The phone calls began streaming in to immigration lawyers in Polk County soon after November’s presidential election. “So, I did have a lot of people calling right after the election — very worried, very scared,” said Ivelisse De la Fe, a Lakeland lawyer. “It was very sad, just hearing these people crying, ‘What is going…
Framed for Murder
by Marla A. White
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense / Cozy
ISBN: 9781509254293
Print Length: 322 pages
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Reviewed by Lola LeeA delicious glimpse into the murder that rocked Pine Cove and the detective turned B&B owner who’s got more than murder on her mind Framed for Murder is the story of Emmeline “Mel” O’Rourke, a former police officer who left her past behind in order to team up with her grandmother and brother and run the the Babbling Brook Inn in the peaceful town of Pine Cove. But Mel’s new beginning is disrupted when a murder shakes the small town. To complicate matters, her old nemesis—Poppy, a former cat burglar—reappears in her life, both as a suspect and a new employee at the inn. As Mel investigates the crime on her own, she must confront her complicated past with Poppy, her growing feelings for her neighbor Jackson, her fears, and the challenges of running a business. Dealing with everything at the same time, Mel embodies the idea that life rarely goes as planned.“You broke into this guy’s office, stole the necklace, and someone started shooting at you. What happened next?”On the day of the murder in Pine Cove, Poppy is hired to steal a valuable necklace, but things spiral out of control when she discovers a dead body in the room she’s robbing and is nearly shot by the true murderer while escaping. As Mel and Poppy work together to solve this case, they have to reconsider their former identities and discover new aspects of themselves. During this process, Mel is forced to reconsider her preconceived notions about Poppy, struggling with the question of whether she can truly trust her former adversary. A central point of Framed for Murder is the evolving relationship between Mel and Poppy. Since they were once adversaries—one a cop, the other a thief—Mel’s interactions are initially marked by tension and mistrust. But also in their past, Poppy saved Mel from a near-fatal fall during a chase. It still haunts the protagonist, leaving her with a fear of heights that resurfaces throughout the story.The novel balances this atmospheric mystery with humor and plenty of character development. Secondary characters, like Mel’s supportive family and her love interest Jackson, add great depth to the story and enhance its emotional resonance. It’s a book that surprises you and makes you feel.The book also does a wonderful job of highlighting the small-town dynamics of Pine Cove with its peculiar residents and close community. The town itself provides comfort and conflict as Mel seeks the truth.“The idea of being friends with the thief she’d chased for so long didn’t seem as outrageous as it should. Huh. Just when she thought nothing could surprise her anymore…”Framed for Murder is a light and engaging read that offers a balanced blend of mystery and personal growth. The mystery is compelling enough to keep readers flipping pages, but the character’s evolving relationships and interactions are the ones that shine and open the door to explore topics such as second chances, family, change, friendship, and more. A cozy mystery with a dash of humor, a bit of romance, and a surprising plot, Framed for Murder excels. Thank you for reading Lola Lee’s book review of Framed for Murder by Marla A. White! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.
The Year of Return (2019), a landmark initiative launched by the Ghanaian government, marked a pivotal chapter in the nation’s historical and cultural journey. This initiative served as a powerful invitation for members of the African diaspora, particularly African Americans, to rediscover their roots by visiting Ghana and exploring their ancestral heritage. Building upon the…
Travel across Spain for tourists is about to get much easier as Transport Minister, Oscar Puente, has announced plans to create a fixed-price public transport pass that will work across every corner of the country.The all-purpose monthly transport pass will work for trains, buses, metros, trams and bicycles across Spain’s 17 regions from 2026.Spain’s “billete único” will replace the current state-subsidised free and discounted train and bus tickets and is being compared to other European countries’ schemes, including Germany’s Deutschlandticket (£49) and Austria’s “climate ticket” (£67).While the price for Spain’s potential “single pass” has not yet been announced, local media suggested it could cost somewhere between £25 and £41.”The goal and the challenge is to implement the single ticket in Spain, something that Germany has, with its advantages and disadvantages, which will allow us to learn from it,” Puente said on Thursday at an event at the Nueva Economía Fórum.This new scheme will likely be seen as good news to all tourists set on exploring the country’s best destinations in 2025, which is set to welcome even more tourists after a record-breaking 94 million foreigners last year.A similar ticket already exists in the capital, Madrid, where for a currently state-subsidised price of £27.45 a month you can take all public transport within the region, including Renfe commuter trains, although medium-distance and high-speed trains are not included. Without the discount, this ticket costs £69.26.Spain’s current train and bus discounts will apply during the first half of 2025, but from July the discount will be reduced.The government first introduced these measures in 2022 in an attempt to lessen the effects of inflation following the pandemic and war in Ukraine.“I hope that in 2026 we will transition to that measure that allows for a better distribution of resources, making it easier for transport users,” added Puente, “but above all helps us focus our efforts on the quality of public transport”.The biggest obstacle to the nationwide implementation of the scheme is due to the fact that the Transport Ministry only owns the Cercanías commuter train services and regional, medium and long-distance trains.The rest of the country’s public transport network is managed either by city councils or by consortia that have agreements with regional governments.
Whether you’re heading to a ski resort or a cosy winter retreat, mismanaging your cash can quickly lead to additional, avoidable expenses.That’s why travel money expert Mario Van Poppel from Leftover Currency has issued a warning to help holidaymakers save money and avoid unnecessary stress during their winter getaways.According to Van Poppel, with just a bit of planning, you can avoid these pitfalls and make your trip more affordable.He explained: “It’s not always easy to know how to get the most from your money when you are travelling abroad and exchanging currencies. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll save yourself stress and money.”Being mindful of when and how you exchange your currency, as well as staying aware of hidden fees abroad, can keep your winter holiday within budget and free from financial worries.Leaving currency exchange until the last minuteAirport exchange kiosks may seem convenient, but they come with a significant price tag.“Airport exchanges often charge a premium of up to 15 percent compared to the mid-market rate,” said Van Poppel. By preparing in advance and exchanging money online or at your bank, you can secure better rates and avoid the last-minute scramble for cash upon arrival.Assuming cards are accepted everywhereIn more remote areas, cash is still king, so you should make sure to research local practices and carry some local currency to avoid surprises when tipping or making small purchases.“Winter travellers often assume their cards will work everywhere, but some destinations, particularly in lesser-travelled areas, still rely heavily on cash,” Van Poppel explained.Paying in your home currency abroadWhen using a card, you might be offered the option to pay in your home currency instead of the local one.This option, known as “dynamic currency conversion”, may seem like a convenient choice, but it often comes with hidden costs.“Dynamic currency conversion can add as much as 10 percent to your transaction,” warned Van Poppel.To avoid these extra charges, always opt to pay in the local currency for the best exchange rate.Overpaying at resort ATMsSki resorts and popular tourist destinations are notorious for having limited ATM options, many of which charge high fees.“Standalone ATMs in resort areas often leave travellers with little choice but to pay high withdrawal fees,” says Van Poppel. To save money, try withdrawing cash from ATMs operated by major banks or exchanging your currency before you arrive.Forgetting to prepare for weather delaysWinter travel can be unpredictable, with snowstorms and transport disruptions often leading to unexpected costs.“Having a small reserve of local cash is crucial,” Van Poppel advised. A little extra cash can be a lifesaver if weather delays affect your plans or if card machines are temporarily out of service.
Cleanroom Technology Market Expected to Achieve a Strong 6.80% CAGR, to Reach USD 12.49 Billion by 2032 – Technology Today – EIN Presswire
In tune to the Brownstone Book Fund’s mission of fostering an early love of reading, books and encouraging children and parents/guardians to read together, the private New York City foundation has donated over 100 new books to several Northeast Iowa libraries.Children’s books ranging from ages of Pre-K picture books to early readers, Clermont, Elgin, Hawkeye, Westgate and Maynard public libraries will be adding them into rotation soon.“We are very excited to have received the books and hope people can come into the library and check out the donated books,” Hawkeye Public Library director Carrie Davis said. “We will be using them with story times and summer programs coming up.”
Cameron Diaz decision to walk away from Hollywood in 2018 when she was one of the highest-paid stars in movies was met with some surprise.While she was no Meryl Streep, and was probably never going to trouble the Oscars shortlist (although she did have Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations under her belt), she had cornered the market on likeable but tough and funny girl next door roles. A gifted physical comedy actress her perfomance in There’s Something About Mary is still parodied today thanks to one very famous hair gel scene.She also dabbled in dramatic roles in 1999’s Being John Malkovich and 2001’s Vanilla Sky opposite Tom Cruise.Therefore when she announced in 2022 she was making a comeback, teaming up with Jamie Foxx for a Netflix action adventure called Back In Action people, including me, were naturally expecting great things.I was hugely disappointed to discover that her much hyped and lauded return to screen was just… okay. Obviously I wasn’t expecting Citizen Kane, but I assumed for her to backtrack on her retirement plans it would take a very special project.I was wrong. While this is an entertaining popcorn flick Back In Action is nothing we haven’t seen before. Part True Lies, part Mr and Mrs Smith and part Spy Kids it ticks all the action movie boxes, like the fast food of movies leaving you unsatisfied an hour after watching.The plot is pretty rote. Cameron and Jamie, who have prevously worked together on Any Given Sunday and a (very ill thought out) remake of Annie, reuinte to play CIA spies Emily and Matt who go to ground and assume new identities to live a regular life and raise a family.Predictably, years later their past endeavours come back to haunt them and they are sucked back into the world of international espionage with their children in tow.Along the way they are forced to reconect wth Emily’s estranged MI6 agent mother played by Glenn Close, who adds a huge amount of gravitas to this.Indeed the cast list is extremly impressive and also includes Fleabag’s sexy priest Andrew Scott and Friday Night Lights star Kyle Chandler. Cameron and Jamie have a wonderful chemistry and it is impossible not to like them as a big screen couple.There are also plenty of huge set pieces to keep action fans happy, including a very impressive scene on an aeroplane minutes into the movie. I couldn’t help feeling these would look great in the cinema. However, even on my very large television they lost something and depending on you home cinema set up you may not get the full beneift of these moments.Overall it is entertaining. But also forgettable. It is a pleasant enough way to kill an hour and 54 minutes but not appointment viewing and it won’t be remembered as a classic. Cameron’s character is basically just an older and wiser version of her Charlie’s Angels role.When silent movie star Gloria Swanson came out of retirement to play Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard she was Oscar nominated. When Judy Garland made her return to screens after a four year break from films with A Star Is Born she was also Oscar nominated. Daniel Day-Lewis has retired many times, but when he took a step back for the first time back in 1997 to become a shoe-maker he returned to star in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York in 2003. He too was Oscar nominated.Given that all these stars carefully chose prestige projects for their comeback it is somewhat disappointing Cameron didn’t hold out for a project we would all be talking about which would fully restore her star status.
AI-assisted summaryTravel scams are increasing in 2025, with criminals using AI to create fake websites, listings, and social media profiles.One common scam involves fake vacation rentals that are nonexistent or significantly different from their advertised appearance.Travelers should be cautious of phishing emails and text messages that appear to be from legitimate travel companies but aim to steal personal information.A few weeks before his flight from Minneapolis to Florence, Italy, Scott Mayer received an email from United Airlines that said his flight had been canceled and that he owed $600 in “cancellation” fees.Just one problem: United says it didn’t send it.Mayer, an event producer from Minneapolis, had been contacted by a scammer who was trying to prod him into sharing personal information – his address, birthday, and credit card number.Check out Elliott Confidential, the newsletter the travel industry doesn’t want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don’t tell anyone!Travel fakes like this appear to be on the uptick in 2025. Criminals are using artificial intelligence to create fake websites, listings and social media profiles designed to separate you from your money. No one keeps statistics on travel scams like these. However, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that the problem is getting worse.But you don’t have to become a statistic.I travel nonstop:Here are 5 places you can’t miss in 2025Plane seats are too small:Airlines continue to prioritize profit over comfort, safetyA fake United email – and a fake call centerMayer says he called “United” and was transferred to someone who claimed to work for the airline.Although Mayer refused to pay the $600 – which was the right call since United doesn’t charge a cancellation fee for flights it cancels – his flight somehow got canceled, anyway. (It appears someone using his reservation number canceled the flight.) He had to pay $1,596 for a ticket on another airline.But when Mayer called United to get this resolved, the airline offered him neither an explanation nor a refund. “I would like to be reimbursed for my canceled flights,” he told me. I asked United to take a closer look at Mayer’s cancellation.”Unfortunately, we believe this customer fell victim to a scam,” United spokeswoman Erin Jankowski told me.The airline refunded his flight – a rare happy ending. Jankowski noted that contacting it directly via United.com or the United mobile app for any booking or reservation changes would prevent future scams. Perhaps. But the scammers are smart.Here’s what else is out there:▶ Fake vacation rentals. You find the perfect beach house, but when you arrive, it’s a run-down shack. Or worse, the property doesn’t exist.“It’s so frustrating to arrive at your vacation accommodation and discover it looks nothing like how it was advertised,” said Don Jones, managing director of Andrew Harper, a travel company. “This happens all too often.” How to avoid being burned? Do a reverse image search to see if the property photos are legit. Also, cross-check listings on multiple platforms. “Listings with no reviews may be a red flag,” advises Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research at cybersecurity company McAfee. “In addition, try to validate the site exists by checking to see whether it has been referenced in legitimate media outlets.”▶ Fake airline and travel agency websites. These sites look real, but they’re designed to steal your credit card information. Often, they offer fares that are too good to be true. If you’re tempted by an unbelievable deal, chances are you’re looking at a bogus site.“Make sure the company you found online really exists by cross-referencing it against reliable third-party sources,” said Chris Pierson, CEO of BlackCloak, a cybersecurity company. “These could include legitimate travel directory listings, chambers of commerce, or official visitors guides.”One strain of fake sites is particularly worrisome. It fools search engines into thinking it’s the correct phone number for a travel company. People will Google phrases like, “How to talk to a human at (insert name of airline)” – and up pop the scammers. Scammers wait for you on the other end of the line, waiting to collect your personal information. Never search for company information like that – always go to a trusted source or directly to the company.▶ Fake emails. Phishing scams are also a problem. You get an email or text message that looks like it’s from your airline, but it’s actually from a scammer trying to steal your personal information. Be careful about clicking links in unsolicited messages, even if they look official.“The proliferation of AI is an impending threat to travel due to tech-scams including deepfake cons, identity impersonation, or misleading travel advice from bots,” said Harding Bush, an associate director of security for Global Rescue. “That puts travelers at risk of fraud, misinformation, or malicious intent when booking trips or managing itineraries.”Speaking of AI, criminals are also using AI to generate fake reviews and articles. And it’s almost impossible to spot a fake. “In the old days, it was common to find basic mistakes in fake or impersonated websites, such as (irregular) language, spelling and grammar errors, odd word choices and low-quality copied images and logos,” added Pierson of BlackCloak. “However, with the advent of generative AI, this is no longer the case.”As before, you can usually ferret out a fake with a simple sniff test: If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.However, there are other ways of finding fraud online.Travel shamingTravel shaming has reached epidemic proportions. But what’s the cure?Attention, passengers:Bratty kids aren’t the problem. Bad parents are.How to spot a fake when you’re booking travelHere’s how to stay safe:Book through a legit source. This includes airlines, hotels, and tour operators with a proven track record. “Stick to well-known and reputable travel websites and service providers,” advised Frank Harrison, regional security director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If a deal seems unrealistic, it probably is. “Given the rise in phishing in the travel industry, offers that sound too good to be true should be a warning sign of potential fraud,” said Rishika Desai, a threat researcher at Bfore.AI, a predictive security firm.Double-check everything. Verify your reservations and payments. “Double-check booking confirmations and payment receipts, and look for reviews on multiple platforms to validate the service or accommodation,” Harrison said.Be safe out there. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication. Don’t recycle your passwords. And be extra careful when using a public Wi-Fi network. “Public networks are often unencrypted, meaning that cybercriminals can intercept data transmitted over these networks, putting your information at risk of being compromised,” warned McAfee’s Karnik. If you must use public Wi-Fi, get a virtual private network (VPN) to protect yourself.Story continues below.This problem is going to get worse in 2025I have a prediction: In 2025, this problem will get worse – much worse. In fact, it would not surprise me if, at the end of 2025, I wrote a story declaring that this was the year of the travel fake.Why? First, travel is expensive and that means people are desperate for deals. That’s fertile soil on which criminals can cultivate their fraud. Second, AI is so advanced that scammers can easily create sites or call centers that would fool even the most sophisticated traveler. (And before you ask – yes, I’ve almost been duped by it). Finally, I have seen how these scammers operate when they try to place their fraudulent numbers on my online directory of company executives, and I’m impressed – not in a good way – with their determination and creativity. Cases like Mayer’s represent only a fragment of the real problem. It’s hard to tell the real thing from a fake anymore. We’re traveling in dangerous times. Be careful out there, my friends.Christopher Elliott is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He foundedElliott Advocacy, a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishesElliott Confidential, a travel newsletter, and theElliott Report, a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you canreach him here or email him at [email protected].
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown could start a book club with his teammates.Brown, who received a lot of attention (good and bad) for reading on the sidelines during the Eagles’ home playoff victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, reads “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy during games to help him stay engaged.BUY EAGLES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTERDuring the Eagles’ NFC divisional round game at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Brown could flip through a few more pages, but he’s not the only one who draws inspiration from books. His teammates have been changed by stories they’ve read, too, improving their confidence, motivation, purpose and perspective. Here are their tales:Eagles backup cornerback Eli Ricks“Have you ever read ”The Art of War” by Sun Tzu? I read this when I was in college. This book has a lot of short stories in it. I’ll give you one story from the book.“(The character) was a sniper and had an assignment to assassinate someone. I’m like, ‘Ok, he knows where this person is. He’s just going to wait him out and kill him.’ But this guy was literally posted up outside this guy’s house for over 30 days. He knew where he lived, where he went to work, like his whole daily schedule, everything. I’m like, ‘Damn, this dude waited for 30 days, over a month to assassinate this dude.’ He had plenty of chances, but he had to wait for the perfect opportunity.“It just taught me a lot about patience and always being focused on the mission, no matter what. It’s a really great book for a young man to read. It changed my life. Obviously, in my life right now, I want to play and be on the field. I feel like I can. I might just be in the moment waiting for the perfect opportunity like the sniper.”Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley“The most influential book I read was from Tony Robbins. I can’t remember the name, but it was a long (expletive) book. That book taught me how to really find myself and understand how the mind works.“I read it after my last season at Clemson when I was doing NFL Combine training down in Fort Lauderdale (Florida). I had a lot of time on my hands. I was in a time and place where there was just a lot of unknown. I didn’t know where I was going. I didn’t know if I made the right decision to come out a year early. I was by myself. So just had a lot of thoughts going on.“I was in a spot where I needed some guidance and some help along those lines. I’m not really somebody to go ask another person for that stuff. So if I can get it in a book, that’s my way. I would say 100% (reading is therapeutic), actually like 1,000 %. I can do it at any time, and it just brings a peace of mind, a calmness that you can’t get in many other places as an athlete. If I’m struggling to fall asleep cause I’m thinking about a play I messed up on, I just grab a book. It’s like melatonin for me, to be honest with you. It puts me right to sleep.”Eagles defensive tackle Thomas Booker“I got a few. “The Courage To Be Disliked” is a good one in terms of just listening to what’s going on inside of you and not taking too much of the external stimuli and criticism. You have to understand that the stuff that matters in terms of criticism is from people who understand your context and your story enough to give you accurate criticism. When there’s people who don’t know enough about you or haven’t been in your shoes, or don’t have the expertise to say anything, you gotta let that wash away from you. Because the same way, like praise from those people might feel good, that’s false confidence. The true sense of confidence that you’re going to get for yourself is internal and also from the people that you know well enough to be able to tell you what’s up and what’s down.”“The book ”Dopamine Nation” was a good one for me as well. Just talking about the fact that dopamine is so easy to come across in this society with social media, with the food that we eat. And just being aware of those things in your life. Making sure that you don’t fall into a trap of where you’re seeking rewards all the time.”Eagles defensive tackle Moro Ojomo“Reading ”Think and Grow Rich” helped me. Just thinking about having a positive mindset and almost priming your mind. And how pretty much 95% of what we do is mental and 5% is physical. It’s very important what your mind thinks about. It’s a direct correlation (with your success). My father always says, ‘In the book you can read for 10 hours, you can pick up what somebody learned over seven years of their life.’”Eagles backup safety Tristin McCollum “It’s called ”Siddhartha.” It talked about one of the Buddhas. That’s a really, really good book. Short read. I read it three to four years ago. It helps you find purpose in life. It helps you get over your own internal suffering and stress and teaches you to navigate through life with the right mindset to get what you want. It definitely has helped in my career, but it’s also helped in my life in general with my relationship and friendships.”Eagles rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean“I read the book, ”Chop Wood Carry Water.” It was a couple of summers ago. Really like that book. Just talks about staying the course through everything, which has helped my mindset. I feel like it helped me stay in the moment. When I was in college, and you’re trying to make it to this level, you might start getting too excited and looking too far forward.”Eagles kicker Jake Elliott “In the middle of one right now that helps life-wise, not necessarily athletically. But it’s actually from (Eagles wide receiver) (Britain) Covey’s family, ”The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” I can read two pages of that and be stuck on something for a couple of weeks. It’s been a slow read for me. But it’s helped me develop a paradigm mindset. It’s also influenced how I view people, how I view myself, how I see negative situations and are able to turn those into light.“It just puts your mental spot in a better place. Football for us is life. You can take a lot from the book and make sure you’re really present in every moment for every day you’re in here.”Eagles offensive guard Mekhi Becton“It’s a book by 50 Cent that’s called ”Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter.” It helped me a lot. He talks about different points and how he grew up. I relate to him a lot.”Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached at [email protected]