where complaints doubled, followed by Arizona – the 15th most populous military state – where complaints were up 70% in the same quarter-over-quarter period. Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock In 2007, Congress passed the Military Lending Act to cap the cost of credit to a 36% annual percentage rate, inclusive of junk fees and late charges, for active duty military service members. That rate is still considerably higher than average credit card rates, which range from 8% for borrowers with excellent credit scores to as high as 36% for borrowers with bad credit. But lenders still get hauled into court for violating the MLA. Don Hankey, the billionaire subprime auto lender who funded Donald Trump’s $175 million appeal bond , is among those violators. His company, Westlake Financial, which markets high-interest car loans for bad credit, has been sued twice by the Department of Justice for harassing military service members. In 2017, the DoJ alleged Hankey’s Westlake Financial illegally repossessed at least 70 vehicles owned by military service members. Westlake Financial paid $700,000 to settle the charges. In 2022, Westlake Financial paid $250,000 for allegedly cheating U.S. troops out of interest rates they were legally entitled to. Westlake Financial continues to receive complaints from military service members alleging abusive debt collection practices on its no-credit-check loans. A steady year-over-year increase in the number of complaints filed against Westlake Financial continued from 2020 to 2023. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau data shows a 13% increase in the number of complaints against the company from 2020 to 2021, a 28% increase from 2021 to 2022, and a torrential 119% surge from 2022 to 2023. The numbers suggest systemic complaint-handling processes and inadequate customer service resources. Photo Credit: Cynthia Shirk / Shutterstock On May 16, 2024, a deceptively named predatory lending industry front group dubbed the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA) lost a legal attempt to defund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. In an effort to deprive Americans of essential consumer protections, the lobby group argued that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure was unconstitutional. But the Supreme Court denied its claim. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court held that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding structure is indeed constitutional. That means the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cannot be defunded, but it does not mean the agency cannot be defanged. The New York Times suggested that Hankey’s incentive to finance Trump’s $175 million bond could have been a reciprocity pledge to neuter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau if Trump wins the upcoming U.S. presidential election. If Trump wins a second term, he could replace Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra, an American consumer advocate, with a predatory lending advocate. In 2020, the Trump Administration secured a Supreme Court ruling that made it easier for the president to fire the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The ruling struck down previous restrictions on when a president can fire the bureau’s director. Like other federal agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has also been confronted for overstepping its bounds, pushing too far, and acting unfairly against entities it regulates. Photo Credit: Lux Blue / Shutterstock Seasonality and rising interest rates do not explain the increase in debt collection complaints from service members. The surge in complaints is not tied to predictable seasonal fluctuations or changes in interest rates. The increase in debt collection complaints by service members may point to underlying systemic issues, such as aggressive and predatory debt collection practices that exploit the unique financial vulnerabilities of service members, who face frequent relocations and deployments. Debt Complaints by Service Members The 24% spike in debt collection complaints exhibits no correlation to fluctuations in interest rates. 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates Pandemic stimulus checks were also not a factor. COVID-19 relief benefit checks went through three major rounds during the pandemic. The final round of Economic Impact Payments went out in March 2021 . To better understand the rising trend of debt collection complaints, we calculated the increase in the total number of complaints and the percentage increase quarter-over-quarter. For example, New Jersey has the second largest percentage increase in complaints quarter-over-quarter, but the total number of complaints increased by just 16. The data for this study was sourced from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) complaint database. The dataset specifically targeted complaints filed by U.S. military service members, identified using the tag “Servicemember” within Q4 2023 and Q1 2024. Readers can find the detailed research methodology underlying this news story in the accompanying section here . For complete results, see U.S. Troops Face Mounting Threats from Predatory Debt Collectors on BadCredit.org . Homelessness reached record levels in 2023, as rents and home prices continued to rise in most of the U.S. One group was particularly impacted: people who have served in the U.S. military. "This time last year, we knew the nation was facing a deadly public health crisis," Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said in a statement about the 2023 numbers. He said the latest homelessness estimates from the Department of Housing and Urban Development "confirms the depth of the crisis." At least 35,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in 2023, according to HUD. While that's about half of what it was in 2009—when the organization began collecting data—things have plateaued in recent years despite active efforts to get that number to zero. Although they make up just 6.6% of the total homeless population, veterans are more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Americans overall. Of every 10,000 Americans, 20 were experiencing homelessness. Of veterans living in the United States, that number jumps to 22, HUD data shows. Complicated by bureaucracy, family dynamics, and prejudice, the path from serving in the military to homelessness is a long one. According to a 2022 study by Yale School of Medicine researchers, homelessness typically occurs within four years of leaving the military, as veterans must contend with the harsh reality of finding a job in a world where employers struggle to see how skills on the battlefield transfer to a corporate environment. These days, veterans also deal with historically high rent and home prices, which causes many to rely on family generosity while figuring out a game plan. Stacker examined academic studies, analyzed government data, and spoke with members of the Biden administration, experts, and former members of the armed forces to see the struggles members of the military face when leaving the armed forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers transition assistance to the roughly 250,000 service members who leave each year. However, those programs can be burdensome and complex to navigate, especially for those who don't have a plan for post-military life. Only a small portion of veterans have jobs lined up when they leave, according to 2019 Pew Research. Many also choose to live with relatives until they get on their feet, which can be longer than anticipated. Some former service members are unsure what kind of career they'd like to pursue and may have to get further education or training, Carl Castro, director of the Military and Veteran Programs at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California, told Stacker. "It takes years for that kind of transition," Castro said. Many have trouble finding a job after leaving the service, even if they are qualified. Some employers carry misconceptions about those who have served. A 2020 analysis from the journal Human Resource Management Review found that some veterans face hiring discrimination due to negative stereotypes that lead hiring managers to write them off as a poor culture fit. Underemployment, or working low-wage jobs below their skill level, is also an issue. While the unemployment rate for veterans was 3% in March 2024, a study released by Penn State at the end of 2023 found three years after leaving the service, 61% of veterans said they were underemployed because of perceived skill mismatches . This phenomenon can have long-term economic effects, and eventually, that frustration can boil over, strain relationships, and potentially lead to housing instability. Working, especially a low-wage job, is not protection against homelessness. A 2021 study from the University of Chicago found half of people living in homeless shelters and 2 in 5 unsheltered people were employed, full or part-time. High rents make it difficult to save up, even when applying for a VA loan—a mortgage backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that typically has more favorable terms. While the VA does not require a downpayment, some lenders, who ultimately provide the loan, do. They're not entirely risk-free either, and veterans can still lose their homes if they are unable to keep up with their mortgages. In November 2023, the VA put a six-month pause on foreclosures when an NPR investigation found thousands of veterans were in danger of losing their homes after a COVID forbearance program ended. Biden officials pointed to high rents and the end of COVID-era housing restrictions like eviction moratoriums to explain the spike in Americans experiencing homelessness. In the last year, homelessness rose 12%—to more than 650,000 people—the highest level since data began being collected in 2007. Overall, more than half of people experiencing homelessness in 2023 live in states with high living costs. Most were in California, followed by New York and Florida. Western states, including Montana and Utah, experienced massive population growth during the pandemic, becoming hubs for remote workers who drove home prices and rents even further. For veterans, housing costs certainly play a role, but those who leave the military also face systemic barriers. "It's worrying there are people that continue to fall through the cracks," said Jeanette Yih Harvie, a research associate at Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Just under a quarter of adults experiencing homelessness have a severe mental illness , according to 2022 HUD survey data. They are also likely to have chronic illnesses but are unable to maintain preventative care, which only exacerbates these problems. Veterans facing homelessness are more likely to have experienced trauma , either before or after joining the military, according to Yale researchers who analyzed the 2019-2020 National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Childhood trauma was among the most significant commonalities among vets who become homeless. Substance use disorder is also widespread and can indicate an undiagnosed mental illness . Racial and ethnic disparities are at play, too. A 2023 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research showed that Hispanic and Black veterans were more likely to screen positive for PTSD, and Hispanic veterans were more likely to report having suicidal ideation. Overall, access to mental health care has improved in the last decade or so. In December 2023, the VA announced it would open nine additional counseling centers. However, the stigma of getting help remains, especially after years of being conditioned to be self-reliant and pull oneself up by their bootstraps. That help, in the form of public policy, is slowly working to catch up to the need. In 2023, the Biden administration invested millions into research programs and studies on suicide prevention by the VA office in addition to a proposed $16 billion to improve quality and lower-cost mental health care services for veterans. And, in February of this year, HUD and the VA announced they would give up to $14 million in vouchers to public housing agencies for veterans experiencing homelessness. The program would also offer case management and other services. Still, with a culture that pushes people to keep going, it can be challenging for servicemembers to take advantage of these opportunities, Harvie said. "When you've been doing that for the last 15 or 20 years, it's difficult to stop and say, 'I'm the person that needs help.'" Story editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Kristen Wegrzyn. Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. 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RA Capital Management Announces Close of $1.4 Billion Acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics by AbbVieAncient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay woman $250K in sexual assault case, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has found that mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor sexually assaulted a woman in a hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The Dublin jury awarded the woman more than $250,000 for her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her on Dec. 9, 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified he never forced her to do anything and that the woman had fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. The jury found for the woman on Friday. At least 15 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 15 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 160,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat this week after Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli O157:H7, which can cause life-threatening infections. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. 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He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.” Shohei Ohtani wins third MVP award, first in NL. Aaron Judge earns second AL honor in 3 seasons NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor was second with 263 points and Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte third with 229. Judge was a unanimous pick for the first time. Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. got all 30 second-place votes for 270 points, and Yankees outfielder Juan Soto was third with 21 third-place votes and 229 points.