https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

BRANSON, Mo. (KY3) – Branson business owners are having a very successful summer season. More and more people are leaving their homes and flocking to the tourist town.

There is still some concern that Branson is a ‘hotspot’ tourist destination as COVID-19 cases increase in southwest Missouri, but that doesn’t stop people from visiting the many attractions of the city.

Grant Sloan, vice chairman of the Branson Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, said business was up from 2019.

“We are up 25% year-to-date in our tax district compared to 2019,” Sloan said.

Sloan said the companies were also having record weekends this summer.

“We know we’re making up for lost time, but it’s really exciting to see that kind of traction and so many people come and see Branson, some of them for the very first time,” Sloan said.

As more people gather in what is considered a peak destination, Sloan said they support Gov. Mike Parson’s stance on vaccines.

“We stand behind the governor every time he has said vaccines are the best way to fight COVID-19, and we believe people appreciate Branson as a safe place and come on vacation, knowing it’s a ride. to the destination, ”Sloan said.

Shepherd of the Hills chief executive Jeff Johnson said he also sees thousands of visitors every day.

“I don’t think anyone would have guessed that it would have been as strong as it has been to date, and so nonstop,” said Jeff Johnson.

Johnson said they were lucky to have more business as an outside site last year than most.

“We have about 160 acres on the original property, so we have a lot of space for people to spread out even though there are a few people in the parking lots and some lines. It’s just a little more space than most places have to spread out, ”Johnson said.

He says, despite the increase in the number of visitors, staffing is still a major concern for many Branson businesses.

To report a correction or typo, please send an email [email protected]

Copyright 2021 KY3. All rights reserved.

Admission to Experience Outdoors on National Route 73 near Lake Placid (Corporate Photo – Andy Flynn)

LAKE PLACID – The City-Village Joint Review Board was forced to file a request from a local business owner to host events once a month in the summer because they lacked a quorum. The proposal is expected to come back at a future meeting.

The owners of Experience Outdoors, a zipline and team building course on National Route 73, initially asked the Joint Review Board to allow the company to hold special events three days a month from May to October, these events scheduled to last up to 10 p.m. At least one of the events may have included the company’s tree climbing course, according to the original project request, so business owners Marc Doering and Bill Walton have also requested permission to extend the hours of operation of the hotel. company from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during special events. After hearing comments from neighbors at a public hearing on July 7 – in which several neighbors expressed concern over noise pollution and alleged code violations, which Doering denied – business owners have modified their request, reducing the number of special events to one per month. , only on weekends, without use of the tree climbing course.

Based on feedback from neighbors, board member David Genito offered a compromise at Wednesday’s board meeting which would see the request approved with conditions attached. With conditional approval, business owners would only be allowed to host one event per month, only on a Friday or Saturday, and events could only run until 9 p.m.

Even with Genito’s compromise, the vote was split one to three, with Genito voting yes and board members John Rosenthal, Chip Bissell and board chairman Rick Thompson voting no.

Two of the members of the Joint Review Panel recused themselves: Walton, who is a co-owner of the company, and Bob Rafferty. Due to these challenges, the other four board members who were present at Wednesday’s meeting should have voted to approve the request to go ahead, as the review board has seven members and there must be a majority vote, according to Tim Smith, counsel for the Joint Review Panel.

“I’ll say I’m against it, sorry” Thompson told Doering on Wednesday.

Smith told the Joint Review Panel that while the request was not approved, it could still be presented at a future meeting.

Doering, before the board voted, drew attention to events he saw being held at Craig Wood Golf Course, Cascade Ski Center and Olympic Show Jumping Complex. He said he thinks it’s “ridiculous” that other businesses are allowed to do the same thing his business has requested permission to do.

“We’re just looking to have special events once a month, but with live music until 10pm,” he said.

Bissell said the review committee had no jurisdiction over these properties.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Minneapolis business owner Ruhel Islam is trying to stay positive through tough times.

The Bangladeshi immigrant saw his restaurant, Gandhi Mahal, catch fire in the riots and unrest that followed the murder of George Floyd.

A social media post from Islam and his daughter afterwards drew attention from afar when he wrote: “Let my building burn. Justice must be served.”

As he attempts to rebuild the now-demolished site on East Lake Street – turning it into a community gathering space and garden – he quickly set up a small restaurant less than two miles away. Curry in a Hurry is open for take out, delivery, dining and the summer patio season.

But, a few days ago, his van was stolen right outside his house. The van was stocked with newly purchased catering supplies, cooking utensils and private business account documents.

He assumes there was a Curry in a Hurry key inside, and the thief then used it to get into the business on Monday, stealing hundreds of dollars from the cash register.

Islam said he just wanted the truck back – one of the only things that survived last year’s destruction at Gandhi Mahal. He said he was ready to help those behind the theft, promising he would not press charges.

“If you need food, I’ll give you food all your life – you’ll have it. Need a job to rent a house, I’ll give you a job. Come work with us and solve the problem … that’s what we have to do. “

Curry in a Hurry posted on Facebook Tuesday night, writing that the van had recently been spotted in the 38th and Lake area and the tree logos were painted black. If you see the van, call the police.

Cave Springs business owners fear the new extension of Highway 112 could harm their downtown area. ARDOT said parts of Highway 112 see 8,000 to 10,000 cars per day, and as Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, the road needs to grow as well. Part of Highway 112 runs through downtown Cave Springs. Business owners like Tim Nelson have said the current expansion plans bypass the city and essentially cut off the main street. “We won’t need a mayor. This will kill our downtown. I’m really concerned about dead ends. The dead end will kill my businesses, both of me. I have a tire store and a hardware store. With it. without business, we won’t be able to sustain what we’re doing, “Nelson said. The extension of Highway 112 will run from Bentonville to Tontitown, and ARDOT has said some parts will be four. or five lanes. Cave Springs Mayor Randall Noblett has said he hopes ARDOT can set up roundabouts at each end of Main Street, which will encourage people to keep navigating the center. “Town. Hard things for people to get into town. There is the little link here, and they need their stuff. They need you to come to town. There are reasons to leave the main road.” north and south, “said Noblett. ARDOT is hosting a public contribution meeting Tuesday via Zoom from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the public to voice their opinion on the expansion. To gain access to the Internet, the Town of Cave Springs will open Town Hall to anyone wishing to attend the meeting.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Young business owners have the opportunity to sell their products at the Junior Achievement Young Entrepreneur Market on Saturday.

“Junior Achievement truly believes in the power of entrepreneurship,” said Karen Cooper, vice president of Capstone Experiences. “It really gives you the opportunity to take control, to be your own boss, to sort of reap the rewards that can come with that.”

Saturday’s event features 19 young entrepreneurs, ages 8-23. The different types of businesses that sell artwork and jewelry, 3D printed objects, dog treats, people treats, and books.

Cooper said it was an opportunity for the young business owner to learn valuable life lessons.

“One is to earn what we have to give back to others, some of the kids here are taking and giving back to others,” Cooper said. “Others save, there is also a lesson in that. We really find that they are finding out about the products they are making and winning over the right audience.

The market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the corner of Barr Street and E Berry Street.

Anyone interested in getting involved with Junior Achievement can find more information here.

NEWPORT – Newport County resident Laurie Ruttenberg who owns the Lucky Dog Resort in Middletown is exhausted. For months now, she has been working 100 hours a week at her business, as finding and retaining employees has been a challenge since the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020.

Still, she is determined to keep her business open and she is determined to grow it.

On Wednesday, Ruttenberg was a handful of female business leaders from across Rhode Island, who attended a community panel discussion hosted by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices.

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos of Rhode Island and Newport Senator Dawn Euer also attended the discussion.

“We were able to voice our concerns as women small business owners who survived the pandemic and are looking to move forward, forward and climb. We talked about our main issues, some of which are were about finding good staff, or staffing in general, childcare, access to capital and other things that impact us moving forward, ”said Ruttenberg .

A shortage of employees

Specifically, Ruttenberg said Lucky Dog Resort is facing an employee crisis. The problem resulting from the pandemic, she said, is that the salary range desired by employees of small business owners is untenable.

Lucky Dog Resort currently employs four people, including Ruggenberg, who six years ago rolled his 401,000 to start the resort. Ideally, she said she needed at least double that amount.

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Salary expectations aside, Ruttenberg said it has become increasingly difficult to find the right type of person to care for the animals she hosts.

In Bristol, Jennifer Cavallaro owns the Beehive Cafe and is also experiencing a shortage of employees.

She told Matos on Wednesday that her employees had told her categorically that they would not return to work until their unemployment ended in August.

During the pandemic, for the first time since it opened, Cavallaro said at one point she had no applications on file, but that has recently changed.

“Now we’re starting to get a flood of applications from completely overqualified people. I think they’re just showing they’re looking for work, because they have to show that ‘so oh, I applied to Beehive. I’m a cook or chef making $ 300,000 a year, but I’m going to go to a cafe in Bristol, “that doesn’t make sense, and then they never show up for the interview,” she said.

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Cavallaro said she had no problem with the extra money the government issued, but it shouldn’t have been linked to unemployment.

The employee problem, she said, is expected to resolve at the end of August when the additional unemployment payment is expected to end, but the money her business usually earns in the summer pushes them to get through the winter.

She was able to stay open thanks to money issued by the state of Rhode Island and the PPE, and she’s grateful for that, but the situation with the extra unemployment hasn’t helped her.

Childcare issues

Child care was another concern. Andrea Baranyk, owner of Northeast Collaborative Architecture, said most of her staff are still working from home and when she returns to full-time, childcare will be a touchy subject to discuss.

“We work well remotely, but a lot of our employees have young children. So the kids have stayed at home during all of this and of course it’s summer, so we’re talking about bringing them back to the office,” he said. she declared.

Taking that leap, she said, is going to be difficult.

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Bliss Salon owner Christine Paige said the majority of her employees are women, and most women have a problem with childcare in her industry.

“Because of the hours you have to work when you get your first degree, being able to afford it, sometimes money just doesn’t make sense right away, because as a graduate of a cosmetology school, she can’t rent a chair properly. far they have to be employees and schedules, and that sort of thing. Sometimes the balance just isn’t there, “she said.

Paige said babysitting is so expensive, and sometimes things don’t always go as planned when clients get their hair done, so her stylists have to pick up their kids from their caregivers due to the hours, and they bring them back to the living room.

“We’re just trying to make it work and I think I mentioned when I met VP Kamala Harris that maybe there should be night shift programs. Since there is a daycare. , there should be programs that go in 7 or 20 hours, just because everything has changed so much. Everyone is trying to get back on their feet. Everything is so up in the air, “she said.

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Minerva Waldron, owner of the Over the Rainbow Learning Center, said there should be a strong child care system within the state.

“A strong child care system takes a lot of resources from the government. Just like the regular school, something is going to have to change,” she said.

The sweet spot

Ruttenberg said she was considering a possible solution to some of these problems.

“There’s a reset that’s been going on since the pandemic and there are so many different levels. Not the least of what people want to do with their lives, and how they’re going to be compensated for it. ‘a small from a business point of view as well as from a government point of view, if we could look at things that we could do that would not only help the employee but also the small business to thrive, that is where the sweet spot is. I’m not sure, “she said.

The solution, she says, is about pay scales and appropriate compensation, but also helping the business owner to be able to afford it.

“So health incentives, childcare incentives, something like that would be super helpful, and I’d love to work on something like that so we can get to the point where it wasn’t so. difficult, because it’s so incredibly difficult right now, ”she said.

Bethany Brunelle can be reached at [email protected] 907-575-8528 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter, Insta: bethanyfreudenthal, TikTok: thehijabicrimereporter, Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/bethany-freudenthal

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) – Salon owner Pio Imperati took a chance and hired hairstylist Kathy Moura right out of technical high school 15 years ago. It worked so well that Imperati sold him his venerable New Haven, Connecticut business for $ 1.

“She’s a good hairdresser, a good barber, she’s very nice,” Imperati told the New Haven Register of the sale of Pio of Italy Hair Studio. “I sold it to him for $ 1 to keep us friends.”

While Moura will pay rent to Imperati, she avoids charges of up to tens of thousands of dollars to purchase a salon for equipment, supplies, and clientele.

Imperati, 79, now works there as an independent entrepreneur.

“In the end, it was my dream come true to be able to entrust the salon to someone worthy,” he said.

Imperati has been in business for around 56 years in various places and in various forms, starting with a barber shop in 1965, according to the newspaper.

Moura, 32, remembers that at the end of her studies “nobody would hire me because I had no experience”. She called a teacher for help and got Imperati’s phone number. He and his wife tried her out and eventually hired her.

“We grew up as a family. … This is how he treats everyone who enters the living room, ”Moura said of Imperati. “Everyone who works here wants you to thrive and become something of yourself.”

VICTORIA, Texas – Dean Seitz, HVAC instructor at Victoria College’s Gonzales Center, struggles to explain why the demand for skilled technicians in the HVAC industry is higher than ever.

“I guess a lot of young people are interested in entering the computer industry,” Seitz said. “But all of those computers they use have to be in an air-conditioned room.”

Seitz, who prefers a hands-on approach to teaching his students, was an instructor at the Gonzales Center at Victoria College for seven years and owned his own HVAC business, Harwood Heating & Air, for 23 years.

“My Level 4 class built a functional unit from parts from five inoperative units,” Seitz said. “I’m going to follow the book, but then I’ll teach them some practical tips they’ll need when they go out into the field. “

Some of Seitz’s students are already starting his class with HVAC jobs. Upon successfully completing one of the levels of Victoria College’s HVAC courses, students receive a certificate from the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER), which is an industry-recognized degree.

“The NCCER certificate carries weight with employers because it shows someone is committed to learning all about the profession,” Seitz said. “If I hire someone with an NCCER certificate, I don’t have to start from scratch with them. “

This fall semester, Victoria College will be offering its Level 1 HVAC course at the Victoria and Gonzales locations. The course in Victoria will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., September 28 to February 3. The course at Gonzales will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., September 21 to January. 27.

The Level 1 HVAC course costs $ 800, and scholarships and financial aid are available for students in need of financial aid. A high school diploma or GED is not required to participate in the course.

Before students can enroll in the Level 1 HVAC course, they must complete the Core Course: Introductory Craft Skills Course, which will be offered throughout the summer in Gonzales and Victoria.

For more information on VC Industrial Trades courses, call (830) 672-6251 or email [email protected]

WEST LONG BRANCH – Paul Sgro grew up in his business, helping his father Anthony lead Lee’s garage, and learn what it’s like to be an employee before you become an owner.

“My dad made me work for him during the day and also pump gas at night, just to feel and get a feel for what I would do as a prerequisite for a full takeover of the business one day.” , said Sgro.

“I’ve been here for a long time and it’s a family business,” said Sgro. “My dad wanted to see how I would handle different challenges in these particular work environments and I was successful. I got this perspective as an employee to enjoy working for someone and I never forgot that part. This is always something we need to keep in mind in order to appreciate your people and your staff.

Lee’s Garage is a certified auto body / repair shop, so that when a driver has an accident, Lee’s workers follow a specific set of guidelines to repair the vehicle and ensure it is well done to get it. get back on the road safely.

Want to run a car wash? Shrewsbury Car Wash was born with a simple question

“We work a lot with the manufacturer to verify that the job is done right,” Sgro said. “We like to stand out that way. “

The business started in 1937 and was bought by Anthony and Angela Sgro soon after.

Become owner

While working for his father, Sgro started out with basic tasks such as sweeping floors, but moved on to work in the workshop, painting and repairing cars.

“It was great working alongside my dad and his employees because the work environment was so family-oriented and I could always turn to someone if I had issues with anything. whatever, ”Sgro said. “I was doing bodywork, painting the frames, and so on. Basically I did everything and when I was 21 (1981) my dad let me take over the business.

“I used everything I learned over the years, whether it was physical labor or interacting with employees, to take the reins and keep the business going just like my dad did. had led until then, ”said Sgro. “My father’s expert tutelage really fueled my passion for continuing the business. “

But even with his experience, taking over the business was no easy feat.

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“It all grew from there, but I’m still learning something different every day,” Sgro said. “I feel like I’ve taken the company from its humble beginnings to where it is today, but I couldn’t have done it without every member of my team. My father taught me that the learning process is constant and that you have to be ready for anything.

“It all depends on the people you surround yourself with because no one does it alone, especially when you have a business because the machine has so many parts,” Sgro said. “We are certified by many manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, Porche, Land Rover, Jaguar and many more. It was a great experience and we have come a long way.

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One thing Sgro emphasizes is employee appreciation.

“My father and I are committed that no matter how successful our business is, we would show our gratitude in a big way by valuing everyone who has worked for us, regardless of their job title. . “

One employee in particular, Mike Clark, had worked for the company for 30 years, and Paul and his father decided to buy a car from Clark, but not just any one.

“It’s very personal for us because we care so much about our people,” Sgro said. “My dad and I made that commitment and after he passed away I wasn’t going to go back on our promise to get this car to Mike. Thinking back to Mike and his 30 years with the company, I remembered that he always drove a Ford Ranger pickup truck. A light bulb lit in my head and I knew that was what we would get for him for his 30th birthday. “

“I went to a Ford dealership in Shrewsbury and picked the truck myself and they only had one in stock and it was the exact model Mike had driven all those years ago except that it was new, ”Sgro said.

Pandemic changes

Like most businesses, Lee’s Garage has been affected by COVID-19 and has had to make adjustments to stay afloat.

“It was in March or April (2020) that it all started to hit us,” Paul said. “Driving is down about 75%, which has resulted in fewer claims. We kept all of our employees on board and took care of them. We wanted to make sure they knew we were family no matter what and that we wouldn’t abandon them.

“We have carried out vehicle disinfection for local hospitals, police and first aid services,” Sgro said. “We made sure we kept that up to show them how much we care about us and how much we were there for them, whatever. We still do this to this day because we have realized that it is more important to help people who need help. “

Although Sgro and his company are already working in two different locations – one in West Long Branch and the other in Shrewsbury – he would like to expand to a third store.

“Electric cars are becoming an important thing and we are preparing to service them regularly,” Sgro said. “As auto repair processes become more and more complicated, we are expanding further to ensure that customer safety is and will continue to be paramount in this business. A lot of the more average stores don’t have the capacity to repair cars as they get more complex, but we think we are up to the challenge.

Lee’s garage

Pitches: 853 Broadway, West Long Branch and 24 Riordan Place, Shrewsbury

Call: 732-222-3644 (West Long Branch), 732-704-3100 (Shrewsbury)

Website: www.leesgarage.com

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (both locations: 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday (West Long Branch)

This story is part of Loved and Lost, a statewide media collaboration that works to celebrate the lives of every New Jersey resident who has died of COVID-19. To learn more and submit a loved one’s name for profiling, visit loveandlostnj.com.

Felix Gutierrez’s efforts have led Paterson to hoist the Mexican flag every September in recent years to mark the Central American nation’s Independence Day.

The owner of the company would later be among those who convinced city officials to rename a section of Grand Street to Mexico Boulevard as a tribute to Mexican Americans living in Paterson.

“He was a proud Patersonian and proud to own a business, and also proud to be a Mexican American,” said Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh. “There are pioneers in the Peruvian community, there are pioneers in the Dominican community, there are pioneers in the Puerto Rican community – he was that pioneer in the Mexican community.”

Gutierrez died on February 21 while in Mexico, where he had traveled to take care of his father. Gutierrez was 50 years old.

Owner of Cathedral Restaurant on Main Street, he regularly hosted groups in his restaurant for fundraising, sporting and cultural events.

“He’s always been so sweet, wonderful, kind, and every time we’ve asked for help with events we’ve had here in Paterson… he’s always said yes,” said Marcia Julian, director of community affairs. multicultural events in Paterson, during a tribute to Gutierrez. posted on Facebook after his death.

Gutierrez emigrated from Mexico in the 1980s, according to Felix Benitez de Paterson, who first met Gutierrez in Axutla, Puebla state, Mexico while in elementary school.

Benitez said that upon arriving in New Jersey, Gutierrez worked in a textile company for several years before becoming an entrepreneur. Besides the restaurant, Gutierrez owned money transfer businesses in Paterson and Passaic. Benitez then worked for Gutierrez, before becoming his partner in the Passaic company.

“He really loved helping people and loved uniting families and the community. He was a very good person, ” Benitez said.

Gutierrez and his wife Aracely had four children.

Sayegh said that when he was running for mayor, he promised Gutierrez that if elected he would hoist the Mexican flag on September 16.

“It had never happened before, and I think it was a source of pride for him,” Sayegh said.

Sayegh said he was also among those calling for a street name change in honor of the city’s Mexican-Americans.

“Unfortunately, he won’t be there when we unveil him,” Sayegh said, noting that they might add an additional tribute that will include Gutierrez’s name.

Gutierrez was also in constant communication with other Mexican-American entrepreneurs in the region, always ready to help them succeed in their own businesses, said Jaimie Delgado, who owns a Mexican restaurant in Bergen County and considered Gutierrez to be his. brother.

“He always told me that we have to do something to help our community, so he was always involved in every community event and not just in the Mexican community, but also with Dominicans, Peruvians and Colombians, and all those who are there. ‘would invite him, “Delgado said.” He would be there to cooperate.

t Unlimited access to the latest news on one of the hottest issues in our state and country, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

E-mail: [email protected]

Twitter: @monsyalvarado

Fort Lauderdale attorney Andrew Dale Ledbetter, 78, was charged Tuesday with conspiracy to commit fraud and securities fraud, making him the latest in a series of people to face criminal charges for ties to the now defunct Hallandale Beach commercial loan company 1 Global Capital LLC.

Southern Florida District Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan announced the charges in a press release Tuesday that the 1 Global program has affected more than 3,600 investors in 42 states.

This content has been archived. It is available from our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.

East Wonder Woman 1984 put in 1984? Or 1969? Because the new DC movie poster has a distinctly psychedelic vibe.

Warner Bros. has released colorful new promotional material, featuring Gal Gadot’s Diana Prince scalloped in swirling paint.

It also gives us a good look at Wonder Woman’s new ‘golden eagle’ armor, the need for which currently remains a mystery, although it was briefly seen in the film’s first trailer.

It follows on from previous posters of characters who landed before Christmas …

With Patty Jenkins, who directed the first Wonder woman film, back on board, the action accelerated until 1984, since its introduction to the DC Extended Universe in 2017, which presented the backdrop to WWI.

Read more: Everything we know about Wonder Woman 1984

Despite the decades between them, Chris Pine’s American pilot Steve Trevor will somehow return as she takes on new, deadlier foes.

Kristen Wiig plays Barbara Ann Minerva, aka Cheetah, classically the arch nemesis of Wonder Woman in the comics.

She will also face off against media mogul Max Lord, played by The iron Throne star Pedro Pascal, while Robin Wright and Connie Nielsen will return as Antiope and Hippolyta.

Also starring, in so far unspecified roles, Natasha Rothwell, Ravi Patel, Gabriella Wilde, Kristoffer Polaha and Amr Waked.

Read more: The Batman stops filming for two weeks

With big shoes to fill (the first movie topped $ 822 million), Wonder Woman 1984 is scheduled to land worldwide on June 5.

Check out the first trailer below …

The “Today Show” recently highlighted the very real daily economic struggles of servicemen and their families, who should never have to worry about their financial security when they focus on the security of our nation.

Yet the annual Blue Star Families survey indicates that worries about personal or family finances are the top military stressors. The 2019 Military Financial Readiness Survey conducted by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Wells Fargo found that military personnel are twice as likely not to be able to pay their bills on time as they were. is five years old. About 10 percent said they currently have debts in collection.

Just as disturbing as their struggle to pay their weekly food bills, their credit card debts, and juggle funds to cover their expenses, the Defense Department has policies in place that make the finances of the military and their families. potentially more precarious families.

Today, servicemen are paying off loans for new cars and trucks for vehicles that have been destroyed by accidents or natural disasters, such as hurricanes, in part because the military does not allow them to purchase a form common protection, this is called a Waiver of Guaranteed Automobile Protection or “GAP”. Some members of my association would otherwise be able to offer the military the option of purchasing such insurance.

When you buy or lease a new vehicle, it depreciates as soon as it leaves the car dealership. A standard insurance policy typically covers the depreciated – or current – value of a car at the time of an accident.

But some servicemen – as well as other younger consumers who buy their first car – tend to put down smaller deposits and take out longer-term loans. In the event that a serious accident totals a car, a GAP covers the difference between what the insurer pays, its fair market value, and the amount owed on the loan or lease.

In an effort to protect military personnel from predatory payday lenders and unscrupulous businesses, Congress passed the Military Lending Act (MLA), which puts in place protections for various credit extensions but excludes auto loans. The Department of Defense, however, drew up a rule of interpretation in 2017 that swept aside the GAP waiver in a broader effort to protect military personnel from what were perceived to be unnecessary products.

The Pentagon basically said it was okay for a military person to add the cost of snow tires or the leather interior to a car loan, but that voluntary protection products, such as purchasing insurance GAP, were not. As a result, the military has limited protection for a large purchase and financial shock. This situation highlights two areas that should be addressed.

First, one of the reasons policymakers embraced MLA was the lack of financial literacy among young military personnel. Many military personnel enlist at a young age, with little experience managing their finances or building credit, a perfect storm for predatory lenders. There are a number of good financial literacy resources out there to provide advice to those new to their careers who need advice on everything from savings accounts to building good credit and consuming smart. of financial services. With data revealing that a large majority of American households are living paycheck to paycheck, policymakers need to put a renewed emphasis on financial literacy.

Second, the Department of Defense needs to review some of the regulations it has put in place in the MLA implementation process to determine whether these policies actually hamper the financial security of military personnel. So far the department has shrunk. The Trump administration should order such a review immediately.

The men and women of our armed forces must focus on their mission, without worrying about how to pay unforeseen debts, how they will get to work without a vehicle, or bad actors taking advantage of their finances. The burden they carry to ensure the security of our nation is quite great. The least policymakers can do is put in place the right policies and correct those that prevent our military families from having a little more financial certainty and security.

Bill Himler is President and CEO of the American Financial Services Association, a trade association dedicated to preserving access to affordable credit for the American consumer.

A teenager admitted to causing serious injuries to a police dog after being accused of hacking “savagely” with a machete.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was struck more than 20 times and left police dog handler Stark fearing the animal would be killed, the juvenile court said on Tuesday from Birmingham.

The boy admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the three-year-old dog, who a prosecutor said was lucky to survive, and had a machete in a public place.

The court heard that PC Paul Hopley and Stark were looking for suspected burglars in Handsworth, West Midlands, at 4 a.m. on November 14.

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They were on a housing estate when the boy tried to escape, and continued after PC Hopley identified himself as a police officer, the court was told.

“The officer was able to see him repeatedly hit the dog with what he initially thought was a stick on the head and body,” prosecution Angela Hallam said.

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“The man hit it over 20 times and as the officer approached he could see that it was in fact a machete.

“Despite being repeatedly told to put the gun down, he continued to swing the machete wildly.”

The boy was pinned to the ground by PC Hopley, who feared the teenager would kill the dog.

Hallam said that “it was only luck that he got away with the injuries.”

Stark, a German Shepherd and Belgian Malinese cross, underwent surgery after being sedated and had wounds on both sides of his face sewn up. One of them approached his eye, but the dog should make a full recovery.

PC Hopley previously said, “When I saw the injuries so close to Stark’s eye, I feared the worst. I thought he might have been blinded in that eye.

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Former NFL quarterback Tarvaris Jackson died in a car crash in Alabama on Sunday night, a police spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Monday. He was 36 years old.

Jackson was driving on a highway a few miles south of Montgomery, Ala., Around 8:50 p.m. Sunday when his 2012 Chevrolet Camaro pulled off the road, hit a tree and overturned, according to Alabama Soldier Michael Carswell. Law Enforcement Agency. Jackson was taken to a local hospital and later pronounced dead.

“Nothing further is available as FTAA soldiers continue to investigate,” Carswell said.

A second-round pick of the Alabama State Championship Subdivision School of Football, Jackson played nine seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. (He also spent the 2012 season with the Buffalo Bills, but didn’t play.)

Jackson started 34 games in his career, including 14 for the Seahawks in 2011, and threw for more than 7,200 yards with 39 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. The Montgomery native also won a Super Bowl ring as a replacement for Russell Wilson in 2014.

“TJack … you will be missed. Pray for your family … I love you man “, Wilson wrote on Twitter Monday morning.

Jackson was released from the Seahawks in 2016. He was arrested in Florida later that year for allegedly firing a gun at his wife, though the charges were later dropped.

Jackson then decided to retire from the NFL and become a coach. He spent the 2018 season as a quality control assistant in his alma mater before joining the State of Tennessee as quarterbacks coach in 2019.

“I’m really comfortable with the career I’ve had in the NFL, but, of course, there are things you wish you could do again that you would do differently,” Jackson told the Tennessean in the summer. last. “A lot of things that I wish I could get back, I’m trying to teach these guys so they don’t go through the same thing.”

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