Latest news with #Tennessee-based
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
5 Things to Know About Trump's Order Banning Political Debanking
President Donald Trump's executive order banning politicized debanking is intended to reverse what some analysts say is a trend of banks and payment services refusing service to people and companies for political, religious, or ideological reasons. Advocates against political debanking cite cases of Christians and conservatives who they say have been victims of this process. This includes allegations by Christian organizations including Tennessee-based nonprofit Indigenous Advance Ministries, as well as Sam Brownback, the chairman of the National Committee for Religious Freedom (NCRF), and the president himself.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
US singer Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock dies at 48 after cancer battle
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox US singer Kelly Clarkson (right) and her then husband Brandon Blackstock in January 2013. The couple finalised their divorce in 2022. NEW YORK - Mr Brandon Blackstock, a talent manager and the ex-husband of American singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson, has died. He was 48. His death, which followed a three-year battle with cancer, was announced on Aug 7 in a social media post by Starstruck Entertainment, a Nashville, Tennessee-based talent-management company owned by his father Narvel Blackstock, at which he was an executive. The announcement of Blackstock's death came one day after Clarkson, 43, said she would be postponing the August dates of her residency in Las Vegas, citing her ex-husband's health and their two children, aged nine and 11. 'While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,' Clarkson said in a statement shared to her Instagram on Aug 6. Clarkson, who won the first season of US reality singing competition American Idol in 2002, began her residency, called Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in July. She previously postponed the opening nights on July 4 and 5 because of vocal issues, she said in a post on Instagram on July 4. There were five shows scheduled for August, according to her website, with the next concert scheduled on Nov 7. Clarkson and Blackstock began dating in 2012 and married in Tennessee in 2013. She filed for divorce in June 2020, citing 'irreconcilable differences'. The former couple were then embroiled in an acrimonious divorce battle over issues such as child custody, spousal support and division of property, including ownership of their Montana ranch. Their split was finalised in March 2022, and Clarkson was granted primary physical custody of their two children. Mr Blackstock was an executive producer on American daytime talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show from 2019 to 2020, according to IMDb. He also previously managed American country singer Blake Shelton. His father, who founded Starstruck Entertainment in 1988, was married to American country music star and actress Reba McEntire from 1989 to 2015. Mr Blackstock had two children - daughter Savannah and son Seth - from his previous marriage with Ms Melissa Ashworth, 51, whom he split from in 2012. Savannah, 23, who shares a three-year-old son with her husband Quentin Lee, announced in July that she is expecting their second child, a daughter, in January 2026. NYTIMES
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
ELFI study shows college meal plans to be a significant portion of college costs
Popular cost-cutting advice to skip meal plans may not be feasible for most students KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent study by student loan lender ELFI surveyed current meal plan pricing at 150 colleges and universities nationwide, concluding that 98% of surveyed institutions require freshmen to purchase meal plans. This makes a common cost-cutting strategy – skipping meal plans in favor of home-cooked meals – impractical for many students. Meal plans can present a significant expense among college-related costs. ELFI found that current plans average $5,600 per academic year, totaling anywhere from $12,000 to $44,000 over four years. Private school meal plans cost 22% more than public school plans on average. The study also found that college meal plans are considerably more expensive than the standard cost of meals, based on the average range of nutritious, home-prepared food plans measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for adults ages 19 to 50. On average, student meal plans were 39-49% more expensive than USDA food plans, depending on the sex of the student. Considering this cost amid recent inflation trends, many financial experts recommend that students prepare their own meals to save money. However, meal plans are typically required for students living on campus, especially for freshmen. As a result, students and families may be budgeting based on outdated or impractical advice and could be blindsided by the true cost of attendance. "Borrowers come to us with concerns about how to maximize long-term savings while financing their college education," said Ivan Marcinko, ELFI senior vice president and director of operations. "We hope that this study will help families understand that some college costs cannot be mitigated and encourage them to explore financing pathways that accommodate the high cost of college, including meal plans." College costs are top of mind for many student loan borrowers considering the recently signed "One Bill Big Beautiful Bill" Act, which included various reforms aimed at financial aid and student loan repayment. As grant limits, loan caps and other higher education lending reforms go into effect, students and families may need to make critical decisions about meeting the cost of college with a combination of federal aid, institutional assistance and private lending. For some students, institutional meal plan assistance programs, waivers or exceptions may be available. ELFI recommends that students contact their college or university to learn more about their options. ELFI is a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank and offers nationwide student loans. Since launching in 2015, ELFI has offered a range of student loan and refinancing products and services backed by an award-winning team of student loan advisors who work one-to-one with borrowers through the application process from start to finish. About Education Loan Finance (ELFI) ELFI is a nationwide student loan provider and refinance program offered by Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank. Since its launch in 2015, ELFI has assisted borrowers with student loan refinancing as well as with undergraduate, graduate and parent private student loans. ELFI makes financing your future simple by offering easy payment options, affordable rates, and flexible terms in an application process that is transparent and secure. Learn more at Media Contact Mary Seward SouthEast Bank Marketing Manager mseward@ 865-352-1262 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE ELFI
Malaysian Reserve
29-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
ELFI study shows college meal plans to be a significant portion of college costs
Popular cost-cutting advice to skip meal plans may not be feasible for most students KNOXVILLE, Tenn., July 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A recent study by student loan lender ELFI surveyed current meal plan pricing at 150 colleges and universities nationwide, concluding that 98% of surveyed institutions require freshmen to purchase meal plans. This makes a common cost-cutting strategy – skipping meal plans in favor of home-cooked meals – impractical for many students. Meal plans can present a significant expense among college-related costs. ELFI found that current plans average $5,600 per academic year, totaling anywhere from $12,000 to $44,000 over four years. Private school meal plans cost 22% more than public school plans on average. The study also found that college meal plans are considerably more expensive than the standard cost of meals, based on the average range of nutritious, home-prepared food plans measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for adults ages 19 to 50. On average, student meal plans were 39-49% more expensive than USDA food plans, depending on the sex of the student. Considering this cost amid recent inflation trends, many financial experts recommend that students prepare their own meals to save money. However, meal plans are typically required for students living on campus, especially for freshmen. As a result, students and families may be budgeting based on outdated or impractical advice and could be blindsided by the true cost of attendance. 'Borrowers come to us with concerns about how to maximize long-term savings while financing their college education,' said Ivan Marcinko, ELFI senior vice president and director of operations. 'We hope that this study will help families understand that some college costs cannot be mitigated and encourage them to explore financing pathways that accommodate the high cost of college, including meal plans.' College costs are top of mind for many student loan borrowers considering the recently signed 'One Bill Big Beautiful Bill' Act, which included various reforms aimed at financial aid and student loan repayment. As grant limits, loan caps and other higher education lending reforms go into effect, students and families may need to make critical decisions about meeting the cost of college with a combination of federal aid, institutional assistance and private lending. For some students, institutional meal plan assistance programs, waivers or exceptions may be available. ELFI recommends that students contact their college or university to learn more about their options. ELFI is a division of Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank and offers nationwide student loans. Since launching in 2015, ELFI has offered a range of student loan and refinancing products and services backed by an award-winning team of student loan advisors who work one-to-one with borrowers through the application process from start to finish. About Education Loan Finance (ELFI) ELFI is a nationwide student loan provider and refinance program offered by Tennessee-based SouthEast Bank. Since its launch in 2015, ELFI has assisted borrowers with student loan refinancing as well as with undergraduate, graduate and parent private student loans. ELFI makes financing your future simple by offering easy payment options, affordable rates, and flexible terms in an application process that is transparent and secure. Learn more at Media Contact Mary Seward SouthEast Bank Marketing Manager mseward@ 865-352-1262
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's What to Expect From AutoZone's Next Earnings Report
Valued at a market cap of $64.1 billion, AutoZone, Inc. (AZO) retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The Memphis, Tennessee-based company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. It is expected to announce its fiscal Q4 earnings for 2025 on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Ahead of this event, analysts project this automotive replacement parts company to report a profit of $51.42 per share, up 6.9% from $48.11 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company has missed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the last four quarters. Its earnings of $35.36 per share in Q3 fell short of the consensus estimates by 3.9%. More News from Barchart Tesla Just Signed a Chip Supply Deal with Samsung. What Does That Mean for TSLA Stock? Dear Microsoft Stock Fans, Mark Your Calendars for Aug. 1 Is Lucid Motors Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for July 2025? Our exclusive Barchart Brief newsletter is your FREE midday guide to what's moving stocks, sectors, and investor sentiment - delivered right when you need the info most. Subscribe today! For the full year, analysts expect AZO's EPS to be $147.67, up 1.1% from $146.14 per share in fiscal 2024. Its EPS is expected to further grow 14.2% year-over-year (YoY) to $168.64 in fiscal 2026. Shares of AutoZone have outpaced the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 17.1% return over the past 52 weeks, with its shares up 22.9% over the same time frame. However, it has lagged behind the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLY) 23.9% uptick over the same period. AutoZone's shares plunged 3.4% on May 27, after it delivered its Q3 earnings results. While its revenue rose 5.4% YoY to $4.5 billion, beating estimates, net income slipped 3.6% annually to $35.36 per share, missing the mark by 3.9% - signaling a mixed bag of growth and pressure. Despite the top-line growth, higher costs of sales and increased operating expenses weighed on its profitability, dampening investor confidence. Wall Street analysts are highly optimistic about AZO's stock, with an overall "Strong Buy" rating. Among 26 analysts covering the stock, 21 recommend a "Strong Buy," two indicate a "Moderate Buy," and three advise a 'Hold.' The mean price target for AZO is $4,125.46, indicating an 8.7% potential upside from the current levels. On the date of publication, Neharika Jain did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on 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
