No. 25 UConn working on climbing back up poll, faces No. 15 Baylor

McGhie scores 27, UC San Diego downs La Salle 72-67Gratomic Announces Company and Operational Update

Democrats look to governors to lead them to promised land

November 24 - Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams will miss the rest of the season because of a serious right knee injury he suffered late in the team's 125-119 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, ESPN reported. Williams tore his ACL, meniscus and other ligaments on a play during which he drove to the basket with 3:52 left on the clock, per ESPN. On the season, Williams is averaging 10.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 16 games (seven starts) He is one of six players scoring in double figures for the Hornets (6-10). Williams, who turns 26 next week, was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2019. The Hornets acquired him in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks in February. In his career, Williams has averages of 7.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 380 games (108 starts) with the three teams. --Field Level Media Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tabBeyond Firewalls: Governance And Tech

Las Vegas Grand Prix Puts Luxury on Overdrive and Delivers High-Octane Hospitality

McDonald’s ( MCD ) is switching gears during a time when an alarming consumer trend is hurting its pockets. An increasing number of consumers, convinced inflation at fast-food restaurants is out of control, are opting instead to cook cheaper meals at home. 💰💸 Don’t miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet’s FREE Daily newsletter 💰💸 According to a recent survey from LendingTree, roughly 78% of consumers view fast-food as a luxury. Another 62% of Americans said they eat less fast food due to high prices, and 56% said they choose to make food at home when they want an easy and cheap meal. Related: McDonald’s makes a desperate move to win back fleeing customers To be sure, the cost of eating out has jumped. It was up 7.5% in 2022, and it was still up 4.8% year-over-year, according to the October Consumer Price Index report. And that's even as inflation overall has fallen below 3%. Consumer resistance has contributed to McDonald’s facing declines in its sales and revenue all year, and it has been on a shaky road to recovery. During the third quarter of 2024, McDonald’s revealed that its U.S. comparable sales increased by a measly 0.3% year-over-year, while its net income only shrunk by 3%. To make matters worse, the company faced an E.coli outbreak last month, which sickened more than 100 people, hospitalized 34, and even killed one person. As a result, McDonald’s sales and visits took an extra tumble. McDonald's makes a major menu adjustment Now, McDonald’s is making a bold move designed to attract consumers back into its restaurants, and it appears to be a response to recent complaints about high prices. picture alliance/Getty Images The company just unveiled its new “McValue” menu, which is set to go into effect on Jan. 7, 2025. It contains the fast-food chain’s current $5 Meal Deal, which offers a meal that consists of a McChicken sandwich, four-piece chicken nuggets or a McDouble, along with fries and a drink for $5. The meal deal was expected to expire sometime during the late summer, but it was recently extended after analysts claimed that the deal was struggling to significantly boost traffic in restaurants shortly after it debuted. The new McValue menu also includes a brand-new deal called “Buy One, Add One for $1,” where customers can buy a “full-priced” menu item from the McValue menu and add one more item of their choice for $1, according to a new press release. More Food + Dining: The McValue menu contains breakfast, lunch and dinner items such as hash browns, 6-pc. Chicken McNuggets, Sausage McMuffin, a double cheeseburger, etc. "When it comes to value, we know there's no one-size-fits-all. We've worked closely with our franchisees to create a new platform that will let our customers define value on their own terms," said McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger in the press release. McDonald's responds to complaints about price increases The move from McDonald’s comes after Erlinger said in an open letter in May that the average price of a McDonald’s menu item has increased by roughly 40% since 2019, hitting back at consumers who alleged that prices have been hiked up by over 100% during that time period. “Recently, we have seen viral social posts and poorly sourced reports that McDonald’s has raised prices significantly beyond inflationary rates,” said Erlinger in the letter. “This is inaccurate.” Related: McDonald’s pulls beloved menu items due to major issue According to a recent report from the Roosevelt Institute, the fast-food industry is notorious for charging prices that are higher than their marginal costs (an additional cost incurred to produce a good/service). The institute found that in 2023, McDonald’s raised its prices 85% above its marginal costs. Amid the recent criticism, it appears that McDonald’s is letting consumers know it hears them loud and clear. During an earnings call last month, McDonald’s Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said that the company will be heavily focusing on “value and affordability” going forward. “I think certainly lower-income consumers and families are consumers that are under more acute kind of pressures,” said Borden. “I think on disposable income, obviously, two really important parts of our consumer base. I think for all of those reasons, that's why obviously we have such a heightened focus on value and affordability and making sure we get that right for the context we're in each and every one of our markets.” Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocksThese Black Friday TV deals are still going strong

(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, the pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday can stretch budgets a bit too far. Many of today’s shoppers seek advice from their favorite online influencers, sourcing creative hacks, recipes, DIY projects, and tips to keep the holidays magical without overspending. In fact, 69% of consumers say they value and actively seek out influencer recommendations. Now, questions don’t need to get buried in the comments. This December, TextNow is flipping the script on holiday stress by introducing the Holiday Hotline , a free resource to help you navigate the season, with advice a mere text away. Whether it’s finding affordable gifts, creating a festive dinner on a budget, or even learning how to save on your monthly bills, the Holiday Hotline can make things simpler, cheaper, and—perhaps most importantly—more joyful. TextNow Holiday Hotline: Expert Advice at Your Fingertips From December 5–10, TextNow’s Holiday Hotline connects you with relatable experts (aka some of your favorite influencers including social media creator and podcast host Remi Cruz, Kayla Savings, and Melissa Weiss) who will share their go-to tips for a budget-friendly holiday. Here’s what you can expect: • Holiday Budgeting 101: Learn simple ways to stretch every dollar and avoid those dreaded post-holiday bills. • Affordable Gift-Giving Ideas: Thoughtful, creative gifts that won’t break the bank. • Festive Decorating on a Dime: Transform your home into a holiday wonderland with budget-friendly hacks. • Stress-Free Holiday Cooking: Recipes and meal-planning tips to impress your guests. Need more advice? Just text the hotline at 310-299-3584, and you’ll get personalized, practical tips sent straight to your phone. Win $1,000 for Your Holiday Dinner As if free expert advice wasn’t enough, TextNow is also giving you the chance to win big this holiday season. Enter the $1,000 Dinner Giveaway for a shot at a $1,000 gift card to cover your holiday expenses—whether it’s for food, gifts, travel, or whatever else makes your season special. Entering is simple: 1.Head to TextNow’s Instagram . 2.Like the giveaway post. 3.Share your best holiday tip in the comments (bonus: share the post to your story for an extra entry). 4.The giveaway runs from December 5-12, with winners announced from December 13-16. Save More This Holiday Season TextNow is more than just a phone service—it’s a way to take control of your budget, not just during the holidays but year-round. • Free Phone Service: Unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network free. No gimmicks, no contracts. • Free Essential Data: Get free data for such essential apps as maps, rideshare, and email when you activate your SIM card. • Additional Flexible Data Plans: Add extra data only when you need it, with hourly, daily, or monthly passes. Getting started with TextNow is easy. Download the app to call and text for free over Wi-Fi or unlock free cellular service with a $4.99 SIM card. Learn More For more details, visit www.TextNow.com . Word Count: 491I tried Columbia's Omni-Heat coat during Storm Bert and it's my new go-toAfter Chinmoy Krishna Das, Bangladesh arrests another ISKCON priest Shyam Das Prabhu without warrant