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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Belmont at Saratoga is a draw, but keeping the Triple Crown relevant remains a concern
Uncaged is groomed at the Saratoga Race Track, before Saturday's running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The sun rises over training horses at the Saratoga Race Track, before running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Uncaged is groomed at the Saratoga Race Track, before Saturday's running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) The sun rises over training horses at the Saratoga Race Track, before running of the Belmont Stakes horse race, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — For a second consecutive year, the Belmont Stakes is being run at historic Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York, creating a buzz in the city that closes off Broadway downtown with the sport's spotlight shining. Saratoga itself is a draw for avid fans, given the track's place in horse racing history and a nod to its roots, but the debate continues about how to keep the Triple Crown relevant for a casual audience. Advertisement Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the nation, dating back to before the Declaration of Independence. But unlike then, horse racing now has to compete for attention in a crowded sports landscape. Racetracks like Saratoga have attempted to make the weekend a spectacle, with bands and activities throughout the races in hopes of showing the greatness of horse racing and what a day at the track looks like. 'It's a great day out, lots of excitement,' said Michael Banahan of Godolphin, who owns Kentucky Derby winner and Belmont contender Sovereignty. 'There are a lot of things that go on during the race week, as well. … I think just some people that hadn't seen that before are beginning to enjoy that." The outreach extends beyond the track. Places like America's Best Racing are working to educate casual fans about everything from betting to how well horses are taken care of and what to expect on race day. Advertisement It has connected with celebrities and influencers to get them involved in horse racing. That most recently included TikTok star Griffin Johnson, who was given a small ownership stake in Derby and Preakness horse Sandman. Johnson showed himself getting ready for the races, bathing Sandman and showing what the colt does on his off day. Through this, the combined accounts of ABR and Johnson totaled 268 million-plus impressions and 111 million views. 'It's great to have another young horse racing fan in the room,' said ABR's director of digital marketing, Rachel Miller. "But, obviously, the same formula isn't going to work forever. It's going to reach a point where maybe Griffin's involvement in racing may stall out or Sandman's not racing anymore. There are just so many unknown variables, especially in this sport, and that's one of the harder sells.' There's another option to draw more viewers, but it's controversial. Advertisement Ever since Sovereignty didn't run in the Preakness Stakes, forfeiting a shot at the Triple Crown to rest up for the Belmont, there have been conversations about spreading out the three legs beyond the current gap of two weeks, then three weeks. Banahan believes spacing out the legs for more rest could attract higher-caliber horses, with more of a chance of the Kentucky Derby winner running, raising interest. 'I'm not too sure if that'll be the case or not,' Banahan said. 'I think the quality of racing is probably what draws people in. I think if we get better horses in all those races, I think they'll get the casual to tune into those as well. Good competition, good horses in there, that happens by having a little more time between to rest. That'll be good for us.' Not everyone agrees that extending the time in between races would increase viewership. Trainer Chad Brown, who has Hill Road in the Belmont, thinks extending the time in between races actually will hurt the Triple Crown. Advertisement 'I think if you start spreading it out, you run the risk of losing everyone's attention, too,' Brown said. 'That's a long time for everyone to be invested in watching how this turns out. I think that the average sports fan moves on from sport to sport throughout the year. I think we have to be happy that we have some of them just for the Triple Crown, even if we can't get them all the way through the bigger stuff. I think extending events runs risks for that.' ___ AP horse racing:
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
As feds resume student loan collections, states try to catch borrowers before they sink
New York University students celebrate at their graduation ceremony in 2022. After a pandemic-era pause, repayments on defaulted student loans restarted last month, and many borrowers are running into barriers. (Photo by Seth Wenig/The Associated Press) Over the past few months, Celina Damian's phone has been ringing off the hook with one bewildered, anxious question after another: 'What kind of loan is this?' 'Am I in default?' 'Will the government really take my wages?' 'Sometimes they just don't know where to start,' said Damian, California's student loan servicing ombudsperson. 'I'm talking to borrowers from all ages, from new borrowers to — I have 80-, 90-year-old borrowers,' she said. The federal government last month restarted collections on defaulted loans. State student loan ombudspersons such as Damian have become some of the only sources of contact for worried borrowers lost in a tangle of conflicting information at the federal level about their loan status and repayment options. The U.S. Department of Education began collecting on defaulted student loans in May for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Federal student loans issued by the U.S. Department of Education come with fixed rates, set repayment plans and borrower protections. Private servicers handle billing, repayment-plan enrollments and defaults. More than 5 million borrowers are in delinquency, and nearly 10 million — about 25% of the federal student loan portfolio — are at risk of default within months, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education. States can't cancel that debt, but they do register and oversee servicers operating in their states, run ombuds offices, tweak tax rules and offer outreach or limited grants — actions aimed at reducing defaults and the economic fallout. Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money When borrowers default, states will likely feel the economic impact. They might lose tax revenue as homebuying stalls. They could end up paying more for Medicaid and social services if borrowers need to rely on them. And students with loan debt may be reluctant to go into lower-paying public-sector work, leading to staffing shortages at state agencies. A borrower is considered delinquent after missing a payment to the servicing companies that handle billing, repayment plan enrollments, and defaults. Damian's office, established under California's Student Borrower Bill of Rights, began as a narrow statutory role but now serves as a hub for outreach, 'Student Loan 101' workshops and escalated complaints to federal agencies. Roughly 16 states plus the District of Columbia have followed suit, creating ombuds offices to guide borrowers through confusing paperwork and misinformation. Damian believes these ombuds offices should be in every state, as borrowers across the country will likely have similar questions and little help at the federal level. 'If you don't have an ombudsperson or even just a person at the state level who can educate borrowers, that will make a difference,' Damian told Stateline. 'These borrowers are trying to pay, but the system is broken. No other financial product works this way.' Student loans became a key issue during last year's election race, with President Joe Biden blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court in his effort to offer relief to 40 million Americans. In its waning days, his administration did forgive loans for some 150,000 borrowers under previous programs. But President Donald Trump opposes most loan forgiveness programs, and in May, the U.S. Education Department issued a 'Dear Colleague' letter to higher education institutions, reminding them of their legal obligations to help former students understand repayment responsibilities and access support. These borrowers are trying to pay, but the system is broken. No other financial product works this way. – Celina Damian, California student loan servicing ombudsperson Some conservative economists say that federal loan forgiveness and financial aid hurt all students, offering colleges an incentive to raise tuition or lower their own institutional aid. Winston Berkman-Breen, the legal director at the Student Borrower Protection Center, a nonprofit aimed at protecting borrowers and improving the repayment system, said that more than 2 million borrowers are stuck in a backlog of unprocessed applications for income-driven repayment (IDR) plans — calculated pay structures meant to keep payments affordable based on a borrower's income. Other borrowers have called federal agencies for help only to find that U.S. Education Department staff, including servicer-oversight teams, have been laid off as the Trump administration works toward dismantling the department entirely. 'There was an expectation to repay,' Berkman-Breen said. 'But there was also an expectation that people would have access to affordable plans. That promise has broken down.' States now have three primary tools to address student loan debt, Berkman-Breen said: enforcement actions to protect consumers, such as the 39-state lawsuit against servicer Navient; legal oversight by suing to uphold or challenge federal policy; and direct outreach to help public servants access Public Service Loan Forgiveness and similar programs. Nineteen states now require registration for companies that service student loans, he said. And more than a dozen states align with federal policy to exempt forgiven loan balances from state income taxes. Connecticut state Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, a Democrat, calls student debt 'a drag on the economy,' and said states can't afford to wait for Congress — mired in partisan gridlock over student loan forgiveness — to find common ground. '[Student debt] is stopping people from buying homes, starting families and fully participating in the economy,' she told Stateline. 'That hurts us as a state, as a city, and we can't wait for Washington to figure it out.' Last year, Connecticut created a bipartisan reimbursement program that provides up to $20,000 for graduates of local colleges who make payments and complete community service. The state has distributed more than $2 million so far. More public colleges admit high schoolers even before they've applied Kavros DeGraw hopes the program can serve as a model, and has already talked with lawmakers in other states on possibly developing their own versions of it. 'These were people who were already paying,' Kavros DeGraw said. 'It just made sense. I think it's something that other states could explore this session, and it would provide an immense deal of relief.' Lawmakers in other states also have considered student loan legislation. This year, New Jersey introduced bills to register education lenders and cap interest rates. Lawmakers in New Mexico, New York and North Carolina have proposed Borrower Bill of Rights legislation. Arizona has a registration bill for private servicers. None of these measures has advanced far. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, more than 20 states have enacted laws expanding loan forgiveness, repayment programs and servicer oversight in recent years. Several states are also investing directly in workforce-aligned loan forgiveness: Georgia expanded its service-cancelable loan program to cover dental students working in rural areas. Idaho created a loan repayment incentive for rural nurses. Kentucky now offers $5,000 stipends to attract new teachers. Maryland authorized Anne Arundel County to launch a local forgiveness program for public school educators. Student loan stress is not evenly distributed. Seven states, all with Republican‐controlled legislatures, report delinquency rates above 30% among borrowers required to make payments. Mississippi leads the nation with a conditional delinquency rate of nearly 45% — meaning borrowers who should be making payments are late. That's just ahead of Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, all of which have rates above 31%, according to recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. By contrast, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and New Hampshire maintain delinquency rates below 15%. Experts say this chasm reflects deeper systemic differences, such as lower median incomes in higher delinquency states, along with weaker consumer protections and a higher share of students attending for-profit institutions or leaving college without a degree. States also have promoted the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, established in 2007, that offers help to public service professionals. New Mexico has an outreach campaign that includes prospective teachers and health care workers. Maine has provided guidance to public defenders on how they can take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and touts a related state tax credit on a marketing site to lure new residents. Transparency bills seek to reveal the true costs of college 'States can regulate and enforce, but they can't fix the structural problems in how repayment is administered,' said Michele Zampini, senior director of college affordability at The Institute for College Access & Success, a research organization that advocates for students. 'They're helping around the edges, but the core system is still broken.' A November report from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau found at least 3.9 million borrowers received misleading or inaccurate bills from servicing companies. 'The repayment system is not in a good place to provide the services and repayment options borrowers are legally entitled to,' Zampini said. The Student Loan Borrower Survey, conducted between October 2023 and January 2024, found that 61% of borrowers who received debt relief made a beneficial life change earlier than they otherwise could have. Yet borrower awareness remains dangerously low: Nearly 42% of federal borrowers have only been on the standard repayment plan, and 31% of those didn't know other options, such as an income-based plan, existed. In California, a major part of Damian's job in the past few months has been to help borrowers access existing forgiveness programs. Meanwhile, new federal policy proposals could reshape repayment entirely. The Trump-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act would consolidate existing IDR plans into a single tiered structure, with lower-income borrowers paying flat monthly rates and higher earners contributing 8% of their income. The bill also proposes extending standard repayment terms to 30 years — raising concerns it could delay forgiveness and inflate total interest costs. The bill passed the U.S. House and is pending in the Senate. Andrew Gillen, a Cato Institute research fellow who recently testified before Congress, argues that any meaningful fix must address the incentives driving rising tuition — namely, federal aid being tied directly to college sticker prices. 'The link between rising tuition and increasing aid is what drives the Bennett Hypothesis, where federal student aid, in the form of loans, can lead to higher tuition costs at colleges and universities,' Gillen said in an interview. 'If we instead use the median cost of attendance to calculate aid eligibility, we remove colleges' incentive to hike prices just to capture more aid.' Even without agreement on blanket forgiveness, experts agree on smaller bipartisan steps: streamlined repayment, stronger servicer oversight and targeted help for borrowers with the greatest need. 'We don't want people defaulting. We don't want payments that are too high for people just out of school. That should be the bipartisan starting point,' Zampini said. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@ SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mets get homers from Alonso, Lindor and Soto to finish 3-game sweep with 5-3 win over Rockies
New York Mets players, including Brett Baty, left, Francisco Lindor, second from left, Pete Alonso, second from right, and Mark Vientos (27), celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Pete Alonso looks after his three-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, and Juan Soto, right, celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, and Juan Soto, right, celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets players, including Brett Baty, left, Francisco Lindor, second from left, Pete Alonso, second from right, and Mark Vientos (27), celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Juan Soto hits a solo home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Pete Alonso looks after his three-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, and Juan Soto, right, celebrate after a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) NEW YORK (AP) — Francisco Lindor once again homered in a victory and Clay Holmes threw a career-high seven innings Sunday as the New York Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 5-3 win. Pete Alonso hit a three-run shot and Juan Soto also went deep as the Mets won for the seventh time in eight games to finish a 7-2 homestand. They regained sole possession of first place in the NL East, moving a game ahead of Philadelphia. Advertisement The Rockies lost their eighth straight and fell to 9-50, the worst record through 59 games of any major league team in the modern era (since 1901). They have been swept 10 times in 20 series — tied for the most sweeps through 20 series with the 1962 Mets, the 1970 Milwaukee Brewers and the 1994 Oakland Athletics. Alonso homered in the fourth before Lindor snapped a 3-all tie an inning later. The Mets have won the last 26 games in which Lindor has homered, the second-longest streak in big league history behind the 29-game run authored by Carl Furillo and the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1951-53. Soto connected in the eighth to make it 5-3. Holmes (5-3) gave up three hits — including Orlando Arcia's first-inning solo homer and Tyler Freeman's two-run shot in the fifth. He struck out three and walked none. Advertisement The right-hander, who entered this season with 300 consecutive relief appearances dating to 2019, has lasted at least six innings in six of his last eight starts. Reed Garrett and Edwin Díaz tossed a scoreless inning apiece, with Díaz earning his 13th save. Rockies rookie Carson Palmquist (0-3) gave up four runs in 4 2/3 innings but struck out eight — two more than he'd fanned in his first three starts combined. Key moment Lindor's homer came just after Freeman's tying shot in the fifth. Key stat The Rockies haven't held a lead at the end of consecutive innings since they led for the final four innings of their most recent win, a 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees on May 23. Advertisement Up next Rockies RHP Germán Márquez (1-7, 7.13 ERA) starts Monday in Miami against RHP Max Meyer (3-4, 4.53). Mets RHP Paul Blackburn is scheduled to make his season debut Monday night at Dodger Stadium in the opener of a four-game series. Blackburn has been rehabbing from right knee inflammation. ___ AP MLB:
Toronto Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Terry Bradshaw calls possibility of Steelers signing of Aaron Rodgers ‘a joke'
'What are you going to do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me?' Published May 28, 2025 • 3 minute read New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. Photo by Seth Wenig / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The ongoing off-season saga of whether quarterback Aaron Rodgers might sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers isn't sitting well with the team's four-time Super Bowl champion, who called the idea 'a joke.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Terry Bradshaw, the Fox NFL commentator and Hall of Famer, offered a blunt assessment of the possibility that the 41-year-old four-time MVP might end up in Pittsburgh, ripping the Steelers for considering it in a radio interview Tuesday. 'That's a joke. That to me is just a joke,' Bradshaw told 103.7 The Buzz. 'What are you going to do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.' If the ayahuasca enthusiast isn't with the Steelers, their top option at QB is Mason Rudolph, with Will Howard and Skylar Thompson on the roster. Gone is Kenny Pickett, the team's first-round pick in 2022 and Bradshaw hated how the team handled him, too, calling the team 'a failure' in how it developed him. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Then they throw a kid in there for two years, and you've got an offense that doesn't fit and doesn't work, and they can't run because their offensive line's not even good enough for a run-blocking team,' Bradshaw said. 'Now, they're saying Kenny Pickett is a failure. He wasn't a failure, the Steelers were a failure.' Bradshaw isn't the only former NFL player calling out Rodgers for his indecision. Mark Schlereth, the former NFL offensive lineman, called for Rodgers to attend the team's organized team activities, which began Tuesday. Rodgers did not appear at the voluntary workouts with his future still in limbo. Mandatory minicamp begins June 10 and he'd expect Rodgers there if he's going to play for the Steelers. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Listen, if you can be at some public venue answering questions about your career, could you be at OTAs?' Schlereth said on FS1's 'Breakfast Ball.' Rodgers, the man who could end all of the speculation, has been sharing his internal dialogue mostly in media appearances. In April, the former Packers and Jets quarterback told ESPN's Pat McAfee that he is 'open to anything and attached to nothing,' adding that he wanted to have his personal life in order before signing with a team. He told the 'Joe Rogan Experience' that several people in his life were dealing with serious illnesses. 'I've figured it out during the last year when I've been in the weeds with these people who are close to me that have cancer,' he told Rogan, without offering specifies. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Just last week, he offered a veiled hint about the Steelers when asked during a Q&A if he might consider playing for the Bears. 'No, but I believe there's a team that might play in Chicago this year on a road trip,' Rodgers said (the Steelers play at Chicago on Nov. 23). 'I don't know, not sure. Got to check it out. I love Chicago, though. Way more than they love me. It's been a great relationship. All one way.' Rodgers, who turns 42 in December, has acknowledged that retirement is a possibility, too. 'This entire time, I haven't felt like I owed anybody some sort of decision at any point,' Rodgers told McAfee. 'This is my life. Like I said, things are different now. My life is different. My personal life is different. … I've been up front with [the Steelers] about that and said, 'Listen, if you need to move on, if you need to do something, by all means. By all means. Like, nothing but love and respect, if that's a decision that needs to be made.' But there's been no deadline. And yeah, I've talked to [Coach Mike Tomlin] many times.' Canada Canada Tennis Money News Music
Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Jury convicts New York-Paris flight stowaway who slipped past gate agents
Published May 22, 2025 • 3 minute read A vehicle stops at Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Feb. 17, 2023. Photo by Seth Wenig / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — A jury on Thursday convicted a woman who sneaked onto a flight from New York to Paris without a boarding pass by slipping past security and airline gate agents at John F. Kennedy International Airport last year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The short trial of Svetlana Dali concluded with a guilty finding on a stowaway charge by jurors in federal court in Brooklyn. Jury selection and opening statements were both held on Tuesday, and Dali took the stand on Wednesday. The judge did not immediately set a sentencing date. Dali faces up to six months in prison, according to her sentencing guidelines. To date, she has been in custody for more than five months. Dali's lawyer, Michael Schneider, declined to comment to The Associated Press following the verdict. Surveillance video shows Dali, a 57-year-old Russian citizen with U.S. residency, glomming onto a group of ticketed passengers as they pass two Delta Air Lines staffers who were checking tickets and didn't appear to notice Dali. She then strolls with the group onto an air bridge to a plane bound for Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. In court, Dali said she walked onto the plane without being asked for a boarding pass, though acknowledged she did not have one. Prosecutors said Dali had initially been turned away from a security checkpoint at JFK by a Transportation Security Administration official after she was unable to show a boarding pass. But she was able to join a special security lane for airline employees and, masked by a large Air Europa flight crew, made it to an area where she was screened and patted down. Then she went to the Delta gate. On the plane, prosecutors say she hid in a bathroom for several hours and wasn't discovered by Delta crew members until the plane was nearing Paris. Dali told the court she went in there because she was feeling sick. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Crew members notified French authorities, who detained her before she entered customs at the Paris airport, according to court documents. She was eventually flown back to New York. During two hours of questioning by an FBI agent, Dali said she flew to France because she had to the leave the U.S., where she said police refused to protect her from people who were poisoning her, according to court documents. Dali was initially released after her arrest with electric monitoring. But she then was arrested again in Buffalo, New York, after she cut off the monitor and tried to enter Canada. Prosecutors said Dali evaded security measures at two other airports before the JFK incident, and they believe she may have stowed away on another flight. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Two days before she sneaked on the Paris flight, she was able to get through TSA, identification and boarding pass checkpoints at Bradley International Airport near Hartford, Connecticut, by hiding among other passengers. Authorities said she unsuccessfully tried to get on a plane and then left the airport. In February 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents discovered Dali hiding in a bathroom at Miami International Airport, prosecutors said. Dali, who was found in a secured area in the international arrivals zone, was fingerprinted, her baggage was checked and she was escorted out of the airport, after the agents couldn't confirm her story that she had just arrived on an Air France flight and was waiting for her husband, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said federal agents did not make any findings that Dali had illegally traveled as a stowaway to Miami, but her statements to law enforcement after her arrest in Paris appeared to indicate that she had flown into Miami illegally. Dali told authorities that she returned to the U.S. in February 2024 after spending time in Europe, but there were no records of her being admitted to the U.S. within the past five years. Tennis World Sports Toronto Maple Leafs Sunshine Girls
