Latest news with #JenniferAllen
BBC News
03-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hope for Crooked House pub remains two years after fire
It was almost two years ago that the Crooked House pub was ravaged by famed 18th Century venue in Himley, near Dudley, was known as "Britain's wonkiest pub" due to its distinctive tilt. But the slant was lost when two days after flames gutted the building, the shell was demolished overnight. It was an unexpected levelling that angered the local community who were left to view rubble where history once stood. Or at least leaned. Staffordshire Police treated the blaze as arson and arrested six people in connection with the incident, releasing them on years on, campaigners continue to fight for the return - slant included - of what they dub the "most famous pub in the world". And until the Black Country icon is rebuilt, they say they will not give up. But what drives them on when only bricks remain? Campaigner Jennifer Allen had visited the pub since childhood and said it had meant "quite a lot" to many."As it was burnt down, I was one of the first ones down there, along with my elderly dad," she said."We've got family that live in Canada, Australia, and growing up as a child, whenever they visited, it was a place where we always used to take them."There was plenty to see. The slant - caused by subsidence linked to mining - created the illusion that coins, if dropped inside, appeared to roll "uphill".But for Ms Allen, the venue was more than that. "It was a special place from my childhood," she are the stakes, then. But how might the return happen? It's there where things remain less simple. in February last year, South Staffordshire Council served an enforcement notice on the pub's owners ATE Farms Limited, ordering them to restore the pub within three appeal against the move was lodged the following month by the owners, who had purchased the Crooked House from Marstons in July 2023. A public inquiry was then set to decide the outcome of the that inquiry has been to the council, the planning inspectorate accepted the owners' request for postponement and said it was preferable to deal with the appeal following any potential separate court action relating to the inspectorate noted, however, that the delay should not go on indefinitely, although a projected start date, from the council, of spring this year came and went without Allen, one of the moderators for the Save The Crooked House Facebook group, said people were disappointed with the the pause, she said, would not deter campaigners from the push to get the pub rebuilt "brick by brick". Whether it can - or should - be done, was the subject of this BBC article here. In the meantime, Ms Allen said: "We've all got a story about the Crooked House and what it meant to us."It's a historical building that we should have protected. So it does need to come back." South Staffordshire Council said it "remained committed" to resolving the matter and any further updates would be added on its website."We are still awaiting a decision from Staffordshire Police regarding their ongoing investigations," the authority added, "and any action by ourselves is held in abeyance until such time as their investigations are concluded." Paul Turner, from Wombourne near Wolverhampton, has been fighting for the pub to be rebuilt since the campaign said the Facebook group for that purpose had grown "massively" and now had more than 37,000 members from "all over the world"."We're not giving up at all," he said."The intention [is] to get it rebuilt. We owe it to people."Mr Turner said some observers remained cynical, but despite the delays, campaigners didn't intend to let their movement fizzle out."This is a marathon, not a sprint," he said. "This is something that is going to take a long time, the legal processes never happen quickly."We're confident that we can keep on going and get this done." The building, which emerged in 1765 as a farmhouse, had a children's play area and beer garden and was also used as a wedding gives Mr Turner hope the pub has the potential to become a tourist attraction if rebuilt, complete with a visitor centre and souvenirs."We're going to be in a situation where we could have an unbelievably successful tourist attraction," he said."I see it as being built."A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "The six people that were arrested have been released from bail and are now released under investigation. "Our investigation is ongoing and a file has been submitted to the CPS." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
News18
03-07-2025
- Business
- News18
This Realtor Repaid A Loan Of Rs 10,30,000 With The Help Of ChatGPT
A woman used ChatGPT to repay Rs 10.3 lakh of debt in 30 days. From budgeting to finding lost funds, AI helped her regain control of her finances In a world where Artificial Intelligence is changing how we work, create, and solve problems, one woman found a way to use AI not for tech or business, but to dig herself out of crushing personal debt. Her story proves that smart tools, when used wisely, can make a real impact on everyday lives. How This Woman Repaid Her Loan Artificial Intelligence is transforming countless sectors, from data analysis and automation to streamlining routine tasks. But one woman in the United States took this transformation a step further, using AI to help repay her credit card debt. Jennifer Allen, a 35-year-old realtor and content creator from Delaware, USA, used ChatGPT to tackle more than half of her $23,000 (around ₹19.7 lakh) credit card bill. Although she had a decent income, Jennifer lacked financial literacy. After her daughter's birth and a series of medical emergencies, she found herself increasingly reliant on credit cards. 'We weren't living lavishly—just getting by. But I wasn't keeping track of how quickly the debt was growing," she told Newsweek. The 30-Day AI Finance Challenge Determined to take control of her finances, Jennifer committed to a 30-day personal finance challenge using ChatGPT. Each day, the AI recommended simple but practical tasks—such as cancelling unused subscriptions, launching a side hustle, and reviewing forgotten accounts. On one of those days, Jennifer discovered $10,000 (Rs 8.5 lakh) sitting in an old brokerage account—something she had long forgotten. On another day, she used ChatGPT to create a pantry-based meal plan, cutting down her grocery bill by Rs 50,000 a month. The Results Of Using ChatGPT By the end of the 30 days, Jennifer had repaid $12,078 (Rs 10.3 lakh), more than half of her outstanding debt. 'There was no magic trick. It was about consistency, awareness, and finally paying attention to my finances," she said. 'I stopped being afraid of my numbers." Jennifer now plans to complete another 30-day challenge to clear her remaining debt. Her journey comes at a time when household debt in the US has surged to $18.2 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. For those struggling with similar challenges, her advice is simple: 'You don't have to know everything—just stop turning away from your problems." First Published: July 03, 2025, 12:49 IST
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
‘I stopped being afraid of my numbers': US woman pays off $12K credit card debt with ChatGPT's help
A 35-year-old woman from Delaware is inspiring thousands online after revealing how she paid off more than $12,000 (Rs. 10.28 lakh, approximately) of her $23,000 (Rs. 19.7 lakh, approximately) credit card debt in just 30 days with the help of ChatGPT. Jennifer Allen, a realtor and content creator, told Newsweek that although she earned a decent income, managing her finances had always been a struggle. 'Not because I don't make enough, but because I was never taught financial literacy,' she admitted. For years, she focused on working harder instead of tackling the real issue that was 'poor financial habits'. Things came to a head after she became a mother. 'We weren't living lavishly, we were just surviving. But the debt piled up while I wasn't looking,' she said. To take control of her finances, Jennifer gave herself a 30-day challenge and used ChatGPT as her guide. Each day, she asked the AI tool for simple, practical financial advice and made a point to follow through. The suggestions were simple and straightforward, and the key was in the consistency. 'It wasn't some big financial hack,' Jennifer said, adding, 'It was the act of facing it every day, tracking it, talking about it, looking at it. I stopped being afraid of my numbers.' The AI suggested steps like cancelling unused subscriptions, selling household items on Facebook Marketplace, and planning meals using what was already in her kitchen. One of the biggest wins came when ChatGPT advised her to review her dormant accounts, leading her to discover a brokerage account she had forgotten about, with $10,000 (Rs. 8.56 lakh, approximately) in it. Another money-saving tip came when ChatGPT recommended cutting back on grocery expenses by using existing pantry items. Jennifer said that the strategy alone saved her hundreds of dollars. At the end of the 30 days, she had paid off more than half of her debt. Encouraged by her progress, Jennifer now plans to do a second 30-day challenge to clear the remaining balance. Allen gave simple advice to people by simply stating, 'Don't wait until you feel ready or smart enough to start. You don't have to know all the answers. You just have to stop pretending it's not happening.'
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta surrogacy agency's sudden closure devastates hopeful parents around the world
Hopeful parents from around the world say the sudden closure of an Alberta surrogacy agency has left them at a financial loss and emotionally devastated. The sudden closure of JA Surrogacy Canada has left multiple intended parents emotionally and financially at a loss while also pointing out the pitfalls of Canada's surrogacy system. 'I think fertility is such an emotionally, physically and financially draining journey,' said Kim Appel from central Alberta. 'It makes us feel stuck because we lost a financial aspect, and we lost a little bit of our dreams that could have come true.' She and her husband, Martijn Appel, say they have been trying for 12 years to have a baby. Kim and Martijn Appel Kim and Martijn Appel They signed up with Alberta-based JA Surrogacy Canada and say they spent more than $20,000 in hopes a surrogate would carry their biological child. On Friday, they received an email that the agency would be closing and all the employees terminated. One Hungarian woman living in Ireland tells CTV News she and her husband also spent about $19,000 so the agency could cover the surrogate's expenses. Now they have to start the process all over. 'I feel completely devastated. We are trying to focus on the future instead of the past, but it's very hard,' said the woman, who only wanted to be referred to as Tunde. Tunde Tunde JA Surrogacy was founded by Jennifer Allen; she died in 2023. Her husband, Phil Allen, inherited the company but sent CTV News a statement, which reads in part: 'Unfortunately, recent financial disclosures have brought to light a devastating reality—the company is insolvent, with over $150,000 in liabilities and no funds remaining in its bank accounts. As shareholders, we want to be absolutely clear—we have never taken any compensation, dividends or personal withdrawals from the company.' It also reads: 'We are fully committed to transparency and accountability. In light of the situation, we are in the process of engaging a qualified forensic accountant to conduct a comprehensive review of the company's finances. Our goal is to trace all funds and provide clear answers for every intended parent, surrogate and service provider affected. This is not just a financial review—it is a moral obligation, and we will pursue it with the seriousness it deserves.' Allen has also reached out to RCMP, and CTV News has not been informed if any charges have been laid. The company's now former CEO, Michelle Avery, sent CTV News a statement, which reads in part: 'Mr. Allen made the unilateral decision to close the doors without providing notice or severance to employees, and without allowing proper time for clients to be notified/allowed to direct what occurred with their funds.' One Calgary-based lawyer who helps clients with all aspects related to fertility says it's likely these clients are left without recourse to get their money back. 'The key thing is to make sure that the money that is (held) in trust, which is there for the benefit of the surrogate and managing her expenses through the process—that (money held in trust) is protected,' said Ellen Embury with Embury and West. The sudden closure of JA Surrogacy Canada has left multiple intended parents emotionally and financially at a loss while also pointing out the pitfalls of Canada's surrogacy system. The sudden closure of JA Surrogacy Canada has left multiple intended parents emotionally and financially at a loss while also pointing out the pitfalls of Canada's surrogacy system. Surrogacy pitfalls Same-sex couples, single people or couples experiencing illness or infertility are referred to as 'intended parents' when starting the process of connecting with a surrogate who will carry a pregnancy on their behalf. Surrogates cannot be paid in Canada under law. Expenses like hotel stays and transportation can be covered, and agencies vary in their processes to administer a surrogate's expenses. Agencies are not regulated, and surrogates cannot be compelled to carry a pregnancy, as it's not a service or commodity, said Embury. Fertility advocates say the agency's closure highlights the pitfalls of surrogacy arrangements in Canada. 'Surrogacy shouldn't be full of crazy stories. It shouldn't be full of scary times. We need to support (intended parents) and surrogates,' said Sara Cohen, past president of Fertility Matters Canada. 'Even regulation, in my opinion, is not going to (stop) that some companies go bankrupt and it is tragic and it is awful when it is so hard for this already incredibly vulnerable community to have to experience that.' Cohen is also the founder of Fertility Law and also represents clients across the fertility spectrum. She and Embury agree legalizing compensation for surrogates would provide a basis for regulations to require agencies to protect funds held in a trust. Fertility treatments and surrogacy are governed by the Assisted Human Reproduction Act.
Washington Post
11-06-2025
- Washington Post
The beauty of burn scars
Jennifer Allen's most recent book is 'Mālama Honua: Hōkūle'a - A Voyage of Hope.' The little birds are back. Blackened trees sprout leaves on the highest branches. Excavators clear plots, leaving shallow graves where homes once stood. At the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, in the foothill town of Altadena, things seem to be moving along. In time, reenvisioned and reconstructed, the future landscape will trace the path of one of the most destructive wildfires in California history, the Eaton Fire.
