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ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Peter Frank paddled from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in June to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland this month in his 1982 Sawyer Loon decked canoe, but he’s still got a long way to go. The 23-year-old is about a quarter of the way on his planned journey of roughly 6,000 miles to complete the Great Loop route. This continuous watercourse includes part of the Atlantic and Gulf intracoastal waterways, the Great Lakes, part of the Canadian Heritage Canals and inland U.S. rivers. For Frank, the voyage is largely a way to express his gratitude for still being alive and having the ability to take on the physical challenge, almost a decade after a car accident left him with 14 broken bones and nearly paralyzed. He was hiding in a pile of leaves to surprise a friend when a carful of teens drove through the pile without knowing he was there. “It’s my form of showing the appreciation for being alive and being able to walk and do the things that I can do,” he said during a break in Annapolis, Maryland, earlier this month, a day before setting out again. He also enjoys writing about his experiences on his blog at whereispeterfrank.com and meeting people along the way. “I’m grateful to be out here and to share this story,” Frank says. “In some regard, I feel that I have a responsibility to document the things that I experience for people who don’t get to experience them or that dream of experiencing them. That is why it’s important to me.” Clad in a rabbit-fur hat and clothes he made himself to resemble a pirate, he generally paddles between six and 10 hours a day in his 1982 decked vessel, its shell hollowed to stow supplies. Many nights, he sleeps in a tent by the water. However, he often gets invitations from readers of his blog to stay in their homes. To keep warm, he’s picked up a 1970s vintage heavy down coat, an ultra-light Patagonia jacket he found in a thrift store, 1950s German military cold-weather mittens, a set of warm thermals and several wool socks. Recently, when he felt underdressed, he designed and sewed his own pants that he quilted over cotton flannel for extra layering. He carries 10 portable power banks, plus cords and outlet plugs. He says his electronics bag alone, holding only batteries and cords, weighs almost 25 pounds. “I find that 10 is a good amount and will keep me charged on GPS, radio, cameras and phone battery through any predicament,” he says. “I also carry a solar panel as a backup and can charge almost anything I need.” He doesn’t carry much for self-defense: only a small filet knife for fish and a pocket knife for cutting rope. Frank says he’s confident in his ability to protect himself, such as being mindful in bear country, tying up food or simply avoiding populated areas. “In the long run, it’s never been much of a concern, and anything beyond my control isn’t something I can prevent with anything I can take with me,” he says. The Eagle Scout, who still visits with a local scout troop in his hometown, prepared a hearty portion of his food for the long adventure. He dehydrated game meat and ground beef in an oven and vacuum-sealed it for the trek. Frank earns some income by writing about his experience. His blog also helps him pay grocery bills via his “Rotisserie Chicken Fund,” where people can click to send him money. “Every now and then, somebody will send me $20 online, which helps out a lot for like food and stuff, but in the meantime, I also write for magazines, and the magazines will publish my work,” he says. Frank made long-distance trips by bicycle, unicycle and canoes before. For example, he’s already explored Florida by canoe, which took him about 11 months, ending in May 2023. That’s a significant portion of what he’s trying to do now. He knows he’ll eventually tie his canoe to mangroves during one stretch to sleep. “I really, really do enjoy them,” Frank says of the adventures. “I enjoy being alive most of all, and so I guess for me these expeditions are not only my college and my education, but it’s also my form of worship in a way, my giving thanks to the world for being alive and being able to walk.” The Great Loop is his most challenging trip yet. While the journey is a bucket-list route for avid boaters, it’s rarely done with reliance on muscling a canoe. Frank also travels clockwise, which he says is the harder route because he’s paddling against the current on inland rivers for more than 25% of the trip. Frank launched his trip on June 27 in Escanaba, Michigan, where he’s from. He paddled into Canada and crossed Lake Ontario, where he camped on islands. On his way south, he went through New York City, floating by the Statue of Liberty. While he’s given some long study to the Great Loop route, not everything has been perfectly mapped out for the canoeist. He says he’s had to do some wayfinding on his own. While leaving New York, he took the Delaware and Raritan Canal, using portages he says he found that weren’t mentioned in route plans. Frank says he hopes to write an informational guide to fill in some gaps about details of the route. He’s also thinking about writing an autobiography. “I’d like to put something together that’s purely educational that would be a guide, and then I’d like to put something together that’s kind of like the story of a young man finding himself in a world that he doesn’t fully understand yet,” Frank says. He was living with his parents before he started traveling when he left home to unicycle across the U.S. for charity when he was 19. “I’ll sometimes go back and visit for a couple of months between expeditions, but for the last three years I’ve just been traveling full time,” he says. Everything he owns is in his canoe. He says he doesn’t need much money to keep on flowing. “Is this comfortable or practical? Absolutely not,” he said, “but through the struggles of following my dreams with little to nothing, I’ve developed the capacity to enjoy less, and as a result, I live well with little.” He also describes the trip as a voyage in self-discovery. “It’s very hard to picture where I will be three years from now, as I’m still young and growing, but I’m hoping that on this journey, this very long journey of self-discovery, I’ll perhaps find that,” he says. He estimates it will take roughly 17 months to finish the loop. He’ll need to complete it by next November, he says, due to a natural deadline set by the freezing of the lakes he’ll need to cross. “I would say that nature is my biggest competitor, most definitely,” Frank says. Get local news delivered to your inbox!La Serna, Glendora, Rio Hondo Prep, Pasadena, El Rancho, San Gabriel and Pioneer attend Monday’s championship luncheonNone

Apple Cancels iPhone 14 And iPhone SE For Millions Of UsersHow major US stock indexes fared Tuesday, 11/26/2024

(BPT) - The holidays bring a whirlwind of excitement, sales, and unfortunately also scams. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Week mean increased online transactions, e-commerce traffic, and a heightened focus on fulfilling customer orders — all of which make small businesses, especially micro-businesses, prime targets for cybercriminals. According to Bank of America's Small Business Owner's Report , more than half of small business owners said cybersecurity threats have impacted their business. Unlike larger corporations with dedicated IT departments, many small and micro businesses lack proper security infrastructure, leaving them more vulnerable to and harmed by threats. A single scam or breach can be costly and can put a business behind during the busy holiday season. Scammers know how to exploit the season's hustle and bustle. But don't let the Grinch steal your seasonal success — arm yourself with these tips from the pros at Norton Small Business to stay protected and keep the holiday cheer intact. The Naughty List: Common Holiday Cyber Scams In today's digital-first world, cybersecurity is no longer optional — it's a necessity. With cyber threats evolving constantly, safeguarding your business requires vigilance, informed employees, and robust practices. Investing in cybersecurity tools is a simple way to address these concerns. The Nice List: 7 Cyber Safety Tips for the Holidays In a world where scams are harder to detect it is good to have extra help. Owners and employees can check in real time if something might be a scam with the free Norton Genie app . With a simple screen shot, this AI-powered scam detection tool can tell you if a text message, social media post, email or website message is likely to be a scam, what makes the content suspicious, and what to do next. Beyond just protecting your systems, it's essential to build trust with your customers by showing them that your business takes cybersecurity seriously. Displaying security badges on your website, being transparent about how customer data is protected, and offering secure payment options can go a long way in fostering customer confidence and retention. The holidays are a time of opportunity for both small businesses and scammers. By adopting these best practices, you can protect your business, your customers, and your peace of mind this season. Think of Norton Small Business as your holiday helper, protecting your devices and data while you focus on operating your business. With easy setup and robust features, it's your always-on IT department working 24/7 to protect your business and employees. Visit https://us.norton.com/products/small-business for more information.

(BPT) - The holidays bring a whirlwind of excitement, sales, and unfortunately also scams. Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Week mean increased online transactions, e-commerce traffic, and a heightened focus on fulfilling customer orders — all of which make small businesses, especially micro-businesses, prime targets for cybercriminals. According to Bank of America's Small Business Owner's Report , more than half of small business owners said cybersecurity threats have impacted their business. Unlike larger corporations with dedicated IT departments, many small and micro businesses lack proper security infrastructure, leaving them more vulnerable to and harmed by threats. A single scam or breach can be costly and can put a business behind during the busy holiday season. Scammers know how to exploit the season's hustle and bustle. But don't let the Grinch steal your seasonal success — arm yourself with these tips from the pros at Norton Small Business to stay protected and keep the holiday cheer intact. The Naughty List: Common Holiday Cyber Scams In today's digital-first world, cybersecurity is no longer optional — it's a necessity. With cyber threats evolving constantly, safeguarding your business requires vigilance, informed employees, and robust practices. Investing in cybersecurity tools is a simple way to address these concerns. The Nice List: 7 Cyber Safety Tips for the Holidays In a world where scams are harder to detect it is good to have extra help. Owners and employees can check in real time if something might be a scam with the free Norton Genie app . With a simple screen shot, this AI-powered scam detection tool can tell you if a text message, social media post, email or website message is likely to be a scam, what makes the content suspicious, and what to do next. Beyond just protecting your systems, it's essential to build trust with your customers by showing them that your business takes cybersecurity seriously. Displaying security badges on your website, being transparent about how customer data is protected, and offering secure payment options can go a long way in fostering customer confidence and retention. The holidays are a time of opportunity for both small businesses and scammers. By adopting these best practices, you can protect your business, your customers, and your peace of mind this season. Think of Norton Small Business as your holiday helper, protecting your devices and data while you focus on operating your business. With easy setup and robust features, it's your always-on IT department working 24/7 to protect your business and employees. Visit https://us.norton.com/products/small-business for more information.

Sources: Kings closing in on deal for CrowderLAS VEGAS — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. "As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It's an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world's premier racing series, and we're committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM's engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level." The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. "We're excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we're assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world." Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. "The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team," Michael Andretti posted on social media. "I'm very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!" The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti's dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years, and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA. The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they've already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti's application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1's current grid. "General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. "Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024," F1 said in a statement. "Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. "With Formula 1's continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Fox News correspondent Bryan Llenas joins 'America's Newsroom' to discuss Trump's choices for his cabinet secretaries. New York Times political analyst Nate Cohn argued in a new piece that President-elect Donald Trump "shattered" the Democratic Party 's dreams of a new multicultural majority by appealing to the working class and depriving liberals of their fading appeal to non-college-educated voters. "The overarching pattern is clear," Cohn wrote in an article Monday. "In election after election, Democrats underperformed among traditional Democratic constituencies during the Trump era. Sometimes, it was merely a failure to capitalize on his unpopularity. Other times, it was a staggering decline in support. Together, it has shattered Democratic dreams of building a new majority with the rise of a new generation of young and nonwhite voters." "This overarching pattern requires an overarching explanation: Mr. Trump’s populist conservatism corroded the foundations of the Democratic Party’s appeal," Cohn wrote . "It tapped into many of the issues and themes that once made these voters Democrats." HARRIS DISAPPEARS FROM SPOTLIGHT, VACATIONS IN HAWAII AFTER ELECTION LOSS New York Times columnist Nate Cohn wrote that President-elect Trump beat the Democratic Party by appealing to the working class. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin;; Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Cohn argued that Democrats did not fully capitalize on Trump's unpopularity and also faced a "staggering decline" in support. After Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, some polls have found that Democrats are feeling depressed about their party's future. Democratic pessimism about the party's future is at its highest point in eight years, according to a new Pew Research Center survey . Republicans, on the other hand, are riding high and have the most optimistic outlook about their party recorded since the 2016 election, Trump's last presidential victory. PRESIDENT BIDEN ADMITS PRESSURE FROM DEMOCRATS CONTRIBUTED TO DECISION TO DROP OUT Cohn argued that Democrats did not capitalize on Trump's unpopularity and also faced a "staggering decline" in support. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Cohn laid out in an eye-popping chart how Republicans made massive progress from the 2012 election that re-elected Barack Obama to the 2024 race that sent Trump to a second, non-consecutive White House term. It included double-digit gains among Blacks (19-point net swing), Hispanics (29), Asians (17) and voters aged 18 to 29 (14). "After three Trump elections, almost every traditional Democratic constituency has swung to the right," Cohn wrote. "In fact, Mr. Trump has made larger gains among Black, Hispanic, Asian American and young voters in his three campaigns since 2016 than he has among White voters without a college degree, according to New York Times estimates. In each case, Mr. Trump fared better than any Republican in decades." "Even at the times Mr. Trump made relatively few gains — say, among Hispanic voters in 2016 or Black voters in 2020 — Democrats nonetheless underperformed," Cohn wrote. Cohn wrote that while Democrats have been perceived as "the party of the people" for at least a century, Trump has managed to flip that reputation around with his "populist pitch" that "deprived Democrats of their traditional role in American politics, gradually weakening their bonds with working-class voters, as well as nonwhite and young ones." Fox News' Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Jeffrey Clark is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. He has previously served as a speechwriter for a cabinet secretary and as a Fulbright teacher in South Korea. Jeffrey graduated from the University of Iowa in 2019 with a degree in English and History. Story tips can be sent to jeffrey.clark@fox.com.Phillies predicted to sign $131 million All-Star in offseason blockbuster | Sporting News

PHILADELPHIA — Former Eagles running back Wendell Smallwood Jr. is facing federal charges for allegedly defrauding COVID-19 relief programs and the Internal Revenue Service in schemes that prosecutors say resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulently obtained payments. Federal prosecutors in Delaware charged Smallwood last month with felony counts of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud the IRS. Prosecutors allege Smallwood received more than $46,000 in fraudulent loan proceeds from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which was designed to provide low-interest financing to small businesses during the pandemic. Between May 2020 and June 2021, Smallwood applied multiple times to the program using what prosecutors described as “defunct or recently registered businesses” and provided false information about their operations. As a result, the Small Business Administration, which ran the program, approved loans of $15,500 and $30,900 for Smallwood-owned businesses. The loans were allegedly not used for business expenses. Instead, Smallwood used them to fund checks and transferred the money to personal checking accounts, court documents state. Prosecutors also accused Smallwood of conspiring with another individual, who was not named in court documents, to fraudulently apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) using the names of 13 different people between March and May 2021. The PPP was designed to help small businesses through forgivable loans intended for expenses such as payroll and utilities. Smallwood and his unnamed conspirator allegedly submitted fraudulent applications that resulted in more than $269,000 in payouts. According to prosecutors, Smallwood received kickback payments of $4,000 to $12,000 from the individuals named in the applications. Prosecutors further alleged that Smallwood “recruited individual tax filers” for the tax years 2021 and 2022 as part of a conspiracy that led to fraudulent tax refunds from the IRS totaling more than $110,000. Prosecutors claim Smallwood prepared at least 10 tax forms on behalf of others, providing false information about their income and employers. Smallwood has not yet entered a plea, though court documents state he has informed the court of his intent to plead guilty at a hearing scheduled for Dec. 20. An attorney representing Smallwood declined to comment. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 50 years in prison and fines of up to $750,000, according to court documents. A Delaware native, Smallwood joined the Eagles as a fifth-round pick in 2016, spending three seasons with the team before joining the Washington Commanders following the Eagles’ 2018 season. While he was on the Eagles roster for Super Bowl LII, in which the team defeated the New England Patriots 41-33 for its first Super Bowl win, he did not play in the game.