ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Apopka homeowner is struggling to receive calls from his home insurance company after his roof was torn off by strong winds during Hurricane Helene.

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“Heard something that sounded like a freight train. The next thing we know when we look out the window is parts of the roof flying off,” Lynn said.

Lynn said he has been calling his insurance company continually since the roof was torn off the house around 7:30 p.m. but has received no response.

Read: Channel 9 brings you the impact of Hurricane Helene in Florida

“I thank God none of us in my family were hurt,” said Fred Lynn, homeowner.

Lynn said he has lived in his home for over 50 years and had never suffered damage from a storm, tornado or previous hurricanes until the wind damage from Hurricane Helene.

WFTV walked through Lynn’s front and back yard to survey the damage and debris and noted that Lynn’s home was the only one in the neighborhood that was hit.

Read: AAA offers safety and insurance tips to help those injured by Helene

Insurance experts said during hurricane season, CTAs are ready for homeowner claims and the first thing a homeowner should do in the event of a loss is to call insurers and contact them electronically.

“The quickest way is to submit your claim online or electronically. There is either an 800 number on your home insurance policy or you should call,” said Thomas Cotton, president of Hugh Cotton Insurance.

According to Citizen’s Insurance, Florida’s largest insurer, claims reports will be few and far between in the first two days after Helene.

“What people are figuring out now is what kind of wind deductible they have. They’re now finding out that if they don’t have flood insurance, they don’t have flood insurance,” Cotton said.

Read: Aftermath of Helene: Waste collection services will resume in these counties

Given the state’s insurance crisis after past hurricanes devastated the state and litigation over roof damage, homeowners across the state are feeling the pressure of rising insurance premiums and are now faced with the challenge of obtaining compensation for damages.

“Florida’s homeowner market is largely domestic. Most of our airlines are Florida-only airlines,” Cotton said.

The hesitation to make contact now increases the stress of recovering from the storm’s destruction. Thanks to a local roofing company and neighbors, he is now forced to install several large tarps on his roof until he receives a call for an expert to assess the damage.

Lynn said since he called early and is still waiting in limbo, he fears the wait for help will only get longer for people who haven’t called their insurance companies about the damage.

“I don’t think it should be that hard to get something done,” Lynn said.

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The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

The impacts of Hurricane Helene’s rain and winds are causing damage throughout East Tennessee.

The steady rain of a typical storm first began to penetrate East Tennessee this week, then the outer bands of Hurricane Helene blew into the southern Appalachians. Now the remnants of the storm have made their way here, bringing the winds that caused damage across much of Florida and Georgia.

“Fallen trees and power lines are expected to cause power outages. Turn back, don’t drown,” warned experts at the National Weather Service office in Morristown.

Schools are closed and football games are canceled.

CNN
—

Austria goes to the polls this Sunday, with the populist, anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPÖ) expected to emerge victorious, in what would mark another win for Europe’s far right.

However, unlike its competitors, the FPÖ is not an upstart and has previously been involved in coalition governments.

Since the FPÖ is unlikely to win an absolute majority according to current polls, it would have to rely on the support of other parties – and they could do so instead Work together to freeze it. Here’s what you need to know:

The FPÖ is considered the forefather of European right-wing extremist parties and represents an anti-migrant, anti-Islam, anti-European and anti-vaccination agenda. One of their typically provocative slogans was once “Love of homeland instead of Moroccan thieves”.

Benjamin Biard, a political scientist and research fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Center de Recherche et d’Information Socio-Politiques (CRISP), told CNN that the FPÖ shares “many characteristics” with other leading European far-right parties, citing the French National Rally (RN), the Flemish Vlaams Belang (VB), the Italian Lega and the Dutch Party for Freedom (PVV).

But there is a crucial difference. Unlike, for example, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was founded in 2013 in response to Eurozone politics, the FPÖ was founded in the decade after the Nazi era and is deeply rooted in Austrian politics. It has been in power three times in coalition with other groups at the federal level, making it one of the few far-right parties in Europe to have achieved this.

On June 9, the party narrowly won the European Parliament (EP) elections in Austria for the first time with 25.5% of the vote and would like to transfer this momentum to the national level.

The party was founded in 1956 by former Nazis, but today denies any connection to National Socialism. Still, over the years it has followed a controversial path, trending from the far right to the center and back again.

“In its early years, the FPÖ represented all-Germanist ideas and wanted to pave the way for the return of National Socialism in Austria,” said Biard. “At that time it consisted mainly of Nazi sympathizers, pro-German nationalists and libertarians.”

Pan-Germanism was a 19th century^Th Century movement for the political unification of everyone who speaks German or a Germanic language.

The party’s liberal tendencies, Biard said, “gradually displaced the former position” and by the early 1980s It was “accepted as a legitimate competitor in the Austrian electoral landscape.”

Their political stance changed again when Jörg Haider – the son of former NSDAP members – became party chairman in 1986. Haider was a controversial figure who was known for once praising Nazi Germany’s employment policies.

“At a time when the FPÖ had ‘de-radicalized,’ Haider imported a populist style and program centered on social nationalism and economic liberalism,” Biard said.

The party’s rightward shift under Haider proved popular and it secured 27% of the vote in the October 1999 election and subsequently entered a coalition government with the center-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). Haider himself remained out of the government, but his rise to prominence and the party’s presence in the Austrian government alarmed the EU and left it diplomatically isolated.

In recent years, the party has been embroiled in scandal again, most notably in 2019 during its second coalition government with the ÖVP. In the so-called “Ibiza Gate,” then-head of state Heinz-Christian Strache was caught on camera promising government contracts to a woman who claimed to be the niece of a Russian oligarch – leading to his resignation and the collapse of the coalition .

The FPÖ has been led by Herbert Kickl since 2021. A far-right strongman, he has vowed to turn Austria into a “fortress” if he comes to power and has described himself as the future “People’s Chancellor” or “People’s Chancellor,” a term that has drawn criticism because of how he describes himself referred to the FPÖ’s Nazi past.

What are the main policies of the FPÖ?

Key issues in the September 29 election include cost of living, immigration, climate change and the war in Ukraine. Austria has been struggling with high inflation and below-average growth for almost two years. It is also under pressure from European allies to curb its heavy reliance on Russian gas.

A foiled terrorist attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in August sparked a debate about domestic security, while this month’s widespread flooding, which killed five people and declared the whole of Lower Austria a disaster zone, put climate change at the forefront put on the agenda.

The FPÖ has successfully addressed some of these voter concerns. In its campaign manifesto, the party promised to tighten immigration rules and implement what it calls “remigration” – the return of people to the countries from which their families originally came, particularly in the case of criminals.

The FPÖ – which likes to market itself as a party of the working class and appeals to low-income earners who feel excluded – It also outlined measures to stimulate the economy, including tax breaks for young workers and lower taxes on savings.

The long-time anti-EU and supposedly pro-Russia party rejects the bloc’s sanctions against Russia and further aid supplies to Ukraine and argues that Austria should remain neutral. In contrast to its competitors, the FPÖ demands that Vienna must continue to rely on Russian gas supplies in order to prevent a rise in energy prices.

The party now sits in the EU Parliament in alliance with Hungary’s Fidesz, a party led by Viktor Orban – Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe.

Austria’s current coalition of ÖVP and Greens is trying to find ways to wean the country from Moscow’s supplies, with the energy minister calling this a “major economic and security risk.”

The far-right party has benefited from the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic and is known for its staunch opposition to the vaccines, with Kickl previously condemning it as a “genetic engineering experiment”.

Heinisch Reinhardt, professor of comparative politics at the University of Salzburg, describes the FPÖ as “one of the most successful right-wing radical parties since the 1980s.”

Speaking to CNN, Reinhardt said: “They are strong because, like other populists, they occupy a part of the spectrum where they have little competition.” They generally oppose the positions of all other parties and are perfectly positioned to appeal to people , who are disillusioned with democracy, feel abandoned by elites and resent the political mainstream.”

He also points out that distrust of the Austrian ruling coalition – a “government of two ideologically different parties” that “disagree on almost everything” – is fueling support for the FPÖ.

“In this environment of discontent, the FPÖ has developed well, also because in Mr. Kickl it has probably the best communicator of all parties and a disciplined person with a sharp intellect that distinguishes him from his predecessors.”

Polls by local daily Der Standard show the FPÖ is on track with a narrow victory of 27%, ahead of its main rivals, the ruling ÖVP with 25% of the vote and the center-left Social Democrats (SPÖ). with 20%.

Should the FPÖ win, its only likely coalition partner would be the conservative ÖVP, with whom it has already served as a junior coalition partner twice.

The ÖVP’s current chancellor, Karl Nehammer, has expressed his unwillingness to work with Kickl, declaring this month that it is impossible “to form a government with someone who loves conspiracy theories.” However, he left the door open to working with the FPÖ without Kickl, with the two parties There is overlap on issues like immigration and tax cuts.

If the ÖVP gets confused in the polls, it could hold talks with the FPÖ or try to form Austria’s first three-party alliance – with the SPÖ and either the Greens or the liberal NEOS party.

According to Reinhard, the FPÖ is more likely to form a government if it comes second than if it comes first. “If the FPÖ is ahead, it could only form a government with the conservatives. However, it is questionable whether the ÖVP would like to be a junior partner in a coalition with the FPÖ, while it could be a senior partner in a coalition with the SPÖ and a third party.”

According to Reinhard, if a coalition between the ÖVP and SPÖ is numerically possible, this is the most likely outcome.

But Biard said it was “not ruled out that the FPÖ could join or even lead a coalition – which would be a first in Austria.”

“This would strengthen the weight and influence of the extreme right not only in Austria, but also at the European level.”

IN ONE OF THE FIRST PLACES TO OPEN. WE HAVE 132 KEY HOTELS THAT WE ARE IN NOW. THE LIVING HOTEL IS NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING. IT IS VERY EXPERIENCE RELATED. THE HOTEL IS ONLY PART OF THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. IN NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA CITY IT’S CALLED THE OAK. HOSPITALITY IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF A GREAT MIXED-USE PROJECT. IT WILL BE ALL CLOSE TO THE PENN SQUARE MALL, CLOSE TO NORTHWEST EXPRESSWAY AND PENN, COVERING APPROXIMATELY 20 ACRES. Isn’t that cool? THE HOTEL IS THE FIRST PART TO OPEN LAST WEEK AND THE MULTIFAMILY, THE RESIDENCES, WILL BEGIN OPENING IN THE SECOND HALF OF OCTOBER. And then retail, the first cohort or group of retailers, will open around the same time in the second half of October. It’s certainly a force to be reckoned with, and during our tour of the lively hotel we could see all the nods to OKLAHOMA CITY. ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS IS WEAVEING LITTLE PARTS OF OKLAHOMA THROUGHOUT THE HOTEL. So you have a scissor tail carpet on the elevator landings as well as in the hallways. The really cool part is the movable glass wall that opens to the 4,000 square foot terrace overlooking HARTWOOD PARK. THE STORES AROUND THE OAK DEVELOPMENT WILL BE OPEN IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

New place to eat, shop and live comes to life in OKC

KOCO 5 got a first look at the new OAK project in northwest Oklahoma City that will feature dining and shopping options.

Updated: September 27, 2024, 10:19 p.m. CDT

KOCO 5 got a first look at the new OAK project in northwest Oklahoma City that will feature dining and shopping options. Click here to get the latest interesting news. Part of the project, the Lively Hotel, is now available for booking. >> Download KOCO 5 App“The hotel opened last week. And the apartment buildings will open from the second half of October. And then retail, the first cohort or group of retailers, will open around the same time in the second half of October,” said Ryan McNeill, founder of Veritas Development. Watch the video above to find out more about the new development. Top headlines: Rescuers race to free people trapped by Hurricane Helene after the storm killed at least 21 people in four states. Acting legend Maggie Smith, star of stage, film and “Downtown Abbey,” dead on 89th floor. Police are looking for suspect who used a chair to break in the door of an OKC store. Police search for motorcyclist after overnight pursuit through OKC MetroYou can start by booking rooms at the OKANA Resort & Indoor Water Park. See how much they cost

OKLAHOMA CITY –

KOCO 5 got a first look at the new OAK project in northwest Oklahoma City that will feature dining and shopping options.

Click here to get the latest interesting news.

Part of the project, the Lively Hotel, is now available for booking.

>> Download KOCO 5 app

“The hotel opened last week. And the apartment buildings will open from the second half of October. And then retail will open around the same time in the second half of October,” said Ryan McNeill, founder of Veritas Development.

Watch the video above to learn more about the new development.

---

Top headlines

Fall is here and as the weather gets colder, that’s all the more reason to cozy up inside, grab some popcorn, and catch up on the latest movies on the best streaming services. But with so much on offer, it’s hard to figure out what to see.

That’s why we’ve compiled all the hits and none of the duds to make your next movie night an unforgettable experience. Leading the way this week is Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” on Disney Plus and the Brad Pitt and George Clooney-directed action comedy “Wolfs” on Apple TV Plus. So without further ado, here are the best new movies to watch on streaming this weekend. For even more recommendations, check out our roundup of the best new shows and movies to watch.

“Inside Out 2” (Disney Plus)

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Denise Heinke, head of development and public relations at Smart Start, supplies the library with books. —Karen Kistler

After the ribbon cutting, the group decided to check out some of the books on offer in the new small library. Pictured are, from left, Denise Heinke, Amy Brown, Michelle Patterson, Ike Palm, Patterson Farms employee, Jimmy Greene, Kristie Hunsucker, Patterson Farm employee, and Cinthia Rodriguez, director of finance and administration at Smart Start. – Karen Kistler

Jimmy Greene prepares to cut the ribbon on the new Little Library. He is pictured with, from left, Denise Heinke, Amy Brown, Michelle Patterson, Ike Palm and Kristie Hunsucker, Patterson Farm employees, and Cinthia Rodriguez, director of finance and administration at Smart Start. – Karen Kistler

CHINA GROVE – Thanks to the combined efforts of Smart Start Rowan, Jimmy Greene Jr. and Patterson Farms, there is another Little Free Library in the county.

The journey to get this library up and running and ready to offer books to children in the community began at the 9th annual Smart Start Rowan’s Dr. Shirley P. Ritchie Champion for Young Children Celebration held March 12th and September 25th A small ribbon cutting was held at the farm to announce that he is now ready to serve the community.

During the event in March, Greene was named the 2024 Champion and, in addition to an award, Smart Start announced they would donate a Little Free Library in his honor wherever he chooses.

The library is “a gift from Smart Start Rowan for all he has done for our community and the families we serve,” Denise Heinke, director of public relations and development, said in an email.

In deciding where to locate the library, Greene said that since he is a resident of the western area and serves as the school board representative for the western area, he wanted to go in that direction.

“We have great places all over the county,” Greene said, “but Patterson Farms has only ever been involved with youth in the past, and when they said Michelle (Patterson) might have suggested here, it was just like that.” perfect fit.

According to the website, Patterson is the farm’s treasurer and entertainment program director and is responsible for marketing and overseeing educational tours and events.

The placement for the library was a conversation Greene, Heinke and Amy Brown, executive director of Smart Start, had when he won the award, and they all agreed that the western part of the county would be a good fit since he was a member is in the West Rowan community, Brown said, and the Greene family has done a lot for the community. “Patterson Farms came to the surface because it has such great importance here in the community,” she said, “and because Michelle and her family have also been so committed to our agency.”

Brown added that Patterson is both a board member and committee member and that they have had a good partnership with the Patterson Farms team over the years.

And as for Patterson, she said they are excited about this opportunity to partner with Smart Start because we care deeply about education and the opportunity to give all children a good start.

She also pointed out that the organization has great values ​​and aims to give children a good start, which is why she enjoys working with them.

The acquisition of this library aligns with Smart Start’s vision of preparing children for school and ensuring they are healthy, Greene said. They are also big supporters of reading books and have been for many years.

“I mean, technology is wonderful,” he said, “but at the end of the day they need books in their hands, and that’s why we did this.”

It’s special for Patterson to be able to share these books with the community and work with this group.

“We are so excited to be able to share this with the people of our community and it is very special that Jimmy Greene has allowed us to publish it here,” she said.

When asked what it meant to be honored in this way, Greene quickly replied that he was a nobody, but that he was glad to be there and was glad that there were people who did what they did. and praised Bruce Shuping for his help in obtaining the honorary library installed on the farm.

“I know people who help me with everything, whether it’s family or friends, so it’s just an absolute blessing,” Greene said, “but it’s an undeserved blessing.”

Little Free Libraries is a statewide program, and there are others throughout the Rowan County community, Brown said.

These libraries are mapped, Heinke said, and their locations can be found on littlefreelibrary.com so people can find one near them.

“Jimmy’s Little Library is now mapped at Patterson Farms,” she said. So people can come in and pick up a book.

“The library is a community-based program created for families to get books for their children,” Brown said, and hopefully refresh the book they picked up with another one if they can; However, if they cannot be updated, other community members will.

“We have a great passion for reading and putting a book in a child’s hand as soon as they can sit up and hold a book,” Heinke said. “It’s very exciting for us to be able to showcase this as another part of our community,” noting that there are some in downtown Salisbury, but to be able to offer this in this part of Rowan County is “very special “.

The books can be taken away for free, Heinke said, and there is no limit. “If they want to grab ten, they might as well have ten,” noting that they would keep a check to see when more books would be needed.

Many of those books, Heinke said, came from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

They bought additional copies of “The Little Engine That Could” with some money they had on hand, Brown said. This is Dolly’s favorite book and “such a showpiece book of the program,” she said.

Other books are the result of program participants moving and no longer being home to receive them, Brown said. “The postal service keeps these for us and sends them back in boxes on a regular basis,” and they use them for programs like this.

Because Smart Start specializes in the birth to five age group, Heinke said most of the books in this library are intended for those age groups. However, if members of the community also have books they would like to publish there, “they are welcome to do so,” she said.

An avid reader, Patterson said she looks forward to sharing these books with the children when they come.

“I imagine them coming here, sitting at the tables, grabbing a book and just enjoying the stories,” she said. “We’re just thankful and grateful for this opportunity and look forward to people enjoying it.”

And to give back, Patterson said they would be donating a book of the month specifically about agriculture to Farm Bureau Ag’s Smart Start in the classroom. Along with the book, they will receive a curriculum to use in their centers, she said.

As October is upon us and pumpkins and festivals are coming to the farm, there is one more thing that families can put on their list to stop by and that is the little red library located right on the ice cream and picnic tables.

So children can have a book, and “knowing that we are just a small part of it is fantastic,” Heinke said.

It was 3 a.m. and southern Beirut was under the heaviest bombardment in nearly 20 years. A CNN team drove past a sea of ​​people camped on sidewalks, mostly on the boardwalk that encircles the coast in the still-pristine western parts of the city.

These were displaced people from neighborhoods that were attacked by Israeli warplanes. Some were chatting on the side of the road, some were sleeping on benches and on the ground. Women cradled sleeping babies and toddlers. Children wandered the streets in their pajamas and weaved aimlessly through double-parked cars.

On the city’s commercial Hamra Street, a crowd outside an abandoned building forced traffic to a near standstill. A man tore down the iron gate, allowing a flood of displaced people to take refuge. A new wave of arrivals was approaching. Visibly exhausted women got out of the cars and dragged their children, blankets and mattresses.

Most people carried little more than the clothes on their backs as they ran away in search of safety. Many tried to put on a brave face, fear hidden beneath the thin facade of bravery. “We’re fine! I’m sure our home is fine. There is nothing to worry about,” a woman in her early 60s said to a group of people around her.

It was a sleepless night in the Lebanese capital. The streets were busier than usual in the early hours of Saturday morning. Restaurants and cafes were open, serving food and coffee, while television screens showed images of the explosions lighting up the night sky just a few kilometers away.

As we drove around the city in our car, the Israeli military issued new evacuation orders for residents of parts of southern Beirut that had not yet been attacked. One of the neighborhoods listed was Bourj el Barajneh, a densely populated area that includes a Palestinian refugee camp and is home to many poorer migrants. Less than 30 minutes later, Israeli forces began attacks there.

It is unclear whether many of these residents managed to get out in time. Meanwhile, the people of Beirut wait to see what has become of their homes, their city and their civilians.

Billionaire Pistons owner Tom Gores has closed a deal to acquire 27% of the Chargers, according to sources. The deal faces final approval from NFL owners next month.

If completed, the sale will resolve a long-standing dispute between current Chargers limited partner Dea Spanos Berberian and her three siblings, including principal owner Dean Spanos. Dea Spanos Berberian will completely relinquish her position in the team. Gores would become one of the largest non-owner family shareholders in an NFL team.

The deal does not provide a path for Gores to majority control of the team, a condition that made previous attempts to strike a deal significantly more difficult. Previous advanced talks with Clearlake Capital Group co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano collapsed late last year, in part because of control issues.

The exact terms of the contract are not known. Forbes, Sportico and CNBC’s public estimates of the Chargers’ valuation range from $5.1 billion to $5.83 billion. However, according to Forbes and CNBC, the team is estimated to carry about $816 million in debt, and non-controlling minority stakes are typically discounted.

A representative for the Chargers declined to comment. Gores also declined to comment.

A source close to Gores said his minority position with the Chargers will not distract from his goals with the Pistons.

Gores’ acquisition includes the entire 15% that Spanos Berberian owns individually, as well as its 9% stake in a family foundation that owns 36% of the team. Additionally, Gores is acquiring 1% each from Dean Spanos, Michael Spanos and Alexis Spanos Ruhl. If this deal closes, each Spanos will individually own 24% and Gores will own 27%.

In 2021, Spanos Berberian filed a petition asking an L.A. Superior Court judge to force a sale of the team, saying mismanagement by Dean Spanos had led to insoluble debts, which in turn threatened the family’s fortunes. She later abandoned her attempt to force a sale of the entire team and instead focused on exiting her own stake.

Gores, who is worth $11.8 billion according to Bloomberg, founded Los Angeles-based Platinum Equity in 1995. Assets under management are currently approximately $48 billion.

In 2011, Gores paid $325 million for the Pistons in a deal that included The Palace of Auburn Hills and DTE Energy Music Theater. The team was most recently valued by Forbes at $3.08 billion.

As a minority shareholder in the Chargers, Gores would have no formal say in league or team governance. But his wealth, L.A. base of operations and connections appear to be in high demand among other owners and league executives, giving him considerable informal influence throughout the NFL, a rarity among limited partners.

The deal comes just weeks after the NFL approved three private equity funds and a consortium of funds to buy up to 10% of NFL clubs. Gores’ Platinum Equity is not part of the NFL’s PE program.

The NFL Finance Committee heard a detailed presentation of the Gores transaction earlier this week. It is expected to be on the agenda for the final decision when NFL owners meet in Atlanta on October 15-16.

Crack crisis

The space agency is increasingly concerned about leaks in a tunnel connecting the Russian segment of the International Space Station to a docking port, according to a new report from NASA’s inspector general.

Worse, officials still aren’t entirely sure what’s causing it.

“Persistent cracks and air leaks in the service module transfer tunnel pose a major safety risk,” the report said. “And NASA and Roscosmos are working together to investigate and repair the cracks and leaks, determine the root cause, and monitor the station for new leaks.”

In April, NASA “detected an increase in leakage to its highest level ever,” releasing 3.7 pounds of atmosphere daily, a massive increase compared to just under 1 pound in February Ars Technica Reports.

“Although the root cause of the leak remains unknown, both agencies have narrowed their focus to internal and external welds,” the report said.

Fixing the problem could be a difficult one because of the “supply chain issues” that NASA’s contractors are struggling with, a problem that could make maintaining ISS operations even more difficult before the agency officially decommissions them in 2030 goes into operation.

Close the hatch

In June, NASA upgraded the cracking problem to the highest level of concern in its “risk matrix.” Ars Technica reported at the time.

If the leaks persist, NASA and Roscosmos could be forced to permanently close the hatch to the affected tunnel, which would prevent astronauts from using any of the station’s four docking ports.

“According to NASA, Roscosmos is confident that they will be able to monitor and close the service module hatch before the leak rate reaches an unsustainable level,” the inspector general report said. “However, NASA and Roscosmos have not reached agreement on the point at which the leak rate becomes unsustainable.”

This is an unpleasant realization given the space station’s already limited shelf life. In 2030, NASA plans to get help from SpaceX to deorbit the station and allow it to crash into the Pacific Ocean. As Ars points out that NASA and Russia have not yet agreed to continue operations after 2028.

Another option would be to make changes to the station to extend its lifespan beyond 2030, which the inspector general said would “require significant funding” and “require acceptance of increased risk due to its components and aging structures.”

More about leaks: Russia confirms small but growing leak in space station