Latest news with #Flowers
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers countdown to kickoff — No. 41: a history of the number and who wore it best
The Steelers countdown to kickoff is here — and we're at 41 days until Pittsburgh faces off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. In the spirit of the countdown, we're taking a look at the history of No. 41 and the players who wore it best. Current Steelers No. 41 wearer: LB Payton Wilson Drafted with the 98th overall pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Wilson is the current No. 41 wearer on the Steelers roster. One of the best linebackers of his draft class, the second-year Steeler dropped into the third round due to concerns regarding a rumored missing ACL. He proved himself in a major way his rookie year — and figures to remain the future of the Steelers' linebacker room. Last five Steelers to wear No. 41: Best No. 41 in Steelers history: S Lee Flowers Lee Flowers is the best Steeler to ever wear No. 41. Drafted with the 151st overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, Flowers earned the starting safety role in 1998 and went on to record 403 combined tackles and four interceptions during his career. A physical safety who wasn't afraid to lay the boom on opposing offenses, he played in 112 games from 1995 to 2002. Flowers also started in Super Bowl XXX as a Steeler — and remained an underrated contributor to the secondary throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Daily Tribune
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Tribune
It's hard to maintain sobriety while touring, says Miley Cyrus
Bang Showbiz | Los Angeles Miley Cyrus thinks it's 'really hard to maintain sobriety' while touring. The 32-year-old pop star hasn't paired an album with live shows since her Bangerz Tour back in 2014, and Miley has now revealed that she has no intention of hitting the road anytime soon. During an appearance on Good Morning America, Miley - who quit using marijuana in 2017 - explained: 'It's really hard to maintain sobriety when you're on the road, which is kind of a pillar of stability in my life. None of this that I create would even be possible without the way I think about things.' Miley also thinks there's an insufficient 'infrastructure' for touring artists. The pop star said: 'I do have the physical ability. I have the opportunities to tour, I wish I had the desire, but I don't. I also don't think that there's an infrastructure that supports artists.' Miley acknowledged that touring has negatively impacted her mental health in the past. The Wrecking Ball hitmaker said: 'I do think it's really hard to keep mental wellness.' In 2023, Miley admitted that touring 'isn't healthy' for her. The singer has enjoyed huge success in her music career - but Miley believes that touring 'erases [her] humanity' and stifles her ability to write new songs. The Flowers hitmaker explained in a TikTok video: 'Having every day the relationship between you and other humans being subject and observer isn't healthy for me because it erases my humanity and my connection. And without my humanity and my connection, I can't be a songwriter, which is my priority.' Miley also reflected on the differences between herself and her dad, music star Billy Ray Cyrus. The chart-topping singer admitted that she had financial and emotional stability during her younger years, whereas her dad was forced to struggle through the early years of his life. Miley explained: 'My dad grew up the opposite of me.
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears sign veterans CB Tre Flowers, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
The Chicago Bears announced the signings of cornerback Tre Flowers and defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon before the team kicks off training camp on Wednesday. In corresponding roster moves, the Bears waived defensive back Alex Cook and defensive lineman Jereme Robinson. Chicago also activated running back Ian Wheeler and rookie wide receiver Jahdae Walker off the Non-Football Injury list. Unfortunately, cornerback Jaylon Johnson remains on the NFI list after suffering a leg injury while training this summer. He's expected to miss a few weeks. Flowers is a well-traveled cornerback who has previously spent time with the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Indianapolis Colts. Adding Flowers to the secondary brings more depth and experience, especially with Johnson being sidelined for a few weeks. Kpassagnon reunites with his former coach and coordinator Dennis Allen, as the two previously worked together in New Orleans. Although Kpassagnon has not made much of an impact throughout his NFL career, his work with Allen will be valuable, especially in training camp as the team works to get familiar with their new defensive coordinator. More bodies on the defensive line is never a bad thing, but if he doesn't find a role on the field, Kpassagnon could be a voice in the locker room. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Sydney Morning Herald
21-07-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Justin has $300,000 in the bank but can't get a home loan
While Flowers was told he could borrow $200,000, the total would not let him buy a home that suited his life. 'It's not practical for me to buy a property in a regional area or small apartment – I have kids I want to see every day.' A 2024 report by Swinburne University of Technology found about 508,000 people aged 55-plus were at risk of 'non-supported housing precarity' in 2019-20 – neither poor enough to qualify for housing assistance nor wealthy enough to buy. 'The problem is, after they go through that first hurdle of being approved by the government, they have to find finance from the bank … which introduces its own restrictions about not lending to older people,' say report co-authors Dr Piret Veeroja and Professor Wendy Stone. 'The governments can provide the settings, regulations and the motivation for the finance sector to reduce its discrimination against older people … really bringing the financial sector on board is a necessary part of the puzzle,' Stone says. Stone says shared equity schemes can work well for some, but older applicants they've spoken to who may be eligible face more complex hurdles. Stone says the aged pension rate is 'set on the assumption that people don't have that large housing cost in retirement'. 'But it's impossible to afford a mortgage or find anything that's affordable in a private market on that payment,' she said. Sally Tindall, Canstar's data insights director, says the government could 'work out a scheme … [where] the bank is happy to take on additional risk for someone over 55.' She says government is canvassing solutions, including a reverse mortgage program and abovementioned housing initiatives, but says Help to Buy is 'probably geared towards younger Australians'. 'It could be a good avenue for all Australians, but more needs to be done,' she says. Tindall says the low uptake of the Family Home Guarantee, which offers 2 per cent deposit and requires a bigger loan, suggests it is not fit for purpose. 'People over 55 who don't have a steady stream of income and an exit strategy are not passing the banks' serviceability test, and the banks can't waive those tests because it's a lot more risk for them.' When ex-police officer Naomi Oakley, 56, divorced nine years ago, she had no savings and was raising three children on one wage. After years of saving, she had $70,000; she applied for a home loan and was rejected. She was devastated. Loading She eventually purchased a three-bedroom unit in Skye, outer south-eastern Melbourne – further from the city than she wanted and far from family and support networks. 'I don't go out for dinner and … getting my hair done is a luxury – you have to give up those small things to have a loan at my age,' Oakley says. 'I also think, 'oh god, I'm in my mid-50s, will I get ill before I pay it off?' But you just have to be positive.' A federal government spokesman says Labor's Help to Buy scheme 'will help Australians get into home ownership with as little as a 2 per cent deposit, and a much smaller mortgage – an important option for those who might need a shorter mortgage term'. 'For older renters, we're making renting more secure with 80,000 long, five-year lease rentals and through our Better Deal for Renters, which is ending no-grounds evictions and rent bidding,' he adds. Brendan Coates, a retirement income expert at Grattan Institute, says Help to Buy is only useful for wealthier renters on the brink of purchasing. 'It's useful for older renters who will often have a deposit but won't have enough time left in the workforce to pay off the loan,' he says. 'Most renters have less than $100,000 in savings – there's no way they can buy a home, particularly if they're approaching retirement.' Raising rent assistance by 50 per cent for singles and 40 per cent for couples should be a priority, Coates says. Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Andrew Bragg, said: 'The only way to increase home ownership is to boost housing supply. Under the Coalition, Australia was averaging 190,000 new homes per year. Under Labor, we're barely hitting 170,000 new homes per year. 'Labor's Home Guarantee Scheme is almost useless for many mature first home buyers who will be told 'no' by their lender.' Flowers hopes he can eventually buy something, even if it's to leave to his kids. 'I grew up hearing about Australia the lucky country – doesn't feel too lucky to me, and it won't be like that for our children.'
The Age
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Age
Justin has $300,000 in the bank but can't get a home loan
While Flowers was told he could borrow $200,000, the total would not let him buy a home that suited his life. 'It's not practical for me to buy a property in a regional area or small apartment – I have kids I want to see every day.' A 2024 report by Swinburne University of Technology found about 508,000 people aged 55-plus were at risk of 'non-supported housing precarity' in 2019-20 – neither poor enough to qualify for housing assistance nor wealthy enough to buy. 'The problem is, after they go through that first hurdle of being approved by the government, they have to find finance from the bank … which introduces its own restrictions about not lending to older people,' say report co-authors Dr Piret Veeroja and Professor Wendy Stone. 'The governments can provide the settings, regulations and the motivation for the finance sector to reduce its discrimination against older people … really bringing the financial sector on board is a necessary part of the puzzle,' Stone says. Stone says shared equity schemes can work well for some, but older applicants they've spoken to who may be eligible face more complex hurdles. Stone says the aged pension rate is 'set on the assumption that people don't have that large housing cost in retirement'. 'But it's impossible to afford a mortgage or find anything that's affordable in a private market on that payment,' she said. Sally Tindall, Canstar's data insights director, says the government could 'work out a scheme … [where] the bank is happy to take on additional risk for someone over 55.' She says government is canvassing solutions, including a reverse mortgage program and abovementioned housing initiatives, but says Help to Buy is 'probably geared towards younger Australians'. 'It could be a good avenue for all Australians, but more needs to be done,' she says. Tindall says the low uptake of the Family Home Guarantee, which offers 2 per cent deposit and requires a bigger loan, suggests it is not fit for purpose. 'People over 55 who don't have a steady stream of income and an exit strategy are not passing the banks' serviceability test, and the banks can't waive those tests because it's a lot more risk for them.' When ex-police officer Naomi Oakley, 56, divorced nine years ago, she had no savings and was raising three children on one wage. After years of saving, she had $70,000; she applied for a home loan and was rejected. She was devastated. Loading She eventually purchased a three-bedroom unit in Skye, outer south-eastern Melbourne – further from the city than she wanted and far from family and support networks. 'I don't go out for dinner and … getting my hair done is a luxury – you have to give up those small things to have a loan at my age,' Oakley says. 'I also think, 'oh god, I'm in my mid-50s, will I get ill before I pay it off?' But you just have to be positive.' A federal government spokesman says Labor's Help to Buy scheme 'will help Australians get into home ownership with as little as a 2 per cent deposit, and a much smaller mortgage – an important option for those who might need a shorter mortgage term'. 'For older renters, we're making renting more secure with 80,000 long, five-year lease rentals and through our Better Deal for Renters, which is ending no-grounds evictions and rent bidding,' he adds. Brendan Coates, a retirement income expert at Grattan Institute, says Help to Buy is only useful for wealthier renters on the brink of purchasing. 'It's useful for older renters who will often have a deposit but won't have enough time left in the workforce to pay off the loan,' he says. 'Most renters have less than $100,000 in savings – there's no way they can buy a home, particularly if they're approaching retirement.' Raising rent assistance by 50 per cent for singles and 40 per cent for couples should be a priority, Coates says. Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Andrew Bragg, said: 'The only way to increase home ownership is to boost housing supply. Under the Coalition, Australia was averaging 190,000 new homes per year. Under Labor, we're barely hitting 170,000 new homes per year. 'Labor's Home Guarantee Scheme is almost useless for many mature first home buyers who will be told 'no' by their lender.' Flowers hopes he can eventually buy something, even if it's to leave to his kids. 'I grew up hearing about Australia the lucky country – doesn't feel too lucky to me, and it won't be like that for our children.'
