Latest news with #TheNeverEndingStory
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Settle in for the Latest on Prince Harry and King Charles' Never-Ending Drama
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Please put on the soundtrack to The Never Ending Story and settle in, because we're bringing you an exhaustive (some might say exhausting) timeline of Prince Harry and King Charles' years-long feud. This drama started back in 2020—when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from senior royal duties and left England—and shows no signs of slowing down five years later. In fact, the updates are coming so fast and furious that we're putting them in one place for our own personal sanity. Meghan and Harry were busy settling into the royal family as a newly married couple, and apparently Prince William and Kate Middleton than welcoming. To the point where Prince Charles (reminder: he wasn't king yet) had to step in. Per royal reporter Katie Nicholl, "Harry felt William wasn't rolling out the red carpet for Meghan and told him so. They had a bit of a fallout, which was only resolved when Charles stepped in and asked William to make an effort. That's when the Cambridges invited the Sussexes to spend Christmas with them." The fated month that Meghan and Harry announced their plans to step back from royal duties. As you can see in their since-deleted statement, they indicated that the decision was made with Harry's family: "After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution. We intend to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment. We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages." However, BBC News royal correspondent Jonny Dymond tweeted, "BBC understands that no other member of the Royal Family was consulted before Harry and Meghan issued their personal statement tonight. The Palace is understood to be 'disappointed.'" Harry later denied this during his Oprah interview, saying "I would never blindside my grandmother. I have too much respect for her." Speaking of Oprah, the Sussexes sat down with her to give what can only be described as a truly bombshell interview. At one point, Prince Harry claimed Charles stopped taking his calls. Ahem: "When we were in Canada, I had three conversations with my grandmother and two conversations with my father before he stopped taking my calls." Gayle King gave everyone an update following all ^ this ^, confirming that Harry had since spoken to his family: "I did actually call them to see how they were feeling, and it's true, Harry has talked to his brother and he has talked to his father too," Gayle said, in part. "The word I was given was that those conversations were not productive. But they are glad that they have at least started a conversation." Prince Phillip passed away, and Harry flew home to England for the funeral—his first time reuniting with the family since their drama. "Truth be told, Harry didn't really know what to expect before he came home, which is why he reached out before seeing everyone," a source told the Mirror. "He wrote a deeply personal note to his dad to try and set things straight but tensions are still running high and things haven't exactly ironed out the way he had hoped." Following the royal family's meeting, The Sun spoke to a source who said that "Harry, William, and Charles focused on reaching some form of peace and stability within the family moving forward. The conversations were focused less on what has happened and what was said with Oprah and more on how to move forward as a family. And that is not an easy path, it requires time and understanding. Charles felt aggrieved at how the family's personal affairs and family dramas were expressed in such an 'insensitive' way." Buuut later that month, Harry went onto Armchair Expert and said his dad had passed a cycle of pain onto him: "I don't think we should be pointing the finger or blaming anybody, but certainly when it comes to parenting, if I've experienced some form of pain or suffering because of the pain or suffering that perhaps my father or my parents had suffered, I'm going to make sure I break that cycle so that I don't pass it on, basically. It's a lot of genetic pain and suffering that gets passed on anyway so we as parents should be doing the most we can to try and say, 'You know what, that happened to me, I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen to you.'" An anon friend told People that Charles was "shell-shocked" and "very hurt and upset" by the situation with Harry. Things were looking slightly up as of early 2022, when a source told The Sun (via The Mirror), "There has been a definite thaw in relations between Harry and Charles. They are on much better terms and have been having friendly chats and video calls." Harry went to England to visit the Queen, and ended up having a "cordial but slightly awkward" meeting with his dad that lasted 15 minutes. But then he sat down for a Today interview about said meeting, and said "I'm just making sure that she's, you know, protected and got the right people around her." Apparently this didn't go over well with Charles, who was said to be "at a loss." Meanwhile, Harry was also advocating for an impartial mediator to help deal with the family rift. Per royal expert Katie Nicholl in Entertainment Tonight, "Harry, I'm told, suggested perhaps that they might get some sort of a mediator in on sort of these talks, to make some progress. It was something that he had suggested to his father. He's made it very clear that he wants to sort things out. He wants things to be improved." With news of Harry's upcoming memoir dominating headlines, royal expert Neil Sean told The Express that Charles had "iced out" his son for not giving him details: "The fact they are remaining so tight-lipped means there have to be some bombshells in the memoir. Charles then iced his younger son with a very short meeting. He wanted to have a mature, adult conversation about what the book will contain, and whether the royals should be concerned about anything." Charles allegedly invited the Sussexes to Balmoral, but sources told The Mirror that they declined: "The Prince of Wales reiterated his invitation for Harry and Meghan, and the whole family if they wished, to come and stay with him this summer while he is at his home on the Balmoral estate. He thought it might be a good opportunity for everyone to take stock and relax, but the invitation was declined." The Queen then passed away on September 8, and Harry and Meghan flew to England to take part in her funeral. Amid all this, The Times reported that Charles hadn't decided whether or not to allow Archie and Lilibet to use their titles, which was "heightening tensions" with the Sussexes. Meanwhile, The Telegraph spoke to a source who said the newly minted King saw "tremendous flickers of hope" after spending some time with Meghan and Harry. Direct quote: "It remains the case that the King loves both of his children. Over the last 16 days or so, there were tremendous flickers of hope. In terms of the future, there is hope of a cause for unity." A friend of Queen Camilla's spoke to the Daily Beast and said "Almost everything Charles has done over the past 20 years has, in one way or another, been about getting Camilla accepted by the public. He loves her. He is incredibly protective of her and he couldn't do it without her. Even the Queen finally accepted that. It is one thing for Harry to attack Charles, he can take it on the chin, but if Harry forces him to choose by laying into Camilla in his book, I have no doubt he will choose Camilla." The Daily Beast added that there was "tremendous nervousness" within Charles' inner circle about what might be written in Spare. Ahead of Spare's publication, Royal expert Tom Bower told The Sun that "[Charles] has made various threats to Meghan and Harry" and that the couple needed to "consider their own titles, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, could be taken away by Charles if they misbehave." Harry and Meghan's Netflix special dropped, and Harry seemingly took a swipe at William: "For so many people in the family, especially obviously the men, there can be a temptation or an urge to marry someone who would fit the mold as opposed to somebody who you are perhaps destined to be with. The difference between making decisions with your head or your heart. My mom certainly made most of her decisions, if not all of them, from her heart, and I am my mother's son." The Guardian got its hands on a leaked copy of Spare, and revealed the conversation Prince Harry had with King Charles and Prince William at Prince Philip's funeral. Charles allegedly stood between his kids "looking up at our flushed faces" and said "Please, boys. Don't make my final years a misery."Spare then dropped in full on January 10, and Harry wrote about his dad extensively. More significantly, given what we know about Charles' concerns, he wrote about Queen Camilla: "She was the villain, she was a third person in the marriage, she needed to rehabilitate her image. The need for her to rehabilitate her image…that made her dangerous because of the connections that she was forging within the British press. And there was open willingness on both sides to trade information and with a family built on hierarchy, and with her on the way to being Queen Consort, there was going to be people or bodies left in the street because of that." Following this, a source told Us Weekly that "Charles is distraught. He's angry and outraged that Harry's aired so many embarrassing and damaging assertions, and it's put him in a terrible position with [Queen Consort] Camilla of course now that she's been dragged into the equation. That's really crossed the line in more ways than one, but there are so many egregious comments and revelations from Harry that his father doesn't know where to start. He has hope that in time the dust will settle and Harry will soften his heart toward his family, at least he hopes so. But he's not going to push or apologize." There were even claims that Charles was "in talks" to issue a response to Harry in a landmark BBC interview to dish his side of the story. Meghan and Harry were evicted from Frogmore Cottage. The Telegraph reported that Harry and Charles had been holding peace talks ahead of Charles' coronation. Harry showed up at the coronation and things The Sun reported that the Sussexes weren't invited to a royal gathering marking the one-year anniversary of the Queen's passing "despite being in Europe for the Invictus Games a day after the anniversary." King Charles was diagnosed with cancer and The Guardian reported that "The Duke of Sussex has spoken with the King about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him soon." Harry ended up visiting his father the day after his diagnosis was made public, and then made an appearance on Good Morning America while in Canada. When asked, "How was that visit for you, emotionally?" Harry said, "Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I'm grateful for that." Meanwhile, news broke that Harry had reportedly told friends he'd be willing to take on official duties, but a source told the Mirror "Whatever has been discussed between William and the King is private, but it is absolutely and categorically clear that [William] would not allow Harry to return." Royal biographer Ingrid Seward said (via People), "Of course [Charles] would like Harry to be the prodigal son and come back and would be much happier if William and Harry were friends again. But he realizes that is just not about to happen." Royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror that "Harry has been asked directly by his father not to write or say publicly anything further about the family or his brother that might cause trouble. And everyone knows that when a King asks you to do something, there are going to be consequences if you do not obey." A friend of Prince Harry's told People that King Charles wasn't answering his son's calls, saying "He gets 'unavailable right now.' His calls go unanswered. He has tried to reach out about the King's health, but those calls go unanswered too." A source told Entertainment Tonight that "Prince Harry's relationship with his father has deteriorated to a new low level" and if you're wondering why, apparently it's because they were "at loggerheads over Harry's security requests." "Harry has genuine security concerns about the safety of his family in light of Princess Diana's death and feels that his father can help him in his ongoing battle with RAVEC (the entity that oversees security)," the insider said, adding "Their rift is not only just tied to security but also the family's distrust of Harry and Meghan, including Harry's tell-all bestselling memoir." King Charles was hospitalized due to side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, and the Palace failed to inform Prince Harry. According to The Sun's royal correspondent Sarah Hewson, "Harry only found out about his father's recent visit to hospital through the media," and "he doesn't know what his father's prognosis is." Meanwhile, Harry was in England for his legal battle regarding security in the UK. Per Hewson, Charles avoided him on purpose due to the case: "There is absolutely no way that the King could be seen to be intervening in this at all. Even any innocuous comment that could have been interpreted in a way and find its way into evidence in the court by Prince Harry's barrister. The King can't have conversations with him. And we're learning that the distance between them is perhaps greater than ever." (Note: Harry denied asking his dad to intervene.) Prince Harry told the BBC that he wants to reconcile with his father, and doesn't feel safe in the UK. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious" he said, adding "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point...I miss the U.K... I think it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland." The royal family's reaction to Harry's BBC interview? According to a "close source" who spoke to Page Six "Nobody trusts him and that's the bottom line. The royal family has major trust issues with him and that's what's at the heart of everything. They don't trust him and Meghan and that's why they can't have a relationship….Maybe there's room to forgive, but they won't forget. Forgiveness and trust are two different things." They added, "Harry messaged Charles and he never heard back. He wanted to talk to his dad about security stuff then, but his dad wouldn't speak to him. He really felt like his dad could overturn things." The royals also took issue with Harry mentioning that he doesn't know what's going on with Charles' health. As a source told The Daily Mail "I don't know what's more disgusting–Harry's comment about his father's health or his suggestion that people want him dead. It's very sad, but we all know that he doesn't want to hear things he disagrees with." At this point, you might think that Charles might reach out to Harry again, but the Daily Beast reported that "William's team has argued that Charles cannot bequeath his heir a settlement with Harry that William cannot live with." That brings us up to date, but we'll keep this updated! You Might Also Like Here's What NOT to Wear to a Wedding Meet the Laziest, Easiest Acne Routine You'll Ever Try
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Saka and Martinelli fire Arsenal to last four after famous win at Real Madrid
Bukayo Saka silences the crowd after opening the scoring for Arsenal. Photograph: David Price/When at last The Never Ending Story reached its final page, there was Bukayo Saka standing at the north end of the Santiago Bernabéu shrugging a familiar shrug that says: how about that, then? And that was pretty special, Arsenal's own story written as Mikel Arteta had asked and given a scene they will remember for a long time, a coming of age. The goal that finally confirmed that they were heading into their third European Cup semi-final was a portrait of the way Arsenal had played here: an exercise in patience, control, and maturity. Related: 'Massive step': Arteta praises Arsenal's character in statement Real Madrid win Precision, timing and courage, too. Saka had missed a first-half penalty that might have set up their passage sooner, that could have felt like a catastrophe then amidst the noise of the lion's den into which they had stepped, but he was not sunk, nor scared. None of them were: not by the legend, the atmosphere, the history, not by the players before them. There was none of the fatalism or the fear that left so many others crumbled and fallen here, none of Madrid's mystique. Instead, the Bernabéu spell was broken, Real Madrid eliminated and deservedly so. At no point was Arsenal's 3-0 first‑leg lead in real danger, not even when they gifted Madrid an absurd equaliser immediately after Saka's goal. The kind of moment that usually sparks madness, a sense of impending doom, did not; the men in black ensured as much. And then, as if to underline their superiority – and make no mistake, over these two legs they have been far, far superior to Madrid – Gabriel Martinelli escaped through the middle of what little was left of the home defence in the last minute and slotted past Thibaut Courtois. Arsenal had not just beaten the European champions across two games, winning 5-1 on aggregate, they had beaten them in two games. High in the stands above, fans sang long into perhaps the greatest night in their European history, completed on its grandest stage and in grand style. They blew Madrid away a week ago; now they managed them, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard and Thomas Partey dominating midfield, taking control before clinically finishing the task. For all the comeback narrative that had been built against them, there was no sign of nerves and only one bit of bad news – a late yellow card that means Partey will miss the first leg against PSG. Arsenal had started well and might have started perfectly. Saka flashed a shot past the post and saw another pushed away by Courtois before he passed up a glorious opportunity to make this an even more comfortable night. Twelve minutes had gone when François Letexier was called to the VAR screen where, in slow motion, he saw Raúl Asencio pull down Mikel Merino. Saka clipped the penalty too low and too soft, allowing Courtois to reach up a right hand to palm it away, this place erupting. If that seemed like the spark Madrid needed, the fatalism flooding through Arsenal, it was quickly followed by another. Or so, at least, it seemed when Letexier gave a penalty for a tug on Kylian Mbappé. Rice, though, protested his innocence and although it took a good five minutes to go and look, the referee eventually agreed. Relief reinforced the plan. Arteta's team managed the tempo, slowing down when it suited and occasionally stepping out. He had talked about the value of frustrating Madrid, turning that expectation against them, and that was a fairly accurate description of what was happening. David Raya was booked for time-wasting but not called on to make a save in the first half. Courtois had made three, the last a sharp stop from Rice. Madrid lacked structure and ideas, a Lucas Vázquez cross that curled all the way through proving to be about the best they could offer and an indication of their limitations. Nor did they really have the energy to create the chaos they sought. There was a tiredness about them, little spark. Rice had to stop Jude Bellingham, as he had done so throughout this tie, and Mbappé headed over but Arsenal were so in control there were soon oles accompanying their moves. That might not have been a great idea, given that Madrid soon robbed and ran away but the break ended tamely enough with their first shot on target. Related: Rice finds antidote to Madrid's magic and provides glimpse of his ultimate potential | Barney Ronay Raya comfortably gathered Vinícius Júnior's shot then and soon after Arsenal took the lead. The goalkeeper's long ball was nodded on by Rice. Saka came inside, went to Ødegaard, who slowed, waited and chose judiciously as ever. Merino was the next man introduced to the move, slipping a clever ball through the gap. And there was Saka, dinking it coolly, gently over Courtois. This was not the way visitors are supposed to behave here; what came next was a goal gifted out of nowhere when William Saliba, looking away, lost possession. Vinícius smashed the ball into an empty net, suddenly there was a roar, a flicker of hope, a reaction to something so ridiculous that for a moment Madrid thought that maybe, maybe, it could be the start of something even more ridiculous. Arsenal, though, were not going to let that happen: not now, not ever, Martinelli adding the final line of the story they will tell for a long time.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Dog dumped in Las Vegas dumpster, police search for alleged animal abuser
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Upon lifting the dumpster lid, a Las Vegas neighbor was shocked to see a 12-pound Chihuahua howling for attention—luckily the garbage truck hadn't yet turned the corner. A Las Vegas neighborhood security camera captured an individual exiting a dark SUV Monday morning, carrying a chihuahua to a dumpster before throwing it in. The individual driving back to close the dumpster lid. 'We had an individual reach out to us that went to throw trash away in a dumpster, and happened to find a dog inside the dumpster,' Lindsey Pinapfel, a Vegas Pet Rescue Project volunteer, said. 'From there, they were able to backtrack to their cameras and see what time that dog arrived in that dumpster.' Pinapfel said it appeared the individual carried the dog by the scruff of the neck before throwing the Chihuahua in the dumpster. 'I don't care what this dog did, there is no excuse for the abuse that this dog just had to endure but there are resources,' she said. The incident follows the revival of 'Reba's Law' in the Nevada Legislature which aims to implement harsher penalties on animal cruelty convictions. 'This is the exact reason that we need harsher punishment and stricter rules and laws in regard to animal abuse,' Pinapfel said. Pinapfel said the Chihuahua, named Atreyu after the 1984 movie The NeverEnding Story, is now recovering at a Las Vegas animal hospital. 'We need to hold people accountable, and something needs to change,' she said. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's Animal Cruelty Division is investigating the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Helena Zengel Star in The Legend of Ochi—And the Trailer is Pure Magic
A24 is set to transport audiences into a breathtaking new world with The Legend of Ochi, a fantasy adventure directed by Isaiah Saxon in his highly anticipated feature debut. Described as 'a new fantasy adventure classic' by Collider, the film is already drawing comparisons to beloved 1980s classics like The NeverEnding Story and The Dark Crystal, thanks to its rich world-building, emotional depth, and practical effects. Set for theatrical release on April 25, 2025, The Legend of Ochi follows a young girl's journey of self-discovery as she ventures beyond the boundaries of her home to reunite a mythical creature with its kind. With an all-star cast including Helena Zengel, Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Emily Watson and a bold commitment to practical effects over CGI, the film is shaping up to be a visually stunning, emotionally compelling cinematic event. Set on the remote and mystical island of Carpathia, The Legend of Ochi follows Yuri (Helena Zengel), a shy farm girl who has been raised to fear an elusive species known as the ochi, enigmatic creatures rumored to possess supernatural abilities. But everything changes when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi, abandoned and vulnerable. Rather than succumbing to the fear instilled in her by the village elders, she chooses a different path, one of empathy and courage. Determined to reunite the creature with its kind, Yuri embarks on a perilous journey beyond the only world she has ever known. What follows is an adventure filled with danger, wonder, and self-discovery as Yuri encounters breathtaking landscapes, ancient secrets, and powerful forces that challenge everything she believed to be true. The film is expected to deliver an emotional coming-of-age story wrapped in the grandeur of classic fantasy filmmaking. 'This is the kind of film we don't see anymore, a fantasy epic that feels both deeply personal and boundlessly imaginative.' – Variety One of the most exciting aspects of The Legend of Ochi is its stellar cast, featuring acclaimed actors known for their ability to bring rich, complex characters to life. Helena Zengel (News of the World, System Crasher) as Yuri, the courageous young protagonist. Willem Dafoe (The Lighthouse, Spider-Man) as Maxim, a mysterious figure whose knowledge of the ochi could change everything. Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, It) as Petro, a companion on Yuri's journey. Emily Watson (Chernobyl, Breaking the Waves) as Dasha, a key figure in the village who represents the traditional fears and beliefs about the ochi. This powerful ensemble, paired with Saxon's visionary direction, ensures that the film will be as emotionally compelling as it is visually stunning. What truly sets The Legend of Ochi apart from modern fantasy films is its commitment to practical effects and handcrafted artistry. Rather than relying on CGI, director Isaiah Saxon opted for intricate puppetry and animatronics to create the ochi creatures, giving them a tangible, otherworldly presence on screen. A team of seven performers operated the puppets, breathing life into these mythical beings in a way that feels both organic and immersive. This decision was heavily influenced by classic fantasy films like Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal, which used similar techniques to create a world that felt authentic and tactile. The use of real locations instead of green-screen-heavy digital environments further reinforces the film's grounded, old-school fantasy aesthetic. To bring Carpathia to life, filming took place in the rugged landscapes of Romania, specifically in the Apuseni Mountains, near Bâlea Lake, and along the breathtaking Transfăgărășa road. These majestic, untouched landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for the film's epic journey. 'Every frame of The Legend of Ochi looks like a painting. Isaiah Saxon's vision is unlike anything else in modern fantasy cinema.' – The Legend of Ochi had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2025, where it stunned audiences and critics alike. Critics have already hailed the film as a 'visually breathtaking achievement', with Brian Tallerico of comparing it to 'the grand adventure films of the 1980s.' He highlighted its handcrafted aesthetic, emotionally resonant story, and immersive world-building, calling it 'a triumph of cinematic imagination.' Variety's Carlos Aguilar noted that the film's practical effects give it an unparalleled sense of magic and realism, making audiences feel as if they are stepping into a forgotten myth. He praised Saxon's ability to craft a world that feels both timeless and fresh, writing 'Few modern films make you wonder how they were made. This is one of them. And the answer only makes it more impressive.' – Variety Despite the overwhelming praise, some critics have pointed out that the film's slow-burn pacing and lack of heavy exposition may not appeal to all audiences. Vulture described it as 'a mesmerizing but at times frustrating experience,' particularly for those accustomed to faster-paced, exposition-heavy fantasy storytelling. With its stunning cinematography, unforgettable practical effects, and profoundly emotional storytelling, The Legend of Ochi is poised to become one of the most talked-about fantasy films of the decade. For fans of classic adventure films, this is a rare chance to experience a movie that recaptures the magic of old-school fantasy storytelling while bringing something new to the genre. Isaiah Saxon's directorial debut is not to be missed for those craving original, visionary filmmaking. Catch The Legend of Ochi in theaters everywhere on April 25, 2025. The post Willem Dafoe, Finn Wolfhard, and Helena Zengel Star in The Legend of Ochi—And the Trailer is Pure Magic appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Did this Fort Worth Realtor's report compel Keller school board to kill district split?
A vocal Fort Worth real estate broker presented the Keller school board a detailed report on various issues surrounding a proposal to split the district in the week before the district announced the split was off. Did his report play a part in that decision? 'It gave them something to chew on, whether it was the thing that was the motivating factor or something else, I'm not sure yet,' Fort Worth Realtor and tax consultant Chandler Crouch said in an interview. Crouch said he began sharing the report with board members a week ago and met with them separately to discuss it. The district did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the report, now posted to his website, Crouch attempted to impress upon the Keller school board that the costs were too high for their plan to go through. For one, it would have cost the district around $25 million, his report states. He got that number by breaking down estimates for the expenses on administrative restructuring, legal and consulting fees, student transportation changes and debt allocation and financial structuring, among other expenses. His report included cost breakdowns for similar splits of school districts in other states, as well. Records obtained by the Star-Telegram in February found that costs for bilingual and special education would have gone to the new district formed apart from the Keller side. Crouch's report also includes a detailed real estate market analysis related to the split proposal. He found that new home listings in the district surged 139% since the day news of the split broke. He attributed the surge to uncertainty over the split, rather than the split per se. 'If the decision is prolonged, further instability in the market could occur,' Crouch wrote. 'If the split moves forward, a second wave of listings could follow, amplifying supply-side pressure.' Abandoning the plan could stabilize the market, he wrote, 'but the uncertainty has already created measurable disruption.' There were also various 'legal landmines' that would have affected the split, Crouch's report states. These include a lawsuit alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, another alleging violations of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and a bill recently filed in the Texas House of Representatives that would raise the bar on school district splits, among others. Crouch used a canonical children's fantasy movie as allegory for the the legal hurdles the district faced in relation to the proposal to split. 'It reminds me of Atreyu's quest in The NeverEnding Story, battling 'The Nothing,' facing relentless obstacles, and navigating his own Swamp of Sadness,' he wrote. 'That's about where we are now, hoping we'll pass safely through judgmental gates and maybe even meet our own Luck Dragon, Falkor.' Crouch also tapped his significant client base in Keller ISD to conduct a mock vote in order to get an idea of how district residents feel about the split. And this was no polling post on X, either. Crouch enlisted two Ph.D.-level statisticians to analyze his work. He had the help of Christopher Gaffney, a decision sciences expert at the LeBow College of Business at Philadelphia's Drexel University, and Karla Hamlen Mansour, a professor of research and assessment in education at Cleveland State University, for outside analysis. 'Their findings confirm that, even when accounting for potential biases, the overwhelming majority of Keller ISD taxpayers oppose the split,' Crouch wrote. His polling of around 2,300 respondents found that residents overwhelmingly — 87% — disapproved of the split, and 89% wanted to be able to vote on it. Just over half of respondents were parents of students in the district. Reflecting the student demographics of the district, just under three-fourths of respondents said they live west of Denton Highway, which was the proposed dividing line, and 23.5% live east of it. A question regarding how informed respondents were of the split was about even: 48.1% responded yes, and 46.7% answered no. Time may tell if Crouch's report was the tipping point in this dramatic months-long saga. But like the tale Crouch cited in his report, the Keller school board's story likely doesn't end here. 'I was able to determine in half a day that this was a terrible idea and it would never work out,' he said. 'I'd like to take all the credit, but it's hard to say. I know one thing for sure, if it wasn't for all of us standing up, this wouldn't have happened.'
