Author: Leslie Stewart

Mortgage interest rates spiked toward the end of December, hitting demand for mortgages just as the housing market entered its slowest period in a typical year.According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index, total mortgage application volume for the two-week period ending Dec. 27, 2024, was down 21.9% compared to the previous week in that period. Additional adjustments have been made to account for the Christmas holiday. MBA released two weeks worth of data after being closed for the holidays.During this time, the average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances of $766,550 or less…

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorials. 2024 marked an important turning point for the crypto industry. Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds became the center of attention at the beginning of the year, highlighting Bitcoin’s resilience and solidifying its permanent place in the global financial landscape. After the initial post-ETF surge, the market experienced sideways movement as the industry weathered challenges, including what many described as a “debunking” by certain U.S. regulators. These hurdles have highlighted growing pains for a nascent sector that is still…

Authorities have postponed Wednesday night’s major sporting event, the Sugar Bowl, after a man drove a truck into a New Year’s crowd in New Orleans. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack.Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Jeff Hundley said in a press conference that the annual sold-out college football game has been postponed until Thursday night. Hundley said the decision was in the “best interest” of public safety.At about 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, a man deliberately plowed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, a popular spot in the city, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30 others,…

At least 10 people were killed, more than 30 injured and police officers in New Orleans early Wednesday morning when a car intentionally drove into a crowd during a New Year’s celebration, in what police called a “terrorist attack” by the mayor. Two people were shot dead.The city of New Orleans confirmed the death toll in a statement on its website, saying people were injured in a “mass casualty incident caused by a vehicle plowing into a large crowd at Canal Street and Bourbon Street.”Police said the suspect crashed the vehicle and then fired shots at two officers. Authorities are…

A fugitive killed in a shootout with authorities in Ohio last month was identified Monday as the suspect in the decades-old unsolved murder of an 18-year-old woman.Mansfield police said in a news release that new DNA evidence has proven “beyond a reasonable doubt” that James Venest, 68, was the man responsible for the April 29, 1981, murder of Debra Miller, 18. It was announced that the evidence had been established.Miller, a waitress, was fatally beaten with an oven grate in her apartment, according to the Associated Press.Police said Vannest, who lived in the unit above Miller, was questioned at the…

In the cryptocurrency space, finding the latest crypto gems is a lot like finding diamonds in a coal mine. Among countless high-profile projects, Dawgz AI ($DAGZ) stands out for its innovative approach and immense potential. Read on to find out why experts called it the best investment of 2025 and how $DAGZ outperforms other notable crypto gems. 1. Dawgz AI ($DAGZ): The crown jewel of 2025 Dawgz AI is essentially a token. This is a fairly innovative project that integrates AI into the world of meme coins. Here’s why the $DAGZ token is a transformative investment. AI-powered trading tools: At…

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed herein belong solely to the authors and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news editorials. Games are booming. In 2023, industry revenue will exceed $455 billion, more than traditional sports and Hollywood combined. But behind this record growth is a fragmented ecosystem that holds everyone back. Studios, guilds, and players are scattered across disconnected platforms, from Discord and Twitch to Telegram and Steam. These silos divide communities and make scaling and engagement a frustrating uphill battle. This is not only inconvenient, but also costly. Studios invest millions of dollars to acquire players…

IE11 is not supported. For the best experience, please visit our site in a different browser.Delta Airlines nearly collides with jet carrying men’s basketball team00:34Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt agree to divorce settlement after 8 years02:13Chinese hackers gain remote access to US Treasury computers00:23Remembrance 2024: Remembering the amazing lives lost04:03Fast food trends for 2025: Where to find the biggest deals03:51Currently playingTeen shark attack survivor: ‘I wake up every day feeling grateful’03:36to the nextNorovirus outbreaks surge nationwide, CDC data shows02:08One of two survivors of South Korean plane crash is awake and talking01:51FBI issues new warning after another NBA star’s home robbery02:11Jimmy…

On Monday, the son of Sen. Kevin Cramer, RN.D., was sentenced to 28 years in prison in connection with the death of a sheriff’s deputy during a law enforcement chase last year.Ian Kramer, 43, pleaded guilty in September to nine charges, including murder, reckless endangerment and drug possession while fleeing a peace officer, following a pursuit last year that led to a crash and a crash that led to a crash in Paul. -Related to the death of Deputy Martin, 53 years old.State District Judge Bobby Weiler, who handed down the sentence, said in court Monday that it was unlikely…

Linda Lavin, the Tony Award-winning stage actress who became a working-class symbol for her role as a paper-hatted waitress in the TV sitcom “Alice,” has died. She was 87 years old.Ms. Rabin died Sunday in Los Angeles of complications from recently discovered lung cancer, her agent Bill Veroric told The Associated Press in an email.After finding success on Broadway, Lavin tried his luck in Hollywood in the mid-1970s. She has been chosen to star in a new CBS sitcom based on Martin Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, in which Ellen Burstyn won an Oscar for her role as…