Spring break is fast approaching. Where did the annual tradition come from?
Mondays aren't such a drag when you trade a classroom for ramped-up recess. The Mall of America was busy with families trying to find a fun way for their kids to burn off some energy, many of them heading to Nickelodeon Universe.
"It's tough if you have no plans just to stay home and be cooped up in the house," parent Anthony Kelly said.
Both students and parents WCCO talked with highlighted the much-needed brain break that comes with the extended time off.
The origin of spring break differs across the world, but many countries initially aligned a short school break with the Easter holiday, landing somewhere in March and April.
College students partying at a beach down in the southern United States is a tradition going back nearly a century.
In 1929, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, opened the state's first Olympic-sized pool outdoors. It attracted college swim teams in the 1930s that were looking for a place to train over spring break.
Soon, word got out about the hotspot, and it wasn't just young swimmers eager to enjoy the Florida sun and fun. Ft. Lauderdale became a destination for young revelers, even idolized in the 1960 film "Where the Boys Are."
Nowadays, airports are packed with families looking to shake off the winter blues, which sometimes overstays its welcome in Minnesota.
"You've just been through January, February so, you really are craving some warm weather," one parent said.
Minnesota's largest district, Anoka Hennepin Schools, is currently on spring break. Minneapolis and St. Paul students have to wait until end of the month.
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Boston Globe
10 hours ago
- Boston Globe
The Seine in Paris is open for swimming. Tourists and residents embrace it as temperatures soar
Water quality is tested daily to conform with European regulations. Swimming in the Seine had been illegal since 1923, with a few exceptions, due to pollution and risks posed by river navigation. The new bathing sites are possible following a 1.4 billion euro ($1.6 billion) cleanup that made it suitable for Olympic competitions last year. 'Imagine that,' said Constanze Martens, a tourist from Mexico. 'Swimming with view of the Eiffel Tower and in pure natural water, clean, safe, and with all this lovely people too, you have every age here.' Advertisement On Monday, the water temperature in the Seine was 22 degrees Celsius (71 Fahrenheit). 'It's quite warm, warmer than the sea, which was quite surprising, and is very pleasant,' said Elisabeth Lorin, from the Paris eastern suburb of Montreuil. Women take a selfie after a swim in the Seine river on Monday in Paris. Aurelien Morissard/Associated Press Until the end of August, bathing sites are open for free at scheduled times to anyone 10 or older or 14 or older, depending on the location. Details are in the Paris city hall website, in English as well. Each swimmer must be equipped with a yellow buoy, attached to their waist, for safety reasons. There are changing rooms with lockers. Advertisement The site welcomes between 800 and 1,200 visitors per day, with a limit of 200 at any one time, said the manager of the Grenelle site, Yann Forêt. Paris Deputy Mayor Pierre Rabadan last week said over 40,000 people had swum at the sites since they opened on July 5. That's despite almost two weeks of closures largely due to rainy weather, which increases water pollution upstream. 'Right now, the water quality is excellent and we have optimal conditions with warm weather,' Rabadan told The Associated Press on Monday. He said the daily decision to open the sites depends on weather conditions and factors including water flow rate and any known pollution. Several lifeguards monitor the sites, occasionally using their whistles to remind swimmers not to jump or leave the perimeter. No major incident has been reported, Rabadan said. Marina Gicquel, a 22-year-old lifeguard at Grenelle, said the main difference from a swimming pool is the river current, along with the murky water. 'You can only see people's heads sticking out. That's why buoys are useful,' Gicquel said. 'And it's also quite deep. It's three to five meters (10 to 16 feet) deep, so people find no foothold.' Some visitors, like Australian Thurkka Jeyakumar, had been skeptical about swimming in the Seine, citing the river's murky color and bacteria issues. Unsafe levels of E. coli or other bacteria appear during prolonged periods of rain that overwhelm pipes, leading untreated wastewater to flow into the river instead of a treatment plant. Last year, some Olympic competitions were postponed for that reason. Advertisement In the end, Jeyakumar gave it a try because she lost a bet. 'For the moment, I have to say that it was much nicer and cleaner than I thought it would be,' she said. 'So the bet worked out for the better!' AP journalist Nicolas Garriga contributed to this report.
Politico
5 days ago
- Politico
An Olympics-sized lobbying initiative
With Daniel Lippman NEXT SUMMER OF SPORTS: The U.S. Travel Association is looking forward to tens of millions of foreign visitors coming to the U.S. for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. But the group is raising concerns about a new cost that those travelers will have to contend with thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill. — Under the new law, the Department of Homeland Security must start charging visa applicants a $250 fee at the time their application is approved. The fee will be revised annually to keep up with inflation, meaning it could be higher by the time of the 2028 Olympic games. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the fee would raise around $28.9 billion over the next decade. — 'This is the exact wrong time for the United States to charge $250 for every new visa,' said Erik Hansen, senior vice president of government relations for the Travel Association. 'We're on the cusp of probably the most pivotal year in the American travel industry's history.' — 'I think the administration has the opportunity not to implement it, particularly ahead of these historic events, so we're urging the administration to do that,' he added. — Today, the travel industry group announced the launch of the America's Sports and Travel Mega Event Coalition, a new effort to support the president's focus on the mega sporting events and urge administration officials to delay implementation of the visa fee or lean on Congress to remove it altogether. Monument Advocacy, which has worked with the U.S. Travel Association since 2006, will lead the coalition's lobbying efforts. — 'The No. 1 concern about coming to the United States is often cost,' Hansen said. 'And so if the visa integrity fee would be put in place, we would be one of the most expensive countries to visit in terms of how much it costs to get a visa.' — The coalition, which includes Marriott International, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), American Airlines and others, also plans to push for increased U.S. consular staffing and expanded hours of operation to make the visa process more efficient, Hansen said. — 'Customs is going to be another issue,' he added. 'When we have millions of international visitors arriving at our airports within a very focused period of time, we can't welcome the world by making them wait in line for two, three or four hours.' Happy Thursday and welcome to PI. This is your new regular co-host Daniel B. and I'm looking forward to hearing more from all you fine people. Caitlin isn't going anywhere so be sure to send your tips to both of us at dbarnes@ and coprysko@ We're on Signal at danielbarnes.13 and caitlinoprysko.17 and on X at @dnlbrns and @caitlinoprysko. FIRST IN PI — Oil trader Niels Troost on Thursday sued strategic intelligence firm The Arkin Group for defamation for public statements they've made on behalf of Troost's former business partner, Gaurav Srivastava, the Indian American businessperson who had donations to Democrats last year frozen or returned after allegations he had posed as a CIA spy, Daniel L. reports. — The lawsuit alleges that the firm, founded by former top CIA official Jack Devine, and managing director Victoria Kataoka have waged a 'vicious, unfounded disinformation campaign against Mr. Troost on behalf of their client, Gaurav Srivastava.' — During a panel on disinformation last year at a conference in London, Kataoka said that Troost 'create[d] a big and bold lie' and 'a very sexy fiction' that Srivastava was 'a fake spy.' She repeated the claims in a podcast, saying he created an 'incredibly well developed and expertly designed ... disinformation campaign' with a 'very shiny ... sexy fake spy story.' She also accused Troost of lying that Srivastava is 'a con man.' — 'As a respected firm founded by a former acting head of the CIA, The Arkin Group should have known better than to parrot Srivastava's story without regard for the stacks of evidence, public reporting, and witnesses that were readily available when they were doing it,' Troost's lawyer Jason Masimore, a former federal prosecutor with Brodbecks Law PLLC, said in a statement to PI. — 'This is particularly true since the evidence presented, including sworn witness statements, shows that Srivastava has presented a threat to U.S. national security by posing as a CIA operative in front of world leaders and gaining direct access to top U.S. leaders.' — Devine, the CEO of the Arkin Group, pushed back on the lawsuit in a statement to PI. — 'The Arkin Group looks forward to the truth coming out through the U.S. legal system concerning Mr. Troost — a wealthy European oil trader who is sanctioned by UK, EU, and Swiss authorities for being 'involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia,'' he said. — 'Through the lawsuit he has initiated, Mr. Troost, a public figure, will be required to present evidence under oath, through depositions, interrogatories, and admissions, which will shed light on the extent of his relationships and involvement with the government of the Russian Federation which, fundamentally, in our view, continues to be what this matter is about.' — Kataoka and Srivastava didn't respond to requests for comment. A lawyer for Srivastava declined to comment. DINNER WITH THE PRESIDENT: The owner of a biotech company that donated $5 million to a pro-Trump super PAC was able to lobby the president to delay implementation of a Joe Biden-era plan that would have limited Medicare reimbursement for 'skin substitute' bandages. — During a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, Extremity Care founder Oliver Burckhardt, criticized Biden for having 'rammed through a policy that would create more suffering and death for diabetic patients on Medicare' and presented Trump with a copy of a flier the president later posted on Truth Social, Kenneth Vogel, Sarah Kliff and Katie Thomas report in The New York Times. — 'About one month later, the Trump administration announced it would delay until next year the Biden administration plan to limit Medicare's coverage of the bandages, known as skin substitutes, saying that it was reviewing its policies.' — 'It is not unusual for deep-pocketed interests to use political donations to try to win access, but Mr. Trump's hands-on participation in a fund-raising operation for a group devoted to him is unique for second-term presidents barred from running for re-election. It has created an opportunity for fund-raisers and lobbyists to boost their standing with Mr. Trump while advancing their clients' interests.' CHAMBER GOES BIG AND BEAUTIFUL: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce aims to sell the One Big, Beautiful Bill to the American public by holding 100 roundtable discussions about tax cuts and incentives in the new law, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports. — 'Republican strategists want to avoid the mistakes made during Trump's first term, when strategists now believe they didn't do enough to sell Trump's landmark 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act before the 2018 midterm election…Some early polling shows that Americans have a largely negative view of the law after Democrats spent months highlighting cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, cuts that led some Republicans such as Sens. Thom Tillis (N.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine) to vote against it.' — 'The Chamber has partnered with state and local chambers of commerce to convene lawmakers and local-business owners around the country to talk about popular but overlooked provisions of the law. … It has already held more than 40 roundtable discussions about the bill's benefits with members of the Senate and House, and plans to hold a total of 100 such events.' EYES ON ANTITRUST: 'Politically-connected lobbyists and lawyers' are inserting themselves into the Justice Department's antitrust investigations leading to confrontations with the division's leaders, Dave Michaels and Annie Linskey report for the Wall Street Journal. — Companies facing antitrust investigations — Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Live Nation and American Express GBT among them — have hired various Trump-world figures like Mike Davis, Brian Ballard, Arthur Schwartz, Will Levi and Nick Iarossi, who appear to be delivering for their clients. — 'Gail Slater, the department's top antitrust enforcer, has pushed back on the infusion of lobbyists into her world, but appears under siege by Trump loyalists inside and outside of the administration. Slater, who was picked by Trump for the role, saw her two top deputies fired last week after they challenged the terms of the favorable settlement that HPE negotiated with officials in Attorney General Pam Bondi's office. … Slater and the two fired deputies had objected to HPE's use of Davis and other politically connected lawyers to negotiate the settlement, people familiar with the matter said. Those comments got back to Davis and others, prompting them to complain about her leadership.' CALL HER MOMMY: Former Trump aide turned Elon Musk aide Katie Miller announced the launch of a new podcast aimed at conservative women. The podcast won't only cover politics, Miller told Axios, but is intended to be 'a place for conservative women to gather online.' — Miller and her husband, White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, operated as the power couple of Trump's Washington until she left her role as a special government employee in May along with Musk. —'Miller said in an interview that her husband, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, is 'incredibly supportive' of her new enterprise, and has even pitched in to wrangle guests.' SPOTTED: BGR Group's Nick Iarossi at a million dollar-a-plate quarterly fundraising dinner for MAGA Inc. last Friday night at Bedminster headlined by President Donald Trump, two PI tipsters told Daniel L. His appearance at the fundraiser surprised another attendee, a person in Trump's orbit, since Iarossi was such a big supporter of Ron DeSantis, whose presidential campaign he was the national finance co-chair for. — Iarossi, who remains close to DeSantis, has been a major supporter of Trump ever since DeSantis dropped out. He declined to comment. Jobs report — FleishmanHillard has appointed Rachel Catanach as global managing director, corporate affairs. Michael Moroney, senior partner in the agency's Washington office, has also been promoted to managing director, corporate affairs, Americas. — Jamie Logan has been promoted from manager to director, state government affairs for the American Cleaning Institute. — Cindy Nichols has been elected as the new vice chair of Airports Council International. She currently serves as the director of airports for Sacramento County, CA. — Annika Olson joins Americans for Responsible Innovation as director of government affairs. She was previously political and legislative representative for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. New Joint Fundraisers A Joint Fundraising Vehicle (Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Democracy Mobilization Project PAC, Mark Burns For US Congress, Fair Future NC) New PACs Red Peaks PAC (Super PAC) Standing Together For Utah (Super PAC) Citizens For Carroll Cares Campaign (PAC) New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS Arentfox Schiff LLP: Medallia, Inc. Blue Tusk Communications: Let Experienced Pilots Fly Cavarocchi Ruscio Dennis Associates, L.L.C.: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Now Continental Strategy, LLC: Vivex Biologics Etherton And Associates, Inc.: Onebrief, Inc. Francis Edward & Cronin, Inc.: Lewy Body Dementia Association Mcdermott+ LLC: Stationmd Mcguirewoods Consulting (A Subsidiary Of Mcguirewoods LLP): Risepoint, LLC Mr. Robert L. Redding Jr.: National Watermelon Association Net Centric Alliance LLC: Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Obo Eptura, Inc. Rubin, Turnbull & Associates: Embraer Aircraft Holdings, Inc Steptoe LLP: Ameripen Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Assured Space Access, Inc. New Lobbying Terminations Ballard Partners: Shein Technology LLC Bluewater Strategies: Centrus (Fka USec Inc.) Bluewater Strategies: North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition Bluewater Strategies: Olivenhain Municipal Water District Bob Riley & Associates, LLC: Next Step Specialty Pharmacy Carlyle Consulting: Miccosukee Tribe Of Indians Of Florida Government Relations Group, LLC: Curated Investments Health Equality Campaign Inc.: Health Equality Campaign I Street Advocates: Fuse Media, Inc. (Formerly Known As Sitv, Inc.) Paul Hastings LLP: Blockchains Inc. Paul Hastings LLP: Panama Colon Container Port, Inc. Paul Hastings LLP: Star Scientific, Inc. Thunderbird Strategic LLC: Indian Land Tenure Foundation Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Cognitive Space Velocity Government Relations, LLC: Ensemble Government Services, LLC Vitello Consulting: Conservation Logistics, LLC Vitello Consulting: Fortune Metal Group, LLC Vitello Consulting: Hudson Valley Fisheries
New York Times
6 days ago
- New York Times
Lindsey Vonn's Comeback Is Winning 40-Something Fans. Can She Win Gold?
When the Olympic ski racing champion Lindsey Vonn ended a five-year retirement to launch a conspicuous and successful comeback last winter at the age of 40, she noticed a major change in her interactions with the public. In airports, hotels and restaurants, she found herself being approached by people who knew little about sports, and absolutely nothing about ski racing. What the people found irresistible was Vonn's new folk-hero status in the modern phenomenon of the aging professional athlete. And they felt a kinship with her ongoing quest. 'They were my age, and they'd say, 'I'm so proud you're trying again,' or, 'We're with you all the way,' ' Vonn said in an interview last week from Park City, Utah, where the United States ski team is based. 'That's when I knew this comeback wasn't about sports, and it was definitely more than just about me. It's about changing perspectives and setting a new standard for what it means to be older and an athlete. Especially if you're a woman.' Foremost on Vonn's 2026 calendar will be the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, which begin Feb. 6 in Italy. If she stays healthy, Vonn is expected to compete for the American team in one or both of the most dangerous events: the downhill and super-G, where racing speeds reach 70 miles an hour. That inherent peril is one reason that Vonn's comeback last season shocked even those in the daredevil world of elite ski racing. Some former colleagues from Europe called her 'crazy' and suggested that she see a psychologist. But Vonn, whose return was made possible by a partial knee replacement in 2024, finished in the top 10 of three World Cup races, and was the runner-up in her final competition in March. Similar results this season, or even a notch or two below that level, would place Vonn high enough in a points ranking system that she would qualify for the United States Olympic team. Vonn, who turns 41 in October, will probably be the oldest athlete on the American Olympic team next year in any discipline, and if she is successful, she would be the oldest ski racer, man or woman, ever to win a medal. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
