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128th Common Stock Monthly Dividend Increase Declared by Realty IncomeHome not so sweet home BY KEITH LIPPOLDT klippoldt@gbtribune.com In the United States, there are over half a million people experiencing homelessness. These individuals live on a sidewalk, in a temporary shelter, transitional housing or sleep in a place not meant for habitation (abandoned building, under bridges, tent cities, etc.). Nearly 3,000 Kansans were counted as experiencing homelessness in January 2024. According to data released by the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition, there were a total of 2,815 people experiencing homelessness on the night of Jan. 24, the night cities counted their homeless population doing “Point in Time” surveys. This annual survey counts sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, using volunteer resources. That total is nearly 7% higher than 2023. The state of California had the highest homeless population in 2023, with over 161,000 homeless people. Great Bend Chief of Police Steve Haulmark, a 29-year veteran of law enforcement, has been in Great Bend since January 2021. Before moving to Great Bend he worked at the Kansas City, KS police department where he saw many homeless people daily. Although the numbers of homeless pale in comparison, Haulmark says Great Bend is home to several homeless individuals. “We do (have homeless),” Haulmark said. “For the most part, they’re down by the river. I wouldn’t venture a guess on how many - I don’t know. We did a big cleanup last year down at the river and there was a huge amount of trash,10 and a half tons, and debris that, I believe, was generated by those folks. I know at that point I saw evidence of at least a dozen people or so.” Becoming homeless can’t be categorized into one exact circumstance. Each individual has their own unique formula as to how and why. It’s obvious that financial problems are a factor, but so much more can go into it. “I don’t know how people get into that,” Haulmark said. “They could lose their job. I think that there are certainly some that maybe have some mental health issues. Maybe they don’t have any resources or family members to help take care of them. Or maybe they come to a situation in their life where sometimes family doesn’t want to help anymore. And then there’s some that maybe have a legal issue and end up in that situation.” But even with a poor financial situation, a lack of a strong social circle or other issues, there are options in Great Bend that one can go to for assistance. “I know that the Dream Center helps with meals for them,” he said. “The sheriff’s department occasionally will give a voucher for a hotel room for folks. It depends on what the issue is. Each individual might be different, but if it’s a financial issue, there’s obviously resources to maybe help them to bridge that gap, to get them back to where they need to be. “But if there’s underlying issues, like legal issues, or mental health, it’s a bigger problem. I know some of the churches do some outreach, but I think that the Dream Center is the one constant that I’m aware of.” Among other services, the Central Kansas Dream Center, located at the corner of Williams and Broadway offers a light breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, serving 50 meals or more daily to those in need. The Dream Center also provides a shower and laundry facilities for them to use. Another major outreach source for the homeless is the Salvation Army, located in the lower level of the Central Kansas Dream Center building. Jennifer Vest is the Salvation Army’s outreach coordinator for Barton County aas well as the Supportive Services for Veteran Families and is vital to the clients that come to her from providing clothes to helping them fill out applications. These programs and continual care for the Barton County community are only made possible through generous donations and dedicated volunteers. “We are one of the programs that gives out Bomba socks,” Vest said. “There’s different groups that go out to the river and help some of the homeless, and I give them socks. I also put them down in the Kingdom Closet for people to have access to them. “I also have finances that come from the Kettles and different fundraisers to help with paying rent, help with utilities, medical bills, medicines - you name it.” Vest has also helped people transition into apartments. She assisted with the application process for them. She said she has helped others with ordering social security cards and birth certificates. “I helped one get an apartment at the high rise that I know stayed at the river for a long time,” Vest said. “I helped with the entire process of getting him things he needed like a social security card, birth certificate, ID or driver’s license and a bank statement where his money is deposited. He was able to leave the river and move into an apartment.” Without an actual homeless shelter in the city or county, the homeless will continue to fight the elements of the winter months without proper housing. “I’m a big believer in community outreach in whatever form that that looks like,” Haulmark said. “So, anytime we can help, we’re going to. It just goes back to the fact that we alone (GBPD) can’t solve the problem. We want to help them if we can. We’d definitely be a stakeholder to be part of that conversation. But it’s not a one entity issue. It will take a coalition of resources to help fix that.”
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes drifted lower Tuesday in the runup to the highlight of the week for the market, the latest update on inflation that’s coming on Wednesday. The S&P 500 dipped 0.3%, a day after pulling back from its latest all-time high . They’re the first back-to-back losses for the index in nearly a month, as momentum slows following a big rally that has it on track for one of its best years of the millennium . The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 154 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 0.3%. Tech titan Oracle dragged on the market and sank 6.7% after reporting growth for the latest quarter that fell just short of analysts’ expectations. It was one of the heaviest weights on the S&P 500, even though CEO Safra Catz said the company saw record demand related to artificial-intelligence technology for its cloud infrastructure business, which trains generative AI models. AI has been a big source of growth that’s helped many companies’ stock prices skyrocket. Oracle’s stock had already leaped more than 80% for the year coming into Tuesday, which raised the bar of expectations for its profit report. In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher ahead of Wednesday’s report on the inflation that U.S. consumers are feeling. Economists expect it to show similar increases as the month before. Wednesday’s update and a report on Thursday about inflation at the wholesale level will be the final big pieces of data the Federal Reserve will get before its meeting next week, where many investors expect the year’s third cut to interest rates . The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to take pressure off the slowing jobs market, after bringing inflation nearly down to its 2% target. Lower rates would help give support to the economy, but they could also provide more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts through next year have been a big reason the S&P 500 has set so many records this year. Trading in the options market suggests traders aren’t expecting a very big move for U.S. stocks following Wednesday’s report, according to strategists at Barclays. But a reading far off expectations in either direction could quickly change that. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.22% from 4.20% late Monday. Even though the Fed has been cutting its main interest rate, mortgage rates have been more stubborn to stay high and have been volatile since the autumn. That has hampered the housing industry, and homebuilder Toll Brothers’ stock fell 6.9% even though it delivered profit and revenue for the latest quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. CEO Douglas Yearley Jr. said the luxury builder has been seeing strong demand since the start of its fiscal year six weeks ago, an encouraging signal as it approaches the beginning of the spring selling season in mid-January. Elsewhere on Wall Street, Alaska Air Group soared 13.2% after raising its forecast for profit in the current quarter. The airline said demand for flying around the holidays has been stronger than expected. It also approved a plan to buy back up to $1 billion of its stock, along with new service from Seattle to Tokyo and Seoul . Boeing climbed 4.5% after saying it’s resuming production of its bestselling plane , the 737 Max, for the first time since 33,000 workers began a seven-week strike that ended in early November. Vail Resorts rose 2.5% after the ski resort operator reported a smaller first-quarter loss than analysts expected in what is traditionally its worst quarter. All told, the S&P 500 fell 17.94 points to 6,034.91. The Dow dipped 154.10 to 44,247.83, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 49.45 to 19,687.24. In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in China after the world’s second-largest economy said its exports rose by less than expected in November. Stocks rose 0.6% in Shanghai but fell 0.5% in Hong Kong. Indexes fell across much of Europe ahead of a meeting this week by the European Central Bank, where the widespread expectation is for another cut in interest rates. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.AP News Summary at 3:38 p.m. EST
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PPA Asia x MLP Asia PPA Asia and MLP Asia Announced Pickleball World Championships 2024 Championship Sunday at the 2024 Pickleball World Championships - a PPA Tour event in Dallas, TX CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS AND VIDEO (Credit: Carvana PPA Tour) "Asia has a rich tradition of racket sports, and we are excited to contribute to its sports culture with the arrival of pickleball,” said Connor Pardoe, Founder and CEO of the PPA Tour. "With growing enthusiasm for the sport across the region, we see immense potential to bring the world's premier pickleball brands to Asian audiences through PPA Asia and MLP Asia. This is a massive moment for global pickleball and we're excited to continue to lead the charge. PPA and MLP Asia will bring their premier brands to major Asian markets, including China, Vietnam, Japan and Singapore. Set to launch in 2025, PPA Tour Asia will feature iconic venues and culminate in an October marquee event, uniting top pros from Asia, the United States and other regions from around the globe. MLP Asia will debut in 2025/2026, bringing franchised team play and establishing domestic leagues that will drive the sport's local presence and excitement. The new venture will be led by Managing Director Kimberly Koh, the former Partnerships Director at World Table Tennis with 13 years of sports marketing experience in the region. "As an athlete born in Vietnam and achieving success on the PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball in the United States, I see the impact these organizations have on growing the game,” said Quang Duong, the highest-ranked Asian-born player on the PPA Tour and MLP. "With the passion for racket sports already established in the region, this is a huge moment for pickleball to explode across Asia and globally.” "Bringing the highest level of professional pickleball to the world's largest continent is an amazing opportunity to grow both the pro and amateur games,” said PPA Tour World No.1 (Doubles/Mixed) Ben Johns. "I look forward to connecting with fans across Asia and spreading the joy of the sport in the region.” Anna Bright, MVP of MLP and a top-ranked PPA Tour player added, "The growth of pickleball in the United States has been amazing, and now we have the opportunity to bring the top tour and league in the sport to Asia - I know fans and players in the region will love pickleball just as much as we do.” Since its founding in 2019, the PPA Tour has become the ultimate stage for pickleball, securing exclusive contracts with the world's best players and inviting amateurs to "Play Where the Pros Play” - competing in the same venues. Founded in 2020, MLP offers a unique, exciting, team-based format that has attracted high-profile owners such as LeBron James, Naomi Osaka, Jeremy Lin, and Heidi Klum. About PPA Asia and MLP Asia PPA and MLP Asia are dedicated to expanding the highest level of the sport of pickleball across Asia, focusing on developing professional talent and engaging new fans and players. Through world-class events, elite training, and partnerships, the organization aims to position pickleball as a leading sport across the region. For any partnerships or media enquiries, please contact [email protected] About Carvana PPA Tour: Founded in 2019, the Carvana PPA Tour is where pickleball's top athletes go head-to-head to determine the best male and female players in the world. The Carvana PPA Tour organizes and conducts tournaments at world-class facilities across the country, establishes player rankings, and showcases the world's best pickleball week in and week out. Inviting amateur players to also compete and "play where the pros play,” the Carvana PPA Tour offers divisions for every age group and skill level. Characterized by a uniquely festive and fun atmosphere, Carvana PPA Tour events deliver unparalleled experiences for fans on-site, including pro player meet-and-greets, clinics, food, beverages, live entertainment, giveaways, games, shopping, and VIP upgrades. For more information, go to www.ppatour.com , and follow us on social: Twitter/X , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , LinkedIn . About MLP by Margaritaville MLP by Margaritaville (Major League Pickleball) is the preeminent team-based professional pickleball league, featuring over 100 of the best athletes across 24 teams, a unique coed format, easy to understand scoring, iconic team owners, and the most electric live events and fan experience in the sport. Founded in 2021, MLP named its first-ever title sponsor, Margaritaville, branding the league MLP by Margaritaville in December 2022. For more information on Major League Pickleball, visit the official website and follow MLP on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube . Attachments PPA Asia x MLP Asia Pickleball World Championships 2024 CONTACT: Jeff Watson PPA Tour and Major League Pickleball [email protected]
Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan threw up all night before Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals after eating pizza in his Utah hotel room. Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals is called “The Flu Game,” but Jordan was dealing with food poisoning. “Before Game 5 in Utah, I’m at the Marriott,” Jordan said in The Last Dance . “So it was George, myself, Tim and I think a couple of security guys. But it’s like 10:00, 10:30 at night, I’m hungry. I ate the pizza. All by myself. Nobody else ate the pizza. I wake up about 2:30 throwing up left and right. So really it wasn’t the flu game, it was food poisoning. I stayed in bed all day. Couldn’t eat anything, couldn’t hold nothing down.” Not only did Jordan play 44 minutes in “The Flu Game,” but he also scored 38 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer off an excellent pass from Scottie Pippen . Jordan shot 13-of-27 from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line in “The Flu Game.” He finished with 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. With the game tied at 85, Jordan hit a 3-pointer with 25.0 seconds left in regulation to give the Bulls an 88-85 lead. Chicago won by a final score of 90-88 to take a 3-2 lead in the series. The Bulls and Utah Jazz only had one day off before playing Game 6 at the United Center. Fortunately for Chicago, Jordan got over his food poisoning and was close to 100% on June 13, 1997. The 10-time scoring champion had another stellar performance in Game 6. However, he wasn’t the hero. The Bulls and Jazz were tied at 86 with 28.0 seconds left in regulation in Game 6. Phil Jackson took a timeout to draw up a play for Jordan, who told Steve Kerr to be ready to shoot since he knew he would get doubled. John Stockton left Kerr to double Jordan, who found the sharpshooter right behind the free-throw line. Kerr hit a jumper with 5.0 seconds remaining to give the Bulls a two-point lead. However, Chicago still needed one more stop to win championship No. 5. One of the best defenders in NBA history, Pippen stole the inbounds pass from Bryon Russell and passed it ahead to Toni Kukoc , who dunked the ball at the buzzer for the Bulls’ final exclamation point. Jordan won his fifth Finals MVP after finishing the series with averages of 32.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists. Chicago might have lost the 1997 NBA Finals if Jordan hadn’t played in Game 5. “The Flu Game” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic contests in sports history and showcased Jordan’s mental and physical toughness. With the Bulls, Jordan won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, 10 scoring titles, three steals titles and one Defensive Player of the Year Award. He’s arguably the best player in NBA history. Jordan has career averages of 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Bulls and Washington Wizards. He’s first in NBA history in points per game, fourth in steals, fifth in field goals and second in player efficiency rating. This article first appeared on Hoops Wire and was syndicated with permission.Death in Paradise fans were thrilled as they tuned in to watch the series spin-off Return to Paradise on Friday night. In a trailblazing twist, Anna Samson stepped into the spotlight as the series female lead with the character Mackenzie Clarke, while Lloyd Griffith tagged along as her quirky sidekick Colin Cartwright. Opinions on the new series may have been mixed, but viewers couldn't hide their glee at Ardal O'Hanlon's comeback in his endearing role as Detective Jack Mooney, now playing the boss to Mackenzie in the fresh narrative. A scene crackled with intrigue when Mackenzie phoned Jack, who was in London. Jack's voice broke the silence, "Mooney," he stated upon picking up the receiver. Hope flickered as Mackenzie implored: "Don't hang up," reports the Manchester Evening News . The conversation soon hit a quizzical note with Jack claiming, "I am actually at work," and an insistent Mackenzie asking, "Yes, obviously. What is the situation? Is there going to be an inquiry?" But Jack palmed off her concerns with wit: "No, I am pretty happy with my mobile plan at the moment. More data than I could ever need, thank you." Mackenzie dug deeper, sensing the urgency with "I need to know." However, before she knew it, Jack had hung up the phone. Fans quickly shared their delight on social media about Ardal's return, with one tweeting: "So great to see Jack Mooney back. Absolutely love him." Another echoed the admiration: "MY FAVE MY FAVE MY FAVEEEEEEE." A third chimed in with a spirited: "Yaaaaaaaaaay my fave irish DI is back," and yet another added their voice to the chorus with: "Jack Mooney return finally." A fan couldn't contain their excitement, exclaiming: "Oommmmggg what?? Please tell me this will be available on Britbox starting Friday." (sic) When discussing Ardal's comeback, Anna said: "We can expect Ardal to make more than one appearance than just in the first episode because he plays my boss back at the Metropolitan Police." She said that Mackenzie keeps in touch with Ardal's character for advice about her potential move from Dolphin Cove back to London. Anna elaborated: "So the show, without being a carbon copy of the original, has lots of tips of the hat to the original, not just with the characters but even certain shots are paying homage to the original, like on the beach with the suitcase and not [wearing] an appropriate outfit for the weather. That is certainly a wink and a nod to the original. "I didn't get to meet Ardal because he shot his stuff in London and my stuff in Australia . I want to meet all of [the Death in Paradise cast]. I think it is something about playing the lead detective in a Paradise show, so I want to talk to them; I would love to meet them all." Reflecting on Ardal's role in the new series, Lloyd recalled fond memories of working with him before. "I have gigged with Ardal separately as a comedian, and that was mind-blowing," Lloyd said, still starstruck. "I still get giddy when I watch the first episode, this is Ardal O'Hanlon." Return to Paradise returns on Friday at 8pm on BBC One.
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