Day: December 24, 2024

Sonic SVM, a Solana layer-2 (L2) network and developer of the tap-to-earn (T2E) game SonicX, has announced the airdrop of its native SONIC tokens on the Solana blockchain.
The upcoming airdrop, set for January, remains open to new participants —but obviously has a special focus on early users. A snapshot of eligible players has yet to be taken, so there’s a chance for additional users to qualify by joining the game. 
Related: RLUSD Starts Trading as Ripple CTO Highlights Use Case for Developers
SonicX, a tap-to-earn game, allows players to tap their screens repeatedly to earn in-game items, purchase power-ups, and refer friends to climb leaderboards. Keep in mind Its artwork draws inspiration from Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog, but the game is not officially licensed.
But the game makes onboarding very simple. SonicX was developed natively within TikTok. This means users are not even required to set up a cryptocurrency wallet or sign blockchain transactions as the only thing they have to do is log in through TikTok, where a wallet is generated for them automatically.
This ease of access has contributed to its rapid growth. We’re talking about 2 million users via TikTok, a milestone Sonic attributes to the platform’s global reach and streamlined user experience. 
TikTok, which currently boasts 1 billion monthly active users, is expected to grow to 2.3 billion users by 2029, according to Shopify. This growth potential positions TikTok as a promising avenue for blockchain gaming distribution the same way it did for Telegram with many TP2 games developed on The Open Network.
Sonic SVM operates as a layer-2 solution for Solana, settling transactions on its own chain and then sending those back to the layer-1 (the actual Solana blockchain). It is specifically designed for gaming and non-fungible token (NFT) projects and currently supports over 20 projects, with a daily active address count nearing 750,000.
Related: Aussie Analyst Says Crypto Done for, He’s Out if This Happens
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Throughout the holiday season, many people take the time to think about what they’re grateful for, help others, and spread holiday cheer.
For one Lincoln business, spreading that holiday cheer means helping those who need it, one car and one nomination at a time.
Monday was a surprise of a lifetime for Jessica Hernandez. Jessica, who is known for helping anyone she can, was gifted a free car as part of The Auto Connection’s third annual Christmas car giveaway.
“This is life changing for me,” Jessica said.
It all started with a nomination. Jessica was nominated for the car giveaway by her friend, Frederick Kos, who said she’s been a bright light in what otherwise has been a dark year.
“She’s just always been a giving person,” Kos said. “But she’s just been indispensable help to me over, while I’m going through this dark period and unable to take care of myself.”
At the beginning of the year, Kos had to have part of his ear removed due to melanoma. He broke his hip in March and in June found out he has terminal lung cancer. Jessica had been his caretaker through it all, even after an accident that totaled her car over the summer.
“Has been without a car for six months, and she’d still ride her bike over in the warm weather to help me out,” Kos said. “She needs it badly. To have the ability to get around at least and bond with her son, and go to games. To have something for herself because she’s helping everyone else all the time.”
Out of 97 nominations, it was that selflessness that stuck out.
“All she cares about is helping other people,” said Jessica’s son, Rafael Hernandez. “And I think that that’s what makes her so deserving is because she never cared about anything more than just making sure other people have what they need.”
But it’s much more than a free car. Jessica said it’ll allow her to continue what she does best.
“I try to do everything I can,” Jessica said. “It only takes two seconds to cheer up somebody or brighten their day. So many people don’t take advantage of that. I got that tenfold in return.”
In addition to the car, Auto Connection said she’ll receive a year of free maintenance as well as a one year AAA membership.
“The biggest thing is that she continues doing what she’s doing to help the community,” said Peter Shoup, general manager at The Auto Connection. “She’s obviously done a very good job raising her son. Going through the hardships she’s already been going through and keeping a positive attitude.”
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The Green Bay Packers look to clarify their playoff picture while the New Orleans Saints look to play spoiler on “Monday Night Football.”
In any other season, with a 10-4 record, the Packers would be neck-and-neck with a division leader, if not, leading outright. Instead, they find themselves in third place in the ferocious NFC North behind the Detroit Lions (13-2) and the Minnesota Vikings (13-2).
That means every win matters, not just for the division, but for the playoffs: The Packers have yet to clinch a playoff spot, but with a win vs. the Saints on Monday night will guarantee at least the seventh seed with two weeks left in the regular season.
The Saints have had a nightmare season in almost every way imaginable. After moving on from head coach Dennis Allen earlier in the season, the Saints lost Derek Carr to a potential season-ending injury. Now out of the playoff race, New Orleans looks to march all over the playoff hopes of other teams.
That said, the Saints have been a tough out in the last month. With a 3-2 record over their last five games, points have been at a premium for New Orleans, but the team has been fighting for interim head coach Darren Rizzi.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 16 “Monday Night Football” game between the Packers and the Saints below.
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Green Bay managed to get just past midfield but couldn’t convert a third-and-7 from the Saints’ 49-yard line. Two penalties backed the Packers up 20 yards before Daniel Whelan finally punted the ball away. New Orleans takes over on its own 34 with 13:07 to go in the game.
Green Bay’s offense took four plays to wind 2 minutes and 11 seconds off the clock and close out the third quarter at Lambeau Field. The offense is driving with the Packers up 24-0 with one quarter of “Monday Night Football” left to go.
The Saints’ offense had its best drive of the night with 48 yards, including a 20-yard shot from Spencer Rattler to Dante Pettis. But the next play saw Rattler throw his first interception of the game to safety Zayne Anderson. Green Bay takes over on its own 20-yard line.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had 23 yards in the first half of “Monday Night Football” — all via rushing — against the New Orleans Saints. Watson was one of eight players to have a rushing attempt in the first half for the Packers.
But one of his carries, a 14-yard gain to bring the Packers deep inside the red zone, was his final play of the half and saw him hit the ground hard out of bounds.
Watson was later seen on the sidelines receiving getting attention on his knee. Ahead of the second half, Green Bay announced the wide receiver was questionable to return.
The Packers offense marched 47 yards in 10 plays but couldn’t reach the red zone in their opening drive of the second half. Kicker Brandon McManus hit a 55-yard field goal, his longest of the season, to push the Green Bay advantage to 24 points with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
New Orleans managed just 19 yards but took nearly three minutes off the game clock with their opening drive of the second half. Spencer Rattler couldn’t connect with Dante Pettis on third-and-2 and, after a delay of game penalty, the Saints punted the ball back to Green Bay. The Packers take over at their own 15-yard line with 12:14 to go in the third quarter.
New Orleans’ offense went as far as the Green Bay 34-yard line before a 12-yard sack by Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt pushed them well out of field goal range. The Packers take a 21-0 lead into halftime, and the Saints will get the ball to start the second half.
After three consecutive touchdown drives, Green Bay’s offense stalled and the Packers were forced to punt. The Saints offense will get another shot before halftime starting at their own 20 with 1:49 to go in the half.
Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon got to Spencer Rattler for a sack and forced the ball loose for defensive lineman Rashan Gary to recover. The Packers get the first turnover of the game and will take over at their own 34-yard line with 2:45 to go in the first half.
Green Bay marched 67 yards for their third consecutive touchdown drive to open “Monday Night Football.” This time it was running back Chris Brooks running it in from one yard out for his first NFL score. Brandon McManus’ extra point is good and the Packers hold a three-score lead with 6:22 left in the first half.
Green Bay never faced a third down on the drive in the 2 minutes and 57 seconds they had the ball.
New Orleans’ offense went nowhere on its second drive of the game. The Packers’ defense held strong after a false start penalty on New Orleans and forced a three-and-out. Green Bay will take over at their own 33-yard line with 9:25 to go in the first half.
The Packers offense continued to churn up yards at key moments with a 96-yard drive finished off with a 2-yard touchdown run by Josh Jacobs. Green Bay converted two fourth downs on the 17-play drive that took 8:55 off the game clock. Brandon McManus’ extra point is good and Green Bay has a two-score lead with 11:43 to go in the first half.
The Green Bay offense has churned out 51 yards in 10 plays to cross midfield into Saints territory. Running back Emanuel Wilson was held to just one yard on 3rd-and-2 from the Saints’ 46. Green Bay lined up for a play on 4th-and-1 but let the clock run out on the first quarter.
New Orleans managed two first downs on its opening drive, but couldn’t get further than the Packers’ 40-yard line. After a penalty, the Saints punted and Green Bay will take over on its own 4-yard line with 5:38 to go in the first quarter.
Green Bay marched 63 yards on 10 plays and opened the game with a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Dontayvion Wicks. Brandon McManus’ extra point is good and Green Bay takes an early lead with 8:41 to go in the first quarter.
The Packers faced just two third downs on the drive, one of which was helped by a 5-yard penalty on Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan. Running back Josh Jacobs had 40 all-purpose yards on the drive, including a 20-yard run that set the Packers up with a first-and-goal from the 1-yard line.
New Orleans won the coin toss and opted to defer to the second half. The Packers will start the game on offense.
The Saints-Packers “MNF” matchup is scheduled to begin at its customary time of 8:15 p.m. ET.
ESPN again is the broadcast home of “Monday Night Football.” The longtime team of Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (color) will be on the call, with Lisa Salters adding reports from the sideline.
There will be no “ManningCast” for tonight’s broadcast.
For cord cutters looking for a live stream for the matchup, you can turn to Fubo. Fubo carries NBC, as well as CBS, FOX, NFL Network and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you can catch NFL action through the remainder of the season. 
ESPN+, the proprietary streaming service of ESPN, will also carry the game. 
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels about the Saints-Packers tilt
The Packers are favorites to defeat the Saints, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Not interested in this game? Check out expert picks and best bets for every NFL game this week. 
The Saints travel up to the Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field for the “MNF” tilt. 
Lambeau Field has been the home of the Packers since 1957. During the Super Bowl era, it has hosted four NFL/NFC championship games (1967, 1996, 2007 and 2020 seasons). Prior to the AFL-NFL merger, Lambeau Field (called City Stadium from 1957-1964 before being renamed for Earl “Curly” Lambeau) hosted NFL championship games in 1961 and 1965.
Arguably the most famous game ever played at Lambeau Field was the “Ice Bowl,” the iconic championship game won by the Packers against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 31, 1967. During Week 17 of the 1993 season, Pro Football Hall of Famer LeRoy Butler did the first “Lambeau Leap” during a game against the Los Angeles Raiders.
➤ Ranking NFL’s stadiums from 1 to 30: Where does Packers’ Lambeau Field rate?
Green Bay Packers fans entering the team’s “Monday Night Football” game against the New Orleans Saints dreaming of two things: a playoff berth and a white Christmas.
They might get both on the same night.
The Packers can clinch a spot in postseason with a win over the Saints. They can achieve that at Lambeau Field, which could end up snow-covered because of some flurries falling in Wisconsin on Monday.
The snow isn’t going to be like what NFL fans saw during the Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game earlier in the season. It might not even fall at all during the game. — Jacob Camenker
The Packers are sitting at 10-4, but are third place in the NFC North. Here’s how the division lines up:  
The Saints are trying to stay out of the basement of the NFC South on “MNF.” Here’s how the division stacks up. 
Green Bay can clinch its second straight playoff berth — and fifth in six years — with a win on “Monday Night Football.” 
With that being the case, the Packers already had excellent odds to make the postseason. Prior to any games kicking off in Week 16, BetMGM had the team at -10000 (99% implied) odds to be a playoff team. 
It’s win-and-in for the Packers on “MNF.” With a victory over the Saints, the Packers will clinch a wild-card spot in the NFC bracket of the playoffs.  
Derek Carr fractured his left (non-throwing) hand earlier this season. As of Dec. 17, Carr was still a few weeks away from being ready for contact, which makes a return this season very unlikely, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
The Saints quarterback is dealing with multiple fractures in his left hand and was still in the league’s concussion protocol as of Monday, Dec. 17.  While being cleared for contact would be a necessary step in any return, getting through the five-step concussion protocol has to happen first. 
Derek Carr suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Week 14 against the New York Giants on a scramble. The quarterback collided with his receiver, Kevin Austin Jr., after jumping in an attempt to get a first down. Instead, Carr landed awkwardly on his head and hand, suffering a pair of injuries on the play. 
Spencer Rattler began his college career already as a well-known and hyped prospect. He was the consensus No. 1 quarterback in college football‘s 2019 recruiting class and stared in Netflix’s documentary series “QB1: Beyond The Lights” during his final year at Pinnacle High School (Arizona). 
Rattler drew the attention of many major programs but ultimately committed Oklahoma after watching Lincoln Riley develop Baker Mayfield into a top college quarterback. While Mayfield didn’t win the Heisman or become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft until after Rattler had committed, Riley’s status as one of college football’s top quarterback gurus made the Sooners an attractive destination for Rattler. 
Alvin Kamara will be out vs. the Packers. 
Saints coach Darren Rizzi provided an update last Thursday during media availability. 
“It’s more significant than we initially thought,” Rizzi said. He added that Kamara was unlikely to play in the Saints’ upcoming game on “Monday Night Football.” 
Following the Week 15 game, Rizzi declined to elaborate on whether the injury was minor and told reporters more testing would be done on the running back. 
Unfortunately, testing has revealed that Kamara could miss an extended time. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that, while the situation is still being evaluated, it could be a season-ending injury for the veteran running back. 
The New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers are tied for the most Super Bowl wins with six. 
The Packers have won four Super Bowls in five appearances, including the first two Super Bowls (then called the AFL–NFL World Championship Game) under legendary coach Vince Lombardi, for whom the Super Bowl championship trophy is named after. The Packers’ most recent Super Bowl win came during the 2010 season in Super Bowl XLV. In all, the Packers boast 13 NFL championships, the most of any franchise.
The Saints prevailed in their one Super Bowl appearance, during the 2009 season in Super Bowl XLIV against the Indianapolis Colts.
NFL franchises with most Super Bowl wins:
➤ Super Bowl winners: All-time scores, results for NFL title game
Do you like football? Then you’ll enjoy getting our NFL newsletter delivered to your inbox. 📲  
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➤ Best (and worst) from NFL Week 16: Second-guessing ‘expert’ narratives
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Malaysian Palm Oil Sees Gains As Global Oil Trends Shift  Finimize
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Independence Blue Cross joins other insurance companies in restricting coverage of Wegovy and Ozempic to Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
FILE – The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. Even as millions of older adults clamor for drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, monthly use of the medications known as GLP-1 receptor agonists soared nearly 600% between 2020 and 2023 in people under 25 – and as young as 12. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
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The popularity of medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro and Zepbound for weight loss and obesity has skyrocketed in recent years, with both patients and health providers citing successful outcomes with continued use.
But the sticker prices of these injectable drugs remain expensive – about $700 to $1,350 for a month’s supply at the highest – and the costs have fallen on patients and their insurance providers.
While there are some state and federal efforts to expand insurance coverage for these drugs in public programs like Medicaid and Medicare, some local private insurers like Independence Blue Cross (IBX) are restricting coverage.

Beginning Jan. 1, people with IBX health plans will have to pay the full cost of GPL-1 agonists and other similar drugs when they are prescribed solely for weight loss.
IBX, the largest insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania, will continue to cover these medications when they are prescribed for people with conditions approved by the Food and Drug Administration, such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
People who get insurance through their employers may still get coverage if the individual companies or organizations decide to include weight loss drugs in their prescription plans.
In a Nov. 1 notice to health plan members, IBX said the decision “was not made lightly” and that continued coverage of these high-priced drugs could lead to increased premiums for everyone else.
“These exorbitant costs have made it extremely challenging to be able to continue to provide drug coverage to everyone who wants these drugs but does not have an FDA-approved medical or indication for these drugs,” the company stated.
Other major insurance companies and large employers have similarly restricted or dropped coverage, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, North Carolina’s State Health Plan, RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey, the Mayo Clinic and Ascension.
Pennsylvania is among a small number of states that cover these medications for obesity, in addition to Type 2 diabetes, through its Medicaid program, but the cost to do so remains high. The state spent nearly $298 million, or about $106 per enrollee, for these drugs from November 2023 to this past October, according to new data from Real Chemistry.
Wegovy works. But here’s what happens if you can’t afford to keep taking the drug

There’s been such an increase in demand that an FDA database lists the medication’s active ingredient, semaglutide, as “currently in shortage.”
2 years ago
The list prices for these weight loss medications is an ongoing problem that needs to be addressed, said Dr. Kunal Shah, clinical director of obesity medicine at the Rutgers Center for Metabolic Health and Weight Management.
But he said there is potential for long-term savings if people can use these medications to better manage or prevent risks and complications related to obesity, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, asthma and more.
Shah said there are some people who want these medications not because they are obese or overweight, but rather to become even thinner or reach a specific lower weight.
But broadly reducing access to these drugs through insurance restrictions and cuts will likely affect many more people whose weight is causing them health issues and affecting their quality of life, he said.

“I’ll have someone who has pre-diabetes, who has sleep apnea, who has COPD and they’re 300, 400 pounds. They’re on oxygen, they can barely get up out of their seat without getting short of breath,” Shah said. “Losing 30, 40, 50, 60 ,70, even 100 pounds would be life changing. They may be able to get off oxygen, they may be able to exercise more. And then I have to tell them, listen, your insurance is not going to cover it.”
Shah said this can be an especially frustrating situation for patients who are older and may not have the physical ability to exercise as much as they once did, so medication for weight loss could be an alternative option.
But Medicare, which is a federal insurance program for people 65 and older, does not cover these medications solely for weight management, only for diabetes and heart disease.
“Part of the difficulty with being a physician that treats medical obesity is having to come up with options that we know are not superior to what we want to give and having to give ‘inferior’ options because the limiting factor is insurance coverage,” Shah said.
How Ozempic is changing weight loss

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Mounjaro are wildly popular for treating diabetes, obesity and now cosmetic weight-loss. How are they changing health care and our culture?
Air Date: September 19, 2024 12:00 pm
Ahead of changes in 2025, Shah said there are some things people can do in anticipation of losing insurance coverage for these medications.
He recommends that patients who currently have a prescription for a GPL-1 or other type of weight loss drug ask their health providers for a three-month refill now, “so that gives you some time in case you do need to pivot.”
For people who may be newly considering weight loss medications in the new year, Shah said they should get evaluated by health providers who specialize in obesity medicine, because if they identify conditions like Type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease, there’s a better chance that insurance will cover medications.
There are other weight management and obesity treatment options available to people, Shah said, including different types of medications that may or may not be as effective as some of the GPL-1 drugs.
Insurance providers, including Independence Blue Cross, continue to cover nutrition and behavioral health counseling, incentive programs for fitness and exercise activities and bariatric surgery for people at risk of becoming obese.
The WHYY health desk is expanding coverage of weight management and obesity challenges. To share a personal experience or story idea, email reporter Nicole Leonard at nleonard@whyy.org.
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WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.
Americans are furious over health care. Is this an Occupy Wall Street moment?

The public outrage unleashed by the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO echoes the anti-banking fury after the financial crisis.
1 week ago
New Jersey is considering banning sales of diet and muscle building pills to minors

This comes after a similar law went into effect in New York — the first in the country.
2 weeks ago
Philadelphia nurse and patient advocate to testify before the U.S. Department of Labor on fighting insurance denials

Nearly 1 in 5 people say they’ve experienced a health insurance denial within the past year, according to a national survey.
3 months ago
Nicole Leonard is a health and science reporter for WHYY News.
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WOW Vegas broke into the US social casino market in 2022 and has developed a large and loyal user base. Much of the platform’s success can be attributed to its modern design and game variety.
Users have access to over 1,200 slot titles – one of the largest varieties of slot games provided by any sweepstakes casino in the country, including Alabama sweepstakes casinos.
This online social casino is legal throughout nearly the entire country. It serves as a fantastic alternative to traditional real money online casinos, which are currently legal in only seven states.
The best part about WOW Vegas Casino? It’s completely free to play for all members.
Continue reading to learn what WOW Vegas online casino has to offer. I dive into its games, banking options, unique bonuses and more.
Members of WOW Vegas Casino have access to several unique bonuses and promotions. By using our WOW Vegas sweepstakes casino promo code, new members can receive 1.5 million WOW Coins with their first $9.99 purchase and collect 35 Sweeps Coins.
Of course, there is no requirement to make any purchase to play games at WOW Vegas. By using our promo code link and signing up, players will receive 250,000 WOW Coins and 5 Sweeps Coins as a no purchase bonus over the course of three days.
On Day One, new users get 150,000 WOW coins and 2 sweep coins on sign up. On Days Two and Three, new users get 50,000 WOW coins and 1.5 sweep coins each day just for signing up.
There is no promo code necessary to claim this bonus. Simply sign up and begin playing. To earn the full bonus, buy 1.5 million WOW Coins for $9.99 and collect 35 Sweeps Coins, using an accepted banking method.
This is a generous welcome offer for an online social casino. It is, however, structured a little differently than ones offered by competing platforms, such as McLuck Casino.
Social casinos such as WOW Vegas operate differently from traditional online casinos. These are free-to-play platforms that, at their core, are meant for entertainment purposes. For this reason, they are able to legally operate across much of the country.
WOW Vegas Casino utilizes two virtual currencies.
WOW Coins represent the free virtual currency that members use to play games. These are awarded to players every single day, simply for signing into their accounts. WOW Coins can also be purchased in bundles using the platform’s online store.
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In terms of first-purchase bonuses, WOW Vegas grants a staggering 1.5 million WOW Coins. Crown Coins offers up to 2 million Crown Coins with its first purchase bonus. For both sign-up bonuses and first-purchase bonuses, WOW Vegas stands out with its generosity.
The WOW Vegas Casino lobby page screenshot.Wow Vegas Casino
I spent time playing many of the games at WOW Vegas Casino and was happy to find that each one ran smoothly with modern graphics.
This platform provides over 1,200 unique slot titles from some of the top developers in the industry. Some of those developers include Betsoft, Pragmatic Play and Evoplay.
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All of the slot games at WOW Vegas sweepstakes casino work seamlessly using a desktop and a mobile device. For now, there is no dedicated mobile app for this platform. Mobile users can easily play games by using their phone’s web browser.
See more: Real money slots
WOW Vegas Casino does not offer table games at this time. There is a possibility that these will be added in the future.
WOW Vegas’ Social Live Casino has seven live dealer games: Joker’s Show, Top Card, Gravity Roulette, Gravity Blackjack, Auto Roulette, Live Roulette and Grand Bonus Baccarat.
As a social casino, WOW Vegas Casino does not allow its users to win money by playing games. Collecting Sweeps Coins remains the only option for users to earn money through this platform.
Sweeps Coins can be collected in several ways. Using our WOW Vegas sweepstakes casino promo code, new players become eligible to receive 1.5 million WOW Coins, as well as 35 Sweeps Coins. These coins can also be collected by making additional WOW Coins purchases through the in-platform store.
Users can collect Sweeps Coins by playing games, too. WOW Vegas records the players who earn the most WOW Coins daily. A leaderboard displaying the top players is clearly featured toward the bottom of the homepage.
The players who earn the most WOW Coins collect Sweeps Coins rewards. Below is a breakdown of the Sweeps Rewards for the top 1-10 daily players.
Users have two options to redeem Sweeps Coins: either via gift cards or cash. Gift card redemptions are processed via digital voucher.
Members have two options to make cash redemptions. WOW Casino sets clear minimum redemption requirements for both.
If making a gift card redemption, users must have at least 25 Sweeps Coins in their accounts. To request a cash redemption, users need at least 100 Sweeps Coins in their accounts.
WOW Vegas Casino promotions screenshot.Wow Vegas Casino
Social casinos are not often known for offering a large variety of promotions. WOW Vegas stands as an exception, providing a huge selection of bonuses and promos for new and existing players. Some of the best promotions that players can take advantage of are featured below.
WOW Vegas Wheel of Wins: Members can spin the WOW Vegas Wheel of Wins daily for the chance to earn a share of 1,000 Sweeps Coins. Simply log in, open the WOW Vegas Wilds of Fortune game, and boost your play with this promo. Thirty-two lucky players will win a prize. This unique offer is available daily from 6 p.m. to midnight ET.
Paris’ Lucky 6: Paris Hilton is the new brand ambassador for WOW Vegas Casino. To celebrate, WOW Casino is offering its players the chance to earn a share of 10,000 Sweeps Coins each week. To enter, play any of the participating games using Sweeps Coins. Any spin can trigger a share of the total prize pool.
Happy Hour: From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET Thursday to Saturday, players can make boosted coin bundle purchases.
Refer-a-Friend: Users who refer friends to WOW Casino using an approved link are eligible to receive 20 Sweeps Coins and 5,000 WOW Coins. To receive the prize, the referred player must sign up and spend $15 or more on a purchase of WOW Coins.
This is only a handful of the promotions offered to existing players. WOW Vegas Casino provides unique promotions nearly every day of the week. Head over to the Promotions page and discover all of the great offers up for grabs.
WOW Vegas has only two forms of customer support available. These are found by clicking the 24/7 Customer Help tab at the bottom of the lobby homepage.
I tested the email support option and received an answer to my query within 48 hours. While I would prefer a live support option, the email support system is efficient enough to help most customers.
WOW Casino now has millions of users, most of whom have given it high praise. Like any social casino, however, there are a few areas in which WOW Vegas can improve:
WOW Vegas has an extremely slick and modern user interface. Even first-time members with no experience playing at social casinos can easily sign up, claim the no deposit bonus and begin playing games. Here are the steps necessary to do so:
The process of registering with WOW Vegas and claiming your no purchase bonus should take no longer than 10 minutes. Keep in mind that by using our WOW Vegas Casino promo code link, you also can purchase 1.5 million WOW Coins and collect 35 Sweeps Coins.
In order to join this popular sweepstakes casino, you must be at least 18 years old. It is available to join throughout the entire country, with the exception of Connecticut, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, Nevada and Washington.
Social casinos grow more popular every year and WOW Vegas stands as one of the best. Check it out today to learn more about why it is one of the best alternatives to traditional online casinos currently operating.
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Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
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December 23, 2024 by PrincessSafiya Byers Leave a Comment
Washington Park residents, leaders and partners gathered last month for a Quality of Life Plan “Dine and Dialogue” to brainstorm ways to improve the neighborhood.  
The community convening, hosted by Rooted & Rising Washington Park and Athena Communications on Nov. 19, was aimed at collecting insights from residents and stakeholders committed to the Washington Park neighborhood. 
Residents addressed concerns and potential solutions surrounding youth development, economic development, housing, public safety, domestic violence and sex trafficking. 
The dialogue was meant to build on the work of Washington Park’s Sustainable Community Plan, which was launched in 2012. 
The ultimate goal, according to Adrian Spencer, the director of neighborhood engagement for Rooted & Rising Washington Park, is to motivate residents to participate in making Washington Park a better and safer place to live. 
Last month’s discussion is one of many the groups will be holding to collect feedback to be compiled and analyzed to support the creation of a comprehensive quality of life plan that will will help guide the sustainability of the Washington Park neighborhood.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Adrian Spencer, Athena Communications, quality of life plan, Rooted & Rising Washington Park, Washington Park neighborhood
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Princess Safiya Byers was born and raised in Milwaukee, and is a 2020 graduate of Marquette University, majoring in Journalism and Africana Studies. Her commitment to her community has led her to nonprofit work with local youth and families. She’s also interned with the Milwaukee Community Journal and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and joins Milwaukee NNS as a Report for America Staff Reporter looking to serve democracy by covering issues important to the community.
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A woman was hit by a vehicle in southeast Oklahoma City Monday night, police say.
Police say that an adult female was walking in the middle of the roadway on Southeast 40th Street near South Bryant Avenue wearing dark clothing and was struck by a vehicle.
Police say that she was transported to a local hospital where as of last update, she remains in critical condition.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with the police.
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Over 900 games. Quality games developers. Innovative crypto games. T&Cs apply, 18+
If you want to claim Sweeptastic free SC, the site gives you lots of different opportunities to do so – some lesser known than others. To find out how to get free Sweepstakes Coins in your balance, read our expert guide.
In this article, we’ll give you a breakdown of the different ways you can claim free Sweepstakes Coins at Sweeptastic. The welcome bonus and mail-in entries are the most commonly used methods, but we’ll give you a few more tips on how to get free SC in your account and cover the redemption process.

If you’re new to the sweepstakes casino world, there is a little bit of a learning curve when it comes to understanding the use of two virtual currencies: Sweepstakes Coins and Gold Coins. Both can be obtained for free, but only Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed for real-world prizes like bank transfers and gift cards.
Sweepstakes casinos operate on a “no purchase necessary” policy. So, there’s never any point where you need to spend any money to obtain either type of coin. You have the option to purchase Gold Coins, and they come in packages with some Sweepstakes Coins thrown in.
Since there are two different virtual currencies at sites like Sweeptastic, there are two different game lobbies: one where you can use only SC and one where you can use only Lucky Coins (the GC equivalent at Sweeptastic). Both lobbies will have all of the exact same games; so, you essentially get the same experience no matter where you play – except that, when you play with LC, those coins can’t be redeemed for prizes.

Sweeptastic: Pros & Cons

• Can get 5 free SC via mail-in entry
• Easy to claim LC and SC regularly
• Sweepstakes Coins can be redeemed after 1x playthrough

• Mail-in entry requirements are very stringent

There are a few ways to get Sweeptastic free SC. The site makes it easy for you to boost your Sweepstakes Coins balance without having to spend any money, and there are no Sweeptastic promo codes involved with these methods that you have to worry about remembering.
When you sign up at Sweeptastic, you’ll automatically 1,000 Lucky Coins and 1 Sweepstakes Coins to get you started. Just click on the “Get Coins” button and select the first offer that says “Claim Free Coins”. It’s essentially a no deposit bonus for Sweeptastic, since the only criteria is registering your account.
While you can’t buy Sweeps Coins directly, you can still get a few of them as part of Lucky Coin bundles. When you visit the “Coin Store”, you’ll be able to see how many SC come free with your LC bundle. Many Sweeptastic reviews also praise just how generous the discounts are for certain packages.
You can also request free 5 SC via a mail-in entry. You’ll have to send a physical letter to the casino’s specified address, and it’s important that you meet all of the criteria.
Your request card must be sent in using a #10 envelope to the address Heuston Gaming Inc, 4498 Main St, Ste 4 #1347, Amherst, NY 14226, USA. In the top left-hand corner of the front of the envelope, you have to have the following information:
Inside, on your Request Card, this is the information you’ll need to include:
The request has to be hand-written in non-black ink. The items required on the card must be in the exact order that they’re listed in above.
To get your Sweeps Coin Request Code, sign in to your account and visit the Sweeps Rules page. Here, you’ll find a link that will generate the code that you’ll be using in your letter to get your Sweeptastic free Sweeps Coins.
No sweepstakes casino would be complete without the social aspect, and Sweeptastic does a great job of interweaving this with its promotions. So, make sure you stay in touch with the brand by signing up to their newsletter and following them on Facebook. They’ll often post limited-time offers that give you the chance to claim free SC – usually in the form of giveaways.
The Sweeptastic daily bonus offers you the ability to claim 1,000 Lucky Coins in your account every 24 hours. It doesn’t always include SC but there are the odd occasions when a few are thrown in for good measure. So, it’s worth checking out the daily offer regularly.
Sweeptastic was only launched in 2023, and is making waves in the industry already. We think that’s mainly due to how easy the site makes it for players to get free SC. It’s generating quite the buzz among the community, since players can get 1 SC just for registering and 5 SC by sending in a mail-in entry – and, that’s on top of the social media promotions that are hosted very often. Of course, these offers can change from time to time, but we believe you can rest assured that Sweeptastic will give you generous opportunities to get free SC.
Once you’ve accumulated 100 Sweeps Coins and played through them at least once, you’ll be eligible to redeem them for prizes. The redemption process is fairly simple, but we’ll cover the important details here.
No, you can’t purchase Sweeps Coins directly. However, you can obtain them through various promotions; we’ll tell you how in our guide.
No special promo codes are required to claim Sweeptastic free SC. The site makes it easy for players to access free coins through all sorts of different offers. Promo code bonuses for free SC may be released from time to time, and we’ll aim to keep you updated.

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While celebrating the African American Day Parade this past September, in Harlem USA, I ran into a former congregant from my childhood church. She, like so many folks  today, abandoned her latter place of worship for an alternative site in search of a deeper relationship with Christ. Although locating a new facility, she expressed her disappointment as she claimed it failed to feed her completely. She proffered that contemporary Christiandom in America is suffering due to their dismissive nature of the hurting and lassie faire attitude toward Christ’s return. Some churches even lack sound doctrine, while others are focused on financial gains.
What stands out from our discussion was the third point she made: financial gains or as many refer to as the prosperity gospel. Now, there’s not a single thing wrong with being rich, but are we mindful of those God intended for us to bless? Are we more concerned with keeping up with Diddy, Beyonce, and social media posts than building the kingdom of God through both our passions and philanthropy? The fact that mentors, now, want to be paid instead of passing-it-forward to younger generation in the field is what the kids call crazy business. Covid-19 not only killed our loved ones, but many of those who remain have morphed into monsters. Literally. Many with small businesses have such exorbitant pricing, that it’s almost unrealistic for their own community to support. Then, those who complain are tagged brokees or haters. Seldom have I seen introspection on price gauging. Some of these same individuals, however, expect discounted services when time to peel those crisp bills apart. Sadly, this mindset has crept into the church.
Everyone is selling an idea. Yes, your gifts will make room for you, but who said you were supposed to add a price-tag to it? People seem to be charging for EVERYTHING! Everywhere you turn, there’s a tip jar, and the church is no different. God gave you the idea, but did He say charge for it? If so, proceed, but how many people can actually say they asked God for the revelation, or strategy in the process? Some of us hop on what we see others doing and that’s that. We are living their dream and not our own.
Listen, opening up a business is one-thing, but charging people for prayer is another. Three years ago, God told me to start a prayer group, and guess what, we prayed. We kept the group small and symbolically represented the four corners of the world. There was no collection. It was prayer. And, I also get that in a church setting there are light bills to pay, etc. That’s not what i’m referring to. There are people ordained by God to pray people free from bondage, and while i’m all for blessing the man or woman of God, there are folks making a killing praying for people. You can argue me until you are blue in the face, about leaving a sacrifice on the altar, or all the sacrifices you made to pray for me and all you’ve been through .Jesus paid the ultimate price for each and every one of us. The amount of stress, pain, and abuse he underwent physically, psychologically and spiritually is unmatched. Can you beat that? The same faith you require of me for God to supply my financial needs, shouldn’t the same be required of you? And, what about the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving?
Yet, the biggest issue I have is with prophets I’ve encountered when needing deliverance. While experiencing homeless and poverty, due to satanic oppression, I was consistently required to supplement another person’s livelihood. When I truly had nothing to give, as I had to eat and pay what bills I was still able to pay, I was dismissed, rejected, and ignored. These so called prophetic voices could see my bright future, but not meet me where I was presently. There were those who strung me along promising to pray, but never showing up. Then, there were the ones who spent more time on inquisitions rather than praying. Then. there were those who wanted to stretch time to ensure weekly compensation.
How can impoverished folks give, or be expected to render their last only to have ministers drag sessions for months to make bank? If I can fetch a gig, side hustle, or menial job, so can that minister. The same faith they want me to have, they are held to the same standards. Fortunately, they’ll have their chance to explain when/if God allows when they meet at the foot stool of His throne!
Wonder why more people aren’t free? They go to church each Sunday with the same demons week-in, and week-out, without an altar call beyond salvation or joining the church. Those needing one-to-one deliverance settings can’t go the distance, because they have to choose between paying their rent and meeting the “donation” threshold for deliverance. Who wants to be homeless and in need of spiritual freedom, especially when poverty is another layer spiritual oppression? If these one-sided faith structures remain, folks are doomed, and their destinies may experience forfeiture.

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