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NASA and Indian Space Agency launch radar satellites to see Earth like never before

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The first satellite was launched to track near-perceptible changes in the Earth’s surface. This is an effort to help respond to natural disasters.

The NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar Mission, or NISAR, is equipped with two types of synthetic aperture radars designed by the Indian Space Research Institute in the first joint satellite project of the US Space Agency and the country.

Radars pioneered for use in space by NASA, act like traditional radars in that they use microwaves to detect distant surfaces and objects. However, advanced data processing allows you to see details in high resolution.

Nisar lifted from India on Wednesday.

Nisar lifted it from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on India’s southeast coast at 8:10am (5:40am IST) on Wednesday. The release was streamed live on NASA+ and its agent’s YouTube channels.

The satellite completes scans of almost every ice and land surface of the planet’s ice and land twice every 12 days, and puts the Earth in orbit 14 times a day to detect changes in the Earth’s surface to a fraction of the inch of the process.

NISAR’s dual radars will help you better understand landslides and earthquakes and gather information that can improve monitoring of ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost, forests, wetlands and agricultural fields. Data published when collected and downloaded from satellites is also used to prepare and respond to hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, floods and wildfires.

First proposed in 2014, the mission will allow scientists to monitor the Earth more than ever before and change the way they study their home planets, allowing them to better predict natural disasters before they attack, said Nikki Fox, associate administrator at NASA’s Science Mission Bureau.

“We may not always notice, but much of our Earth’s surface is in constant motion,” Fox said. “However, the changes are so subtle that they are virtually irrelevant now. There is no need to make better preparations before, during or after the challenges caused by natural disasters around the world.”

The NISAR satellite is located on the launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Center on the southeast coast of India.

The length of the pickup truck, NISAR is expected to capture a wide range of information with its dual radar system (L-band system with a 10-inch (25 centimeters) wavelength and S-band system with a 4-inch (10 centimeters) wavelength). The L-band was provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, and the S-band was provided by ISRO.

At a press conference on July 21, Wendy Edelstein, NASA’s JPL’s Deputy Project Manager, NISAR, said: “These two radars work together to achieve science that neither of them can see for themselves.”

The signals in each system are calibrated to features of various sizes on the globe. Shorter wavelengths in the S-band can monitor crops by measuring small objects such as leaves and surface roughness, while long wavelengths in the L-band can be peered into a thick wooden canopy to study forest structures, and even rocks and tree trunks. Radar systems can also take specific measurements of movement, land deformation and moisture content.

By bounces microwave signals off the surface of the earth and receiving a return signal with a large radar antenna reflector, NISAR can see clouds and rain during the day and night. Continuing observations of satellites can help you discover potential land movements before a volcanic eruption, and help scientists understand how movements on the surface of the Earth destroy infrastructure such as levees and dams. According to NASA, it can even provide insight into where earthquakes occur.

The satellite was the result of a conversation between NASA and ISRO, which began in response to the 2007 Decade Survey of the National Academy of Sciences, which identified research priorities and recommended prioritization of Earth observation. The two agents signed an agreement on September 30, 2014 to be partners on the NISAR mission.

In addition to providing S-band radar, ISRO is developing algorithms to calibrate equipment, process data and achieve the scientific goals of the mission. The agency also supplies satellites, launch vehicles and main bodies of launch services. Meanwhile, NASA provided radar reflector antennas, deployable booms, communications subsystems for incoming data, and other aspects of the spacecraft.

“We are two countries with one mission,” said Karen St. Germain, director of Earth Sciences at NASA at a recent press conference. “Nisar is united in the US and India to study their home planet together. Collaboration, collaboration and information sharing between the two agencies is a foundation that we truly look forward to continuing.”

Previously, several NASA instruments were monitored for nearly two years on India’s first deep space mission Chandrayaan-1, released in 2008, and several NASA instruments were flying.

Members of the NASA and ISRO team worked together to work with NISAR over 13 time zones and over 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometers), requiring long-distance trips and late-night and early morning video calls. The hardware was assembled on two different continents before it was integrated into India to complete the satellite.

Edelstein has traveled to India more than 25 times in the last 10 years and has worked with ISRO team members for more than 150 days in the last two years. Moved from JPL, she took her 36 hours to reach Bengaluru, India, where the system was being tested. However, she said the journey has allowed her to meet Isro’s colleagues and become immersed in Indian culture.

Saint-Germain agrees: “It was really tough to build satellites on the other side of the world during a global pandemic, but it strengthened our relationship with the island,” she said.

Indian Minister of Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh said the mission is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vishwa Bandhu” against India, or a global partner to contribute to news releases shared by the national news intelligence agency.

“This mission is not just about launching satellites. It is a moment that symbolizes what two democracies committed to science and the welfare of the world can achieve together. Nisar not only serves India and the United States, but also provides important data to countries around the world, especially in areas such as disaster management, agriculture, and climate surveillance. “Nisar is not just a satellite. It is a scientific handshake with the Indian world.”

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See what coverage is called in your state

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If you sign up for MaineCare or Medi-Cal, you may have a decent idea as to which states will offer health insurance coverage.

But what happens if you sign up for a plan under a healthy connection? That’s what South Carolina calls the Medicaid program.

Medicaid is a federal national health insurance program for low-income families that provides health insurance to more than one in five Americans. President Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Expense Act will cut more than $900 billion in federal spending on Medicaid over the next decade. According to estimates from the Non-Participation Congressional Budget Office, the law leaves 10 million Americans uninsured over the next decade.

Despite extensive media coverage of the law Trump called the “big beautiful bill,” health advocates say millions of consumers who could be affected by Medicaid and the cuts in affordable care laws will not necessarily be gradualized over several years.

In fact, experts said many people may not be aware that they are using Medicaid.

“Sometimes, people who use Medicaid don’t even realize it’s Medicaid because it has different names in different states,” said Arica Sanchez, health care director at the New Mexico Center for Law and Poverty.

New Mexico’s Medicaid program guarantees 34% of the state’s population, according to a February 2025 report by the Health Policy Non-Profit KFF.

New Mexico tapped four private insurers to manage Medicaid coverage under what the state calls turquoise care. According to KFF, this is one of 42 states that manage one or more categories of private companies called managed care – known as managed care – Medicaid coverage.

Sanchez said consumers could be confused because “when they look at New Mexico insurance cards, they’d say it’s turquoise care that isn’t necessarily Medicaid.”

A more complicated problem is that consumers often get Medicaid coverage despite private insurers controlling their profits. Consumers may think that if they are enrolled in a Medicaid plan managed by well-known insurance companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or United Healthcare, they have private insurance companies.

Four Medicaid plans for Turquoise Care include Blue Cross Blue Shield in New Mexico, Molina Healthcare in New Mexico, Elders Health Plan, and United Healthcare Community Plan in New Mexico.

Some states have rebranded the program to prevent the name Medicaid from appearing on insurance cards or communications.

Arizona calls the program the Arizona Healthcare Cost Containment System, or AHCCCS, pronounced “access.” The California Medicaid program is Medi-Cal.

Decision makers often try to identify unique names for their states, according to Jennifer Tolbert, the associate director of the Medicaid program and KFF uninsured.

Some states turn to university mascots and nicknames when branding Medicaid programs. The Oklahoma program is paying attention faster. Wisconsin offers Badger Care. Washington state is dubbing the Medicaid program Apple Health.

Stigma, politics motivates Medicaid rebranding

Many states are renaming their Medicaid plans to avoid stigma that may be associated with government-provided health programs. Joshua McClain, a professor of political science at the University of Utah who co-authored the study, said that ensuring that it is covered by coverage doesn’t seem to be much different from what consumers pass an employer-provided insurance plan.

In 2024, for example, Humana, a researcher at the University of Utah Harvard University and insurance company, looked into the perceptions of more than 5,800 consumers who were asked about the name of Medicaid. When the program replaced Medicaid with a nationally specific name, it was likely that consumers would conclude that they had not heard enough to say how they felt about the program.

In the study, rebranding Medicaid under state-specific program names “disrupts understanding of the program as a government-provided benefit.”

McCrain said some states are likely to rebrand their Medicaid plans for political purposes too.

Former President Barack Obama’s 2010 Health Care Act Affordable Care Act gave the state the option to expand Medicaid for low-income adults. All but 10 Medicaid is expanding, but some Republican-led states have done so on their own terms.

Under former Republican government in Indiana, Mike Pence, called the Medicaid expansion, it required subscribers to pay monthly premiums to manage their health savings accounts. The former vice president during Trump’s first term said he stressed his personal responsibility.

Following Indiana, it submitted a waiver to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which seeks to implement work requirements for low-income, non-disabled adults seeking Medicare coverage. The Biden administration blocked such exemptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the work or volunteer duties against Medicaid compensation are pillars of Trump’s tax cuts and spending law.

Now the only state with Medicaid work requirements, Georgia is giving low-income adults a Medicaid opportunity based on their path to coverage programs. The program extends coverage to low-income, non-disabled adults who work at least 80 hours or who are eligible for exemptions such as full-time students and volunteers.

However, McCrain said it is unclear whether changing the name of Medicaid would make a difference in public perception.

When people learn that Medicaid provides medical access to low-income Americans, they generally support the program, he said. However, some political leaders, especially Republicans in conservative states, may find it useful to rebrand Medicaid when they are trying to pass the law.

“It could be, (the name change) had to be done in that political moment to get it through,” McCrain said.

Donald Trump’s approval rating sinks to 40%, Reuters/Ipsos polls find

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WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump’s approval rate has dropped by 1 percentage point to 40% as Americans continue to be concerned about the economy and handling of immigrants.

A three-day poll that closed Monday looked at 1,023 US adults nationwide with a 3 percentage point error. It shows a deeply polarized country against Trump, with 83% of Republicans and just 3% of Democrats who approve his performance. Approximately a third of independents have been approved.

Trump had a 41% approval rate in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted on July 15th and 16th.

Republicans campaigned on promises to recharge the US economy and crack down on immigration, and polls found that Americans gave him complicated marks in both areas where his administration uses aggressive tactics.

Approximately 38% of respondents approved Trump’s economic handling after 35% approved in a poll in mid-July. His number has risen slightly with immigration, with 43% of respondents endorsing, with 41% in previous polls.

All shifts were within the margin of voting errors.

(Reporting by Nicole Jeanine Johnson, Editing by Scott Malone and Nia Williams)

When will you receive your check?

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Social Security payments for August will follow the normal schedule. However, those who were previously overpaid by the Social Security Administration may receive less benefit checks.

That’s because agents were expected to withhold 50% of the profits of people who had been overpaid but had not yet begun repayments.

SSA has not released a large number of recipients who have been overpaid. However, between 2020 and 2023, a February 2025 report by the SSA Inspector’s Office found that the agency was overpaid for overpayment of Social Security benefits. Such information may include changes in medical condition, such as additional salary or retirement income, or the termination of disability conditions.

Social Security benefits are paid primarily to older or retired recipients, but are usually paid on Wednesdays. According to the Social Security Agency calendar, if your date of birth is between the first and tenth days of the month, payments will be issued on the first Wednesday of the month (this month, August 13th).

According to the SSA calendar, subsequent payments will be released every week. Social Security recipients who have begun receiving benefits by May 1997 will be paid on August 1st.

Social Security Payment Schedule for August

The Social Security Administration annual benefits schedule for 2025 and 2026 are available online. Therefore, you can check the calendar for budgeting purposes.

Regular Social Security retirement benefits for July will be sent on the regular SSA schedule.

  • Wednesday, August 13th: Your date of birth is between the first and ten days of the month.
  • Wednesday, August 20th: Your date of birth is from the 11th to the 20th of the month.
  • Wednesday, August 27th: Your date of birth is from the 21st to the 31st of the month.

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More retirees rely on social security: AARP

When Social Security turns 90, 65% of retirees are currently dependent. The survey reveals that public confidence in its future continues to decline.

Straight Arrow News

SSI Payment Schedule for the remaining August of 2025 and 2026

According to the SSA calendar, winners of the Supplementary Security Income Check will be paid on Friday, August 1st and Friday, August 1st.

  • Friday, August 1st, 2025 (Checked August 2025)
  • Friday, August 29th, 2025 (checks for September 2025)
  • Wednesday, October 1st, 2025 (checks for October 2025)
  • Friday, October 31st, 2025 (checks for November 2025)
  • Monday, December 1st, 2025 (Checked December 2025)
  • Wednesday, December 31st, 2025 (Checked January 2026)
  • Friday, January 30th, 2026 (check February 2026)
  • Friday, February 27th, 2026 (checks for March 2026)

What is SSI?

Supplementary Security Income (SSI) is a benefits program for those with limited income or resources, those over the age of 65, or those with blind or qualified disabilities. According to the SSA website, eligible children with disabilities are also eligible. Adults who qualify for SSI typically do not have wages above $2,019 per month.

If you believe you are eligible for an SSI, you can start the application process online either directly at the local Social Security Agency or by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) local time during your working week from 8am to 7pm local time.

Mike Snyder is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him in the thread, send BlueSky, X with X and send him an email Bliss & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider &msnider@usatoday.com

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Trump’s lawyer Emil Bove confirmed with the US Court of Appeals

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WASHINGTON, July 29 (Reuters) – The US Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney Emil Bove as a federal judge on Tuesday, setting up Trump’s loyalty, which was the main side of the turbulent period in a key court of appeals at the Justice Department.

The majority of Republican Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Bove, who has been appointed to a lifetime appointment in the Philadelphia-based Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Markovsky and Maine Susan Collins joined all the Democrats against.

Bove overcame fierce opposition from Democrats who left in protest when the Senate Judiciary Committee proceeded with his nomination, and more than 900 former Justice Department employees accused Bove of undermining the integrity of the department.

“It’s a dark, dark day, a dark vote, and a dangerous candidate Republican confirmed,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said after the vote.

Bove has won support from Republicans who praised his experience as a federal terrorism prosecutor in New York and praised his experience as Trump’s defense attorney in three criminal cases he faced while the president was away.

Republican Sen. Chuck Gragley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced “malicious rhetoric and unfair accusations” that Democrats levelled on Tuesday, “I believe he will become a hard-working, capable and fair jurist.”

Bove’s confirmation restores a majority of Republican appointees in the Court of Appeals hearing cases from New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Bove was at the heart of several conflicts with career staff as the Trump administration moved aggressively to fit the department into priorities.

Former Justice Department lawyer Erez Roubeni accused House members of the whistleblower complaint on profanity terms that if the government stops an emergency, the government may rebel against the court if the government uses the emergency to expel immigrants.

Bove told the Senate committee that he could not recall making such statements and denied counseling the court order to rebel.

Claims against Bove from two other unnamed Department of Justice whistleblowers have recently emerged, according to lawmakers and public statements from lawyers and advocacy groups representing lawyers and whistleblowers.

Bove also ordered prosecutors to stop the corruption case against Democrat New York Mayor Eric Adams, who formed a connection with Trump, citing his support in the mayor’s reelection campaign and Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The directive prompted the resignation of 11 prosecutors, including representative U.S. lawyers in Manhattan.

Bove refused the deal, claiming it was appropriate to dismiss the lawsuit.

The Republican-led Senate has begun to confirm that it will confirm the first batch of judicial elections from his second term, based on 234 judicial appointments from his first term, which shifted the ideological composition of federal judiciary to the right.

The judge issued many rulings that halted or blocked Trump’s policies, blocked Trump’s policies that were deemed illegal, and urged Trump administration officials to accuse the courts of exceeding their powers and obstructing voters’ will.

Trump also appointed White House lawyer Jennifer Mascot to the same Court of Appeal Spot when Bove joins.

(Reporting by Andrew Goudsward, Editing by Tom Hogue and Michael Perry)

Gaza’s death toll reaches 60,000 amid a massive star hunger

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The horrors of hunger and new deaths are a tough milestone in the conflict that began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel.

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  • Officials in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip say the war killed 60,000 Palestinians.
  • Israel says 5,000 aid trucks entered Gaza in two months.
  • The new Palestinian tolls do not distinguish between fighter jets and civilians. Thousands of bodies are thought to be buried under the tiled rub.

CAIRO – The worst-case scenario of hunger is unfolding in Gaza, with immediate action needed to avoid widespread deaths, and starvation monitors warned Tuesday as the number of Palestinians reportedly killed in the conflict with Israel exceeded the 60,000 threshold.

Hunger alerts and new deaths were a tough milestone in the conflict that began when Hamas attacked Israel almost two years ago, causing attacks that had wasteful and sparked hostilities on most of the enclaves throughout the region.

The integrated food security stage classification (IPC) alerts raised the prospect that Gaza’s artificial starvation crisis could be formally classified as hunger.

Starvation, malnutrition, illness

With growing international criticism, Israel announced steps over the weekend to facilitate aid access. However, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on July 29 that since Israel began its humanitarian halt on Sunday it has not obtained the necessary permits to provide sufficient aid.

“Expanding evidence shows that widespread hunger, malnutrition and disease are driving an increase in starvation-related deaths,” the IPC said, adding that “hunger thresholds” were achieved for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip.

It said it would soon carry out a formal analysis that could allow Gaza to be classified as “hunger.”

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President Trump and Starge agree to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

President Trump said in a meeting with British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer that he is focusing on putting food in Gaza.

For hunger to be declared, at least 20% of the population must suffer from extreme food shortages, and two out of 10,000 people who die every day from starvation, malnutrition or illness, two become severely malnutrited.

Gaza health officials have reported more and more people who die from hunger-related causes. The total was 147, of which there were 88 children, most of whom have died in the past few weeks.

The image of debilitating Palestinian children shocked the world, along with Israel’s strongest ally, President Donald Trump, by declaring many people starved. He has pledged to establish a new “food centre.”

Israel refused to pursue a hunger policy. Foreign Minister Gideon Saa said on Tuesday that the situation in Gaza was “severe” but there were lying about starvation.

The most fatal conflict

The 60,000 deaths announced by the Gaza Health Authority, often cited by the United Nations and previously said to be reliable by the World Health Organization, underscored this as the deadliest war in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Israeli group of Hamas Muslims (a deadly conflict in the past with the Hamas Muslim group that took control of Gaza in 2007) was in 2014 when 2,100 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, despite Israel losing 67 soldiers and six civilians.

Israel launched its latest attack in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, when extremists killed around 1,200 people, Israel killed 1,200, the deadliest day, and garnered 251 more hostages.

The new Palestinian tolls do not distinguish between fighter jets and civilians. Thousands of more bodies are believed to be buried under the tiled rub, Palestinian officials and rescue workers said.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 30 Palestinians at Nusai Rat camps in central Gaza all night, according to Gaza health authorities. Doctors at Al-Awda Hospital said at least 14 women and 12 children were among the dead.

The hospital also said 13 people were killed and dozens were injured in an Israeli fire along Sarahdeen Road as it waited for the aid truck to roll into Gaza.

Gaza Health Authorities said a total of 55 Palestinians were killed in the overnight attack. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Fifty of the hostages seized on October 7 remained in Gaza, of which 20 are believed to be alive.

The latest talk aimed at securing a ceasefire and releasing hostages collapsed last week. Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would continue to fight until hostages were released and Hamas’s troops and governing capabilities were destroyed.

Only half of food aid has been approved

Saar said 5,000 aid trucks have entered Gaza in the last two months, and Israel will support those who want to implement airdrops.

Ross Smith, senior regional program advisor to the World Food Program, told reporters in Geneva on video.

“We can’t address the needs of our population unless we can move as much as we need.”

After 11 weeks of Israeli lockdown, limited, unused aid operations resumed on May 19th and a week later, the ambiguous new US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by Israel and the US, began distributing food aid.

The efforts of rivals have sparked wars against Israel, the US, the GHF against the United Nations, international aid groups and dozens of governments around the world.

Israel and the United States accuse Hamas of stealing aid – extremists are denial – and the UN did not hinder it. The United Nations says Hamas has not seen any evidence that diverts much of the aid. Hamas accused Israel of causing starvation and using aid as a weapon.

The IPC said 88% of Gaza are currently within evacuation orders or militarized regions and are critical of the GHF’s efforts.

Most GHF foods say “we need water and fuel to cook and are hardly available.”

The IPC Hungry Review Committee states, “Analysis of food packages offered by GHF shows that distribution plans lead to massive hunger.”

GHF said its aid box is based on the same ingredient list as other aid groups use and meets the criteria for total calories and nutritional value.

Mosquitoes bite! 5 Tips to Make Yourself Unattractive

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Editor’s Note: The podcast chases life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the medicine behind some of the mysteries of life, big and small. You can listen to the episode here.

(CNN) – For summer beach fans, the shark threat may be imminent, but nature’s most deadly predators are actually much smaller.

Small mosquitoes are not only a nuisance in warm weather, According to historian Dr. Timothy C. Weingard, he wears the crown of “The First Murderer of Mankind beyond our existence.” Predatory insects kill more than 1 million lives each year by transmitting lethal disease. Meanwhile, it is estimated that sharks have fewer killstreaks in less than 10 people a year.

Mosquitoes continue to follow, wondering where humans are going. The pathogens that cause their itchy bites and the diseases they carry are notorious, and insects are also responsible for driving many of the most important tipping points of humanity throughout history, said Weingard, author of “Mosquitoes: Human History of Our Most Deadly Predators.”

“Malaria and yellow fever are shaping (shaping) our historical journey from the evolution of our human ancestors…modern right.”

Associate Professor of History at Colorado Mesa University, Weingard got the first idea of his bestselling book from his father’s interest in malaria.

Weepest initially didn’t really intrigue Wineguard. “I patted him and said, ‘Father, I write a book about mosquitoes,'” he recalled. However, as the wine guards began to descend rabbit holes of mosquito-borne pathogens’ effects on humans, they were not limited to malaria, Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, cikunguña, and West Nile virus.

The impact of mosquitoes on history is still deeply felt today. Over half a million people die from malaria alone each year, resulting in areas with high illnesses suffering financially. “There is no endemic malaria in the Northern Hemisphere. (Yes) they don’t suffer constantly from malaria, so they can develop a wealthier economy,” Weingard said.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Humans have fought mosquitoes for thousands of years. Amidst the seasonal summer peaks in the Northern Hemisphere, Wineguard provided insights into how to keep them away this summer.

“85% of what you’re attractive or attractive to mosquitoes are pre-engulfed in your genetic circuit board,” says Winegard. However, there are several ways to manage mosquitoes. He has these five tips.

Liquor makes it easier for mosquitoes to meet you, Wineguard said.

Mosquitoes hunt visually, but do not see the world like people do. Predatory insects employ heat or infrared vision. “They see the heat signature,” pointed out Wineguard.

“Consuming alcohol increases your temperature,” he explained in an email.

So maybe instead of that beer, you’ll reach for a refreshing glass of water or lemonade.

In addition to using heat-based vision, mosquitoes drive humans primarily through smells.

The mosquitoes can “sniff carbon dioxide more than 200 feet (60 meters) away,” Wineguard said.

“So if you exercise or breathe heavily, they’ll smell it and be attracted to it,” Weingard told Gupta.

Just like alcohol, Winegard recommends keeping itself as cool as possible, as the higher the CO2 emissions, the easier it will be to detect mosquito heat signatures.

This applies to the wardrobe as well. “Dark clothing holds relatively heat,” he said. Therefore, it is best to choose brightly colored long sleeve outfits that keep mosquitoes at bay.

Applying insect repellents is the gold standard for mosquito management, but if you are not careful when applying it, you can leave it vulnerable to bites.

“I know people who foam themselves, but they will miss this little place behind the calves and she will find a cry in our armor,” the Weinguard told Gupta, referring to the female mosquito, a blood-browing hunter.

Mosquito repellents are different from perfumes, and some spritz can cover the whole body. If you are spraying, make sure to thoroughly.

“Deet (chemical repellent) remains the gold standard, and lemon eucalyptus oil is a plant-based option,” says Winegard.

To add security, he noticed that some of the clothes were pretreated with a mosquito-targeted insecticide called permethrin.

Cool drinks on pool days and outdoors provide a rest from human heat, but are also attractive for mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes place their eggs in quiet water – and they are not needed much.

“From the pond or stream, from the bottom of an old container, used tires, or backyard toys (even if the bottle cap is full, there’s enough to be enough,” Wineguard said in an email. Even in flooded soil, motherly mosquitoes are enough to lay eggs.

Winegard recommended that you eliminate any water standing around your home or garden to minimize potential mosquito breeding grounds.

Another way to fight herds this summer is to consider skipping a shower or two.

“It smells good!” said Wineguard. “It’s good to be spicy and munched, because it increases bacterial levels in the skin and makes it less attractive to mosquitoes.”

This may anger others, but Winegard tells you to skip scented products: deodorizers, soaps and other applied fragrances are all attractive to mosquitoes.

One exception is your feet. “Clean your feet,” he told Gupta. “The bacteria on our feet are the same as ripening many cheeses and are aphrodisiacs for mosquitoes.”

Winegard pointed out that this is why many of us get bitten around our ankles and legs. “So wash your feet!” he urged.

Mosquitoes don’t mind most personal traits you can objectively see.

“There is absolutely no truth to the enduring myth that mosquitoes prefer flashy women over men, blondes or redheads over people with thick hair, or the thicker skin your skin, the safer you are from her biting,” Wineguard said.

However, he said, “She plays more favourites and feasts than others.”

What seduces mosquitoes? “Blood type O appears to be a vintage choice over Type A and B or a blend of them,” he said. “People with blood type get bitten twice as often as type A people, and Type B falls somewhere in between.”

The creator of the 1998 film “A Bug’s Life” said he must have done his homework when he portrayed a tipsy mosquito that ordered “Bloody Mary, O Positive.”

Maybe it’s a mosquito world, Wineguard suggests, and people just live in it.

We hope these five tips keep mosquitoes at bay. Listen to the full episode here. Join us in a new episode of Chasing Life Podcast next week.

US stock futures will not change before the results of the Federal Reserve

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US stock futures have little change ahead of the outcome of the afternoon Federal Reserve policy meeting.

While little has predicted that the Fed will lower the rate, economists predict that the decision will not be fully booked for the first time since 1993.

Investors will look for clues when the Fed may be ready to lower prices in a press conference at the Federal Reserve Policy Statement and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s post-meeting. According to market traders, the CME FedWatch tool, which measures the likelihood that the Fed will change its federal target rate at upcoming meetings, shows a 63.4% chance of interest rate reductions in September. In October, we hold a 49.2% chance.

Lower fees make borrowing cheaper.

“The question is whether they will communicate greater openness to the reduction rate at their September meeting,” said Bill Nelson, chief economist at the Institute of Banking Policy. “I don’t think it’s my guess for a number of reasons. The FOMC statement and chairman Powell’s press conference aim to hit the same neutral tone as June.”

At 6:05am ET, futures tied to the Blue Chip Dow slipped -0.02%, while the Broad S&P 500 futures added 0.05%, while the Tech-heavy Nasdaq futures rose 0.11%.

Continuous Trade Contract Consultations

US and Chinese officials continue to negotiate trade in Stockholm, Sweden, as an agreement to extend the tariff ceasefire, which expires on August 12th. Chinese trade negotiator Li Chenggang told reporters that both sides agreed to maintain the ceasefire, but Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters it was flying over the guns. The extension would have to be approved by President Donald Trump, he said.

Meanwhile, South Korean officials met with Washington Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick before the August 1 deadline to prevent increased tariffs on South Korea’s exports.

Revenue

Investors will also consider key revenue reports for directions. This week, seven more so-called epic Mega Cup technology stocks will be reported. It includes the Facebook-Parent Meta platform and software giant Microsoft after the market shuts down. Investors will want to see if artificial intelligence spending remains intact. AI spending has fueled rally this year with many tech stocks.

Other companies reporting after completion include Robinhood, Qualcomm, ARM Holdings, Lam Research, Carvana and Allstate.

Before the market opens, investors will see the results of Hershey, Altria, Garmin, Kraftheinz, Humana and Wingstop.

Medora Lee is a money, market and personal finance reporter for USA Today. mjlee@usatoday.com and Subscribe to our free daily money newsletter Personal finance tips and business news every Monday to Friday.

Have you ever had a tsunami before in Hawaii? Yes, many times.

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Hawaii is one of the world’s most tsunami-sensitive spots, thanks to its remote locations in the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by infamous seismic activity known as the “Ring of Fire.”

So it was not a major surprise to see a tsunami warning arrive after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred from Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on July 29th.

According to the National Maritime and Atmospheric Administration, tsunami waves can arrive from anywhere overseas, including Russia, South America, Alaska and Aleu Island. On average, Hawaii experiences a devastating tsunami once every 11 years.

The oldest historical accounts emerge from the island’s oral history, including a 16th century chant about the waves that smashed the coast of Molokaii.

On December 21, 1812, waves arrived at Hokena on the west coast of the large island, becoming the first recorded tsunami event, NOAA said. Since then, more than 160 tsunamis have been confirmed on Hawaiian islands, according to NOAA and other scientific papers. Nine of these tsunamis caused 294 deaths and more than $625 million in damages.

Today, modern scientists are studying local corals to document previous tsunamis.

Historic Hawaiian Tsunami

Among the major tsunamis (and the size and location of the earthquakes that produced them):

  • On April 1, 1946, 159 lives were taken at an 8.6 event in the Aleutians.
  • 9.0 event in Kamchatka, Russia, which caused an estimated $1 million damage in Hawaii on November 4, 1952
  • 9.1 event in the Aleutian Islands, March 9, 1957
  • On May 22, 1960, the 9.5 event in Chile took 61 lives, remaining the world’s most powerful earthquake in modern records.
  • 9/28/1964, the 9/2 event in Alaska.

A massive undersea earthquake off Japan in 2011 caused a tsunami to significantly damage three hotels in Kona on the west side of Big Island, causing an estimated $14 million in damages. However, there were no reports of serious injuries.

Google’s VEO3AI video creation tool is now widely available

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Google has made Veo 3 the most powerful AI video creator available to everyone on the Vertex AI platform. And for those who need to work quickly, a faster version called Veo 3 Fast can also be done quickly for quick creative work.

Have you ever had a great idea for a video, but have you realized you could endure the cost, time, or technical skills needed to create it? The tool aims to provide a faster way to turn text ideas into anything from short films to product demos.

70 million videos have been created since May, indicating a huge global appetite for these AI video creation tools. Businesses have jumped in like that, generating more than 6 million videos since early access in June.

Real World Applications for VEO 3

So, what does this look like in the real world? From global design platforms to leading advertising agencies, companies have already made VEO 3 work. Taking the camber of the design platform, they are building VEO directly into the software to simplify video creation for users.

Cameron Adams, co-founder and chief product officer of Canva, said:

“By democratizing access to powerful technologies like Google’s VEO 3 within Canva AI, your big ideas can come to life with the highest quality videos and sounds from within your existing Canva subscription. True Canva Fashion has installed an intuitive interface and simple editing tools backed by Canva Shield.”

For creative agencies like Barkleyokrp, a big win is speed and quality. They claim they were so impressed with the latest version that they went back and modified the video.

Julie Ray Barr, a client experience with Senior Vice President at Barkleyokrp, commented:

“Our team set out on the task of recreating the numerous music videos originally created with VEO 2 after the release of VEO 3, mainly due to a significantly improved synchronization between voice and mouth movement.

It’s even changing how global companies connect with local customers. Investing Platform Etoro used VEO 3 to create 15 different, fully generated versions of a single ad, each customised to a specific country with its own native language.

“We’ve been working hard to get the most out of our business,” said Shay Chikotay, Director of Creative and Content at Etoro.

“Ironically, AI didn’t reduce humanity. It amplified it. Veo3 gives more influences, tells more stories with more tongues.”

Google offers creators a powerful AI video creation tool

VEO 3 and VEO 3 Fast are packed with features designed to provide control to tell the full story.

  • Create a scene with sound. AI generates video and audio simultaneously, allowing you to use characters with accurate lip sync and sound effects that suit your scene.
  • High quality results. The model generates videos in high resolution (1080p) and is sufficient for professional marketing campaigns and demos.
  • Get easy reaching global audiences. The ability to natively generate dialogs in VEO 3 makes it much easier to create a video once and then translate dialogs in many different languages.
  • Bringing still images back to life. A new feature coming in August allows you to take a single photo, add a text prompt, and watch VEO animate into an 8-second video clip.

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

Of course, with such powerful technologies, safety is a key concern. Google has built VEO 3 for responsible enterprise use. Every video frame has an invisible digital watermark embedded in SynthID, which helps you fight misinformation. The service is subject to Google’s generative AI compensation and provides an extra layer of security for businesses.

reference: Google’s latest Gemini 2.5 model aims to be “intelligence per dollar”

Want to learn more about AI and big data from industry leaders? Check out the AI & Big Data Expo in Amsterdam, California and London. The comprehensive event will be held in collaboration with other major events, including the Intelligent Automation Conference, Blockx, Digital Transformation Week, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo.

Check out other upcoming Enterprise Technology events and webinars with TechForge here.

“We don’t want you to die”: Palestinian mom’s children fear her life when she leaves to get food

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Gaza city, Gaza

It is a long and dangerous walk to a point where a truck carrying aid is expected to pass through Gaza. Um Khader and the other women who live in the tent next to her are gathered next to the car in the dark, surrounded by a large number of men.

On this June night, many women are not seen around the bonfires scattered on the horizon near Gaza city. This group of mothers, the only provider for children, clings together for protection. The most dangerous part of their journey has not yet begun.

They could come under Israeli fires and when the aid truck arrives, they will have to pass through thousands of men if they want to get a bag of flour and keep it.

“Everything around us is risk to our lives, including thieves, Israeli soldiers, rockets, drones.

Her friend Wallaa tells us what happened the day before she waited 10 hours from Dawn to Dusk before getting a bag of flour. “Then the young man with the knife said, ‘I’ll drop the flour, or I’ll kill you,'” she says. She handed it over.

Their legs hurt, and they had to frequently rest on a walk of up to 2 hours to where the aid truck could pass. Their friend Mariam gave birth just three weeks ago, but she travels the same day every day, hoping to secure food for her three older children last week. There is little hope for a formula that will help feed her newborn.

The night ended with disappointment. The aid truck did not pass, and they all returned empty-handed.

Aid groups say trickle to Gaza, the collapse of law and order, and the demolition of the UN-led delivery system have created a new level of despair. The most vulnerable, surviving, have nothing left.

Over the weeks of June and July, CNN, following a group of Palestinian women, faced a terrible choice between putting their lives at risk.

um el-abed has eight children. A bowl of soup is not enough.

“My kids tell me: “Don’t go, mama, don’t go to the aid centre, we don’t want you to die, mama. Um, Elbed said. Her husband was killed in an Israeli airstrike and she is now caring for the family alone, she told CNN.

The pot of soup she could secure from the crowded charity kitchen was hardly enough for her eight hungry children. So, like many Palestinians in Gaza, Um Elbed eventually tried his luck with the aid truck and trekked at night while her child was asleep. And, like most women on that route, she said, came back empty-handed.

The threats children face are real. The hunger threshold has been reached for most food consumption levels on the Gaza Strip and the rate of acute malnutrition in Gaza, where women live.

According to the World Health Organization, 63 people died of starvation in July alone. More than 11,500 children sought treatment for malnutrition in barely functional hospitals and clinics in Gaza in June and July, a UN agency said on Sunday. He added that one in five of them suffered from severe acute malnutrition, the most life-threatening condition.

The crisis has also hit harder for pregnant and breastfeeding women, with recent data showing that over 40% are severely malnourished.

Um Bilal (right) and Um Khader formed friendship at a refuge camp in Gaza city. They share the little food they could get.

Over the weekend, Israel announced it would suspend fighting in certain regions and establish corridors for humanitarian delivery on the ground. But too few foods have been moving forward to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.2 million people, and we are entering a crisis last week that the UK, France and Germany described as “artificial and evasible.”

Israel imposed an 11-week lockdown on all aid to the strip, beginning in March, and eventually resumed distribution in late May through the controversial US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Instead of the 400 aid distribution points that were previously managed, Palestinians can only get food through four GHF sites by stopping and overwhelming aid trucks in excess soup kitchens or by driving the territory. Looted bags of flour are sold in the market at outrageous prices that are unruly and unruly for these women and their children.

Friendship and despair

After many failed attempts to get food from aid trucks in June, UM Khader received a donation from a sympathetic stranger. She shared a bag of flour with her neighbor Um Bilal, who was struggling to feed her five children.

Their friendship and friendship threw unusual gentle notes in a dissonance of suffering. The screams of hungry children are often unbearable. Um Bilal said she sometimes pulls out her hair when her youngest daughter screams in pain.

Both women often eat without food for days so that they can drink every drop of the soup they get, but they say that children always fall asleep hungry.

Over the weeks, their despair grew deeper. They have decided to test their luck at GHF distribution sites, where the majority of 1,100 aid-related killings have occurred since May, according to the United Nations and the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel has allowed the launch of warning shots, but the GHF has denied responsibility for the severe death toll, stating that the statistics are exaggerated.

“American aid points are the death zone. I reached one person and spent the night there. A sniper was fired over my head. The bullet missed me just a few centimeters.” She has not returned since.

Um Bilal continues to go where she may receive assistance, despite the dangers and many failed attempts.

She dissolves salt in water and gives it to her children between sporadic meals. This is not the first time she has experienced hunger during the war that followed the attack on Hamas on October 7, 2023. “We were eating animal feed. A year ago our bodies were able to process it, but now we are hungry above hunger, our bodies can’t take it anymore,” she said. Now she was too weak to make those long treks.

um bilal is merciless. She ran into a tank, avoided the shooting and fainted from day strokes and fatigue as she tried to get food on UN trucks and GHF sites. However, her desperate efforts to feed her children often do not pay off.

“My mother isn’t like a young man. She’s going and coming back empty-handed,” said her 10-year-old daughter, Dahlia. “She asks what we’ll eat for lunch or dinner, and I say to her, ‘It’s okay, I won’t cry, mom.” ”

Nvidia CEOs cash out stocks – Is it time to rethink your position?

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The CEO of Nvidia has sold millions of dollars worth of stake in his company this year, and has not yet finished selling.

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Investors often see insiders selling, and as a hint that the stock may be in trouble, or perhaps as a hint that there is no room for insiders to raise it. It could raise the red flag of stock, especially if the CEO is involved.

nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) It has been the best performing stock for many years, and the company is currently the most valuable in the world. However, its CEO Jensen Huang has recently dropped off its stock in the business. This month he sold hundreds of thousands of shares, but that won’t be the end of the sale. What’s behind his move, and should retail investors also consider cashing in light of them?

Huang’s stock sales are minimal in relation to his overall position at Nvidia

Nvidia’s CEO is selling stocks this year, and there are several reasons why investors shouldn’t be scared.

The first is that his share sales are part of a pre-published plan that he is known to the public. In March, Huang submitted a plan under Rule 10B5-1, which would sell up to 6 million shares. Once such a plan comes into play, it is executed by designated brokers who will make the transaction at preset time. This ensures that sales are not affected by new insider information that executives may have. It is not uncommon for management to periodically unload some of their shares over time, especially if you have a large number of shares in a company. And that certainly doesn’t mean they expect their stock to struggle.

Secondly, even after all these six million shares have been sold, Huang will still hold a considerable position in the company. He currently owns approximately 858 million shares. This is approximately 3.5% of Nvidia’s outstanding shares. He remains its top individual shareholder, with only a few institutions holding more stakes than he. So while these stock sales may seem important, in the context of his overall position, they are not dramatic in any stretch.

Nvidia’s shares are rising and trading at high premiums

Huang stock sales are not a reason to worry about your business. The demand for Nvidia’s artificial intelligence (AI) chips remains strong, and there is little reason to worry about its growth still slowing down. Analysts at Grand View Research Project say that the AI chipset market will grow at a combined annual rate of 28.9% by the end of the decade, and Nvidia should be a major beneficiary.

However, investors still need to consider the valuation. Currently, Nvidia is trading at 55 times its subsequent revenues. This is a fairly high multiple, considering the average ratio of the S&P 500 is below 25. Although growth prospects are high, investors should not assume that Nvidia’s dominance in the AI chip market remains dominant in the AI chip market, as their own engineers design custom AI chips. And, given that it trades at a very high premium, expectations are high for the business. In effect, there is a lot of future growth already priced in Nvidia’s stock.

Should I buy Nvidia shares today?

Investors may want to mirror Huang’s recent stock sales and cash out some of their shares now while still maintaining their company position. Nvidia is a market leader and could offer returns that will win the market, even if you don’t think it’s going to double or triple its value in the short term.

While buying and holding positions may still mean a lot to growth investors, if you hold Nvidia stocks today, you could also consider selling some of your positions and booking profits.

David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Motley Fool has a job at Nvidia and recommends. Motley Fools have a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a partner at USA Today, providing financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people control their financial lives. The content is produced independently of USA Today.

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Hawaii Tsunami Warnings Promote Preparation Surges

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HONOLULU – Hawaiian islands fell into chaos on the afternoon of July 29th as people posed for a statewide tsunami warning. The sirens blew by hour, urging people to evacuate the coastline as quickly as possible, before the first wave expected in the evening.

The warning was triggered following an 8.8 earthquake from the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, according to the US Geological Survey. The tremor also sparked various alerts across the US West Coast, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands, but was expected to hit Hawaii the most violently.

The Honolulu Emergency Management Agency has called for evacuation of several coastal areas. “A tsunami has been created that could cause damage along the coastlines of all Hawaiian islands,” the agency said in a bulletin. “We should take urgent action to protect our lives and property.”

Shortly after the first sirens disappeared around 3pm, Honolulu’s streets were crowded with tourists including Hub Waikiki – and people quickly moved to the highlands and tried to leave the coastal evacuation zone.

Waikiki traffic quickly became a congestion of cars trying to leave their beachside neighborhoods, with some residents reporting long lines at gas stations. The statewide, businesses and facilities such as Hawaii’s Humane Society were quickly closed. According to Hawaii visitors and the Convention Bureau, hotels near the coast have begun vertical evacuation to the fourth floor.

Oahu resident Megan Lee said he hit more traffic than usual at his home from work to commute. “It’s nice to see people take it seriously,” Lee told USA Today. “It’s always scary to get an alert like that.”

The alerts evoked memories of the erroneous missile alert of 2018. When residents woke up to an emergency warning notice that ballistic missiles were ongoing. The island residents scrambled to find shelter before learning that it was sent as an error.

Lee, who was on Oahu during the false missile warning, said she felt insensitive. “Unfortunately, I’ll try not to take sirens seriously,” she said. “We get a lot of alarms in Hawaii. We see people surfing because of the tsunami.” Hawaii residents are used to the sounds of sirens, considering that they are being tested on the first business day of each month.

Most beach fans and surfers, but not all, escaped the beach after the siren was quick.

A live camera feed hosted by the website Surfline.com showed surfers in the ocean off Waikiki Beach at 5pm local time. We also saw two skim borders on the beach. Within minutes to the predicted First Wave, the water was empty and the boats moved further into the sea from the harbor and the marina.

For those who live more inland, like Honolulu resident Julie Simmer, the concerns have become more subdued. “For myself, I’m not worried,” Shimmer told USA Today.

“I think that’s great (states) are more cautious,” she added. “Just be prepared, it’s best to be prepared at all times.”

According to Honolulu Beat, travelers are part of the uncertainty, with several flights cancelled or delayed in Honolulu. Flights heading to Hawaii were decouped while Kahului and Hiro International Airports were closed. Airlines that serve the island, such as Hawaii Airlines, issued travel exemptions from July 29th to 30th.

In a statement sent Tuesday afternoon, Honolulu Mayor Rick Brangardi said: “Residents and visitors are urged to monitor local media for updates and stay away from the coastline.

“I hope that’s not a big deal.”

Chris Anderson said he wasn’t taking the chance.

The longtime artist from Lahaina, Hawaii, along with his wife, Melanie, received an alert, heard the sirens, saw police heading door to door within the Oceanside Condo Complex and quickly began packing duffel bags, urging residents to pack and leave.

The couple confirmed that they had enough baby prescriptions and diapers for the latest arrival, which ultimately became enough food for their two cats, for short, by their four-month-old son David Cameron, who was called “DC.”

“They said the waves would crash in about an hour and a half,” Anderson told USA Today over the phone about the police warning. “I hope it’s not a big deal.”

Anderson said they were fleeing to the high ground of a friend’s house on the hillside of Canapali, about an hour’s drive away.

“I’m just calming down. It still doesn’t make sense to go crazy,” Anderson said. “I have to be strong for my wife and son. I’d be better off being a level head in the family.”

Anderson hopes not to lose another home or business for Mother Nature. He lost both in a Hawaiian wildfire that left more than 100 deaths two years ago and destroyed 2,000 more structures.

He also has less than two weeks since reopening the larger space for a print cellar in Lachania, one of the town’s oldest and most famous art galleries, “literally a two-minute walk from the ocean.”

After working at the gallery for 15 years, Anderson took ownership after the death of his former owner, Alan Walker, who died last July.

“My savings have been spent opening a new gallery,” Anderson said. “Things are finally back to normal.”

Now, Anderson hopes that his future will not be washed away.

“Fingers crossed,” he said.

Mega Million Wins on 29/25/7: $130 million jackpot

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The Mega Millions Jackpot rose to $130 million due to drawing on Tuesday, July 29th, as it did not match all the winning numbers in the painting on Saturday, July 26th.

If someone matches all six numbers on Tuesday, they have a one-time cash payment option of $57.5 million.

There were four Mega Million winners this year, but the recent victory on June 27th won Virginia with a $348 million jackpot. Prior to that, on April 18, Ohio players took home a $112 million jackpot, while Illinois Lucky Lottery ticket holders took home a $344 million jackpot on March 25, and on January 17, the Mega Millions Jackpot hit for $113 million.

Here are the wins from Mega Millions drawings on Tuesday, July 29th, 2025:

Mega Millions win count on 7/29/25

Winners for Tuesday, July 29th: 17-30-34-63-67 And Gold Megaball: 11

To win a lottery number is as follows: Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network.

Did everyone win the huge millions?

Mega Million winners announced by lottery officials will be posted here.

To view a list of past winners, Visit the Mega Millions website.

How to play Mega Million

To play Mega Million you will need to purchase a ticket. This can be done in a variety of places, including local convenience stores, gas stations, and even grocery stores. In some states, you can purchase millions of Mega tickets online.

Once you have your ticket, you will need to select six numbers. Five of these are white balls with numbers 1 to 70. Gold Megaballs range from 1 to 24.

You can ask for a “quick pick” or “easy pick” especially if you feel unlucky or don’t want to go through the hassle of picking. These options allow the computer to generate numbers at random.

Mega millions of tickets include built-in multipliers, increasing prizes other than jackpots by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 times. Previously, players had to pay extra dollars to add “Megaplier.”

Where can I buy the lottery ticket?

Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Networkthese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.

Jack Pocket is the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Network. Gannett may earn revenue from viewer referrals to Jackpocket Services. Must be over 18 in AZ, 21+, and 19+ in NE. It is not affiliated with the state lottery. Gambling issues? Call 1-877-8-Hope-Ny or Text Hopeny (467369) (NY). 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-mylimit (or); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-Gambler (all other). visit jacketpocket.com/tos In perfect conditions.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes @gannett.com and follow him at x @fern_cerv_.

Sales slump, “progress” has been changed

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Starbucks executives praised the company’s plan for conversion in their third quarter revenue release as sales hovered in response to expectations.

A revenue release on July 29 showed that comparable store sales around the world fell by 2%, and driven by a 2% decrease in transactions buffered due to an average ticket increase of 1%.

Domestic sales fell the same 2%, transactions fell 4%, and average ticket costs increased 2%.

Starbucks Chairman and CEO Brian Nicole said in a revenue call that price increases will be the “last lever I want to pull” as part of the company’s turnaround strategy

Bloomberg reported that analysts surveyed saw global sales as a 0.5% mistake from expectations, and that domestic sales were “slightly better than analysts expected.”

“We’ve had a lot of work to fix and have struggled with the difficulties of building a strong sales foundation, and based on my turnaround experience, we’re ahead of schedule,” Nicole said in the revenue release.

The company said it has opened 308 new stores around the world, ending the quarter with stores that account for 61% in US and China.

China’s comparable store sales increased by 2%, with trading up 6%, average ticket costs down 4%. According to Bloomberg, this is the first domestic sales increase since 2023.

CFO says “Back to Starbucks” has made progress

Starbucks Chief Financial Officer Kathy Smith said the company has made “concrete progress” with its “return to Starbucks” strategy.

“We are focused on providing better growth and durable, sustainable, long-term growth,” Smith added.

Nicole told Reuters in June that it would accelerate the rollout of new staffing and service models for the coffee house chain, aiming to become all-built North American stores by the end of summer.

“The coffee houses are working hard to maintain the right atmosphere,” Nicole said at the company’s annual meeting in March. “We want to invite our customers, show us great coffee, provide a comfortable place to stay and make their visit feel like they’ve been used well.”

The CEO said early testing of the model saw an increase in service times and sales growth without providing details on wire services at the company’s leadership summit in Las Vegas.

Smith said over the phone that the company would spend $500 million on more labor in the company-owned stores.

Other changes based on Niccol, which took the reins in September, include the implementation of an updated dress code that was announced to increase in office work requirements for corporate employees and attacked by unionized baristas in May.

Contributor: Anthony Robredo

What is “Black Cat Boyfriend”? Meet the one who steals our hearts

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The days of a golden retriever boyfriend are over. It’s time for the rise of the black cat.

We have been praised for years of dot’s affection and bitch boys who beg their partners with the cheerful energy that would be excessive if they weren’t too affectionate. However, when Will Sharp’s character Felix appeared in Lena Dunham’s “Too Many,” he didn’t fit that archetype. Alone at a London dive bar, Jess (Megan Starter) looks up from her drink and ironically names it “Felix and the Feelers.” Felix wears a busted denim jacket. He does not fall to her feet – he unintentionally charms her with wit, but pulls away before he announces his emotional side.

He’s not the only top-class guy with a chip on his shoulder. More viewers are beginning to cheer on emotionally complicated men like “Bear” Kirmy (Jeremy Allen White) on Happy Go Lucky’s “Golden Retriever” guys.

Find Conrad, your favorite character from Jenny Han’s “Summer is Beautiful” fans. The gloomy brother was the first love of his belly. His emotional inability to use eventually helps with heartbreak on both sides, and the belly begins to date his brother, Jeremiah, irresponsibly Smiley Flat Bro.

Han suggests that the show may differ from the book’s conclusion, but online vocal fans are rooting for Conrad’s redemption arc. He couldn’t handle the vastness of his emotions, so he pulled away from her. However, the fact that he is in treatment this season and will face his problems makes him even more convincing.

On Netflix’s “Ginny and Georgia,” Ginny dates a sweet and popular boy, but doesn’t feel any romantic sparks. It is her connection to introverted neighbor Marcus that takes the central stage throughout the show’s three seasons. He was initially featured as a casual “bad boy” type, but as the series progresses, viewers begin to learn about his sensitive and compassionate side, watching his struggles with depression and self-destructive behavior.

Viewers resonated with Marcus’ portrayal of depression in the show. They still cheer for the couple to come together. “I am Ginny and Marcus’ hopeless lover. Sue me,” writes one Ladytour.

Men are not monoliths. Both “black cat” and “golden retriever” can be multidimensional. But viewers seem to pin after a gloomy heart slob than ever before.

“There’s a desire to go beyond the mystery and see what’s in it,” says psychotherapist Amy Morin. “If they’re in a healthy relationship that they can trust, they might be happy to think they’re vulnerable. You want to see the walls fall, so you can learn how they really feel.”

To see a man become vulnerable is to “break the masculine code.”

In January, after his song “DTMF” exploded on Tiktok, the video for Bad Bunny Crying went viral, and the moment opened up a conversation about masculinity and emotion.

“Bad bunnies show that they are not only accepted by young men, but also healthy to stand up and express their emotions. This is something that men and young boys are not taught to do.” “It really pushes and challenges these cultural norms.”

Mental health experts say it is important for young boys and men to understand the importance of showing emotions, which can contribute to long-term relationships and overall mental health.

“It breaks the code for men, it’s out of the man’s box and says, ‘Yeah, I’m fragile,'” said Ronald Levant, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Akron and co-author of “Problems with Men: Insights to Overcome Trauma from the Honorable Psychology.”

We always had a soft spot for the elusive “bad boys”

It’s tolerant to talk about pensive sadboys without paying tribute to Jess from “Gilmore Girls,” Lucas from “One Tree Hill,” Chuck from “Gossip Girl,” and Eli from “Degrasi: The Next Generation.” We have always had a soft spot for troubled or quiet boys with a good heart.

The female lead had to choose between an elusive bad boy and a seemingly wise choice. For example, take a “Vampire Diary.” A vampire, Stephen is a vampire who is too gentle to drink human blood, and eventually loses Elena to her brother Damon.

You can’t always “fix” men who are not emotionally available

A new twisted Rom-Com, “Ah, hello!”, comes from a young woman named Iris (Molly Gordon) handcuffs her new beauty (Logan Lerman) to the bed during a remote romantic holiday after saying they are not exclusive. We can get a glimpse into Isaac’s past throughout the film, which helps explain why he can’t give up on his mind. Still, the premise of the film is that Iris can convince him to want a real relationship.

Morin says “it’s risky to romanticize a man that is not emotionally available.”

“You might want to fix or help them so that they grow closer and become more reliable, but in reality, they may prefer avoidance,” she explains.

“So it sounds interesting to chase after a mysterious man,” she continues.

But sometimes bad boys are tamed. Chuck and Blair got married, and Elena chose Damon (“Too many” spoilers warning) Even Felix and Jessica find happiness. We need to wait if our new favorite “black cat boyfriend” Conrad will bring the girl home this fall. Maybe he’ll crack a smile for change.

Contributors: Rachel Hale, Patrick Ryan

It’s predicted extreme heat, but cool air is coming to the eastern US.

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Extreme heat can break daily temperature records, but weather reports require a cooler down as August arrives.

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Those tired of charred temperatures in the eastern region will eventually see some relief when August begins, but not before the final push of burning heat and powerful thunderstorms.

“Around the same time that the calendar flips in August, major changes in weather patterns arrive in the northeast,” Accuweather meteorologist Elizabeth Danko said in an online forecast. The National Weather Service says temperatures will usually be 5-10 degrees lower in the eastern region by the weekend.

But Danko said before the shift, “we’ll fight for millions of humidity and potentially flooding.”

Record the heat before cooldown

According to Meteorological Bureau meteorologist Mudgie Kebede, weather patterns “continue to generate long-term heat waves in the central and eastern United States until the end of the month,” and “everyday high temperatures are especially dangerous for those without proper cooling or hydration, whether or not there is little overnight relief or not.”

The heat is also likely to break daily temperature records throughout the week, especially across Florida on July 29th, with a high of around 100 degrees. In the northeast, the heights above since the mid-90s could also tie or break existing temperature records. “Many warm lowest temperature records are also expected,” Kebede said.

Millions of Americans on the heatwave path should plan to take extra steps to stay cool until at least July 30th. According to the Weather Bureau, extreme heat over a long period of time without night relief brings great stress to the body.

“Limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated, check access to A/C or cooling centres. Plus, check vulnerable family, friends and neighbors,” the Weather Department said.

A severe storm and flooding is possible

Danko said the same front that promotes serious weather risks in the plains and the Midwest will gradually push them away as they will gradually push them northeasterly and southwardly. The hot, moisture-rich air in the area will help fuel serious thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of July 30th.

According to Danko, tropical moisture will spike from the south, providing ample moisture for a sustained downpour to set up from parts of Tennessee’s southern New England. In places where the most sustained downpours occur, 2-4 inches of rainfall is expected to be delayed a week.

High rain rates in widespread thunderstorms should also lead to flash flood risks, the Meteorological Bureau warned.

“Slash floods are a major danger. Thunderstorms can also lead to low visibility, ponds on the roads, slowing travel, and there is a risk of local damage to gusts and lightning strikes,” Danko said.

Frontal view to provide fever relief

Over the weekend, highs of normal 5-10 degrees Celsius are predicted in the east, but many of the plains can average below 10-15 degrees Celsius.

“If we take a further peek in the first week of August, cooler than average temperatures are expected to remain in most of the Midwest and Northeast,” Weather.com meteorologist Caitlin Kaiser said in an online forecast.

The basics of safety

USA Today has compiled a list of thermal safety tips to keep in mind, including:

  • Use sunscreen Or sunscreen: And reapply regularly (good baseline every 2 hours).
  • Heat outfit: For the National Weather Service, we choose lightweight clothing in loose, bright colors.
  • Do not leave children or pets in the car: Even if it’s not too hot, the temperature can quickly become fatal.
  • Please check the weather: Your favorite Weather app requires a wealth of information on UV index (for sunscreen purposes), heat warnings, and “feeling” temperatures. heat.gov provides additional information on forecasts and thermal risks.
  • Bring water with you: If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you will need multiple bottles per person. (How many bottles are there? Read more here.)
  • Find shade and air conditioners: Keep your risks cool and avoid direct sun whenever possible.
  • Know your risks: Fever is dangerous to everyone, but some people are more vulnerable than others. Being a child puts you at greater risk by being over 65 or pregnant, says the Centers for Disease Control.

See the latest inflation, number of jobs, etc.

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Is the job market still growing?

How happy are US consumers?

After the first quarter, did the economy grow again in the second quarter?

You will receive answers to these questions and more this week. However, most analysts only predict small changes from the previous month. Only exception: GDP. It fell in the first quarter as companies stocked imports ahead of President Donald Trump’s new tariff policy.

As the week closes, tariffs and their impacts could be the biggest problem in the US economy. It’s a big enough unknown, so few interest rate traders hope that Fed Jerome Powell and the remaining traders on the remaining policy-making committee will announce interest rate cuts at 2pm on Wednesday.

Will the Fed cut interest rates this week?

Can’t view the graphics? Click here to view them.

The chart below may not match the level of detail used by Fed officials, but they still provide valuable insight into the broader economic landscape. Among them is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is not the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, but it is still a closely monitored indicator. A June CPI report released on July 15th showed that inflation continues to rise. This trend could further complicate President Donald Trump’s repeated calls for the Fed to continue cutting short-term interest rates.

How’s the US economy?

What is the unemployment rate in the United States?

The US unemployment rate fell to 4.1% in June. When the July employment report was released on Friday, August 1, the monthly number, representing the percentage of unemployed people and those looking for a job, is expected to return to 4.2%.

What the data shows: Over the past year, unemployment has been relatively stable, hovering a median monthly of 4.1% over the past decade. Economists such as Oxford Economics’ Nancy Vandenheuten speculate that corporate decision makers are being hampered by the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.

Employment is also steadily taking place throughout the year, far below the 10-year median employment rate of 226,000 people. Analysts expect Friday’s employment report shows the economy added around 100,000 jobs in July.

How big is the US economy?

The US economy produced roughly $30 trillion in the first quarter on an inflation-adjusted annual basis, but real GDP, the value of goods adjusted for inflation, fell 0.5% in the quarter as imports subtracted from GDP jumped more than 50%.

What the data shows: Economists predict that the economy will say it grew in the second quarter when the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report on Wednesday. Much of that “growth” could come from a decline in spending on imports.

How high is inflation?

Inflation, a sustained rise in prices across the economy, reached a median of 2.3% in April for 10 years. Fed policymakers say they can “make sound decisions regarding savings, borrowing and investments” because they prefer 2% or “low and stable” inflation.

What the data shows: Inflation has dropped significantly, but remains above the 2% covered by the Fed. The annual inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index, rose from 2.4% in May to 2.7% in June. The July CPI report will be released on August 12th.

Are consumers still buying?

US consumers make up $7 for every $10 spent on the US economy. The median monthly increase in retail sales has been around 0.4% over the past decade. That’s not much until you think that the 0.6% increase in June would amount to an additional $4.6 billion expenditure.

What the data shows: It purchased $720 billion worth of the US economy in June on a seasonally adjusted basis. This was a big swing from a -0.9% decline in May. We will check on August 15th to see if they continued their days in July.

Why are gas prices falling?

Buying gasoline is not the majority of the budget, but it is difficult to overlook the big numbers outside every station, and there is no emotional response to their fluctuations. It can have a psychological impact on our spending. One report showed that recent improvements in consumer sentiment are closely correlated with lower gas prices.

What the data shows: We are in the middle of the summer driving season when gasoline prices are usually peaking, but we have a stable normal gas of just under a few cents below last year’s prices.

So, how confident are US consumers now?

The University of Michigan measures US consumer sentiment each month. The index went 101 ahead of the February 2020 pandemic, lowering as 50 when inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022.

What the data shows: Since it fell from the bottom in May, consumer sentiment has ceased. Michigan will release its final measure of July sentiment on Friday.

The current mortgage rate is still rising

The Fed’s interest rate determination does not directly affect mortgage rates, but it spread through the economy, making mathematics even more difficult for home buyers.

What the data shows: According to the Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey, since November, mortgage rates have moved into a relatively narrow range (6.6% to 7%), well above the 10-year median. Prices have fallen significantly from the November 2023 peak of 7.8%.

The higher the mortgage rate, the heavier the home sales.

Existing home sales are the majority of homes sold each month. NAR reports monthly sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate. Annual home sales peaked in 2005 at 708 million units. In September 2024, that number fell to 3.9 million units. It was lower than annual sales after the financial crisis.

What the data shows: Not surprisingly, existing home sales have been reduced as mortgage interest rates rose. At the same time, the average home prices are also rising due to fewer homes on the market. The speculation is that homeowners don’t want to sell low-cost mortgages and give up.

So, how do investors see this information?

The country’s stock market is not an economy, but their movements reflect the combination bets investors are making in the economy. Investors have a keen eye for data points like the chart above. A significant change in our spending, or even thought, could potentially affect the company’s profits in the coming quarter.

What the data shows: After reducing DIP in early April due to tariff-related uncertainty, the S&P 500 has steadily risen, reaching several new highs since June. The upward trend could suggest that, as investors once feared, they are confident that the ultimate tariff contract will not weigh down the economy.

Where are the watches issued after the tsunami warning and earthquake?

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The magnitude 8.8 earthquake attacked from the coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula caused a tsunami alert in Alaska on the adjacent US west coast on June 29th.

According to the US Geological Survey, warnings, recommendations and clocks were issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center in the wake of the earthquake approximately 78 miles east and 78 miles east east east east terrestrial.

Officials warned of the threat posed by a potential tsunami. “This is a significant, real event,” said Reed Walcott, a meteorologist with the Seattle Meteorological Bureau.

“The imminent threat is for Alaska and the area near the earthquake,” Walcott added, noting that the warning center needs additional observations before talking about the threat to the West Coast.

Hawaii’s Emergency Management Office repeated the warning in a statement an investigation into potential threats to the state.

Potential tsunami waves could reach Alaska sunlight from 8:20pm in Kodiak, Alaska, and southbound tsunami activity could begin in La Jolla, California by 1:15am local time. The Weather Bureau warns people not to underestimate the threat. He adds that even tsunamis that peak below a foot can still be dangerous.

Here, tsunami alerts are issued in the US.

Tsunami Alert Map

Alaska’s Aleutian Islands

The National Tsunami Warning Center issued recommendations and warnings along Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands.

Tsunami activities were available on Alaska from 4:46pm to 5:46pm, on Adak Island, at 5:46pm and at 7:06pm on St. Paul Island, approximately 760 miles west of Anchorage.

Authorities urge residents to get out of the water and leave the beaches, Marines, ports and bays.

The potential heights of tsunami waves, as predicted by the National Tsunami Warning Centre, are:

  • Vow: 1.2-2.2 feet
  • Unaska: Less than 1 foot
  • St. Paul: Less than 1 foot
  • Sand Point: Less than 1 foot
  • Cold Bay: Less than 1 foot

Hawaii

Hawaiian islands are located under statewide tsunami warnings on Tuesday evenings and Tuesday evenings, as damage is possible across all island coastlines.

“Hawaii has received a tsunami warning and is bringing the first wave impact to HST at 7:10pm,” Hawaii Emma told X-Post. “All dangerous sirens will ring at 5:10pm.”

“Emergency measures must be taken to protect lives and property. Timely updates will be posted,” Hawaii’s Emergency Management Bureau wrote in X.

Washington

The center also issued tsunami advisories throughout the west coast, including Washington, Oregon, California, southern Alaska and the coastal regions of the Alaska Peninsula.

“The area of advisory should not expect widespread flooding,” the NWS said on Tuesday night, July 29th.

Potential maximum height of a potential tsunami:

  • Nee Bay: Less than 1 foot
  • Long Beach: Less than 1 foot
  • Westport: Less than 1 foot
  • Moclip: 0.7-1.3 feet
  • Port Angels: Less than 1 foot
  • Port Townsend: Less than 1 foot
  • Bellingham: Less than 1 foot

Oregon and California

Tsunami warnings are enabled in coastal regions of Oregon and California

The warning extends from the Stateline border in Humboldt County, north of San Francisco, to Cape Mendocino in Northern California.

In San Diego, the Weather Service advised that the area should not be expected to be extensively flooded, but under the recommendations advised people in coastal areas to stay away from the beaches and away from the ports and marinas.

Diane Hoang, a meteorologist with the San Francisco Meteorological Bureau, said: “In 2011, a man near Crescent City died after being swept away by the ocean while trying to film the incoming tsunami,” his colleague, meteorologist Braden Murdoch, said the tsunami arrives when the tide is being built every night.

Maximum height of Oregon for potential tsunamis:

  • Port Orford: 1.0-1.8 feet
  • Charleston: Less than 1 foot
  • Brookings: 0.8-1.5 feet

Maximum height of California for potential tsunamis:

  • Fort Bragg: 0.8-1.4 feet
  • Crescent City: 2.9-5.4 feet
  • Monterey: Less than 1 foot
  • Port San Luis: 2.0-3.8 feet
  • San Francisco: Less than 1 foot
  • Santa Barbara: 0.7-1.3 feet
  • Port of Los Angeles: Less than 1 foot
  • Newport Beach: Less than 1 foot
  • Jora: Less than 1 foot
  • Oceanside: Less than 1 foot

Pacific Islands

Tsunami warnings have also been issued to the Pacific Islands as USGS experts said there was a threat to the Northern Mariana Islands in Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan.

What does Tsunami Alert mean?

The National Weather Service said the tsunami message will be issued by the Tsunami Warning Centre, warning local governments and potential tsunamis. According to weather services, there are four levels of tsunami alerts.

  • Tsunami warning: “Take action – Danger! Tsunamis are expected or occur that can cause widespread flooding. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful flows are possible and can last for hours or days after initial arrival.”
  • Tsunami Advisory: “Take action – tsunamis are expected that can be dangerously strong currents or waves for people underwater or very nearby.
  • Tsunami Watch: “Please prepare – A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible.”
  • Tsunami Information Statement: “Relax – an earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat, it is very far away, the threat has not been determined. In most cases, there is no destructive tsunami threat.”

This story has been updated to reflect the latest terms.

The 119 JCPenney portfolio sells for $947 million: See location

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Approximately five years after JCPenney filed for bankruptcy, the Boston private equity firm will pay $947 million to 119 JCPenney stores.

Onyx Partners, Ltd. The entire cash sale of 119 JCPenney Properties to affiliates was announced by the Copper Property CTL Pass, which will pass Trust on July 25th.

Property management firm Newmark and Hilco real estate were seeking buyers at these JCPenney locations for their copper estate, a trusted formed by JCPenney lenders as part of a restructuring of retailers after filing for bankruptcy in 2020. “The buyer has now completed due diligence and deposits under the contract are non-refundable,” the Copper Property Trust said in a July 25 news release.

Following JCPenney’s bankruptcy, Copper Property managed around 160 JCPenney locations and six distribution centres. Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. have taken over JCPenney’s business and the rest of the location. The department store chain, which currently has around 650 stores, was one of the largest retailers filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Money from the transaction is sent to the JCPenney creditors. $928 million to $932 million will be distributed after the closure costs, principal Larry Finger said on July 28 during a conference call to discuss the deal.

The jcpenney store is for sale: Is everything still open?

All 119 stores sold are currently open for operation. Buyer Onyx Partners did not respond to requests for comment from USA Today. JCPenney closed more than 200 US locations when retailers filed for bankruptcy amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, seven store closures announced in February 2025 became official in May 2025.

Which jcpenney stores are available for sale? See maps and lists

Newmark was telling future buyers that it consists of 121 properties with 16.05 million square feet of retail space in 35 states, including 21 in Texas and 19 in California.

One of Florida and Pennsylvania was sold to Simon and Brookfield Group for $21 million earlier this year, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission application.

Mike Snyder is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him in the thread, send BlueSky, X with X and send him an email Bliss & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider &msnider@usatoday.com

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