Max Verstappen initially disapproved of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, criticizing the excess and prioritization of opulence over racing upon his arrival in Sin City. However, following his 18th win of the season, the three-time reigning Formula One world champion changed his perspective, expressing enjoyment of the race.
As he crossed under the checkered flag waved by Justin Bieber, Verstappen, who had previously slammed the spectacle, sang, “Viva Las Vegas! Viva Las Vegas!” Despite his earlier reservations, he raced in an Elvis-inspired firesuit and clinched victory on the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
Verstappen’s race strategy involved passing Charles Leclerc at the start and overcoming a penalty to make another successful pass with 13 laps remaining, showcasing his season-long dominance. Despite plans to head straight to the nightclub, Verstappen, Leclerc, and Sergio Perez were chauffeured in a limousine to a stage near the Bellagio, where they were surprised with the casino’s renowned fountain show.
The Bellagio fountains, which had been off all week, were restarted as part of the victory celebration. Despite the unexpected treat, the participants appeared disinterested as they stood chatting. Following the trophy presentation, they enjoyed a fireworks display reminiscent of New Year’s Eve over the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
As per a recent study conducted by truckinginfo.net researchers, Harris County holds the third position in the nation for driving fatalities during Thanksgiving holidays, with 127 total traffic deaths recorded between 2001 and 2021. Leading the country is Los Angeles County in California with 276 driving fatalities during the same period, followed by Maricopa County in Arizona with 163.
Harris County isn’t the sole Texas county listed among the top 20 most perilous for drivers during Thanksgiving. According to truckinginfo.net, Dallas County secures the eighth spot, reporting 89 driving fatalities over the Thanksgiving holidays from 2001 to 2021. Tarrant County, situated in North Texas and neighboring Dallas County, holds the fourteenth position nationally, documenting 55 driving fatalities during the holiday period. The study reveals that Texas records nearly 2.5 driving fatalities per one million people throughout the Thanksgiving holiday.
The researchers also identified two particularly hazardous roadways in Harris County during Thanksgiving: I-45, with nine driving fatalities from 2001 to 2021, and I-610, recording eight deaths over the same period. These alarming statistics coincide with the commencement of the next phase of a controversial $9 billion I-45 rebuild set for 2024.
Truckinginfo.net researchers based their analysis on fatal accident data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Thanksgiving holiday period was defined as the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through the Sunday after.
On Saturday, residents in the Houston area participated in the fifth gun buyback event organized by Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones in collaboration with Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The drive-thru event, held at METRO’s Westchase Park and Ride on Harwin Drive, saw 559 guns turned in by participants before the gates opened at 8 a.m. In exchange, 1,557 gift cards, totaling almost $78,000, were distributed to those who voluntarily surrendered unwanted firearms for proper disposal.
Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the gift cards were part of efforts to enhance community safety. The surrendered firearms included 155 Semi-Automatic Handguns, 124 Semi-Automatic Rifles, 82 Revolvers, 77 Shotguns, 59 Hunting Rifles, 58 Non-functioning firearms, and 4 Single-shot guns.
Commissioner Lesley Briones emphasized the importance of such initiatives in preventing crime, particularly youth suicides, school shootings, and domestic violence incidents. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, will process each turned-in gun to determine its involvement in crimes.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner highlighted the collaborative efforts, including gun buyback programs, as essential tools in addressing gun violence. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez expressed optimism about positive results and emphasized the importance of proactive measures.
Houston City Councilmember Abbie Kamin stressed the significance of disposing of firearms through law enforcement to prevent them from reaching the streets or unregulated pawn shops. The event also saw the distribution of 400 gun safes and 1000 gun locks to participants, further promoting safe storage practices.
Despite ongoing efforts, gun violence remains a significant concern, surpassing car crashes in fatalities among children and young adults. The Harris County Commissioners Court had previously approved nearly $1.1 million in ARPA funding for up to eight gun buyback events.
Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, who supported the ARPA, highlighted the multifaceted approach required to address gun violence, expressing commitment to legislative efforts. The event marked the collection and disposal of over 4,000 guns in five buyback events, reflecting a collaborative approach involving various entities, including METRO.
METRO’s board of directors chairman, Sanjay Ramabhadran, emphasized the importance of community partnerships in addressing safety concerns. Beyond gun buybacks, Harris County has implemented additional public safety initiatives, such as the Community Violence Interruption Program (CVIP) and investments in programs like the Holistic Assistance Response Teams (HART) Program.
Commissioner Briones concluded by underlining the event’s role as part of a holistic approach to public safety and the commitment to creating a safer Harris County. The success of the event was attributed to the support from various organizations, including Harris County Precinct 4, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, City of Houston, METRO, Houston Fire Department, Houston Police Department, Asian American Peace Officers Association, and Spring Branch Management District.
If you’re embarking on a Thanksgiving getaway via air travel, strategic planning is essential as both Bush IAH and Hobby airports brace for a record-setting 2.4 million passengers during the holiday period.
Travelers who believed that an early departure might circumvent the anticipated crowds could be in for a surprise, as the cost of airline tickets tends to surge during Thanksgiving week. Consequently, many individuals proactively secured their flight bookings earlier this year to capitalize on cost savings.
According to Houston Airports, the extended Thanksgiving travel window spans from Thursday, Nov. 16, to Tuesday, Nov. 28.
Traditionally, the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving claimed the title of the busiest travel day. However, this year, the peak traffic days are projected to be Friday, Nov. 17, and Sunday, Nov. 26, at Houston’s airports.
Anticipated Statistics:
Friday, Nov. 17: Over 200,000 total travelers are expected.
Sunday, Nov. 26: More than 212,000 travelers are expected.
Conversely, Thanksgiving Day and Tuesday, Nov. 28, are predicted to be the least hectic days for air travel.
The Cleveland Browns issued an official statement regarding quarterback Deshaun Watson:
Following a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on Monday to assess injuries sustained during Sunday’s 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Deshaun Watson’s left ankle was diagnosed with a high-ankle sprain. Additionally, postgame, Watson reported newfound discomfort in his right shoulder, experienced after a hit in the first half. Subsequent MRI scans revealed a displaced fracture to the glenoid.
Despite delivering a commendable performance and completing the game, consultations with Browns’ Head Physician, James Voos, MD, and renowned shoulder specialist, Neal ElAttrache, MD, concluded that immediate surgical intervention is necessary to prevent further structural damage. Consequently, Watson will be placed on season-ending injured reserve, with a full recovery anticipated for the commencement of the 2024 season.
The much-anticipated 72nd edition of the Miss Universe competition is gearing up for its grand finale, with fans eagerly anticipating the crowning of the new Miss Universe. Taking place on November 18, 2023, this year’s event will be hosted by an all-female team from El Salvador and will be available for streaming on The Roku Channel, with Spanish broadcast coverage provided by Telemundo in the United States.
Leading up to the main event, the Miss Universe pageant will kick off with a series of exciting preliminary competitions. Notably, this year introduces historic changes, underscoring a commitment to progress and inclusivity in Miss Universe’s storied history.
The preliminary competition is scheduled to commence at 8:00 p.m. EST on November 15, followed by the national costume competition on November 16 at 9:00 p.m. EST. A noteworthy aspect of this year’s proceedings is the collaboration with Live Bash, a platform that will livestream both competitions.
A total of 85 outstanding women will vie for the coveted Miss Universe 2023 crown, proudly representing their respective countries with grace and poise. Making history in the competition, Maria Camila Avella Montañez of Colombia and Michelle Cohn of Guatemala are set to become the first mothers and married women to participate in Miss Universe, shattering barriers and reshaping the traditional image of a Miss Universe contestant.
After Outkast’s last album release in 2006, Andre “3000” Benjamin, the Grammy-winning artist, has sporadically unveiled a few tracks and made memorable guest appearances on songs by various artists like Beyonce, Drake, and Frank Ocean. However, fans have been eagerly anticipating his debut solo album.
In a surprising announcement early Tuesday morning, the artist revealed that the long-awaited solo album is set to release on Friday. Titled “New Blue Sun,” the album takes an unexpected turn as it is described as “an entirely instrumental album centered around woodwinds; a celebratory piece of work in the form of a living, breathing, aural organism.”
In the announcement, Andre characterizes the work as “therapeutic” and addresses the common misconception about his reluctance to release a rap album. He clarifies, “There’s this misconception that I just won’t do it. I think people feel like I’m sitting around on rap albums, or sitting around and I’m just not putting them out in that way. And no it’s not like that.”
The 48-year-old artist expresses his desire to create a rap album, stating, “In my mind, I really would like to make a rap album. So maybe that happens one day, but I got to find a way to say what I want to say in an interesting way that’s appealing to me at this age.”
Following the Buffalo Bills’ recent struggles on the offensive front, a significant change was implemented less than a day after their defeat to the Denver Broncos.
On Tuesday, the team officially announced the dismissal of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Stepping into the interim offensive coordinator role is Joe Brady, the current quarterbacks coach, for Sean McDermott’s team.
Dorsey had been promoted from his position as the Bills’ passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022, filling the void left by Brian Daboll, who took on the head coaching position with the New York Giants. During Dorsey’s 28-game tenure, the Bills maintained their ability to accumulate yards and points. In the 2022 season, Buffalo secured the second spot in the NFL for yards and points. However, in the first 10 games of 2023, the Bills currently stand at seventh in yards and eighth in points.
Struggling with inconsistency and challenges in moving the ball, the Bills’ offense has faced difficulties sustaining a reliable ground attack and has grappled with turnovers. Throughout this season, the Bills’ offensive performance often appeared disjointed, lacking a cohesive strategy.
The primary source of Buffalo’s struggles has been the prevalence of costly turnovers, with the team giving away possession four times, including two interceptions and two lost fumbles, in the recent game against the Broncos. Notably, this marked the second instance this season where Buffalo experienced four or more turnovers, bringing their season total to 18, tied for the second-highest in the NFL.
Ultimately, Dorsey, who had previously interviewed for a head coaching position in Carolina, bore the brunt of the team’s challenges. The question now arises as to whether this coaching change will be sufficient to revive a Buffalo team that has fallen short of expectations, especially considering their demanding schedule in the remaining stretch of the season.
The Bills will move forward with Brady assuming the play-calling duties for the final seven games of the season. Brady gained prominence in 2019 as the passing game coordinator for LSU during their successful run to the College Football Playoff national championship with Joe Burrow. His subsequent tenure as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, spanning two seasons under Matt Rhule, saw the team’s offense ranking 21st and 24th in yards and points in 2020, and 30th and 29th in 2021.
Following Monday night’s loss, which dropped Buffalo to the 10th spot in the AFC, there was a palpable sense of urgency in Western New York. McDermott’s decision to part ways with Dorsey reflects a strategic move to inject momentum into a Bills team that has been struggling to find its footing.
In October, U.S. consumer prices exhibited no change, primarily influenced by reduced gasoline costs, while the underlying inflationary trend displayed indications of deceleration. This reinforces the notion that the Federal Reserve is likely concluding its series of interest rate hikes.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, under the Labor Department, reported a stable reading in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Tuesday, contrasting with a 0.4% increase noted in September. Over the 12 months leading to October, the CPI experienced a 3.2% ascent, a moderation from the 3.7% surge observed in September. Reuters-conducted surveys among economists had projected a 0.1% month-on-month CPI rise and a 3.3% year-on-year increase.
This marks the most subdued level of core consumer inflation since September 2021. Market reactions were positive, evidenced by an upswing in equity futures and a decline in short-term bond yields post-announcement. This surge reflects growing investor confidence that the Federal Reserve is less inclined to implement further interest rate hikes in subsequent meetings. Currently, futures markets are not factoring in a rate hike during the upcoming mid-December FOMC meeting, aligning with the suggested cautious approach by the Federal Reserve.
The October inflation data proved to be milder than anticipated, prompting relief among investors. This development indicates a potential shift for the Federal Reserve from a more assertive, hawkish monetary policy towards a more cautious, dovish stance as we approach the year’s end and move into 2024.
