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Millennial Money: Mystery travel lets you focus on the fun, not the details

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

Travel planning can be a real chore. Booking flights, deciding on the right hotel and building an itinerary might be fun for some, but others dread it. That’s why some travelers are opting for an unorthodox travel strategy that eliminates the planning stage altogether. It’s called “mystery” or “suprise” travel, and the destination isn’t revealed until the day of departure.This idea isn’t new. Some friend groups plan regular mystery travel vacations, with one person or family planning and booking the itinerary for everyone else.Lanie van der Horst, a travel blogger, asked her husband to plan a trip. He decided to keep the destination — Byron Bay, Australia — a secret.“I literally cried when he told me that he had a trip planned that I didn’t have to think about,” van der Horst says.LET A TRAVEL COMPANY PLAN YOUR TRIPAs these surprise trips have become more popular, travel booking companies have begun offering them. Customers pay a flat fee for the trip and set certain guidelines such...

Watch: Man hits hole-in-one at golf tournament honoring late stepson

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

GENEVA, Ill. (WGN) — It's always special to hit a hole-in-one on the golf course. For one man, a recent ace was even more special. Hundreds of golfers teed off at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva, Illinois on Monday as part of the seventh-annual charity golf tournament hosted by Jay's Hope. It was created by the family of Jay Burger, who passed away in 2016. Burger, described as a kind and generous soul, died at the age of 24 after being diagnosed with bone cancer and undergoing 20 grueling months of surgery and cancer treatments. Now, the non-profit foundation looks to support others like Burger. "The entire mission of the organization is to offer hope and support to college students who are battling cancer," Burger's mother, Kelly Jo Golson, explained." Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens dies at age 70 after cancer fight Burger's family and friends were among those who attended Monday's golf tournament. That includes his stepfather, Mark Golson, who described Burger as someone ...

Man accused of ‘intentionally hitting' 6 migrant workers with SUV in custody: Police

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

LINCOLNTON, N.C. (WJZY) — A man has been taken into custody after authorities say he intentionally struck six migrant workers in a North Carolina parking lot over the weekend. Lincolnton Police confirmed Monday night that the suspect — described only as an older white man — is in custody. The FBI's Charlotte office confirmed to Nexstar's WJZY they are assisting Lincolnton Police with their investigation into the incident, which took place Sunday. According to authorities, an older dark-colored SUV turned in front of a bus, crossed over a divider, and struck a group of migrant workers who were standing on the divider. The vehicle could then be seen leaving the scene as people rushed to help the victims.Six people suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They have all since been released from the hospital. Police said Sunday that the incident "appears to be an intentional assault with a vehicle." The moment was captured on security video, which Lincolnton Police released in the hopes o...

'Stuck in limbo': Transformer shortage prevents Texas homebuyers from moving in

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

KYLE, Texas (KXAN) --- Imagine building a new home only to be told you can't move into it because you don't have power. That's a situation housing experts said people in Central Texas and across the country are in. The reason? An ongoing transformer shortage. 'No timeline'Belinda Johnson and her husband John are ready to move into their "forever home" in Kyle. Right now, they are living in an RV in Wimberley. The two are building their new home to accommodate some of their health needs. "The doorways we widened so that we can have wheelchair access," Belinda said. But, because of a transformer shortage, they have no idea when they'll be able to move in. "We don't have a timeline," Belinda said. "Is it going to be a week from now? Is it going to be two weeks from now? Is it going to be a year from now?"Belinda said they were originally supposed to move into this home in August. Now, they have no idea when it will be. (KXAN photo) It's a situation that's left them frustrated and anxio...

Loons to travel to Columbus Crew for Leagues Cup knockout match

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

Minnesota United will play the Columbus Crew in a Leagues Cup round of 32 match at Lower.com Field in Ohio on Friday.The Loons finished second in Central Group 2, while Crew came out in first place in Central Group 1.Columbus took the top spot with an emphatic 4-1 win over Club America on Monday. Former Loons striker Christian Ramirez scored in the Crew’s win over the Mexican giants. In their Leagues Cup debut, the Crew (2-0-0, 6 points) beat St. Louis City 2-1.The Loons (1-1-0, 3 points) blew out Puebla 4-0 in their Leagues Cup opener July 23, but then gave up leads in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire in their second match Thursday.Club America will play at Chicago in the other matchup between the two groups.Columbus made news Monday with the exit of star midfielder Lucas Zelarayan via transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Fetah. Columbus also has former Loons midfielder Kevin Molino; the Trinididad and Tobago international has played sparingly in MLS this season.Related ArticlesSoccer |...

1 woman injured after car goes into sinkhole in Schenectady

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A woman was taken to the hospital after her car fell into a sinkhole in the city of Schenectady on Monday. Police said the sinkhole developed just after 3 p.m. at the intersection of McClellan Street and Eastern Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The woman who was driving the car sustained minor injuries. The intersection will be closed for repairs. Drivers and pedestrians should avoid the area.

Illinois family still shaken after vandals poured oil into their pool, breaking window

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

O'FALLON, Ill. - A few weeks ago, vandals polluted a swimming pool in O'Fallon, Illinois with motor oil, causing it to turn black.The Gibson family pool is back to normal, but their entire neighborhood is still haunted by crime.It happened around 4:30 a.m. Sunday, July 16. The Gibson family woke up to the sound of breaking glass. Vandals threw landscaping bricks through their front windows after pouring a gallon or more of motor oil into the pool and concrete pool deck.On Monday afternoon, 9-year-old Bailey Gibson was swimming again. However, nighttime fears remained, according to her mom, Suzanne.“I dread nighttime right now,” Suzanne said. “Shutting all the blinds, locking all the doors, setting the alarms, making sure we have everything ready in case someone were to come back.” Overnight carjacking attempt in St. Louis foiled by disconnected battery The sound of shattered windows was captured by a surveillance camera. Looking out the window, Suzanne's husband initially mistook ...

Illinois family with no AC in subsidized apartment suffers in summer heat

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - A mother and her children residing in a HUD apartment in the Metro East are currently experiencing triple-digit heat with no air conditioning. In her desperation, she sought assistance from FOX 2's You Paid For It team.Kenya McCray and her three children frequently have to vacate their third-floor, rent-subsidized apartment in East St. Louis due to the lack of air conditioning.The thermostat inside the apartment reads 86 degrees. McCray said it’s gotten much hotter than that inside the apartment."It was about 90 or 100, especially yesterday or the other day when it was 102 degrees outside," she said. "It was terrible; we had to leave the house. It read 100!” Overnight carjacking attempt in St. Louis foiled by disconnected battery Two years ago, someone stole the central air unit, and the property manager never replaced it. She received a window unit, but unfortunately, it broke down about a week and a half ago, just as temperatures reached triple digits.&nbs...

Bond reduced for Northwoods officer accused of beating man

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A former Northwoods police officer accused of beating a man and leaving him in an empty field was able to bond out of jail Monday. FOX 2 was the only media outlet in court for the latest twist in the high-profile case.Officer Samuel Davis’ attorney, Neil Bruntrager, made the case that Davis wasn’t running from police when they caught up with him out of state. Bruntrager contended that his client was simply applying for another police officer job in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and that he even told Northwoods P.D. that he was leaving town to apply for the job.The judge agreed to reduce Davis’ $750,000 cash-only bond to just 10% of $100,000.While out on bond, Davis must stay with his parents, wear an ankle monitor, and remain home between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily.The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office objected to the bond reduction for Davis, who was charged July 14 with assault and kidnapping for an incident that reportedly ended in a Kinloch fiel...

Keeler: Marvin Mims Jr., let’s ride! Broncos Country needs hero now that Tim Patrick is lost to another season-ending injury.

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 10:59:17 GMT

On a cloudy day in Broncos Country, the silver lining won the day by simply walking away on his own two feet.“He’s doing well. He’s feeling good,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said of rookie wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who returned to the practice field Monday after a hamstring issue.“You are going to see him more and more this week. He’s going to be ramping up. We’re encouraged.”The rest of the forecast? Hide your eyes. The Broncos’ wide receivers room doesn’t need a coach right now. It needs an exorcist.Speedster KJ Hamler revealed he’s battling pericarditis, a condition that involves swelling or irritation of the lining around the heart, which is awful enough. And yet that somehow wasn’t the worst of it.On the first day of contact at Broncos training camp, the most crushing blow of the day came high from light wind and low from a patch of slippery grass.“Expletive!”Veteran wideout Tim Patrick appeared to slip during 7-on-7 drills while trying to plant. There was a shout, a ...