Latest news with #Halloran
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Vacations That Are Nothing Like Disney (That You Might Actually Find More Worth Your Money)
Looking for some fun, family destinations but Mickey just isn't your vibe? No one would blame you. Waiting in long, hot lines with coughing and screaming children is an acquired taste. According to Diana Peng, traveler and blogger at Just Wanderlust, a mid-range four-day, three-night Disney trip (sans airfare) for a family of four is pushing $4,000. And you may find more enjoyable destinations offering higher value for that kind of money. Explore More: Check Out: Here are five vacations to consider if you're tired of Disney. Who needs Disney when you can head to Washington, D.C.? It's educational, has something for all ages, and, according to Cynthia Matthews von Berg of Sharing the Wander, offers mostly free attractions. Plus, in the summer, there's a nice mix of air-conditioned spaces and outdoor activities for when you either need a break from the heat or wish to have a picnic under the cherry blossoms. Younger kids will love the Air & Space Museum or Wegmans Wonderplace in the Natural Museum of American History; older kids will love the Spy Museum; all ages will enjoy a tour of the White House or Capitol Building, or a night tour of the National Mall when all the monuments are lit up. Von Berg recommended a three-to-four-day trip, and said hotels run approximately $200 to $250 per night to sleep a family of four. For food, budget roughly $50 per day per person. On the high end, that's already less than half the price of Disney! Trending Now: Vukan Simic, founder and CEO at FishingBooker, described the Carlsbad Caves as akin to stepping into a subterranean wonderland. Here's why: Hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert are more than 119 caves that formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone, leaving behind stalactites that cling to the roof. 'The natural path of entry is a discovery because children observe formations with imaginative names like Whale's Mouth and Iceberg Rock,' stated Simic. And there's also a sunset bat flight tour which 'produces a natural spectacle more memorable than a fireworks display.' The Carlsbad Caverns National Park charges a $15 entrance fee for adults; kids under 15 years of age get in free. While prices for accommodations can vary depending on season and availability, Simic estimated $100 to $200 per night could typically sleep an entire family. A meaningful alternative to a commercialized theme park, Costa Rica is the ultimate 'anti-Disney,' according to Casey Halloran, CEO and co-founder at Costa Rican Vacations. Offering an off-the-grid experience, families can view sloths in treetops, learn about medicinal plants on a jungle hike and even encounter whales on a catamaran cruise. 'Cultural immersion goes beyond staged shows,' stated Halloran. 'Visitors grind cacao with indigenous families, paint traditional ox carts in rural mountain towns and learn to make tortillas on a working farm.' Forget Magic Kingdom — Halloran claims Costa Rica offers a natural magic you won't forget. He said the price of a seven-night vacation for a family of four (including lodging, on-site transport and tours — but not airfare) runs roughly between $3,500 and $5,500 depending on season, number of destinations and type of lodging. Easy-going and vibrant with delicious cuisine to boot, Peng described Oaxaca as the heartbeat of Mexico. And it doesn't hurt that the dollar goes a lot farther there, too. 'We found a whole plaza dedicated to ice cream, a cat café, chocolate making classes, free museums, fun parades every week and even an old railroad stop turned into a kids' discovery museum,' stated Peng. And if parents need alone time, they can venture just outside the city to see the ancient ruins of the Zapotec, tequila factories or a stunning, petrified waterfall known as Hierve El Agua. Excluding airfare, Peng estimated a family of four could visit Costa Rica for four days at a cost of roughly $1,100. This includes four nights in a two-bedroom villa in June ($550), meals ($320), transportation ($50) and additional entertainment and attractions. Those looking for the opposite of a theme park might consider visiting Sintra, Portugal, advised Daniel Ponce, founder of Yes, You Deserve! A resort town in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains and a mere 40-minute drive from Lisbon, Sintra is tranquil, culturally-rich and fairly cost-efficient. It was also the first center of European romantic architecture in the 1800's when the cooler climate enticed Portuguese nobility to construct their summer residences there. Full of real-life castles, opulent palaces, gardens, forest trails and wells, both kids and adults can enjoy immersing themselves in a combination of nature and history. With airfare excluded, Ponce estimated that a family of four can visit Sintra for four nights and five days for roughly $1,600 (including lodging, food, full-day tours and admission to monuments). More From GOBankingRates These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle This article originally appeared on 5 Vacations That Are Nothing Like Disney (That You Might Actually Find More Worth Your Money)
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Vacations That Are Nothing Like Disney (That You Might Actually Find More Worth Your Money)
Looking for some fun, family destinations but Mickey just isn't your vibe? No one would blame you. Waiting in long, hot lines with coughing and screaming children is an acquired taste. According to Diana Peng, traveler and blogger at Just Wanderlust, a mid-range four-day, three-night Disney trip (sans airfare) for a family of four is pushing $4,000. And you may find more enjoyable destinations offering higher value for that kind of money. Explore More: Check Out: Here are five vacations to consider if you're tired of Disney. Who needs Disney when you can head to Washington, D.C.? It's educational, has something for all ages, and, according to Cynthia Matthews von Berg of Sharing the Wander, offers mostly free attractions. Plus, in the summer, there's a nice mix of air-conditioned spaces and outdoor activities for when you either need a break from the heat or wish to have a picnic under the cherry blossoms. Younger kids will love the Air & Space Museum or Wegmans Wonderplace in the Natural Museum of American History; older kids will love the Spy Museum; all ages will enjoy a tour of the White House or Capitol Building, or a night tour of the National Mall when all the monuments are lit up. Von Berg recommended a three-to-four-day trip, and said hotels run approximately $200 to $250 per night to sleep a family of four. For food, budget roughly $50 per day per person. On the high end, that's already less than half the price of Disney! Trending Now: Vukan Simic, founder and CEO at FishingBooker, described the Carlsbad Caves as akin to stepping into a subterranean wonderland. Here's why: Hidden beneath the surface of the Chihuahuan Desert are more than 119 caves that formed when sulfuric acid dissolved limestone, leaving behind stalactites that cling to the roof. 'The natural path of entry is a discovery because children observe formations with imaginative names like Whale's Mouth and Iceberg Rock,' stated Simic. And there's also a sunset bat flight tour which 'produces a natural spectacle more memorable than a fireworks display.' The Carlsbad Caverns National Park charges a $15 entrance fee for adults; kids under 15 years of age get in free. While prices for accommodations can vary depending on season and availability, Simic estimated $100 to $200 per night could typically sleep an entire family. A meaningful alternative to a commercialized theme park, Costa Rica is the ultimate 'anti-Disney,' according to Casey Halloran, CEO and co-founder at Costa Rican Vacations. Offering an off-the-grid experience, families can view sloths in treetops, learn about medicinal plants on a jungle hike and even encounter whales on a catamaran cruise. 'Cultural immersion goes beyond staged shows,' stated Halloran. 'Visitors grind cacao with indigenous families, paint traditional ox carts in rural mountain towns and learn to make tortillas on a working farm.' Forget Magic Kingdom — Halloran claims Costa Rica offers a natural magic you won't forget. He said the price of a seven-night vacation for a family of four (including lodging, on-site transport and tours — but not airfare) runs roughly between $3,500 and $5,500 depending on season, number of destinations and type of lodging. Easy-going and vibrant with delicious cuisine to boot, Peng described Oaxaca as the heartbeat of Mexico. And it doesn't hurt that the dollar goes a lot farther there, too. 'We found a whole plaza dedicated to ice cream, a cat café, chocolate making classes, free museums, fun parades every week and even an old railroad stop turned into a kids' discovery museum,' stated Peng. And if parents need alone time, they can venture just outside the city to see the ancient ruins of the Zapotec, tequila factories or a stunning, petrified waterfall known as Hierve El Agua. Excluding airfare, Peng estimated a family of four could visit Costa Rica for four days at a cost of roughly $1,100. This includes four nights in a two-bedroom villa in June ($550), meals ($320), transportation ($50) and additional entertainment and attractions. Those looking for the opposite of a theme park might consider visiting Sintra, Portugal, advised Daniel Ponce, founder of Yes, You Deserve! A resort town in the foothills of the Sintra Mountains and a mere 40-minute drive from Lisbon, Sintra is tranquil, culturally-rich and fairly cost-efficient. It was also the first center of European romantic architecture in the 1800's when the cooler climate enticed Portuguese nobility to construct their summer residences there. Full of real-life castles, opulent palaces, gardens, forest trails and wells, both kids and adults can enjoy immersing themselves in a combination of nature and history. With airfare excluded, Ponce estimated that a family of four can visit Sintra for four nights and five days for roughly $1,600 (including lodging, food, full-day tours and admission to monuments). More From GOBankingRates 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement This article originally appeared on 5 Vacations That Are Nothing Like Disney (That You Might Actually Find More Worth Your Money)
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Prospera™ Heart Test with DQS Outperforms dd-cfDNA Percentage in Detecting Allograft Rejection, New AJT Publication Shows
Study published in American Journal of Transplantation highlights strong sensitivity and specificity, along with a >37% reduction in false positives when using Prospera Heart with DQS Adds to the growing body of evidence supporting DQS for dd-cfDNA analysis in solid organ transplant AUSTIN, Texas, May 07, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, today announced that the American Journal of Transplantation (AJT) published a new study1 evaluating the performance of Prospera Heart with DQS to detect allograft rejection. Prospera with DQS leverages a two-threshold algorithm, combining the traditional donor fraction (dd-cfDNA %, measuring dd-cfDNA as a fraction of total cfDNA) and donor quantity score (DQS, estimating the total quantity of dd-cfDNA in the blood). This method delivers a single result for risk assessment of both antibody mediated rejection (AMR) and acute cellular rejection (ACR). In the study, 808 Prospera Heart test samples were obtained from 187 heart transplant patients alongside paired endomyocardial biopsies. Prospera with DQS was compared to dd-cfDNA %-alone to assess the detection of biopsy-proven allograft rejection. The study highlights the following performance improvements demonstrated by Prospera with DQS, including: Sensitivity increased from 78.2% to 86.5%. Specificity increased from 76.9% to 83.6%. Area under the curve (AUC) increased from 0.865 to 0.881 A reduction in false positive cases of 37.3% "This publication provides evidence that combining dd-cfDNA % with DQS improves the accuracy of dd-cfDNA testing for acute rejection over dd-cfDNA %-alone," said Josef Stehlik, M.D., M.P.H., one of the study investigators and medical director of the Heart Transplant Program and co-chief of the Advanced Heart Failure Program at the University of Utah. "It is encouraging to see that this novel approach significantly reduced false positive results and will help to obviate unnecessary biopsies in clinical care. This is another step in providing enhanced care for heart transplant patients using noninvasive tools to determine risk of rejection." This data confirms the growing body of evidence for the utilization of DQS when analyzing dd-cfDNA in solid organ transplant, including a study evaluating DQS in kidney transplant (Halloran et al). Natera has also demonstrated the value of DQS in the supplemental data from its 2022 DEDUCE study2 in Prospera Heart, as well as recently announced data from the DEFINE-HT study.
Extra.ie
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
RTÉ news correspondent signs off after 38 years
RTÉ's Mid West Correspondent, Cathy Halloran, has announced her retirement after 38 years with the national broadcaster. The Dubliner has worked with RTÉ News for almost four decades, with 31 years spent as the Mid-West Correspondent. Taking to X over the bank holiday weekend, the journalist revealed that she was signing off for the final time. Cathy Halloran announced she has retired after 38 years with the national broadcaster. Pic: Cathy Halloran / X She wrote: 'Over & out — Last day @rtenews after 38 years, 31 as Midwest Correspondent.' Ms Halloran went on to thank the thousands of people she'd met and interviewed, adding that it had 'been a privilege' A number of the reporter's colleagues were among the first to congratulate Ms Halloran on her lengthy career, with Teresa Mannion writing: 'Going out on such a high. You'll be sorely missed, Cathy, but this is your time in the sun. Legendary sports reporter Marty Morrissey added: 'What a journalist, broadcaster, colleague and friend. Cathy, you are a Legend! Thank you for always being so kind and giving me your Camera Crew when I needed them.' Over & out—last day @rtenews after 38 years 31as Mid West Correspondent 🙏to the 000's I met & interviewed been a privilege 🌷 — Cathy Halloran (@HalloranCathy) May 2, 2025 Ms Halloran started her journalism career in the 1980s when she began working with The Farmer Magazine. She later moved to the Connacht Tribune newspaper in Co Galway. In 1987, she moved back to the capital to begin working with RTÉ News, reporting for television and radio on a wide range of stories, including the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Beef Industry at Dublin Castle from 1990. Ms Halloran was later appointed as the Midwest Correspondent in 1993, a position she has held for 31 years. Speaking to RTÉ recently about her retirement, Ms Halloran paid tribute to her colleagues in what she branded a 'very competitive' region. Ms Halloran thanked the thousands of people she'd met and interviewed, adding that it had 'been a privilege' Pic: Cathy Halloran / X She added that her colleagues and friends had been 'great supporters' of her career and work. 'But most of all, it's the people and communities of the Midwest who have allowed me into their homes and their hearts to let me tell their stories around the issues that were of concern and mattered to them,' she told the national broadcaster. 'That has been a great joy and privilege, and I will miss it hugely.' It is understood that Ms Halloran is looking forward to a 'gentler pace of life' as she signs off for the final time. Ms Halloran resides in Limerick City with her partner Nicky Woulfe and son John Michael.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fox Hollow Farm serial killer's 10th victim identified: coroner
A 10th victim has been recovered from Fox Hollow Farm, where suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister lived in Indiana. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office said in a news release that the body found at Fox Hallow Farm in Westfield, Indiana, belongs to Daniel Thomas Halloran. According to Fox 59, Halloran was born in 1972, but officials aren't sure when he died. Halloran is the 10th identified victim from Fox Hollow Farm, but investigators have tied Baumeister to at least 25 victims overall. A spokesperson for the Hamilton County Coroner's Office told Fox News Digital it still has three DNA profiles that haven't yet been identified. Fox Hollow Serial Killer's Secret Tapes Could Reveal Murder Horrors If Ever Found: Documentary Halloran's daughter, 32-year-old Coral Halloran, told WTHR that she didn't know how to respond upon hearing that her father was an alleged victim of Baumeister. She said her father went missing in 1993, just one year after she was born. "I feel kind of like I'm mourning," Coral said. "All my life, I kind of expected my dad to be around and one day hoping he'd come try to find me. Read On The Fox News App "It makes me sick and weary to my stomach, having to know my dad was brutally murdered. It's hard. And for all the other victims out there, their families, I'm with them. I'm praying hard for them." Police believe Baumeister lured gay men to his home between the 1980s and 1990s, where he would allegedly kill them and bury their bodies across his 18-acre property. Around 10,000 bone fragments and charred bones were found on the property. Detectives believe Baumeister often went to gay bars in the Indianapolis area. During periods when his family was out of town, Baumeister lured men into his home where it's believed he killed them. Baumeister owned the Sav-A-Lot shopping chain. SIGN UP TO GET True Crime Newsletter In 1996, Baumeister killed himself in a Canadian park shortly after bone fragments were discovered on his property, prompting an investigation to be opened. "This identification is a significant development in our ongoing efforts to provide answers to the families of those who went missing," Jeff Jellison, Hamilton County coroner, said after Halloran's remains were identified. "We are grateful for the expertise of Othram and the advances in forensic science that made this possible." New England Serial Killer Fears Merit 'Review And Investigation' After Remains Found Across 3 States: Expert According to a recent documentary from ABC News Studios titled "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer," investigators believe Baumeister filmed his victims using a hidden camera placed in a basement air vent. "Something to relive… the murders," said retired Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Det. Cary Milligan. "We're looking through the bottom of the entertainment area… and we noticed this vent. … I was suspicious that if Herb was videotaping any activity that might have been going on. … That may have been a way that Herb could've gained power over the individuals that he was killing." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub "It's not uncommon for serial killers to keep mementos or trinkets from victims," Milligan added. Jellison previously told Fox News Digital it's unlikely the video recordings will be recovered. The coroner's office said forensic laboratory Othram Inc. played a critical role in identifying Halloran through DNA analysis. The Indiana State Police, University of Indianapolis, Human Identification Center and Marion County Coroner's Office also assisted in identifying the remains. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X Fox News Digital's Stephanie Nolasco and Audrey Conklin contributed to this article source: Fox Hollow Farm serial killer's 10th victim identified: coroner
