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Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
NASCAR Driver and Model Toni Breidinger Robbed in New York, Seeks Help Online
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. NASCAR Truck Series driver Toni Breidinger revealed on X that she was robbed in New York. She took to social media to alert her fans from the Ithaca region in NY to look out for her items in case they were offered for sale on various online platforms. Ahead of the race weekend at Watkins Glen, the Victoria's Secret model revealed that her car had been broken into, and a suitcase with 'TB' written on it was stolen. It contained her personal belongings, including her 818 Tequila and Coach racing suit. It is likely that the person who executed the theft will use the internet to sell these items for a handsome price. As a result, Breidinger urged fans to look out for her items on several platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, and other mediums. She wrote on X: Toni Breidinger, driver of the #5 Sunoco 94 Octane Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.... Toni Breidinger, driver of the #5 Sunoco 94 Octane Toyota, waits on the grid prior to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway on June 20, 2025 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. More"Anyone in the Ithaca NY area! My car was broken into last night, and my suitcase was stolen. It's a custom Tumi suitcase with TB on it. Inside were personal items, including my 818 and Coach suits. If you happen to see a suitcase or my racing stuff that's being sold on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, or anywhere else, please send me the link." Anyone in the Ithaca NY area! My car was broken into last night, and my suitcase was stolen. It's a custom Tumi suitcase with TB on it. Inside were personal items, including my 818 and Coach suits. If you happen to see a suitcase or my racing stuff that's being sold on Facebook… — Toni Breidinger (@ToniBreidinger) August 8, 2025 Unfortunately, the 26-year-old driver experienced a disastrous moment on the racetrack, too, given the DNF she secured after her truck caught fire. She started the race from P28, but as she was making moves in the race, a mechanical failure on her Toyota ended her day after huge flames billowed from underneath. Luckily, she was able to steer it safely to the pit road before coming out unharmed. Toni Breidinger's day goes up in flames at Watkins Glen. Caution is out. — FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) August 8, 2025 Racing in her first Truck Series season this year with Tricon Garage, Breidinger has been trying hard to improve her performance. While finishing in the top 10 seems like a distant dream, she has finished in the top 20. Acknowledging the steep learning curve she has been going through, Breidinger said in May: "Yeah, there's honestly quite a bit of things that I was kind of surprised by this year. I knew the learning curve was going to be steep, and I knew that I had a lot to learn. But I don't think I realized how much I was going to learn, how much I'm taking away. "Like, after every race, I'm like wow, I feel like a new driver because I've learned so much. So, yeah, almost the unknown of I didn't know how much new stuff I was going to learn. In so many different areas, from the tracks and the truck and the aero. Yeah, I've been learning a lot, and I'm like, I can't believe I've been learning this much. Kind of crazy, but yeah."
Axios
09-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Thrift stores boom as Indy shoppers seek savings
Indianapolis shoppers seeking savings and sustainability are finding it in the Circle City's wide selection of secondhand shops. The big picture: Cost concerns related to inflation, President Trump's shifting tariff targets, supply chain issues and broader economic uncertainty are driving an uptick in business at thrift and consignment stores nationwide. What they're saying: While resale does well all the time, "it does even better during an economic [downturn]," Adele Meyer, executive director of the National Association of Resale Professionals, told Axios. By the numbers: The popularity of secondhand shopping was already on the rise before the tariffs. A 2024 Recommerce Report from OfferUp found that 35% of shoppers embarked on their first resale journey in the past year — an 8% year-over-year increase. A majority of shoppers said they turned to resale due to increased cost of living (58%) or cost savings compared to buying new (53%). 55% growth is projected for the re-commerce market by 2029, reaching $291.6 billion, with resale expected to account for 8% of total retail, even without the tariff impact. What we're watching: OfferUp, a peer-to-peer marketplace mostly for local goods, expects to see an uptick in secondhand buying in categories where tariffs may significantly impact retail supply, Ken Murphy, the company's chief innovation officer, told Axios. "We've seen that when supply chain disruptions occur and popular items become more scarce, people often turn toward secondhand options to get what they need at prices they can afford," Murphy said. "Consumers want to stretch their budgets without sacrificing quality." Case in point: Dustin Abernathy, who says he has become a regular Offerup and thrift store shopper this year, is finding treasure in the form of gently used electronics like gaming peripherals and computer monitors. "The big companies are doing price hikes and adding what feels like a tariff premium on new products, so I'm looking for older, quality stuff that won't be subject to that kind of game," he said. Zoom in: Jerrica Morris, a frequent thifter, says some of her favorite local spots include Zodiac Vintage, Naptown Thrift and Broad Ripple Vintage. "I get to shop more and spend less. It also keeps me from dressing like everyone else," she said. "It's fun to dig for deals and put together creative outfits." 🛍️ Bonus: Thrifting for a good cause Getting thrifty isn't just about saving cash. It can also be about saving lives. Between the lines: The Indianapolis metro is full of secondhand shops that give back to the community with every ring of the cash register. Here are five spots to check out if you're interested in thrifting or donating to a good cause. Thrifty Threads: Locations at 1501 W. 86th St. and 8424 Castleton Corner Dr. Operated by The Julian Center, which helps victims of domestic violence and abuse start fresh. Center clients can shop Thrifty Threads' selection of clothes, home goods and furniture for free. Open for shopping 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Open for donations 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday. Mission27 Resale: Locations at 132 Leota St. and 1618 Shelby St. Goods bought at Mission27 support SVdP Indy's food pantry and Changing Lives Forever program. The latter gives community members in need the chance to undergo skills training and mentorship to continue their education and secure stable employment. Leota Street is open 10am-6pm Monday-Friday and 9am-5pm Saturday. Shelby Street is open 10am-6pm Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday. Wheeler Mission Store: 8640 E. 96th St., Fishers. Proceeds from the massive collection of clothing and household items sold have been providing meals, job training, life skills and shelter for guests of Wheeler Mission since 2007. Open 9am-8pm Monday-Friday, and 10am-6pm Saturday. The ReStore: Locations at 4129 W. Washington St.; 7998 Centerpoint Dr., Fishers; 1141 W. U.S. 40, Greenfield and 1099 N. Avon Ave., Avon. This network of four home improvement thrift stores sells merchandise to benefit Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity. Open 10am-6pm Monday-Saturday. Grace Thrift Store: 5504 E. 146th St., Noblesville. Enter via door 18 within the Grace Church campus. All proceeds directly benefit Grace Care Center services and programs, including supplying food for up to 1,000 families each week through the Choice Food Pantry. Open 10am-2pm Sunday-Wednesday, and 6am-8pm Monday and Tuesday.
Engadget
17-06-2025
- Business
- Engadget
The 560-pound Twitter sign met a fiery end in a Nevada desert
To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Earlier this year, the 12-foot tall, 560-pound Twitter logo that used to sit atop the company's San Francisco headquarters was auctioned off for $34,000. Now, we know who bought it and what became of the sign: it was blown up in the Nevada desert as part of an elaborate stunt to promote an online marketplace app. In some ways, "Larry," as the blue Twitter bird was known to former employees, met an end that mirrors the death of the social media platform it once represented: an explosive, expensive spectacle that leaves you wondering what, exactly, was the point of it all. For Ditchit, a startup hoping to compete with services like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp, the chance to own — and then blow up — a piece of social media history was a unique opportunity. In the video posted to YouTube, Ditchit attempts to draw some parallels between Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter and its own startup ambitions. "Elon Musk rebranded Twitter to X to support free expression," the video says. "We're doing the same for local marketplaces." The connection seems tenuous at best, but James Deluca, who oversees Ditchit's PR efforts, says the company's mainstream competitors like OfferUp are "prioritizing profits over the user experience," pointing to high seller fees and other policies that prioritize listings from businesses rather than the "average person who wants to sell in their garage." Deluca claims the decision to actually blow up the enormous Twitter sign "emerged organically" sometime after Ditchit placed the winning bid. "The initial thought of purchasing the sign was driven by nostalgia," he told Engadget. "Everyone in the office is a tech enthusiast, and we thought it would be cool to own a piece of history." But any sentimental attachment the company's employees had apparently didn't last long. After paying to move the 12-foot sign from San Francisco to Ditchit's office in Orange County, California, it moved the sign another 250 miles to the desert outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The company arranged for the controlled explosion to happen at an outdoor "adventure park" that allows visitors to shoot machine guns and drive monster trucks. Deluca didn't disclose how much the startup spent on the stunt, but said it was "a considerable investment" for the company that launched its app less than a year ago. As part of the effort, Ditchit also rented four Tesla Cybertrucks and hired a 15-person production team to capture the moment from all possible angles. The explosion itself was engineered by a pyrotechnics expert who typically works on film sets. "We wanted to really make a statement and make the scene as dramatic as possible," Deluca said. Somehow, the explosion isn't quite the end of Larry's story, though. Ditchit says it's selling fragments of the sign it retrieved after the explosion and will list them on its app in a sealed-bid auction beginning today. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit that advocates for startups and lists Meta, Amazon and Google as members of its corporate advisory council.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Expecting dad shot, killed during a online sale meetup in Norwalk
The Brief An 18-year-old soon-to-be father, Geovanni Chavez, was shot dead in Norwalk while selling clothes from an online forum. Family members and neighbors mourn his loss, describing him as a good kid with a beautiful heart. Investigators have found a baseball bat near the scene, but no arrests have been made, and the teen's phone is missing. LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. - A soon-to-be father was shot dead in Norwalk Wednesday afternoon while family members say he was meeting with someone from an online forum. What they're saying "He was actually selling some clothes," said Eduardo Castro. "I'm not sure if it was OfferUp or any other link. What transpired after that, we don't know." Family members identify the victim as 18-year-old Geovanni Chavez. "My son was taken too early," said Roxanne, the teen's mother. "My son was an amazing kid. He had a beautiful heart." A memorial is growing outside the gated apartment complex along Los Alisos Circle where Chavez was shot around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. "I want justice for him," said Amber, a neighbor. "He was too young. He was such a good kid. He was sweet." Investigators discovered a baseball bat near the shooting scene. However, family members tell FOX 11 the teen's phone is missing. They're not sure who would have killed the 18-year-old. He was about to become a father. "He was going to be a dad," said Roxanne. "He was excited. He had everything ready." "We're just devastated, and we'll get our closure for sure," said Castro. What we don't know So far, no arrests have been made in this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact law enforcement. Local perspective "I would ask the community out there to get behind the family," said Marcus, a friend. "Pray for the family. Pray for the other side of this too. Pray for the idiot that thought this was his only option. I just hope God lets us see the lesson in all this." A GoFundMe page has since been launched to help the family cover funeral expenses. Those looking to help can click here.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Americans Eye Secondhand Goods to Get Around Tariff-Driven Price Hikes
Operators of secondhand marketplaces for items ranging from footwear to toys and home necessities have said they expect tariff-triggered price anxiety to boost interest in resold goods. The U.S. secondhand market generated about $53 billion in 2023 revenue, according to Capital One. OfferUp, which has more than 40 million users in the U.S., said searches for smartphones, appliances, tech gadgets and electric bikes surged in wary of the effect tariffs could have on their wallets are shifting their gaze toward secondhand goods. Operators of secondhand marketplaces for items ranging from footwear to toys and home necessities have said they expect tariff-triggered price anxiety to boost interest in resold goods. Secondhand marketplace OfferUp has lately seen searches for some products—including Apple (AAPL) AirPods, washer/dryers, and couches—rise to 10 times their typical levels, executives told Investopedia. The data 'makes it clear that something is happening,' said OfferUp Chief Business Officer Nathan Garnett. 'We're probably at the very leading edge of seeing actual impact on the resale marketplace from these tariffs and consumers starting to search for alternative ways of finding things that they want.' The U.S. secondhand market generated about $53 billion in 2023 revenue, according to Capital One; approximately one-third of the clothing purchased in the U.S. over the past year was secondhand. A majority of those polled earlier this year by online thrift and consignment platform ThredUp were concerned that trade policies would make apparel more expensive, with most saying they would seek out options—such as secondhand goods—to mitigate rising clothing prices. 'More consumers are turning to secondhand as a way of hedging against price rises and potential product shortages,' said Neil Saunders, retail analyst and managing director at GlobalData Retail. 'As we move into key retail occasions like back to school and the holiday celebrations beyond, secondhand will likely surge in popularity.' OfferUp, which has more than 40 million users in the U.S., said searches for smartphones, appliances, tech gadgets and electric bikes surged in May. The most heavily searched recent product category on the platform is strollers; Baby products are especially vulnerable to tariffs, as a majority of infant merchandise sold in the U.S. is imported, primarily from China. Awareness of shortages or rising prices–or even just the possibility of them–tends to juice interest in some product categories, according to Garnett. That may explain a rise in searches for iPhones on OfferUp, with President Donald Trump recently raising the specter of tariffs on smartphones made outside the U.S. More than 40% of the goods sold on eBay (EBAY) are now used or refurbished, which CFO Steve Priest on an April conference call, a transcript of which was made available by AlphaSense, called a 'competitive advantage and a strength.' 'Consumers are continuing to look for value in this environment,' said Priest. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
