Ducks head to Boston looking to avenge Sunday’s loss

• October 25, 2023

After a blackout gave way to the Ducks lighting up the scoreboard in Columbus on Tuesday, they were on to Boston for a rematch with the Bruins on Thursday.

Boston won, 3-1, on Sunday in a game that the Ducks carried in many ways, sending them on a four-game trip with a sour taste in their mouths. That gave way to the succulent flavor of Frank Vatrano’s overtime tally against the Blue Jackets, which capped a third-period rally that spilled into the bonus frame of Tuesday’s 3-2 victory, the Ducks’ first on the road in three attempts.

Little was said after the match given various circumstances –– the widespread Columbus power outage delayed Tuesday’s start time, the Ducks had to travel eastward afterward and there was limited visiting media on hand –– and not a word was uttered about the benching of star forward Trevor Zegras.

Zegras had just one point in six games but his expected goals numbers had been strong up until Tuesday. Zegras didn’t take any of the whopping seven penalties for the Ducks Tuesday (they killed six of them), however questionable puck management appeared to be an issue both Tuesday and Sunday for Zegras, though Coach Greg Cronin had not yet elaborated on his rationale.

In what has been confirmed as a coach’s decision, Zegras did not skate a single shift in the third period, even as the Ducks were chasing a tying goal.

They ultimately got that goal from their fourth line when Ross Johnston assisted on Brett Leason’s equalizer. Zegras did not play in overtime either, when Vatrano received a beautiful pass from center Benoit-Olivier Groulx before quickly transitioning from backhand to forehand and rifling in the winner.

“Whoever it was, great pass, and I was fortunate enough to put it in the net,” said Vatrano, who was unsure if the dish had come from Groulx or Cam Fowler.

Vatrano leads the team in goals with five and he, like Cronin, grew up in Massachusetts as a Bruins fan. Unlike Cronin, whose playing career ended after college, Vatrano wore the Bruins sweater, debuting with the club and playing parts of three seasons in black and gold. That’s one of many connections the Ducks have to New England, where General Manager Pat Verbeek also played for the Hartford Whalers. They’ll also have at least one tie to their following opponent, the Philadelphia Flyers, as they recalled former Philly defenseman Robert Hagg from the minors on Wednesday.

While the Ducks are celebrating their 30th anniversary, this is the centennial season for the Bruins, who partied hard in year No. 99’s regular season by racking up an all-time record number of points and victories. Their lore meant something to Cronin, who spoke with the Boston Globe ahead of last week’s game. He even broke into song momentarily with the melody of the theme from the Bruins’ old UHF broadcasts. He also spoke briefly of the “rich memories” he had of the old Boston Garden, where Bobby Orr triumphed on the ice and Bill Russell ruled the hardwood.

“I remember standing in the back row of the balcony, you know, with the iron rails, and looking down the steep stairs,” recalled Cronin to the Globe of his first Bruins game. “I remember thinking, ‘Man, if I fall, the first thing my face will hit is the ice!’”

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From Cronin, a first-time NHL head coach, attending his first game to rookies receiving their initial tastes of NHL action, both teams will feature notable neophytes Thursday. Leo Carlsson, who did not play against Boston or Columbus as part of a measured plan for his first NHL campaign, will likely play Thursday. The plan is not totally unlike what the Tampa Bay Lightning did with Steven Stamkos back in 2008-9, when he began the year on a minutes restriction and averaged fewer than 15 minutes of time on ice for the season. Stamkos, who won two Stanley Cups and four Eastern Conference crowns with Tampa alongside Ducks winger Alex Killorn, turned out just fine.

One rookie the Ducks have had no reservations about deploying has been Pavel Mintyukov. He has played 23 or more shifts in each of his five games, three of which have seen him record a point, and trails only Fowler in minutes played this season for the Ducks.

For Boston, center Matt Poitras has softened the blow of losing their top two pivots from last season. He has muscled his way onto the roster permanently and has seen his role expand rapidly. He touched up the Ducks for two goals in about seven minutes of the third period Sunday, his first two NHL tallies. Then, he piled on another goal in Boston’s 3-0 shutout of Calder Trophy favorite Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks Tuesday.

DUCKS AT BRUINS

When: Thursday, 4 p.m. PT

Where: TD Garden, Boston

TV: Bally Sports SoCal

​ Orange County Register 

Riverside punts to state regulators for decision on whether to bury power lines

• October 25, 2023

State regulators will decide whether transmission lines for a long-awaited Riverside power project will be buried underground or tower up to 180 feet above a picturesque stretch of the Santa Ana River.

After hearing arguments on both sides from more than two dozen residents, a split Riverside City Council voted late Tuesday, Oct. 24, to leave a decision on the controversial, $521 million project up to the California Public Utility Commission.

Given the need to dramatically increase electrical infrastructure in coming years to meet California’s clean energy goals, Larry Chung with Southern California Edison said “all eyes are on Riverside right now” to see which direction this decision goes.

If commissioners make Edison bury those power lines, as Norco has asked them to, Riverside could continue to pursue federal funds in hopes of preventing additional costs to ratepayers. While that option is pricier and will take longer, it’s popular with many residents who believe it reduces wildfire risks while improving aesthetics and property values.

“Delighted” is how Norco Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bash, who’s been leading his city’s efforts to underground the project, described his reaction to Riverside’s vote. After meetings last week with representatives for three of the five state utility commissioners, Bash said, “I am hopeful very hopeful that the CPUC will hear it our way.”

But if commissioners reject or ignore Norco’s petition, that clears the way for Edison to continue with approved plans to string high-voltage transmission lines above ground, between new steel poles and towers that would zigzag for 5.3 miles along the bank of the Santa Ana River. That would allow the city and utility to move forward with plans that have been in the works for nearly two decades to boost energy reliability and capacity for Riverside, which is popular with business and trade groups.

For now, Chung said the project is on hold, as Edison waits for either a more definitive vote of support from Riverside for continuing with an above-ground project or a final decision from the state. And he said other jurisdictions are watching for signals about the future of transmission projects in California.

How we got here

Riverside is the only city of its size in California that has just one connection to the regional electric grid.

City leaders say that leaves residents vulnerable to outages and could one day limit both the city’s growth and its transition to electric transportation and buildings. So Edison and Riverside have spent nearly two decades developing plans for a second connection, called the Riverside Transmission Reliability Project, which would tie into the grid near the 15 freeway in Jurupa Valley and carry power to Riverside along 9.3 miles of high-voltage wires that would cut a corner of Norco.

Jurupa Valley filed a lawsuit over the project in 2016 that said overhead lines would hurt property values and residents’ views. So when the CPUC voted to approve the project, in March 2020, it included plans to bury the four miles of power lines that run through Jurupa Valley’s borders, while the remaining 5.3 miles are approved to be above ground.

Riverside officials said there was a delay in moving the project forward for two years due to COVID-19. When it came back up for discussion in late spring of 2022, Councilmember Steve Hemenway led the discussion about concerns over how the project might increase fire risk in the area, hurt aesthetics and impact quality of life for residents. So the council in May 2022 gave Hemenway six months and a budget of $50,000 to have a consultant work with city staff to come up with a plan for moving the entire project underground.

The council considered that plan during a November 2022 meeting but voted 4-3 against moving forward, with members Jim Perry, Gaby Plascencia, Erin Edwards and Chuck Conder citing concerns about further delays and rising costs.

Then, in January, the council voted 6-1 to let Hemenway and Conder — who by then had changed his opinion — form a working group to try to find funds to cover the added cost of undergrounding lines. Edison has declined to estimate how much the project’s price tag would go up if the remaining 5.3 miles were moved underground, though costs to underground the Jurupa Valley portion of the project suggest burying the entire project would add an estimated $150 million, bringing the total cost to roughly $671 million.

The working group included Norco council members and staff along with representatives from a bipartisan group of state and federal elected officials’ offices. They met eleven times over the past eight months, with a final report due back to the council Tuesday, Oct. 24.

In that report, Hemenway and Conder said there’s a potential to secure a share of the hundreds of billions of dollars set aside for energy projects in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act. They said both Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla and GOP Rep. Ken Calvert of Corona have committed to working with the group to try and secure federal funding, but didn’t cite any money that had actually been locked down. Instead, the council members asked for more time and for the council to let the CPUC know they supported Norco’s efforts to move the project underground.

In a 4-3 vote — with Edwards now joining Conder on Hemenway’s side, while Councilman Ronaldo Fierro went the other direction — the council supported sending the utilities commission a letter Hemenway had drafted that indicates interest in undergrounding the project. But instead of giving his working group more time, the council voted to “revisit the next steps of the working group” only if the CPUC sides with Norco’s to make Edison bury the rest of the project.

Norco appeals to state regulators

While Norco officials were participating in the working group, they also had their staff, legal team and a consultant working on a petition filed Oct. 2 with the CPUC asking the commission to make Edison bury the project’s remaining 5.3 miles of power lines.

Norco’s success hinges on proving that circumstances have changed since the utilities commission approved the project. That’s because Riverside’s neighbor to the west missed the regular window to protest the project by more than two years. The CPUC approved Riverside’s plan for above-ground lines in March 2020, and interested parties then have one year to appeal such decisions.

In Norco’s petition, the city argues there’s been a “dramatic increase in the risk of catastrophic wildfires” since the CPUC approved the project, while development and dry vegetation also have increased in the area over the past two years. There were an average of 4.9 fires per year in Norco for a couple years before the project was approved and in the year after the CPUC gave Edison the greenlight to install above-ground infrastructure. Since then, the petition states that number has jumped to an average of 13.1 wildland fires a year, with 23 blazes in the city from mid-March 2021 through the end of 2022.

“Our communities are now seriously threatened by wildfires to an extent never seen in the past,” a bipartisan coalition of local elected leaders wrote in a letter supporting Norco’s efforts to move the project underground. Signers included Congressman Mark Takano, D-Riverside, along with GOP leaders Calvert, state Sen. Kelly Seyarto of Murrieta and Assemblyman Bill Essayli of Riverside, plus Supervisor Karen Spiegel, Hemenway and Conder.

Also supporting the push to underground the project is Riverside County Fire Chief William Weiser.

“Electrical transmission lines that are undergrounded represent far less of a hazard,” Weiser wrote. “In my professional opinion, undergrounding the remainder of the RTRP transmission line would significantly reduce the threat of wildland fires to the community of Norco, Corona, Jurupa and Riverside.” And if a fire does break out in the area, Weiser said that having “tall high voltage power lines in this area will complicate aerial firefighting, and will limit the effectiveness of firefighting fixed wing aircraft and helicopters.”

There is some precedent for the CPUC to revise a project after the one-year appeal window has passed. The Norco petition cites several examples of when that’s happened, including reversing a five-year-old decision about a project last year following a petition from Southern California Gas.

Responses to Norco’s petition are due by the end of the month, according to Terrie Prosper with the CPUC. A new administrative law judge and commissioner will then be assigned to review all of those materials, Prosper said, with no fixed date for when a final decision might come.

One signal about how the commission might vote is coming from Northern California, where the CPUC has expressed concerns about the cost to customers for Pacific Gas & Electric to move 10,000 miles of overhead power lines underground in high fire risk areas.

It wasn’t clear after the meeting what Riverside would do if the CPUC doesn’t grant Norco’s petition — or if the commission simply doesn’t respond, as they can when appeals are received outside the one-year window.

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​ Orange County Register 

Anthony Trimino, who ran for governor, seeks $6.5M for San Juan Capistrano home

• October 25, 2023

A San Juan Capistrano home owned by Anthony Trimino, the ad agency CEO who ran in the 2021 California governor recall election, has relisted for $6.495 million.

The asking price is 21% higher than the $5.385 million the one-time gubernatorial hopeful and his wife, Jennifer, paid for the property in December 2021, records show. According to county documents, the couple bought the house from Jim Bellino of “The Real Housewives of Orange County” fame.

MLS records show the Triminos originally listed the home in March for $6.995 million, removed it in September and then relisted it on Oct. 19 at the current asking price.

Sited on a 1-acre lot in the guard-gated Hunt Club neighborhood, the 6,082-square-foot classical-style house with an imposing columned entry dates to 1986 and recently underwent a two-year renovation. It has a double-height foyer with twin semi-circular staircases, six bedrooms and seven bathrooms.

A frameless glass door leads to the all-white living room with a fireplace and illuminated built-ins.

In the formal dining room, there’s a custom ceiling and an expensive built-in buffet with a wine refrigerator.

The great room seamlessly connects to the gourmet kitchen, anchored by a waterfall-style island. Its stainless-steel appliances include a built-in Sub-Zero refrigerator and a six-burner Wolf range. A fireplace warms the breakfast nook.

There are two offices, including one accessible by a staircase.

The upstairs primary suite features a built-in wine refrigerator, a freestanding tub and a luxurious steam shower with Accoya wood and book-matched slabs of stone. A deck offers scenic views of the surrounding hills.

Designed for large gatherings, the backyard boasts resort-style amenities such as a pool and spa with water accents and an electric cover, a pickleball and basketball court, a putting green and an outdoor kitchen equipped with a pizza oven and a grill.

Tim Smith and Jeff Golden of Coldwell Banker Realty hold the listing.

Trimino, 48, is president and CEO of Traffik, an Irvine-based advertising agency. He was among the list of Republican candidates who hoped but ultimately failed to oust Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in a special recall election in 2021.

In 2022, the incumbent governor was re-elected for a second term.

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​ Orange County Register 

Lakers’ Ham: LeBron James will ‘in all likelihood’ have minutes limited

• October 25, 2023

DENVER — If Tuesday’s season-opening loss to the Denver Nuggets was an indicator of what’s to come, LeBron James could be in line to play his fewest minutes per game of his 21-season NBA career.

James was limited to 29 minutes in the 119-107 loss to the Nuggets at Ball Arena in Colorado – the third-fewest he’s played in a season opener and 6 1⁄2 fewer minutes than he averaged last season.

When asked whether that minute total will be a regular occurrence for James, coach Darvin Ham responded, “We’ll see. In all likelihood, yes.”

James turns 39 in two months and has accumulated the second-most combined NBA minutes in the regular season and playoffs behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

“It’s easy with him to get caught up in the emotion of the game and you tend to forget you want to play these long stretches,” Ham said. “But in order for him to be as effective as possible, we have to be mindful of the minute output and how long his stretches are.”

General manager Rob Pelinka mentioned before training camp that the team was partnering with James “to help him get all the way to the end” of this season.

Managing James’ playing time in the latter stages of his career is not only important considering the workload he’s carried throughout his career, but also because of his recent injury history.

James missed 27 regular-season games last season, including a 13-game absence because of a torn tendon in his right foot – an injury James described as he “pretty much tore the whole tendon” on his foot. He also missed 26 games the previous season and 27 in 2020-21.

James said after Tuesday’s game that he was “not surprised or upset” by the minutes limit, adding that he talked to Ham and they had a “gameplan” going into the first game.

It seems like the plan to limit James’ playing time will extend beyond the first game, but Ham acknowledged it could build up over time.

“It’s going to be a day-by-day process, gauging how he’s feeling, get communication from him, our training staff, our medical staff,” Ham said. “We communicate, collaborate to land on a solid plan.”

The fewest minutes James has averaged for a season was 33.4 in 2020-21, his third season with the Lakers. He’s averaged at least 34 minutes every other season of his career.

“I mean, I always want to be on the floor,” James said. “Especially when you got an opportunity to win a game or you feel like you can make an impact. But this is the system in place and I’m going to follow it.”

James made it clear that he doesn’t feel he needs to change his approach even if he’s playing fewer minutes on a nightly basis.

He led the Lakers with 21 points (10-of-16 shooting), eight rebounds and five assists, and had an individual plus/minus of plus-7 against the Nuggets – tied for best mark on the team.

“Besides the fact that we didn’t win, but for me, my performance and what I did individually in the time that I was out there, I was productive,” James said. “I was a plus-7 for the game. No turnovers. I like the no turnovers more than anything.”

If James continues to play reduced minutes for a significant portion of the season, then his teammates will need to step up more than they did Tuesday.

The starting backcourt of Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell combined for 25 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists but shot 8 of 23 from the field.

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Anthony Davis had 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots but was scoreless in the second half (0 for 6 from the field, no free-throw attempts).

“That’s on all of us,” Taurean Prince responded when asked about Davis’ second half. “Just making sure that we continue to keep him involved and make sure he stays in the loop with us. Doing that can also help fuel our defense. It goes hand in hand. Just being aware of that in game and getting to what we’re supposed to.”

SUNS AT LAKERS

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Crypto.com Aren in Los Angeles

TV/radio: Spectrum SportsNet, 710 AM

​ Orange County Register 

Kim and Steel choose MAGA over governing

• October 25, 2023

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives had gone three weeks without a speaker, after Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida – one of the House’s most flamboyant pro-MAGA members – led a motion to vacate the speaker’s chair because Kevin McCarthy had worked with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.

After a series of failed candidates, the GOP selected – and the House voted – to make Mike Johnson of Louisiana the new speaker. Johnson is little known, but was neck-deep in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. He even sent an email to House Republicans urging them to sign onto an amicus brief in a Texas lawsuit to invalidate electoral-college votes from several states.

Before Johnson, the Republican caucus selected Jim Jordan of Ohio, a MAGA bomb-thrower. The House’s January 6 report called Jordan “a significant player” in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Apparently, election denialism was a GOP requisite to lead the House.

Nevertheless, Jordan and Johnson both secured the votes of two Orange County members who should have known better. U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel represents the 45th congressional district in the north-central county – a district where Democrats have a 6-percent voter-registration advantage.

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Kim represents the 40th district, which includes Brea, Chino Hills, Corona and Mission Viejo. That district is more solidly Republican, although Joe Biden eked out a victory there. We would have expected both members to hold out for a speaker candidate who was less of an ideological rabble-rouser.

We endorsed Steel in 2020. We appreciated her practical, conservative record. She told us Biden legitimately won the election and pointed to court decisions that refused to overturn the results.

We also endorsed Kim, noting she’s “distinguished herself as part of a rare breed of Republican moderates.” During our interviews, Kim wouldn’t talk about Donald Trump, saying she was too busy focusing on her election to discuss him. She was most interested in “uniting us.”

And yet with the speaker vote, they both gave in to the most extreme form of Trumpism. We look forward to hearing their justifications as the congressional races get underway.

​ Orange County Register 

Albano’s Orange County football Top 35 rankings for Week 10

• October 25, 2023

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

OCVarsity’s Dan Albano votes each week in the Orange County football Top 25 poll.

Here are his rankings for Oct. 23, plus the other schools he views as his “Next 10”:

ALBANO’S TOP 35

1. Mater Dei 8-1

2. Orange Lutheran 5-4

3. San Clemente 8-1

4. Servite 5-4

5. Los Alamitos 7-2

6. Santa Margarita 5-4

7. JSerra 4-5

8. Mission Viejo 6-3

9. Edison 6-3

10. Tustin 9-0

11. San Juan Hills 8-1

12. Villa Park 8-1

13. Newport Harbor 4-5

14. Tesoro 5-4

15. Corona del Mar 4-5

16. Trabuco Hills 6-3

17. Yorba Linda 6-3

18. Capistrano Valley 7-2

19. Cypress 6-3

20. Foothill 6-3

21. Western 8-1

22. El Modena 5-4

23. El Dorado 4-5

24. Laguna Beach 8-1

25. Crean Lutheran 6-3

Albano’s Next 10

26. Huntington Beach 4-5

27. Laguna Hills 8-1

28. Santa Ana 7-2

29. La Habra 5-4

30. Dana Hills 7-2

31. Aliso Niguel 6-3

32. Irvine 6-3

33. St. Margaret’s 5-4

34. Orange 5-4

35. Sonora 8-1

Also considered: Esperanza (5-4), Troy (5-4)

Please send football news to Dan Albano at [email protected] or @ocvarsityguy on Twitter

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​ Orange County Register 

What is TSA PreCheck? Everything you need to know

• October 25, 2023

Raychelle Heath | Bankrate (TNS)

Many travelers are looking forward to a much-awaited vacation this year. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), daily traveler numbers for 2023 are approaching pre-pandemic (2019) levels.

If you’ve been considering applying for TSA PreCheck to streamline the process of airport security, here’s your guide to how it works, the interview process and more, along with some tips for using your membership for the first time.

What is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is a Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) designed to expedite the process of getting through airport security. The program is managed by the TSA and gives passengers access to special security lines at participating airports in the United States. TSA PreCheck membership costs $78 (previously $85) and is good for five years.

TSA PreCheck is available in more than 200 airports and with 85 airlines across the United States. When you get to the security line after check-in, an agent will direct you to the PreCheck line after confirming your membership via your boarding pass.

This membership allows you to keep your light jacket, shoes and belt on, and liquids and electronics (like laptops) can stay inside your luggage, too. Then, it’s as simple as walking through a security scanner and you’re good to go to your gate.

How to participate in TSA PreCheck

Becoming a member of the TSA PreCheck program will require a few steps, starting with your application. To apply for TSA PreCheck, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident. There is no age restriction for applicants, and children of age 12 and under can use their parents’ or guardians’ memberships and need not officially apply.

Once you’ve applied with an enrollment provider, you’ll need to schedule an appointment at an enrollment center to complete a background check and fingerprinting. At this appointment, you’ll pay your membership fee and find out if you’ve been approved. Once you’ve been approved, you’ll receive a known traveler number (KTN) that you can use whenever you book a flight. It can take up to 60 days to receive your KTN, but most applicants receive their KTN within three to five days.

Complete the online application

The application for TSA PreCheck can be found on the TSA website under “Apply Now.” When completing your application, it’s very important that your name appears exactly as it does on your government identification. Some of the information you’ll need includes:

—Full name

—Date of birth

—Gender

—Preferred language

—A preferred method of contact (email or phone)

When you complete your application, you’ll be directed to set your appointment for your background check and fingerprinting, and you’ll be given a list of enrollment centers to choose from in your area. You’ll also have the opportunity to set a time and date for your appointment.

Complete the in-person interview at an enrollment center

TSA PreCheck allows walk-ins for interviews, but applicants with appointments are prioritized. Appointments are scheduled to last about 10 minutes (if the enrollment center is busy, it may take a bit longer). It’s best to schedule a TSA PreCheck appointment while completing your application, and the earlier you can schedule it, the better. You’ll be given the option to choose from a variety of enrollment centers in your area, along with different days and times.

At your appointment, you’ll be required to present approved identification documents. This includes an unexpired U.S. passport or else a valid photo ID and a document that meets citizenship requirements (such as a U.S. birth certificate). You’ll also be fingerprinted and pay your membership fee. Membership fees are nonrefundable and can be paid with a credit card, debit card, money order, company check or certified/cashier’s check.

The interview itself is pretty low-key. You’ll be asked to verify the information on your application and may also be asked about your employment history and travel habits. If you have any criminal history, you should be prepared to give more information about that.

How to get TSA Precheck for free

Getting the most out of TSA PreCheck actually starts before you use the service. In fact, many travel credit cards provide a statement credit to cover the cost of TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership. So, if you have an eligible credit card — like the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, for example — you’ll get reimbursed up to $100 for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

To receive the credit, you’ll simply pay the fee with your eligible credit card. Also check out Bankrate’s travel toolkit for tips and tricks on how to maximize travel with a credit card.

Using TSA PreCheck for the first time

Once you have your TSA PreCheck membership, here are some tips that can help you make the most of it:

—Make sure you use your KTN whenever you book a flight to ensure TSA PreCheck shows up on your boarding pass.

—If you’re a frequent flyer, add your KTN to your profile.

—Do online check-in for your flight 24 hours ahead of time to make sure your PreCheck status is there. If it isn’t, contact the airline.

—Arrive at the airport at least two hours ahead of your flight to make sure your PreCheck status is confirmed (if you aren’t able to do so online or by phone).

—Be sure you are traveling through an airport with TSA PreCheck services.

Does one TSA PreCheck membership work for families?

The short answer to this question is no. TSA PreCheck membership doesn’t automatically transfer to your family members. The one exception is children of age 12 and under. Children in this age category can go through the TSA PreCheck line with a parent or guardian who has membership in the program.

Children of ages 13 to 17 may also be able to use the TSA PreCheck lane if they’re traveling with a parent or guardian who has TSA PreCheck and if they have the TSA PreCheck indicator on their boarding pass. However, their use of the lane is not guaranteed, and they may be required to go through standard security screening.

How to update personal information for TSA PreCheck

Your TSA PreCheck membership is good for five years. If during that time your personal information changes, you’ll need to update it as soon as you can with the provider that enrolled with. The most direct way to do so is to call it at 855-347-8371 (for IDEMIA) or 833-777-1811 (for Telos), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. You can also send an inquiry online to get information about how to change your personal information. This may take a little longer, however, because you will have to wait for a response.

The bottom line

If you do any domestic travel, having TSA PreCheck can be a real perk. Participating in this Trusted Traveler Program will enable you to breeze through security lines. While there is a membership fee of $78 to participate in this program, several credit cards offer members credits that cover this application fee. There are other Trusted Traveler Programs from the government that offer different benefits. If you’re looking to have a quicker re-entry into the U.S. after international travel, Global Entry is the program to look at — and it includes TSA PreCheck membership, too.

________

Key takeaways

—TSA PreCheck membership can help you get through airport security faster.

—With TSA PreCheck, you can keep a light jacket, shoes and belt on, and you won’t have to remove your laptop or liquids from your bag.

—To apply for TSA PreCheck, you’ll need to fill out a short online form and complete an in-person appointment at an enrollment center.

—Many travel credit cards offer a statement credit to cover the entire cost of TSA PreCheck membership (currently $78).

©2023 Bankrate online. Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

​ Orange County Register 

Online reviews of the Crocs cowboys boots are in — and they’re hilarious

• October 25, 2023

Oct. 23 was Croc Day, and this year, the Broomfield, Colorado-based company celebrated with the release of its first cowboy boots design.

The Crocs Classic Cowboy Boots debut on Oct. 23. Better boot, scoot and boogie to buy them as they’re only available for a limited time. (Provided by Crocs, Inc.)

The shoemaker announced its release earlier this month – which it deems Croctober – attributing the boots’ development to demand from fans. Based on the number of people complaining online about the Crocs website going down Monday morning, it seems they’re poised to be a fan favorite.

A Crocs spokesperson declined to say how many pairs of the limited edition style are available, saying only that they are expected to sell out. By midday Monday, several sizes listed “only a few left” while larger sizes were listed as “coming soon.” By late afternoon, several sizes appeared to be sold out.

Despite that, reviews began pouring in several weeks ago on Crocs’ website. While it’s unclear how they were tried so soon (we’ve asked), the reviews are endlessly entertaining, with at least one citing the Crocs cowboy boots as the impetus for a divorce.

Here are the funniest reviews of the Crocs cowboy boots from the website.

Crocs? Boots? Croots

“Nothing says ‘yeehaw’ like having a pair of spiky wheels attached to your feet,” wrote reviewer sniktak from Atlanta. “Forget about subtlety – with these boots, you can jingle your way through life like a walking wind chime, ensuring that everyone within a ten-mile radius is well aware of your presence.”

Soon, soon

“Automatic Texan purchase,” said Texas-based reviewer They’ll Be Mine.

I would buy these again even though I was divorced

“When I first laid eyes on this I felt an immediate spark and pleasure staring at them. When I showed my boring old ass wife she side-eyed and told me she would divorce me if I bought a pair. Well guess what? She was not kidding. I bought a pair on a Sunday after church and my wife instantly handed me the house key and left,” reviewer Tucker Wilson of Montana wrote, in part. “The price is worth it but expensive if it causes a divorce. Attorneys are a pretty penny. When I walked into court everyone’s eyes fell upon my shoes. I graced that crowd with godly shoes. The Judge was deeply impressed and I knew I won the case.”

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Fire drop

“These boots are like the love child of John Wayne and the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters. They’re so confused about their identity that they’ve become the fashion equivalent of an existential crisis,” said reviewer StylishGambino of Los Angeles. “They’re the fashion equivalent of a plot twist in a telenovela – utterly unexpected, yet strangely captivating. But here’s the kicker: They’ll hug your feet like a country love song.”

Yee Haw Croc Cowboys

“These are great to rustle up some cattle and gather my horses for a train robbery. Feel fancy, and they are 4-wheel drive so I can run fast,” wrote reviewer Cowboy Rick of The Pasture.

​ Orange County Register