Ring in the new year with an evening of music celebrating the sounds of Plena Puertorriqueña and Bomba Cultural with Plena Tropical Houston led by Puerto Rican native, Paul Jr Pagan. Plena blends Latin American and African musical traditions into a uniquely Puerto Rican style. First embraced by working-class people as a way to share their struggles through music, plena has become a symbol of Puerto Rican culture.
6:30 PM: Doors open 7:15 PM : Food & Networking 7:45 PM: Special presentation by Que Onda Magazine and El Bolillo Bakery Concert doors open Performance by Plena Tropical Dancefloor available!
The Chase Business Unlimited Card is a credit card that offers cash-back rewards on every purchase made for your business. The card has no annual fee and provides a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. After that, the variable APR ranges from 18.49% to 24.49%.
As a new card member, you can earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. The card also provides some added credit card benefits, such as car rental protection, that add value to the card.
The card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on every business purchase and 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025. Employee cards are available at no additional cost, and you can set individual spending limits and help you earn rewards even faster.
The Chase Business Unlimited Card is best suited to owners of established small businesses that want a basic rewards card that’s easy to use. It offers decent cash back for small businesses for which more robust cash-back cards won’t be worth annual fees or higher credit requirements.
Here are some pros and cons of the Chase Business Unlimited Card:
Pros:
• The card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases.
• The card has no annual fee.
• As a new card member, you can earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening.
• The card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on every business purchase and 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
• Employee cards are available at no additional cost, and you can set individual spending limits and help you earn rewards even faster.
Cons:
• The card has no bonus categories.
• The card is best suited to owners of established small businesses that want a basic rewards card that’s easy to use.
• The card provides limited travel benefits.
If you have a Chase Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, you can redeem your rewards points for travel expenses. You can book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal and redeem points for your plane tickets, hotel stays, rental cars, or experiences at a fixed cash value per point. As a holder of the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, each point is worth 1.25 cents. To redeem your points for travel, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the rewards section. You can then choose how you want to redeem your points.
In conclusion, the Chase Business Unlimited Card is a great option for small business owners who want to earn cash-back rewards on every purchase made for their business. With no annual fee, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, and unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on every business purchase, this card is a great choice for those looking for a basic rewards card that’s easy to use. There are other Chase Business cards as there is also the Ink Business Preferred, the Ink Business Premier card, and the Ink Business Cash card. If you are interested in the 100,000 bonus points with the Ink Business Preferred® card or up to $1,000 bonus cash back with the Ink Business Premier® card, Ink Business Unlimited® card, or Ink Business Cash® card, you visit https://www.referyourchasecard.com/21p/92ICFF6USV
Fresh off their electrifying halftime performance during the Texans-Browns Wild Card Game on January 13, Houston’s legendary rappers Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and the certified silver fox Paul Wall are dropping hints of an exciting reunion tour.
The speculation arose from a video posted by user AuxGod after the Texans game, where Paul Wall captures the empty Reliant Field. A key moment in the video reveals the back of Mike Jones’ hoodie, adorned with the words “Still Tippin’ tour” and the number 44 at the center. Jones enthusiastically confirms, “The tour’s official mayne, the tour is official.” Paul Wall chimes in with an energetic, “Let’s go baby, let’s gooooooo.”
Further fueling the anticipation, Jones seemingly confirmed the announcement on Instagram, sharing a video featuring highlights of the Texans’ impressive 45-14 victory over Cleveland along with the caption, “Still Tippin Tour is on the Way‼” Uneeq, Wall’s official tour DJ, also seemed to echo the confirmation on X, expressing excitement for the upcoming tour with Paul, Slim, and Mike.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the trio’s iconic collaboration, a milestone celebrated during their halftime performance that still resonated powerfully with the Texans’ crowd. While no official tour dates have been released, the trio has more than their 2004 hit “Still Tippin'” to offer, with each rapper having released new music in recent months.
Mike Jones dropped the single “She Making It Werk” in September 2023, showcasing his continued musical prowess. Slim Thug, on the other hand, released his 14th studio album, “Midlife Crisis,” also in September 2023. Meanwhile, Paul Wall treated fans to a new album titled “The Great Wall” in December 2023 and gained attention with his feature on That Mexican OT’s viral hit “Johnny Dang” last year.
As fans eagerly await further details, the prospect of the “Still Tippin Tour” promises a thrilling musical journey through the iconic trio’s extensive discography.
In a heartfelt moment during a service at Houston’s Lakewood Church, Pastor Joel Osteen shared with the congregation that their donations had successfully eliminated the church’s $100 million debt. The emotional revelation took place over the weekend, with Osteen expressing gratitude for the faithfulness of the churchgoers.
“It’s because of your faithfulness,” Osteen tearfully told the packed house. “You paid it off by the goodness of God.”
For over two decades, Joel Osteen has led the non-denominational Lakewood Church, which stands as one of America’s largest and wealthiest congregations. Taking over after the passing of his father and the church’s founder, John Osteen, in 1999, Joel has significantly expanded the church’s reach. Lakewood’s weekly attendance has grown from around 5,000 to over 50,000, with an additional 200 million weekly viewers through TV broadcasts and digital platforms worldwide.
The journey to financial freedom for Lakewood Church began in 2001 when Osteen signed a 60-year lease with the city to move from its 7,800-seat sanctuary in northeast Houston to the Compaq Center, the Houston Rockets’ arena boasting 16,000 seats. The initial $11.5 million rent was funded by money left to the church by Joel Osteen’s late father.
Upon Lakewood’s official relocation in 2005, Osteen sought additional funds for extensive renovations, including redesigning the outdoor façade, constructing an indoor stage, replacing locker rooms and food stands with meeting rooms and childcare spaces, and erecting a five-story building for television production offices. Despite initial setbacks with a financial institution, Bank of America eventually granted a $100 million loan, which Osteen proudly announced had been paid off as of December 31 of the previous year.
During the announcement, Osteen was visibly moved, stopping to wipe away tears as he praised God and acknowledged the ongoing commitment of Lakewood Church to ministry and media production. The congregation responded with a standing ovation.
Despite criticism for preaching the so-called prosperity gospel, Joel and Victoria Osteen, his wife, remain beloved by a vast number of followers. The tax-exempt church, which reportedly paid back $4.4 million in COVID-19 disaster funds received through the Paycheck Protection Program in 2021, is now mostly debt-free, with only a smaller loan remaining for “capital equipment.”
In a message of hope and faith, Osteen assured the congregation that what God had done for Lakewood, He would also do in their lives. Looking ahead to 2024, Osteen prophesied release from various challenges, including debt, addiction, and wrong mindsets.
Reflecting on the journey, Osteen emphasized the significance of the Compaq Center, now owned outright by Lakewood Church, as a testament to God’s dream being much larger than individual aspirations. The Osteens celebrated the accomplishment by tearing apart an apparent loan document and declaring, “All done!” to the applause of the congregation.
In a strategic move to navigate an ongoing legal dispute with medical device company Masimo, Apple has decided to remove the blood oxygen feature from its latest Apple Watches. The decision aims to enable the continued import and sale of these devices in the United States. The modified versions, namely the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, are set to be available for purchase starting Thursday, as confirmed by Apple in a recent statement. Both models were initially introduced in September.
Upon tapping the blood oxygen icon on the modified watches, users will now see an alert directing them to an explanation on Apple’s website, as outlined by the company.
The intellectual property clash between Apple and Masimo has been ongoing for months, with the International Trade Commission ruling in October that Apple’s watch sensors for blood oxygen infringed on Masimo’s patents. This led to a temporary ban on the affected watches in December, though Apple secured a brief reprieve. However, on Wednesday, an appeals court lifted an injunction, allowing the ban to take effect. It’s important to note that the appeals court did not overturn the ITC decision, which is currently under appeal.
Apple’s decision to remove features from released products is considered unusual, and the absence of the blood oxygen sensor may impact the attractiveness of the device for certain consumers.
An Apple spokesperson, addressing the situation, stated to CNBC, “Pending the appeal, Apple is taking steps to comply with the ruling while ensuring customers have access to Apple Watch with limited disruption. These steps include introducing a version of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the United States without the Blood Oxygen feature. There is no impact to Apple Watch units previously purchased that include the Blood Oxygen feature.”
Apple expressed optimism that the appeals court might eventually reverse the decision, allowing the unmodified watches to return to store shelves. However, this process could extend beyond a year.
In fiscal 2023, Apple reported a substantial $39.8 billion in sales of wearables, encompassing items such as headphones. The removal of the blood oxygen feature reflects Apple’s strategic maneuvering in response to the legal challenges it currently faces.
In a damning revelation, a Justice Department report released on Thursday sheds light on critical failures in the response of police officials to the deadly Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting that occurred on May 24, 2022. The report points to a series of lapses that prolonged the crisis, with law enforcement’s actions being criticized for their lack of urgency.
The comprehensive federal account of the incident at Robb Elementary School highlights several areas of concern, including delayed confrontation with the gunman, insufficient establishment of a command post, and the dissemination of inaccurate information to grieving families. According to the report, these “cascading failures” contributed to the tragic event lasting longer than necessary.
Terrified students inside the classrooms reportedly made desperate calls to 911, while anguished parents pleaded with officers to intervene. Attorney General Merrick Garland, addressing a news conference in Uvalde after briefing family members, expressed his disappointment in the handling of the situation.
“I told the families gathered last night what I hope is clear among the hundreds of pages and thousands of details in this report: Their loved ones deserved better,” Garland stated.
The report delves into a range of issues, including training deficiencies, communication breakdowns, leadership shortcomings, and technological problems that collectively undermined the effectiveness of the police response. The findings, presented in a nearly 600-page document, add to the existing scrutiny surrounding the incident.
Even with prior examinations faulting law enforcement at various levels for their failure to prioritize saving lives over personal safety, the Justice Department’s report provides a more detailed and expansive understanding of the systemic issues that hampered efforts to halt an attack that claimed the lives of 19 children and two staff members. The release of this report marks a significant step in addressing the failures in the Uvalde elementary school shooting response.
As anticipation builds for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, featuring a star-studded lineup of entertainers, it’s time to ensure you have your tickets secured. Here’s your comprehensive guide to the ticketing process:
Tickets for the event will go on sale this Thursday at 10 a.m. exclusively on the RodeoHouston website. Similar to last year, the ticket sales will take place in two waves through AXS.
Here’s what you need to know:
Wave 1: This wave covers performances from Feb. 27 to March 7, with the waiting room opening at 9:30 a.m.
Wave 2: Tickets for the remaining March 8 to 17 performances will go on sale at 2 p.m., and the waiting room opens at 1:30 p.m.
It’s important to note that the ticket-purchasing process is not based on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers joining the waiting rooms will be randomly selected to enter and purchase tickets for each wave. Waiting rooms open 30 minutes before the scheduled on-sale time.
Other key details include:
A limit of 10 tickets per order, but customers can return to the website to purchase additional tickets.
To access your purchased tickets, download the free RODEOHOUSTON mobile app on IOS/Google and log in with the email used for ticket purchase.
The standard ticket price starts at $25, with a $5 per ticket convenience fee.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, kicking off on Feb. 27, promises an exciting lineup of entertainers, including:
Feb. 27: Blake Shelton
Feb. 28: Carly Pearce
Feb. 29: King + Country
March 1: 50 Cent
March 2: Hardy
March 3: Ivan Cornejo
March 4: Hank Williams Jr.
March 5: Oliver Anthony
March 6: Jelly Roll
March 7: Luke Bryan
March 8: Major Lazer
March 9: Lainey Wilson
March 10: Los Tigres Del Norte
March 11: Whiskey Myers
March 12: Bun B
March 13: Nickelback
March 14: Zac Brown Band
March 15: Jonas Brothers
March 16: Brad Paisley
March 17: Eric Church
Mark your calendars and be ready to secure your tickets for this thrilling event!
¡No te pierdas la fiesta de baile de la temporada! Consigue tus entradas de $25 ahora y deja que la música tome el control. ¡Es hora de ponerse de pie, actuar y sumergirse en el emocionante espectáculo de ON YOUR FEET! en Theatre Under The Stars.
¡ON YOUR FEET! es la inspiradora historia real sobre el corazón, la herencia y dos personas que creyeron en su talento (y el uno en el otro) para convertirse en una sensación internacional: Emilio y Gloria Estefan.
Utilice el código de promoción: ACTION al finalizar la compra para desbloquear esta oferta exclusiva. Si eres fanático de los ritmos vibrantes, las coreografías sensacionales o simplemente de una noche de fiesta inolvidable, esta oferta es tu boleto dorado para una aventura llena de ritmo.
CÓDIGO PROMOCIONAL: ACTION Oferta válida para boletos de $25 en las zonas de precios 3-5 en todas las presentaciones con el uso del código de promoción ACTION. Oferta válida hasta las 11:59 p.m. del domingo 21 de enero del 2024. No se puede combinar con otras ofertas ni aplicarse a boletos comprados anteriormente. Sin reembolsos. Todas las ventas finales. Para mas información visite www.TUTS.com/tickets
The latest data from the Commerce Department reveals that Americans continued their robust spending habits in December, marking a positive end to both the holiday shopping season and the overall year. The report, released on Wednesday, indicates a 0.6% acceleration in retail sales compared to November’s 0.3% increase. With consumer spending contributing to nearly 70% of the U.S. economy, this upbeat performance suggests that people maintain confidence and are willing to sustain their spending habits.
Noteworthy increases were observed across various retail sectors. General merchandise stores reported a significant rise of 1.3%, while sellers of clothing and accessories, as well as online retailers, both experienced a 1.5% increase. However, the furniture and home furnishings sector faced a decline of 1%, reflecting challenges in the housing market. Sales at restaurants remained unchanged in December.
Contrary to expectations, economists anticipated a slowdown in consumer spending during the final quarter of the year due to factors such as credit card debt, delinquencies, and reduced savings. Despite these challenges, along with higher borrowing costs, tighter credit conditions, and price increases, household spending has proven resilient. The strong job market and rising wages appear to be key factors fueling this sustained level of consumer spending.
As the economy navigates various headwinds, including the struggling housing market, the December retail sales report signals a positive outlook for economic growth in the coming year. Consumer confidence and spending habits continue to play a pivotal role in supporting the overall health of the U.S. economy.
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