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Skip This Popular Home Upgrade to Slash Your Energy Bills

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Australians are eager to embrace an all-electric lifestyle, yet many are unsure where to begin. Should they invest in solar panels, opt for a home battery system, or eliminate gas reliance altogether?

In a quest to uncover the most effective transition strategy, we analyzed three distinct electrification pathways for a three-bedroom home located in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Our findings indicate that order matters significantly in the shift to electric living. The journey should begin with enhancing energy efficiency by improving insulation and sealing draughts, followed by transitioning from gas heating to a high-performance reverse-cycle air conditioner. Ideally, the installation of home batteries should cap off the process.

What did we do?

We utilized standard industry data to simulate a household equipped with ducted gas heating, gas-powered hot water and cooktop, typical electrical appliances, and a petrol car.

Annually, this model household consumes 5,300 kilowatt-hours of electricity, nearly 50 gigajoules of gas, and around 1,230 liters of petrol for approximately 11,100 kilometers of travel. The expense of sustaining this energy usage amounts to $2,477 for electricity, $1,494 for gas, and $2,255 for petrol, culminating in a total energy cost of $6,226 per year.

We modelled replacing these with a 10-kilowatt ducted reverse-cycle air conditioner, a hot water heat pump and an induction cooktop.

We also modelled two further options: one where the household switches to a mid-range EV with a battery of about 60kWh and another where the household keeps its petrol car.

Which pathway?

We tested three pathways to going electric. These don’t include rebates or the cost of the EV.

Pathway 1a – all electric, no battery, EV

Here, the household adds a large 11.76kW solar array, gets off gas and replaces its petrol car with an EV.

Although total electricity use rises, the grid electricity bill falls due to solar. The new electricity bill would be about $1,800. Because gas and petrol costs fall to zero, the household saves about $4,400 yearly.

Total cost: about $32,600.

Pathway 2a – all electric, medium home battery, EV

This pathway mirrors the first, but adds a 13.5kWh home battery at the end. The power bill falls to about $950. Savings would be about $5,300.

Total cost: about $48,100.

Pathway 3a – all electric, large home battery, EV

Here, the household doubles storage to 27kWh. The power bill drops to about $600. It doesn’t reach zero due to low solar over some periods and annual supply charges. Annual savings: about $5,900.

Total cost: about $56,400.

Stacking rebates

Governments offer a range of rebates and subsidies for households to go electric.

Federal incentives

Pathway 1: Applying a solar rebate means the cost falls to just under $30,000.

Pathway 2: Using solar and battery rebates, the cost falls to about $41,700.

Pathway 3: After both rebates, the cost falls to $47,800.

State rebates

In Victoria, the maximum possible state support comes to just over $6,000.

This includes $1,400 for solar, $1,400 for locally made hot water, and indicative discounts of about $2,500 to replace ducted gas with a 10kW reverse cycle air conditioner, $560 to switch from gas hot water to electric and $140 for induction cooktops. These are maximums, not entitlements, and there are eligibility requirements.

If the household was eligible for all federal and Victorian rebates, the total cost would fall to about $23,900, $35,800 and $41,800 for the three pathways, respectively.

Electrify in the right order

Our modelling suggests an optimal order for going electric.

1. Reduce demand

The first step is making the house more energy efficient by sealing gaps, boosting insulation and adding shading to stop direct sun. This can make it possible to install smaller appliances.

2. Go solar

Solar is a no-brainer almost everywhere. When choosing the size, it’s best to go bigger to power a future all-electric home.

In Melbourne, a 11.76kW array would produce about 15,400kWh a year. Set hot water systems, appliances and EV chargers to run during the day to maximise use of solar. Our modelled all-electric household with an EV uses 8,500kWh a year in total, including 1,800kWh for EV charging.

3. Get off gas

First, replace expensive older gas heaters with a correctly sized reverse-cycle air conditioner. This will bring immediate savings and can also cool in summer.

Next, replace gas hot water with a quiet, efficient heat pump.

Then replace gas cooktops with induction. These can be expensive, so consider trialling a portable induction hob. Finally, abolish the meter.

4. Consider a battery

Batteries should only be installed if they are useful. The most common use is releasing stored power from solar to avoid peak evening rates.

Home batteries are more valuable once gas appliances and petrol cars have been replaced and the home is fully electric. In our model, the first battery saves about $852 a year, while doubling storage saves only another $355 a year. This is why they should be done last if possible.

How quickly does this pay off?

Unlike other home improvements, householders can often recoup the cost of going electric. But payback time differs a lot. Quitting gas can rapidly pay itself off, while oversized home batteries can take much longer.

For our three pathways for a household with an EV, simple payback takes 5.4, 6.8 and 7.4 years respectively. Zero- or low-interest loans offered by some governments can reduce upfront cost, but will push payback time back roughly 2–3 years.

To optimise payback, it’s best to begin by improving the building to reduce energy use, shift away from gas to efficient electric appliances, use solar directly if available and then buy a home battery if warranted.


California Sheriff Denies ICE Access to Training Facilities, Continues to Support CBP

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On Tuesday, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez declared that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would no longer be permitted to use the county’s sheriff facilities for training exercises or firearms qualification. This decision stems from rising community concerns over ICE’s conduct during armed confrontations across different regions of the nation.

Sheriff Martinez clarified her stance by differentiating ICE from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as local officials aim to terminate facility use agreements with both federal bodies. While Martinez plans to continue granting CBP access to the county’s Otay Range, she cautioned that revoking this access might lead to longer border wait times and negatively impact the local economy.

“Fostering community trust and maintaining robust relationships are essential for effective local law enforcement,” Martinez asserted. “The legitimacy of our legal authority hinges on the trust and confidence placed in us by the communities we protect. My choices are always guided by a balance between public safety and maintaining that essential trust.”

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez waves while riding in the Independence Day Parade in Coronado, California.

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez proudly participated in the Independence Day Parade in Coronado, California, on July 4, 2025. On August 18, 2026, she formally announced her decision to prevent ICE from utilizing sheriff’s facilities for training and gun qualifications. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)

News Media reached out to ICE for comment on Martinez’s decision and asked whether the change could affect its training or operations.

The move comes as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has directed the county’s chief administrative officer to have the Department of General Services terminate lease agreements with both ICE and CBP.

Martinez, however, opposes cutting off CBP’s access. She said she spent the past two weeks speaking with community stakeholders and concluded that doing so could affect commerce, workers and traffic throughout the border region.

More than 225,000 people enter the U.S. through San Diego ports of entry each day, including more than 90,000 vehicles, 50,000 pedestrians and 5,500 commercial trucks, according to figures provided by the sheriff’s office. Border wait times generally run between one and three hours, the department said.

MEXICAN NATIONAL FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER CBP FINDS $238K IN FENTANYL INSIDE ELECTRIC MOPED

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recruiter Gabriel Montanez helps a man fill out an application during a CBP and Border Patrol recruitment event at a public library in El Paso, Texas, U.S., September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Paul Ratje

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recruiter Gabriel Montanez helps a man fill out an application during a CBP and Border Patrol recruitment event at a public library in El Paso, Texas, U.S., September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Paul Ratje

CBP officers are required to complete classroom instruction and gun-range qualifications as part of their training. Martinez argued that losing access to nearby facilities could pull officers away from ports of entry for longer periods, leaving fewer personnel available to staff inspection lanes.

The sheriff’s office said CBP currently does not have another comparable training option in the area and that available ranges at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar are limited.

News Media reached out to CBP for comment on Martinez’s concerns and asked whether losing access to the Otay Range could affect staffing or wait times at area ports of entry.

Martinez also warned that longer border waits could hurt commerce and increase pollution from idling vehicles. The effects could extend to Imperial County because some CBP officers there use the Otay Range for training, according to the sheriff’s office.

San Ysidro Port of Entry

TIJUANA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 6: National Guard officers install a checkpoint to inspect motorists before crossing into the United States at San Ysidro Port of Entry on February 6, 2025 in Tijuana, Mexico. President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deployment of 10,000 troops along the Mexico-US border as part of an agreement with Trump’s administration to delay a 25% increase of tariffs on exported goods. (Francisco Vega/Getty Images)

News Media reached out to San Diego County for comment on Martinez’s concerns and the rationale for seeking to end CBP’s use of county facilities.

“Too many people on both sides of the border would be harmed by a decision to end CBP’s use of the facility,” Martinez said. “As Sheriff, I have a duty to protect and serve everyone who lives in or enters San Diego County.”

The sheriff’s office said it is exploring future training options.

U.S.-Canada Negotiations on Trump Tariffs Reach Final Stages

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WASHINGTON – With the clock ticking towards a looming midnight deadline, President Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney engaged in a flurry of phone conversations on Tuesday, striving to reach a crucial trade agreement. Despite these last-minute efforts, the White House remains cautious about the possibility of finalizing a deal.

On the line are 50% tariffs set to be imposed on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods, including popular exports such as hockey sticks, wine, and cheese.

By Tuesday afternoon, administration officials admitted that no resolution was visible on the horizon. This leaves retaliatory tariffs poised to take effect just past midnight, precisely at 12:01 am.

Addressing the press on Monday, Prime Minister Carney characterized the ongoing discussions as “very delicate and intense.” He made it clear that Canada was ready to respond if an agreement could not be achieved.

A breakthrough, if it occurs, would be announced directly by President Trump, according to a U.S. official. Until then, they dismiss all other reports as mere “baseless speculation.”

Trump and Carney spoke at least twice in the past 24 hours: once on Monday and again on Tuesday. Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette have been in Washington DC for several days for in-person meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The White House described the tariffs as payback for Canada’s own taxes on US goods, particularly on American autos, alcohol and dairy. 

These tariffs are separate from the retaliatory action President Trump has threatened against Ottawa for the wildfire smoke that drifted across the border and clogged up American skies. He’s accused America’s neighbor to the north of poisoning US air with it smoke.

The president told The Post earlier this month he’s decided on a punishment for Canada but was not ready to announce it.

Canada is the third largest source of imports for America. The products affected by the new tariffs would include consumer goods, but also building materials such as cement and plywood. 

Energy products, potash, fish and critical minerals are excluded from the tariff list.

The US goods trade deficit with Canada was $46.4 billion in 2025, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative.

Trump has long seen Canada as a bete noir and publicly mused about making it America’s 51st state. He had an antagonistic relationship with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

He and Carney have a cordial but tense relationship. The two leaders last saw each other in July at the World Cup final in New Jersey, where Trump failed to mention the retaliatory tariff threat he would announce the next day.

However, the two nations have been involved in a year-long trade tit-for-tat.

Trump has hit Canada with a variety of tariffs and Ottawa has responded with tariffs of its own in a repeated back-and-forth trade scuffle.

Currently, US tariffs on Canadian goods include a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, a 35% tariff on softwood lumber, a 10% tariff on certain energy products, a 12.5% tariff related to forced labor prohibitions, and a 25% tariff on cars not built in the US.

In response to those tariffs, Canada imposed a 25% tariff on fully assembled motor vehicles imported from the United States and on alcohol products. On dairy, Canada only imposes a tariff when American imports pass a certain threshold.

Overwhelming Tourist Numbers Create Frenzied Queues for Delicacies in Dolomites Village

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A picturesque corner of the Dolomites, famed for its local delicacy, faces an overwhelming influx of tourists as the stunning mountain landscape grapples with soaring visitor numbers.

This Alpine jewel, celebrated for its breathtaking vistas, cable cars, and enticing hiking trails, ranks among Italy’s most alluring destinations, attracting millions of adventurers annually.

The current season is proving to be no exception, with videos capturing throngs of tourists standing in long, serpentine lines at 2,300 meters above sea level, all eager to savor a cabin’s renowned cream-filled doughnuts.

Determined visitors often rise at the break of dawn, eager to claim their share of the popular treat before it sells out at the Rifugio Friedrich August hut, nestled on Langkofel mountain, close to the South Tyrol border.

In fact, some enthusiasts have taken to camping overnight to ensure they can indulge in a doughnut or two.

Furious locals have become fed up with holidaymakers more concerned with social media photos than appreciating the region’s natural beauty, while unimpressed TikTok users called the viral spot a ‘tourist trap’.

One wrote under a video of queues: ‘Pretty much all if the huts/refugios in the Alps have great traditional high quality locally/home-made food. 99% of them without having to wait in lines at all.’

‘This is madness,’ said an Italian influencer who promotes tourism in the region. 

Shocking videos show an influx of tourists waiting hours at an altitude of 2,300 meters amidst the breathtaking scenery in 'mad' winding queues for famed fresh, cream-filled doughnuts

Shocking videos show an influx of tourists waiting hours at an altitude of 2,300 meters amidst the breathtaking scenery in ‘mad’ winding queues for famed fresh, cream-filled doughnuts

Last week on the day of the solar eclipse, severe traffic gridlocked roads on the Passo di Giau mountain

Last week on the day of the solar eclipse, severe traffic gridlocked roads on the Passo di Giau mountain

One hiker said: ‘I’ve been coming to the mountains for years and I’ve truly never seen such chaos; there are queues everywhere.’ 

Another wrote: ‘They’re not interested in the Dolomites. They come in flip-flops just to take pictures.’ 

An exasperated social media user also commented: ‘Yeah that’s why I’m choosing countries and cities and places no one in social media knows about.’ 

Meanwhile, last week on the day of the solar eclipse, severe traffic gridlocked roads on the Passo di Giau mountain pass.

Footage showed hundreds of cars completely at a standstill all the way down into the valley. 

Barriers have also been installed near the picturesque Santa Maddalena church to prevent unauthorised drivers from reaching it by car. 

The serene beauty spot has been overrun by hundreds of tourists looking to visit the most popular landmarks.

The swarm of tourists have caused carnage in the quaint village and has seen the region implement new restrictions that limit cars to just 150 per day

The swarm of tourists have caused carnage in the quaint village and has seen the region implement new restrictions that limit cars to just 150 per day

Furious locals have become fed up with holidaymakers more concerned with social media photos than appreciating the regions natural beauty

Furious locals have become fed up with holidaymakers more concerned with social media photos than appreciating the regions natural beauty

The serene beauty spot has been overrun by hundreds of tourists looking to visit the most popular landmarks

The serene beauty spot has been overrun by hundreds of tourists looking to visit the most popular landmarks

A woman who claimed she has been visiting the Dolomites for 35 years said: ‘This year it seemed to me as if I were on another planet. There have never been so many people here.’ 

Earlier this year a video showed a line hundreds of meters long at a bus stop for a shuttle as crowds waited to visit the world-famous Three Peaks. 

It is one of the most visited attractions in the Alps and during peak season up to 14,000 visitors flock to the region everyday. 

The councillor for the area, Nicola Bombassei, who oversees the environment and land use planning, reportedly said last month the queues were ‘unacceptable’, adding that the region is already seeing a record number of visitors. 

Efforts will be made to find ways to reduce crowds, she said. 

A ski-lift has been suggested in recent years as a means to better manage overcrowding in these zones, however many argue this contravenes a quota system restricting vehicle access to the area.

The director of operations for Dolomiti Bus, Gabriele Mariani, was reported to have said that their shuttle service has been reinforced in the wake of the masses of crowds.

‘We are constantly monitoring visitor flow and adapting our service according to needs,’ he added.

Jogger Finds Woman Fatally Stabbed Near Vehicle in Affluent D.C. Suburb Trail

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A routine morning run turned harrowing for a local jogger when they found a woman stabbed to death near her car in an upscale neighborhood just outside Washington, D.C. in Northern Virginia on Monday, police reported.

Fairfax County police shared that officers responded around 7 a.m. to a call regarding an unconscious woman found outside a vehicle in the 8800 block of Georgetown Pike, a well-known area in the Great Falls vicinity, after she was spotted by a community member on their morning exercise route.

Upon arrival, authorities found the woman suffering from severe trauma to her upper body and she was declared deceased on-site, according to Fairfax County Police Capt. Jason Chandler during a public briefing. The incident has been officially classified as a “fatal stabbing” by the police department.

Further details revealed that the car located close to the victim was registered in her name, as confirmed by Chandler.

Vehicle at Great Falls fatal stabbing scene.

An aerial view shows a vehicle and police markers at the scene of a fatal stabbing near trails in the Great Falls area of McLean, Virginia on Aug. 17, 2026. (WTTG)

Police said the parking area leads to several trails used by people to hike, walk and enjoy the Great Falls area in McLean.

McLean, located just outside Washington, D.C., is one of Northern Virginia’s most affluent communities, sitting just outside Washington. The median household income tops $250,000, while the median owner-occupied home is valued at more than $1.4 million, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data.

Detectives were actively following up on leads Monday, but authorities had not publicly identified a suspect or released a description.

Fairfax County police at Great Falls fatal stabbing scene

A Fairfax County police officer works near the scene of a fatal stabbing in the Great Falls area of Virginia on Aug. 17, 2026. (WTTG)

“There is no immediate indication that this was a random act,” Chandler said.

Chandler repeated that assessment when asked whether nearby residents should be concerned.

Police have not publicly identified the woman or disclosed her age beyond describing her as an adult. Authorities also have not said whether she lived in the area or why she was at the trailhead.

Investigators were working to determine how long the woman had been there and whether she arrived alone, Chandler said.

Detectives were also canvassing the surrounding area for surveillance cameras and seeking video from nearby community members as they worked to piece together what happened.

Police are asking anyone who saw anything suspicious around the time of the discovery to contact authorities at 1-866-411-TIPS.

Unveiling the Impact: NASA’s Shocking SpaceX Rocket Moon Crater Images

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In a groundbreaking feat, NASA’s lunar orbiting spacecraft is sending back the clearest images yet of a crater sculpted by a SpaceX rocket’s collision.

Tuesday saw the release of NASA’s before-and-after images spotlighting the site of this cosmic crash.

This incident involved the Falcon rocket’s upper stage, which slammed into the lunar surface at an astonishing speed of 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) on August 5. After a yearlong drift in the vacuum of space, it brought with it a couple of private moon landers equipped with experiments, alongside a miniature rover, as part of NASA’s initiative to encourage commercial ventures in lunar discovery.

Recent images captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter reveal that the newly formed crater spans 60 feet (18 meters) wide and plunges less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep, as per initial scientific assessments.

Visually striking dark and bright streaks fan out from the crater, with the darker streaks signifying ancient material near the surface, shaped over time by cosmic forces such as solar winds and meteor impacts. The brighter trails capture freshly upturned rocks and soil, flung up from deeper subsurface layers.

The spacecraft photographed the crater a week after the collision from 60 miles (96 kilometers) up, while zooming along at one mile per second. Flight controllers had to tilt the spacecraft so its cameras pointed toward the impact scene.

The orbiter completes a lunar polar orbit every two hours, as the moon rotates beneath. It took six days before the crash scene came into view.

South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft was first on the scene to beam back photos.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has been orbiting the moon since 2009, serving as NASA’s up-close eyes as the space agency works to return astronauts to the lunar surface.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Unexpectedly Grueling: California Commute Nightmare Found Far from SoCal

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Californians have identified the worst traffic headache in the state, and surprisingly, it’s not located in Los Angeles.

The notorious “MacArthur Maze,” nestled near the Bay Bridge, has claimed the title of California’s most dreaded commute. It has surpassed even the infamous freeway congestion that habitually plagues Southern California, grinding traffic to a halt.

In a recent survey conducted by Resume.io, 3,017 employees were asked how much of their annual income they would give up to eliminate their daily travel woes.

According to the Mercury News, respondents expressed a willingness to forgo $3,220 just to avoid the intricate tangle of I-80, I-580, and I-880.

Importantly, this figure does not account for the additional savings commuters would enjoy by reducing fuel consumption and minimizing vehicle maintenance costs.

It was simply based on how much they would hypothetically be willing to give up to get that time back in their lives each day.

The portion of US 101-Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles, connecting the City of Angeles to the San Fernando Valley, came in as a close second, at $3,112 to avoid the nightmare area.

Taking the third place spot was the part of the I-405 through Sepulveda Pass, connecting the west side of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Workers said they would give up a little more than $3,000 to skip this part of their commute everyday.

The online survey, which was taken in July 2026, also found 46% of those polled said they were willing to turn down a job if the commute to work was going to be too hard or long. 

The emotional toll a stressful commute can garner was one of the greatest costs for one-third of those who responded. 


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However, the city with the worst traffic in the US, is still held by LA, where Angelenos are spending more than a full workday –– 8 hours and 27 minutes –– in traffic every week.

“It may be the City of Angels, but traffic in Los Angeles can be downright devilish,” reads the latest report by Consumer Affairs that ranked America’s 50 most populous cities on commute times, traffic congestion and fatal crash rates. LA climbed up from last year’s No. 2 rank on the list.

Angelenos are spending 36 minutes more per week than last year stuck in traffic, with an average daily commute time of around 30 minutes –– the sixth highest daily commute in the US.

The same report placed San Francisco as having the fourth-worst traffic in the country. Drivers in the Bay Area spend an average of  5 hours and 56 minutes in congestion each week.

ESPN’s Heartfelt Tribute to Founder Falters as Pat McAfee Abruptly Interrupts

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In an unexpected twist, ESPN’s heartfelt homage to its creator, Bill Rasmussen, met an abrupt interruption, replaced by a boisterous welcome to The Pat McAfee Show.

During the closing moments of First Take, the show aimed to honor Rasmussen’s substantial contributions. The man behind the concept of 24/7 sports broadcasting had recently passed at 93, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped sports media.

Reflecting on Rasmussen’s profound influence, personalities Evan Cohen, Jason McCourty, and Chris Canty shared poignant memories, while a tribute graphic adorned the screen. Host Courtney Cronin was in the midst of her closing remarks, beginning with ‘his legacy lives on’.

However, her solemn delivery was unexpectedly halted by the exuberant voice of Pat McAfee, who burst onto the airwaves with: ‘Hello and welcome to the Thunderdome beautiful people!’

Transitioning swiftly to his dynamic setting, the ex-NFL punter continued with flair: ‘And welcome to our humble abode, the DraftKings Thunderdome on this big ball Tuesday.’

The awkward end to the tribute quickly generated attention on social media, particularly given it involved McAfee, who has become a controversial new face of the network as one of its highest-paid employees.

ESPN botched its own tribute to founder Bill Rasmussen at the end of First Take

ESPN botched its own tribute to founder Bill Rasmussen at the end of First Take

The booming voice of Pat McAfee interrupted the tribute as he started his show for the day

The booming voice of Pat McAfee interrupted the tribute as he started his show for the day

ESPN has invested heavily in McAfee, funding his show with a $30-million-a-year contract while making a host of cuts in other areas. He is also set for a pay rise, according to reports, as talks continue over an extension of his contract.

Cronin broke news of Rasmussen’s passing earlier in the show after his battle with Parkinson’s disease ended in his Florida home. 

‘He was a sports fan turned broadcaster and entrepreneur who’s out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour, cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the landscape of sports media,’ she said. 

‘Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,’ said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.

‘Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.’  

Pitaro added: ‘One of my greatest thrills since joining ESPN was getting to know Bill on a personal level. I will always cherish the memory of catching the ceremonial first pitch that he threw at Fenway Park in Boston in celebration of our 40th anniversary. His legacy will always be a part of ESPN.’

Rasmussen is survived by his two sons, Scott and Glenn, daughter Lynn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lost Lois, his wife of 56 years, back in 2011.   

The Chicago-born executive conceived the idea of ESPN with his son, Scott, in the 1970s after being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association.

Rasmussen died on Tuesday in his Florida home at the age of 93 after having Parkinson's

Rasmussen died on Tuesday in his Florida home at the age of 93 after having Parkinson’s

Tributes have been paid to Rasmussen, who's 'game-changing' idea revolutionized sports

Tributes have been paid to Rasmussen, who’s ‘game-changing’ idea revolutionized sports

While many initially dismissed his idea, he launched ESPN in 1.4 million homes on September 7, 1979. After serving as the company’s first president and CEO, he left after a few years having laid the groundwork for its astronomical success. 

‘Bill was our George Washington and a good friend,’ said veteran anchor Chris Berman, who joined ESPN three weeks after the original network launch in 1979.

‘He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.’

Rasmussen revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. He became an ‘ambassador for Parkinson’s patients through both the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,’ per ESPN. 

Furious Ex Attempts Break-In for ‘Fight to the Death’ Confrontation with New Boyfriend: Police Report

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Inset: Steven Shannon (Allen County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The Allen County Jail in Fort Wayne, Ind. (Google Maps).

A man from Indiana has been detained after he allegedly went to his ex-girlfriend’s residence and launched a violent attack on her new partner, with the purported aim of committing murder.

Steven Shannon, aged 47, faces charges of attempted murder following a violent encounter at his former girlfriend’s home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this past Sunday.

Local CBS affiliate WANE reported that police were called to the scene around 9:30 p.m., where they discovered a man who had been severely beaten. Witnesses at the scene allegedly identified Shannon as the aggressor, and his ex-girlfriend informed the police that Shannon had allegedly sent several menacing texts, warning he intended to “battle” her current boyfriend.

Court records obtained by WANE reveal that Shannon’s text messages to his ex-girlfriend included the ominous statement, “if he’s still there that means he’s prepared to do battle,” further suggesting that the confrontation would be “to the death.”

When police tracked down Shannon, he claimed that he only went to his ex-girlfriend’s house to make sure she was not using drugs. He told police he entered through the home’s back door, like he did when he lived there. Shannon also claimed that he was the one who was beaten during the alleged fight and that the victim was the one wielding a knife. According to court documents, Shannon told police that he and the other man were “tussling” before he purportedly “blacked out” and left the home.

The woman told police Shannon left her home when he heard sirens.

Shannon was booked into the Allen County Jail, where he is being held on $120,000 bond. He is due to appear in court on Aug. 31.

The post Man showed up at ex’s house to fight her new boyfriend ‘to the death,’ ripped door from hinges to get inside, police say first appeared on Law & Crime.

Unlock the Secrets of a Professional Complainer: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Results

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For generations, Australians have celebrated the enduring spirit of the “Aussie battler,” a symbol of resilience and determination. However, as time has marched on, there’s a growing debate over whether this iconic spirit has faded, overshadowed by a more modern tendency to grumble. This topic is at the heart of the Insight episode, “Wired to Whinge,” now available to stream on SBS On Demand.

I consider myself an expert in the world of complaints, and I’m not shy about admitting it.

My track record in lodging complaints speaks for itself. I’ve managed to secure a $400 reimbursement from my bank after it failed to deliver a new transaction card before my international trip, not to mention obtaining compensation for medical expenses from an airline when a friend’s mother was injured during a flight.

Relentless in my efforts and not easily deterred, I press on until I achieve results.

Surprisingly, my journey as a professional complainer didn’t start this way.

Born in the 50s, I grew up mostly in Sydney’s inner-west in a time when even an eye roll was perhaps considered subversive of the notion that we shouldn’t complain too much.

Because of this, I was always terrified of being seen as a whinger and would bury any grievances I had about all the ways women were treated.

Then feminists such as Germaine Greer and Betty Friedan hit my consciousness at around age 15, and I realised how much women endured, which made me have newfound respect for my mum.

a young woman in overalls with long brown hair and wearing a shell necklace

Despite this awareness, I continued for the next decade to put up with many experiences I believed were just typical for young women.

I didn’t complain when I spent half a day getting ready for a date, and they’d show up looking like they just fell out of bed; I didn’t complain when my bum was pinched as a barmaid or when I’d have to lock myself in a storeroom to avoid the advances of a coworker.

Complaining meant you had no sense of humour and took yourself too seriously.

It wasn’t until my mid-20s, working as a social worker, mostly in the criminal justice system, that I was surrounded by many women who taught me I didn’t need to put up with it.

‘I’m not going to keep my mouth shut anymore’

Then, when I was a 34-year-old mother of two, I earned my law degree and really felt empowered to complain, as it taught me how to navigate the systems and rules that structure society.

I thought, “I know the system. I know how it’s supposed to work, so I’m not going to keep my mouth shut anymore.”

As a social worker and solicitor, who also worked for the NSW Ombudsman, I’ve learnt a lot from other “professional complainers” over the past four decades — even if some seemed worn from battling bureaucracy and institutions.

My “professional complaining” has largely been advocating for others for housing and those experiencing addiction. People call me up with an issue they need help with, and they know I’ll gladly open my big mouth and advocate for them, wasting no time to get their issues resolved.

a young woman in glasses and a brown sun dress smiling in a field

How to complain successfully

I think people could complain more, but they don’t know how to do it successfully; there is a process you must follow to be a good complainer.

My “Charter of Complaining” has two main rules to follow.

The first rule is: do it in writing. Making a telephone complaint is often a complete waste of time, as a conversation can be ignored or forgotten. Creating a written artefact makes it much more difficult to be ignored; a document or email is a thing which needs to be dealt with.

The second rule of complaining is to target the proper decision maker. There is little point in complaining to the call centre worker based offshore — that’s just bullying. You need to target the person with the power to address the problem.

I’d also say, learn the system. Work out that if you get knocked back for your pension, you can complain about it, and then you can go to the tribunal about it, and then you can go to various courts about it.

‘A civic duty’

At my age, I feel I have earned the right to speak my mind when the situation requires it — always in complete sentences, with correct grammar and supporting evidence.

As well as being a professional complainer, I’m now also a professional ‘complainee’ as a university lecturer.

Some students seemingly see it as their right to complain about pretty much everything — from having to physically borrow a book from the library, to having to show up for class.

I am either the Wicked Witch of the West or Glinda the Good in my end-of-semester evaluations from students — there is no middle ground.

But I get it and see complaining as a civic duty for those of us with the wherewithal to do it.

With confidence and knowledge of how systems work, complaining can be an exercise of citizenship which supports our democratic processes. If you can write a decent letter or email about something that might be affecting lots of other people, then you should do it.

Complaining about social issues is a very valuable thing, as you don’t have social change without social action. Speaking up about faulty systems means that change can happen.

Putting up and shutting up means that things stay the same.