Latest news with #Litt
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump's Shutdown Of Financial Watchdog Could Burden Military Families
The Trump administration's destruction of a consumer watchdog agency will end up hurting veterans and active members of the armed forces who are vulnerable to predatory banking and credit practices, according to a new report from public-interest groups. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been investigating a growing number of complaints from veterans who say they were fleeced by banks and credit card companies in recent years. But the White House has tried to shut down the CFPB and defund it as the Trump administration pursues draconian cuts across the federal government. Those who served or are serving their country face unique risks that make them 'targets for scams and inflated prices,' including higher rates on auto loans than the general population, the report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group found. 'America's servicemembers, veterans and their families have benefited tremendously from the work of the CFPB,' the authors write, noting the agency has processed 400,000 complaints from those groups since 2011. 'To protect those who serve, policymakers must protect the CFPB.' Congress created the CFPB in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, tasking it with protecting consumers from abuses by banks, credit unions, payday lenders and mortgage servicers, among others. Part of the agency's responsibilities is enforcing the Military Lending Act, which includes specific protections for active-duty service members and their families, such as caps on lending rates. Since 2011, the CFPB has recouped more than $350 million on behalf of servicemembers and veterans who said they were exploited, according to the report. Mike Litt, one of the report's co-authors, said the idea of protecting those who served their country has been baked into the CFPB's mission. When someone files a complaint against a bank or other firm, the CFPB invites them to note whether they have ties to the military. 'Service members and all Americans could pay a price with the dismantling of the CFPB,' Litt, the consumer campaign director at U.S. PIRG, told HuffPost. 'In the case of the service member complaints, what we found is nearly 1 in 4 complaints resulted in some kind of relief, whether monetary or non-monetary,' like someone's credit report getting fixed. Litt noted that the life circumstances of active-duty service members can make them more susceptible to predatory behavior. For instance, they tend to be young, they move a lot and they often have to manage their finances while abroad. Those between ages 18 and 24 are more likely to take out auto loans or credit cards than their civilian counterparts. The CFPB said last year that the number of complaints it received from the military community in 2023 was nearly double the number it received in 2021. A frequent grievance from service members was not receiving a 6% interest rate on auto loans they took out before going on active duty, as they were entitled to under law. Such complaints end up in the CFPB's public database, where Litt says the attention and risk of embarrassment often shames companies into fixing the problem. Their analysis found that 98.5% of service members' complaints received 'a timely response.' 'Because the database is public, companies have an incentive to at least respond,' he said. Republican lawmakers have bashed the CFPB for years, but the agency has never been so imperiled as it is under Trump. In February, Trump's acting CFPB director, White House Budget Director Russell Vought, locked the agency's staff out of their headquarters and ordered them to stop all their work. Trump said at the time that the CFPB was 'very important to get rid of.' A federal judge later blocked the administration's plan to lay off the vast majority of CFPB employees, but that case is under appeal. Meanwhile, the administration is moving ahead as if the courts will bless its plan to destroy the agency: Staffers recently received an email ordering them to clear out their offices in the coming days, Bloomberg Law reported. Last month, the agency's leadership also rescinded dozens of CFPB policy documents, suggesting a major pullback on enforcement even if the courts thwart Trump's mass layoffs. The move was applauded by the American Bankers Association, a leading lobby for the banking industry. Litt noted that the yanked documents included guidance for the public complaint database, which he said could be a 'first step' for shutting it down. 'The withdrawal of that guidance suggests that they are intending to or might hide the database from the public,' he said.
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Record-breaking Northland runner Shannon-Leigh Litt surpasses 500 ultramarathons
'I still have speed in my legs. My body is holding up pretty well. 'Probably at the 450 to 500 [ultramarathon] mark, I struggled a lot ... but that was more of an emotional mindset. Now I'm more positive. 'Some days you feel really good and other days you don't. 'Whenever I'm running with others, it helps me get through.' The criminal defence lawyer, who works out of Whangārei and Kaikohe courts, set out on her epic mission on January 1 with the aim of beating previous world record holder Candice Burt, from Colorado, who ran 200 ultramarathons in 200 days, finishing in May 2023. She quickly accomplished that; by September, she had unofficially smashed the Guinness World Record for running the most consecutive ultramarathons. Litt now plans to submit the data and video footage of her remarkable feat on the day she finishes, to make the record official. When that will be, however, is a mystery. Though completing 600 ultras is her next goal, Litt is remaining tight-lipped on her ultimate goal and exactly when she will have a well-earned rest from running. 'I have a specific date in mind, but I'm not saying. 'All I will say is that I'm well over halfway. 'I've committed to a number; I've got a specific day I'm going to finish, and that'll be it.' Since she began, Litt has completed runs in Kerikeri, Rotorua, Hamilton, Mount Maunganui, and the Dome Valley trail in Warkworth. She ran the Tarawera ultra trail in Rotorua and overseas ultras in Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Dubai, and Austria. Though she doesn't have a specific routine, Litt will often get up about 2am to fit running into her schedule if she has to appear in court. She runs for five to six hours each day to complete each ultramarathon, defined as any running event longer than the traditional marathon length of 42.195km. Common ultra distances include 50km, and Litt is doing at least 51km a day. The Paihia resident then works into the night considering applications from lawyers and does some work online. She recently downloaded an app that allows her to upload documents she can listen to anywhere, at any time. 'You can listen to them while you're running. 'I'm often listening to legal documents for four hours a day when I'm running.' Litt began running for fitness as a teenager. She got involved in half-marathons and marathons in her 20s and, by her early 30s, was running ultras because she found it beneficial for her mental health. Running long distances was a 'personal challenge', which has inspired many people along the way, she said. Some who have seen her out running have decided 'to get out and do a bit of exercise each day'. 'It allows me to connect with other people,' she said. 'And it's motivated a lot of others ... to take on an ultra-challenge or a different goal, not necessarily running or sport. 'It shows people, if you work hard at it, they can do it.'
Herald Sun
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Herald Sun
Barber cuts it fine to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Ex-Godolphin sprinter Barber quickly proved he was a very wise investment with a stakes victory at just his second start for new trainer Richard Litt at Gosford on Saturday. Purchased for $215,000 at an Inglis Digital auction late last year, Barber paid off a significant portion of that price tag with a narrow win in the Listed $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). It came at just his second start for Litt and delivered his owners a $140,000 windfall. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'They are maybe a little bit short (of the investment) but today would be a good payday,' Litt said. 'He is a wonderful horse, he ran extremely well first-up at Canterbury, probably a little bit unlucky. 'Today I couldn't watch when he was three-wide, I just bowed my head and thought oh well, what will be will be, and it was good to see him tough it out.' Jockey Tyler Schiller was unable to find cover and remained in the three-deep line throughout, making his run inside the final 600m alongside the Kris Lees-trained Brudenell ($11). The paired off to fight it and went toe-to-toe over the length of the home straight. Barber ($8) got his nose down when it counted to get the measure of Brudenell to score in a photo finish with the James Cummings-trained Spacewalk ($18) surging home for third. Barber's win ensured punters landed a significant plunge after he opened as much as $26 with bookies during the week. • Know Thyself continues stellar form to win The Coast 'I saw the money coming for him, it's definitely not mine,' Litt said. 'But massive congratulations to Jason and the Monarch Racing boys. 'They put their money on the line to buy this horse and we've got a massive result.' Litt has been made a habit of winning with Godolphin cast-offs with the likes of Balkans, Huon, Sedition, Destination and Morton's Fork all successful for the trainer. 'They are wonderful to buy off,' Litt said. 'You know what you're getting. They're great horses. 'James is a wonderful trainer and they have a great team. 'They are very transparent and from my point of view, I am very lucky to be able to buy them.' Litt is open to heading to Queensland for a Brisbane winter carnival assault with Barber. The gelding holds nominations for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in the Sunshine State. Originally published as Barber overcomes tough run to post first win for new connections in Takeover Target Stakes
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists issue warning over newly discovered species that is already on the brink of extinction: 'Quite distinct'
Urban development in California is threatening a new manzanita species — a plant species already considered highly vulnerable since its discovery in the area. The Dana Reserve project, a housing development in Nipomo, is a 288-acre community with 1,370 residential units on land where a new manzanita species was discovered, the University of California, Riverside observed. Manzanitas are drought-tolerant evergreen shrubs or tiny trees. Growing to 6 to 12 feet, they are easily spotted by their smooth, red-brown bark. These trees thrive in xeric conditions, appearing frequently on rocky slopes, canyons, and barren ridges, according to a Department of Agriculture plant database. Indigenous peoples of California sometimes used the wood of manzanita trees to dry and smoke fish and the dried berries of the plant, ground to coarse grains, to make biscuits, according to University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. The tree's flowers naturally attracted pollinators including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. "We weren't expecting to find a new species in such a developed area," said Amy Litt, UC Riverside plant biologist. "But as we examined the plants, we realized the Nipomo Mesa plants were quite distinct." For example, they featured a shaggy gray bark. Using genetic analysis, Litt and a team of researchers confirmed the discovery of the new species. They named it Arctostaphylos nipumu after the Nipomo Mesa area where it was discovered, paying homage to its indigenous heritage, too. Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 700 (and perhaps only 300) individual A. nipumu trees in the Nipomo Mesa area. The Dana Reserve project risks wiping out this new manzanita species before it can fully take hold. "This manzanita isn't just a plant," study co-author and graduate student Tito Abbo said. "It's part of what makes this ecosystem unique. Losing it would mean erasing a piece of California's natural history and heritage." Manzanita trees also provide much-needed shelter and habitat for wildlife, including birds, rabbits, and foxes that find shelter in their low-growing branches. Per the National Park Service, the tree's berries feed black bears, coyotes, mule deer, and other wildlife, while its flowers attract important pollinators that protect the food supply. Though this development project received final approval in November, the scientists are hopeful that their discovery will spark important discussions on the conservation of threatened native plants. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. In January, the Nipomo Action Committee and California Native Plant Society filed a lawsuit against Dana Reserve developer Nick Tompkins and the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission to protect the species, according to New Times. Recently, New York issued a $121,000 fine to a contractor for removing native trees and plants from protected wetlands for commercial development. And a couple in California was fined $165,000 for ruining the habitat of a rare flower on their property. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Forbes
06-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Want To Sell Like Mr. Beast? Brands Must Build A Strong Community
At the first-ever Spotter Showcase, creators weren't pitching content. They were selling loyalty and community. Hosted by YouTubers Colin and Samir, the upfront-style event featured stars like MrBeast, Kinigra Deon, and Jordan Matter making a clear case to CMOs and media buyers: creators aren't just talent. They're channels, production studios, and community builders. As Jordan Matter explained: 'An influencer invites you into their home every week, and you feel like you're part of their family. Once you've built that loyalty, you can sell almost anything.' This kind of connection goes far beyond reach. Creators build parasocial relationships—one-sided but deeply felt connections that make their content one of the most trusted spaces for brand messages. That's why community isn't just friendly to have. It's a competitive advantage brands can't afford to overlook. To fully appreciate its value, you first have to understand what community really means. Community isn't a campaign or a following. It's a group of people connected by shared values and identity. As Sara Wilson, founder of community strategy consultancy SW Projects, explains: 'It reflects some part of who they are, and being part of it helps them feel seen, known, and understood.' Darren Litt started Hiya Health not with a product but with a problem: 'As a parent, I was overwhelmed. Our pediatrician told us to buy five different products: vitamins, probiotics, and powders, and I realized none were built for kids the way I'd want.' So he and co-founder Adam Gillman launched Hiya, a brand offering clean, effective children's health products without sugar, dyes, or unnecessary additives. 'We launched Hiya as a direct-to-consumer company so we could talk to our customers from day one,' Litt said. 'That one-to-one relationship is powerful.' Every team member, including the CEO, responds to customer messages monthly through DMs, emails, or comments. 'You can't lead if you're not listening,' Litt explained. That direct line to their audience has shaped everything from communication to product development. One example: Hiya's Kids Daily Greens + Superfoods powder wasn't on the roadmap. It came directly from conversations with parents frustrated by having to sneak adult powders into their kids' milk. Hiya responded by testing flavors, adjusting ingredients, and launching a product based on community feedback. That same community defended Hiya during a viral misinformation incident that falsely accused the brand of containing heavy metals. Litt didn't rely on a traditional press release—he didn't need to. Hiya's brand advocates stepped in immediately, speaking up across TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and comment sections with their personal experiences. 'They weren't just our customers,' Litt said. 'They were our voice. And they were passionate and very effective.' As Sara Wilson puts it: 'When you've built true community, your members respond to threats against the brand as if they were threats against their own identity. Because in many ways, they are.' And that loyalty delivered tangible business results. In December 2024, USANA Health Sciences acquired a 78.8% controlling stake in Hiya for $205 million. Over the prior 12 months, the company served over 200,000 customers and generated $103 million in net sales. Traditional publishing is slow, consolidated, and risk-averse. Success often depends on securing an agent, convincing an editor, and navigating a release cycle built for another era. Enter Bindery. Founded by Matt Kaye and Meghan Harvey, publishing and tech veterans from Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Amazon, and Patreon, Bindery flips the script. It empowers creators from platforms like BookTok to become publishers. Instead of just recommending books, these tastemakers now curate, acquire, and launch them through community-driven imprints. 'Cozy Fantasy' is a perfect example. A genre that once barely registered in traditional publishing has exploded on BookTok. One leading voice, Meg Hood, known as 'Meg's Tea Room,' launched her imprint, Cozy Quill, through Bindery. When she revealed the cover for Recipes for an Unexpected Afterlife by Deston J. Munden (publishing October 2025), her audience responded immediately, driving preorders and engagement. With thousands of book club members, Meg is helping shape what gets read and recommended—leaving traditional publishers scrambling to keep up. 'Bindery books aren't bought,' said Kaye. 'They're backed.' The results are measurable. House of Frank by Kay Synclaire, a cozy fantasy novel released in October 2024 by creator Jaysen Headley through his Ezeekat Press imprint, sold nearly 20,000 copies. It earned positive trade reviews, coverage in traditional media, distribution into hundreds of bookstores, and multiple award nominations. Sales weren't driven by conventional marketing. They were powered by community momentum and creator demand. Bindery also unlocks new revenue models. Fans subscribe to monthly memberships for perks like early access, voting on publishing decisions, and private community engagement. These examples challenge the assumption that community is just a marketing tactic. It's not. A strong community delivers product R&D, brand protection, built-in distribution, and long-term resilience. Hiya Health builds new products based on what parents are already asking for. Bindery Books publishes stories that communities already love, skipping the guesswork. Spotter Studio supports creators so brands can access trust and loyalty at scale. In each case, the value is tangible, measurable, and scalable. Building a community isn't just a marketing move. It's a strategic play. Like data, its value compounds over time when nurtured and managed well. The most forward-thinking brands will stop asking, 'How do we reach more people?' and start asking, 'How do we matter more to the people already with us?
