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The fall ‘shoulder season’ is changing — here’s how

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Lacey Pfalz | (TNS) TravelPulseAutumn is often the time of year when we get back to the grind, our children are back into school and sports, and we forget, at least until the holidays, about taking a vacation.Yet this doesn’t seem to be the case this year. At a time when travel often drops off, travel advisers across the nation are noticing more last-minute fall trips and more trips being booked for next fall than they’ve ever seen — even while airfare remains high. Some have even noted record bookings and sales numbers.So what’s driving this new trend? We asked some trusted travel experts what they’re seeing this fall.They agree that the shoulder season, for better or for worse, just isn’t the same as it was in years’ past.“At Elite Travel, we’ve always prided ourselves on understanding the nuances of the travel industry, and one phenomenon we’ve observed closely is the evolution of the ‘shoulder season,’” began Tammy Levent, president of Elite Travel. “For years,...

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders: Everything you need to know about the Week 5 game before kickoff

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

The 0-4 Chicago Bears will play the 2-2 Washington Commanders on Thursday night at FedEx Field in a Week 5 matchup.Here’s what you need to know before kickoff (7:15 p.m., Fox-32, Prime Video).The Chase Claypool sagaDuring a news conference Monday that was at times tense and awkward, coach Matt Eberflus said the Bears asked wide receiver Chase Claypool to stay away from the team this week — and perhaps permanently — as they prepared for tonight’s game.After the Bears informed Claypool he would be inactive for the Week 4 game against the Broncos, he was not in attendance at Soldier Field for the Bears’ 31-28 loss. Confusion lingered about whether he opted to stay away or was told to by the team.Now, it seems, the Bears are weighing more significant separation scenarios, hoping to either trade the fourth-year wide receiver or possibly waive him to cut their losses.Read more here.Bears WR Chase Claypool didn’t attend the game at Soldier FieldBre...

Revolution back DeJuan Jones called up by U.S. National Team

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

The New England Revolution are ill prepared to grant an excused absence to an essential player with three games remaining in the regular season and home field advantage in the MLS Cup playoffs slipping away.Dynamic left back DeJuan Jones, the Revs’ only reliable offensive component on the backline, has been called up by the U.S. Men’s National Team for two international friendly matches. The U.S. will face Germany on Oct. 14 in Hartford, Conn., and Ghana in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 17.Jones will dress for Saturday’s game with second-place Orlando City FC but miss the club’s MLS match at Nashville on Oct. 14. The Revolution (14-7-10) are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and close out at home against Philadelphia on Oct 21.This marks the fourth callup for Jones and he has made seven international appearances with the national team.RICH THOMPSON

‘Cat Person’ was a viral New Yorker story. Now it’s a film about a toxic love affair

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

When the New Yorker published a short story titled “Cat Person” in December 2017, writer Kristen Roupenian’s tale of a toxic romance went viral in a way that literary fiction rarely does.The story of Margo, a 20-year-old college sophomore, and Robert, an awkward 34-year-old man, who have a brief affair involving a few casual encounters and a whole lot of texting, didn’t just tap into the zeitgeist, it crashed right through it.“I thought it was brilliant and so observant,” says filmmaker Susanna Fogel. “I had no idea who was going to try to make it a good movie, but because I had worked in the entertainment industry I knew someone would.“Because it was so internal and it felt so resonant, I didn’t know how they would manage to make the movie feel big in scope, and not a small story,” she says.As fate would have it, the job of figuring all that out eventually fell to Fogel, whose previous work includes co-writing the movie “Booksmart” and directing the first two episodes of the HBO Ma...

Up for a challenge, St. Charles North’s Aedan Hayes wanted to play for ‘one of the bigger titans.’ And now he is.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

As a sophomore last season, St. Charles North receiver Aedan Hayes played on the junior varsity level. That didn’t sit very well with him, so he decided to take a stand.In the offseason, Hayes put a plan in place for himself that mapped out playing on the varsity in 2023. And he also wanted to deliver somewhat of a breakout performance.“I had to come into this season with a different approach and a different mentality toward practice,” Hayes said. “I’ve always known this school is one of the bigger titans in the area.“I’d much rather play at a school and work for it and get respect through my work ethic than coming in and starting right away without having to challenge myself.”He filled his offseason working with teammates in the weight room, plus speed training and 5 a.m. one-on-one sessions with his classmate, junior quarterback Ethan Plumb.The fruits of that labor arrived Friday night in a 40-14 DuKane Conference win at cros...

Staff picks for Week 5 of 2023 NFL season: Eagles vs. Rams, Chiefs vs. Vikings, Cowboys vs. 49ers and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Baltimore Sun staff writers pick every game of the NFL season. Here’s who they have winning in Week 5:Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.)Brian Wacker (34-30 season; 9-7 last week): CommandersChilds Walker (44-20 season; 11-5 last week): CommandersMike Preston (38-26 season; 10-6 last week): CommandersC.J. Doon (44-20 season; 14-2 last week): CommandersTim Schwartz (38-26 season; 11-5 last week): CommandersJacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills (in London, Sunday, 9:30 a.m.)Wacker: BillsWalker: BillsPreston: BillsDoon: BillsSchwartz: BillsHouston Texans at Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: FalconsWalker: TexansPreston: TexansDoon: TexansSchwartz: TexansCarolina Panthers at Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: LionsWalker: LionsPreston: LionsDoon: LionsSchwartz: LionsTennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: ColtsWalker: ColtsPreston: TitansDoon: ColtsSchwartz: ColtsNew York Giants at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.)Wacker: Do...

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum intends to play for Team USA at 2024 Olympics

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Jayson Tatum won a gold medal as a member of Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that took place in 2021, and now he wants to do it again.The Celtics star said after Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center that he intends to suit up for Team USA for the Paris Olympics next summer.“Of course,” Tatum said. “I won a gold medal already. I’d love to go back and do it again.”Team USA’s Olympic team next summer looks like it will be stacked with superstars. LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry have already announced their intentions to play. On Thursday, Joel Embiid – who holds American citizenship – committed to play for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, according to an ESPN report.Tatum may not be the only Celtic on the USA roster. Jaylen Brown said on media day that he would welcome an opportunity to join the team. Earning a place on the team – which has 12 spots – will be difficult, especially given the growing talent committing to the squad.“Playing for USA Basketball, I think ...

UMass needs to blast off early against the Toledo Rockets

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

UMass (1-5) can salvage a disappointing three-game homestand with a victory over the Toledo Rockets on Saturday (noon) at McGuirk Stadium.The Minutemen opened the stretch with hard-luck losses to New Mexico and Arkansas State, and the Rockets are the toughest opponent of the three.The Rockets are 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the West Division of the MAC and they clobbered the Minutemen 55-10 last season. The need for a win takes on greater urgency because UMass plays at No. 6 Penn State on Oct. 14.“We’ve got to have it,” said UMass coach Don Brown, who is in the second season of his massive rebuilding process. “Obviously we are healthier on the offensive side and that’s a good thing and we just have to get off on the right foot and go fast.“That’s really been our push and we’ve met on it as a staff and the approaches we can make. We are working hard so we can be ready to go when the gun goes off.”Getting off to a fast start has been nonexistent for the Minutemen since they rolled New Mexico ...

Biden administration plans to add to Trump border wall in Texas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

The Biden administration plans to construct several more miles of border barriers along the Rio Grande River in Texas, one of the busiest spots for migrants coming from Mexico.In a public notice filed Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security said it would waive environmental and tribal land protections to speed construction of the wall due to an “acute and immediate need.”The Border Patrol encountered more than 245,000 people attempting to cross the border in the area during the 2023 fiscal year, according to the notice.President Joe Biden said during his 2020 campaign that he would focus on border security at ports of entry and mocked Donald Trump’s attempts to build a border wall as ineffectual, saying “there will not be another foot of wall constructed” if he were elected.The determination — which DHS said was “necessary” under current law — comes as Republican lawmakers are demanding border security measures as a condition of funding the government.Some Democrats, includin...

8 fresh paperbacks to kick off fall reading season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:45 GMT

Moira Macdonald | The Seattle Times (TNS)Paperback picksFall reading has officially begun! Let’s all assemble, on our respective armchairs and with our respective favorite beverages, and devour a book or two. Should you be in need of something fresh, here are a handful of brand-new paperbacks. Happy reading!“Burning Questions: Essays and Occasional Pieces 2004-2022” by Margaret Atwood (Knopf, $19). This is the third essay collection from the Booker Prize- winning author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “The Testaments” and numerous other works of fiction and nonfiction. In it, she reflects on the Obama and Trump eras, the #MeToo movement, the pandemic, the death of her longtime companion (author Graeme Gibson), “Anne of Green Gables” and more. Throughout, wrote a Guardian reviewer, “Atwood remains frank, honest and good company.”“The Hacienda” by Isabel Cañas (Penguin, $17). Irresistibly described by its publisher as &...