NEWS RSS Streams

Gen Alpha kids are earning and spending their own money. Parents can use savings, investing and education tools to build healthy habits.

Republicans know they have to spend big to save Ken Paxton. They’re increasingly worried MAGA Inc. won’t throw down in time.

In private conversations over recent weeks, senior Hill Republicans and GOP officials have nudged President Donald Trump’s team to start spending more on the Texas Senate race before it’s too late, according to three people with direct knowledge of those conversations, who were granted anonymity to discuss them.

Those fears escalated after audio leaked of Paxton privately trashing Trump’s midterm convention, with some worrying it could impact whether MAGA Inc. continues spending after a current wave of GOP ad bookings run out Oct. 12.

A Trump operative told POLITICO that MAGA Inc. and its affiliates are expected to spend near $45 million on direct mail, TV, and digital advertising in Texas through Oct. 12, an increase from its previous $20 million to boost Paxton. But they said the team is still assessing how much more money to send in the final weeks, in consultation with Senate Republicans and their top super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund.

The Trump operative, who like others in this article was granted anonymity to speak candidly, would not commit to any plans when asked by POLITICO.

With national Democrats starting to finally spend for their Senate nominee, James Talarico, after months of holding off, and as polling of the race tightens, Republicans expect the cost of salvaging Paxton’s campaign will only skyrocket. And, they’ve started to panic.

“It’s a five-alarm fire, no doubt,” one GOP senator said. “Can we put it out? I hope so.”

“This is a slow-moving car crash that we're witnessing right now,” a Republican strategist in the state said. “And there's a 75% chance that the ultimate result here will be catastrophic from a GOP Senate majority standpoint.”

A fourth Republican, a national operative, spoke to the urgency factor: “While it’s money we shouldn’t have needed to spend, it needs to be spent now,” said a national GOP operative, describing the state as more winnable than North Carolina, Georgia and potentially Ohio.

Even with a massive war chest, Texas is turning into a huge money sink for the GOP that senators worry could hurt them in other tight races as they work to defend deep-red states and try to flip blue seats in Michigan and New Hampshire.

Trump himself nodded to some of the concerns at a rally just across the Texas border in Oklahoma Thursday night, saying those voters aren’t the ones he’s concerned about.

“We’re worried about Michigan. We’re worried about Texas,” he told the crowd. “We’re worried about a few states.”The president is scheduled to visit Texas again next week for a rally in San Antonio next Wednesday.

SLF poured another $60 million into Texas on Wednesday, bringing its total expenditure there to a record-breaking $131 million. With the MAGA Inc. money and additional GOP ad reservations, the race is already on track to top $200 million from outside Republican groups hoping to save Paxton. Paxton’s own campaign recently announced a $20 million ad buy — one of the largest single media investments in a Texas Senate race.

Some Republicans want MAGA Inc. to take over spending for Paxton in Texas in the final few weeks, so SLF can focus its resources elsewhere. MAGA Inc. could also funnel money into SLF’s recently established Texas PAC. But, according to two people with direct knowledge of that matter, that hasn’t happened.

“At some point I think the people spending that money are going to have to make hard choices and figure out where the money can have the biggest impact, and certainly Texas is the most expensive,” Sen. John Cornyn, who lost to Trump-backed Paxton in the primary, recently told POLITICO.

SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham indicated to POLITICO the group will keep spending in Texas: “Senate Leadership Fund’s investment through Texas PAC affirms our commitment to maintaining the Republican majority and defeating Far-Left liberals like James Talarico.”

But Republicans’ money concerns have been complicated by Paxton himself. A growing number of GOP senators and top operatives have been stunned by what they described as unforced errors by the Texas Senate nominee. For example, he crossed one of the brightest red lines with Trump, telling a group of donors that “everybody’s numbers dropped” after the president’s GOP convention in Dallas last month, according to the audio leak reported by The New York Times.

“There seems to be very little strategy there,” said another Republican senator, granted anonymity to candidly discuss the race. “Sometimes, I think [Paxton] wants to lose.”

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Trump, while on his way to Texas to tour a motor facility on Thursday, told reporters he hadn’t talked to Paxton about his convention comments. Later, he told a crowd in Texas that “Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I’ll be honest.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters this week that he hadn’t seen the audio of Paxton trashing Trump’s convention. He acknowledged the stakes in his home state were high — and that the influx of cash is key.

“The reason that it is a serious race and a close race right now is that for several months the Democrats were massively outspending us,” he said, “and I am glad now that we are seeing money invested in communicating with the voters.”

The White House has attempted to reassure concerned senators, with chief of staff Susie Wiles telling Senate Republicans this week that there will be enough money available for competitive races in the final stretch, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting.

GOP operatives in both Michigan and New Hampshire said they feel that some of the cash being shoveled toward Texas should be going to their states instead. Most polls show Republicans running narrowly behind or neck and neck in both states, even though they hold a spending advantage on the airwaves there.

“We’re focusing so much on ‘we’ve got to put this money into Texas.’ Why? We’ve never had a problem in Texas. Let’s focus on taking back a seat we haven’t had in years,” said an ally of former Sen. John E. Sununu, who’s in a tight race against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. “There are real chances in Michigan and New Hampshire,” said the person, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the dynamics.

Sununu’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

Latcham, who heads SLF, said that “Texas PAC is a dedicated effort that will not take resources from our other ongoing investments across the Senate map.”

Recent polling still shows the Texas Senate race with a razor-thin margin. Most public polling over the past two months shows Talarico with an edge, though Paxton’s campaign released an internal poll Tuesday that shows Paxton leading by three points among likely voters, 48% to 45%.

“I don't think the needle has moved in the last month,” said one Texas Republican elected official, granted anonymity to speak frankly. “Unless it's the worst polling that's ever been done in political history, all this spend hasn't changed anything, and I think people have made their mind up."

Lisa Kashinsky, Samuel Benson, Alex Gangitano and Kelsey Brugger contributed to this report. 

This article originally appeared on Politico at https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/03/paxton-texas-senate-trump-gop-money-woes-01105707

Rhonda Jewell was sentenced to 17 years for forgetting 10-month-old Aria in car’s back seat, leading to the child’s death

A state appeals court in Florida reversed the felony murder conviction of a woman who accidentally left a baby in her car, resulting in the child’s death.

In July 2023, while babysitting four children from two different families, 46-year-old Rhonda Jewell forgot 10-month-old Ariya Paige was in the back of her car, and went inside to care for the other kids. Strapped into her carseat in the Florida summer heat, Ariya died of hyperthermia before Jewell realized her mistake. Jewell was convicted the following year of third-degree felony murder, predicated on the underlying felony of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Continue reading...

The Holei Sea Arch, located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, was about 90 feet high before it collapsed.

The Latin American country will vote for its next president, as Lula da Silva and Bolsonaro clash over sovereignty, security and ties with Washington.

1. Schaffelburg, Millar star in Canada’s win over Peru in friendly  TSN
2. Shaffelburg’s brace leads Canada past Peru 2-0  The Globe and Mail
3. NSL: Halifax Tides 0, Calgary Wild 0  TSN
4. Canada vs Peru: Friendlies stats & head-to-head  BBC
5. The beat goes on for Canada in win over Peru, even if the song stutters  Toronto Star

1. Schaffelburg, Millar star in Canada’s win over Peru in friendly  TSN
2. Shaffelburg’s brace leads Canada past Peru 2-0  The Globe and Mail
3. NSL: Halifax Tides 0, Calgary Wild 0  TSN
4. Canada vs Peru: Friendlies stats & head-to-head  BBC
5. The beat goes on for Canada in win over Peru, even if the song stutters  Toronto Star

More than 50 protests are taking place on Saturday after the government failed to get emergency legislation through parliament.

Criticism over the recent casting of actress Meryl Streep as the voice of the Christ-like lion Aslan in Netflix’s "Narnia" adaptation has continued as some Christian and media figures question the choice. An online petition is also calling on Netflix to replace director Greta Gerwig for future "Narnia" films.

The petition, entitled, "Demand Netflix to replace director of the Narnia films," was started Friday on Change.org following negative reactions from some Christian fans and critics to the theological implications of a actress voicing Aslan, an allegory for Jesus Christ.

"Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew," written and directed by Gerwig ("Barbie"), is based on the 1955 novel, the sixth published and first chronologically in the children’s book series "The Chronicles of Narnia" by British author, literary scholar and Christian thinker C.S. Lewis.

FANTASY DOESN’T NEED ANOTHER 'GAME OF THRONES.' IT NEEDS WHAT TOLKIEN UNDERSTOOD

The film is set to hit theaters Feb. 12, 2027, and Netflix on April 2, 2027, but it was the recently announced casting of Streep that brought renewed attention to concerns from some Christians about altering the voice of Aslan, a character Lewis presented as a Christ figure in Narnia.

Movieguide founder Dr. Ted Baehr, who served as president of the Episcopal Radio-TV Foundation after it helped produce CBS’s classic 1979 animated adaptation of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," said he was confused by the choice.

DIRECTOR OF NEW ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ REJECTS ‘POLITICALLY CORRECT’ CASTING AFTER SUGGESTIONS FILM IS TOO WHITE

"When I did it, they had a hundred million or more people who had read ‘Chronicles of Narnia.’ Now I'm sure it's double or triple. And most of them know that Aslan is a Christ figure, and we understand that Christ in the Revelation gets married to the church, that he's a guy, but he's fully God and Holy man. We understand all that, so with the change that they're doing, it's going to alienate a lot of Christians," Baehr told Fox News Digital.

Baehr, who noted that he spoke briefly with Gerwig about the film and that the 43-year-old filmmaker told him that, as a young woman, his version was her favorite, said she "comes at it from a different point of view."

COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN CALLS OUT HOLLYWOOD FOR LIVING IN A 'BUBBLE' AND MISJUDGING WHAT AUDIENCES WANT TO SEE

"That doesn't mean that it won't do well at the box office, it just means that there will be an extra audience, maybe 110 to 140 million Christians that may not show up because they don't like that," Baehr said. "But you know, you can build a movie with a lot of one group or another, so it doesn't mean the movie won't succeed, it just means it'll lose an audience."

In his case, Baehr said he fought to ensure Aslan remained an uncompromised allegory for Jesus Christ in the 1979 adaptation.

KELSEY GRAMMER ADMITS IT'S 'EXHAUSTING' WHEN MOVIES TRY TO ALTER HISTORY TO FIT MODERN TASTES

For her part, Gerwig, who has described herself as a Unitarian Universalist and churchgoer, has said she envisions her version as a "rock opera" and explained to entertainment site Empire that she wanted someone who was "profound but not pretentious, who had gravitas but not morose self-seriousness" to play the part of Aslan — someone, she said, "who could communicate depth and pathos as well as joy and delight."

She added, "I wanted someone who was older than 70, so there was a wisdom of experience, but who also had the capacity of fresh wonder, like a child. And also to be one of the greatest actors to ever do it. That list is not a long one."

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN CALLS CRITICISM OF 'THE ODYSSEY' CASTING DECISIONS 'IRRELEVANT'

Fox News Digital reached out to Gerwig’s agent, Creative Artists Agency CEO and co-chairman Bryan Lourd, for further comment.

Fox News Digital also reached out to Netflix for comment. 

Ned Lott, a casting and voice director and producer who has worked in the animation industry since 2000 with companies ranging from Disney to Warner Bros. and Nickelodeon on projects including 2025’s animated "David" and 2005’s "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," recalled his experience casting Aslan for the 2005 film.

EVERY CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING CHRISTOPHER NOLAN'S 'THE ODYSSEY' FROM CASTING TO COSTUMES

"It’s like casting for the voice of Jesus, or the voice of God. Like, in my mind, it was very important that the character of the books, and the integrity of the books, matched the voice, and even the actor," he told Fox News Digital.

Lott said that when it came to casting Aslan for the 2005 film, he and his team auditioned dozens of British actors. But with just 24 hours left to make a decision, no one was completely satisfied.

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN FACES GROWING BACKLASH OVER 'ODYSSEY' CASTING, HISTORICAL ACCURACY AS SCREENINGS CANCELED

"It still wasn't like a slam dunk, you know. And so, it was just this kind of moment where I was leaving work and I was like, I literally talked to God. I said, ‘Okay, we have to find your voice, and I have one more day. So I need some help, you know.’ And I got in my car, I turned on the radio and all of a sudden there was the voice," Lott recalled. "Like, literally, there was the voice of Aslan, and I didn't know who it was."

He did know it was a movie trailer for the 2005 film "Kingdom of Heaven," and so, after arriving home, he looked up the film on IMDb and saw that it was Liam Neeson, an Irish actor who had never appeared on their list of British celebrity thespians.

The rest is history, with Neeson famously voicing Aslan in three "Chronicles of Narnia" films.

Lott explained that casting is about the character rather than the performer and that there are instances in which a man has successfully voiced a female character. He cited director Brad Bird’s portrayal of Edna Mode in "The Incredibles" as one example. Lott said such casting is typically done for comedic effect.

Additionally, Lott cited tricks that can be done with pitch shifting and EQ settings, as well as a voice actor’s performance, that can leave audiences unaware that the voice actor is a different gender from the character.

Still, he said, this casting of Streep as Aslan leaves him puzzled.

"We took so much care with Aslan and really understood him. It just seemed like a choice that we would have not made back in 2005 because we understood the integrity of the books and tried to do as much as we could with the integrity of what the author had in mind," Lott said. "So, it’s just like a different philosophy. It’s not something I’m used to. Clearly, there’s an artistic reason."

Novig's "Just Sports" campaign drew backlash from some female athletes but also brought in a rush of trading volume.

Home expert Melissa Maker shares her top picks for smart home helpers — from Dyson and LG to Dreame and beyond.

The US Capitol Building is seen on October 1, in Washington, DC. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Four weeks to Election Day, a growing number of House Republicans privately fear their chances of holding onto the majority are vanishing and have begun focusing on how to limit the size of a potential Democratic wave.

Inside the House GOP, Republicans have watched with alarm as President Donald Trump’s approval ratings have sunk in their own internal polling — including on traditionally red turf — over the last two weeks, according to more than a dozen people familiar with the discussions.

Now, the House GOP is entering triage mode. Republicans are discussing pulling money from once-competitive races they see as too difficult to win, including Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa, Rep. Tom Kean in New Jersey and an open seat in Nebraska, according to three people familiar with the talks.

But the GOP does have a huge cash advantage, and not all Republicans are pessimistic. Speaker Mike Johnson is “absolutely still convinced” that he can hang onto the House and is not taking any seats “off his board,” according to a political aide. Johnson just returned from New Jersey and is planning a rally with Miller-Meeks in Iowa next week, according to his team.

Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks speaks in the Oval Office of the White House on September 28, 2026, in Washington. - Alex Brandon/AP Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. departs the US Capitol on June 30, 2026. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The House GOP’s campaign arm, too, strenuously denies that the majority is lost.

“Thirty days out, House Republicans are on offense, and we’re outspending Democrats in the final stretch in every race,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Will Kiley said in a statement, adding, “House Republicans are going to defy history, and we’re going to win.”

The rising anxiety among Republicans, though, reflects a grim national environment that has triggered alarm bells up and down the ballot, with Senate Republicans suddenly forced on defense in red seats like Kansas — with control of both chambers of Congress up for grabs. Trump, too, is on a nationwide campaign swing, with stops in a more competitive part of Ohio, as well as deep-red territory like Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama.

“There’s a lot of close races, and it’s hard to make a prediction,” retiring GOP Rep. Dan Newhouse said this week of his party’s chances, but acknowledged, “Affordability is a big deal. People see the gas prices every single day.”

While Newhouse said his party has worked to address cost of living issues, he noted, “There’s just a lot of things making it tough right now for rural America — which I can speak to specifically — but for Americans all over the country.”

Many Republicans acknowledge to CNN that the souring national environment — fueled by soaring diesel prices, stubborn inflation and hardening opposition to the Iran war — are largely out of their control this late in the race. They say their strategy is now focused on how to limit Democrats to the slimmest majority possible — in a bid to make governing all but impossible for a potential House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries next year.

Johnson’s historically narrow majority — the slimmest since before World War II — has been a major headache for GOP leaders, with the Louisiana Republican unable to wield control of the floor on numerous occasions. Republicans want Jeffries to face the same problem.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks to reporters outside of his office at the US Capitol on September 16, 2026. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Several people said their goal is to keep Jeffries’ margin to fewer than 10 seats. If that happens, one GOP strategist summarized: “What the f**k are you going to get done over there?”

Few Republicans believe it will be a total wipeout for their party in which Democrats win more than 30 seats. And some believe there is still a path to keeping their narrow majority, especially if gas prices drop significantly in the next four weeks. Party leaders are particularly confident about two incumbents in purple seats: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania and Mike Lawler in New York, both in districts Kamala Harris won in 2024.

But there is growing anxiety from GOP members and aides about protecting parts of the country that haven’t elected Democrats to the House in decades — seats Trump won by double digits that are suddenly in play with incumbents who rarely face competitive general elections.

As of early October, Republicans are still planning to use a massive cash advantage to support their strongest incumbents, while turning up the heat on their top offensive targets, like Rep. Marcy Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez in Washington’s 3rd — and drowning Democrats in spending.

The GOP’s huge cavalry of super PACs, meanwhile, helps build a firewall around their reddest turf to avert disaster, with Trump-linked groups spending in seats once considered a reach for Democrats, but are now in play, like Colorado’s 5th District, Kentucky’s 6th District and Montana’s 1st District.

“The environment is bad but Democrats still have to win on GOP terrain,” one GOP operative said.

How Republicans could still keep the House

If House Republicans are going to pull off an upset in November, they say it would come down to the party’s massive cash advantage and its aggressive gerrymandering push.

Republicans are outspending Democrats in all of the 10 most expensive House races on advertising from now until Election Day, according to data from AdImpact. That includes multimillion-dollar advantages in Democratic-held seats like Rep. Don Davis in North Carolina’s 1st District and an open seat in Maine’s 2nd District.

Rep. Monica De La Cruz speaks on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention on September 9 in Dallas. - Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Much of the GOP’s spending is concentrated in newly redrawn seats in Texas and Florida, the fates of which are still highly uncertain, especially for incumbents like GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Texas. But if even a handful of those seats swing toward Republicans, it could make up for losses elsewhere.

“At the end of the day, redistricting could be the lifesaver either way — either minimizing the losses or the reason we potentially hold onto the majority,” one GOP leadership aide told CNN.

Then there are the handful of swing seats where Republicans feel more upbeat because of Democratic clashes during the primaries, which left their nominees more vulnerable. That includes California’s 22nd District, Michigan’s 7th District and that open seat in Maine — where progressives beat out establishment-preferred centrists.

GOP’s messaging in final weeks

Even in a challenging midterm environment, Republicans are turning to issues that they feel give them an advantage with voters — with taxes, immigration and law enforcement figuring prominently in their campaign ads.

Tax cuts on tips, overtime and Social Security delivered by the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” were the fulfillment of a key 2024 campaign promise, and that’s been a point of emphasis. Republicans have also hammered Democrats for opposing the legislation.

“Zach Nunn voted for the largest middle class tax cut ever,” says an ad from the GOP incumbent in Iowa’s competitive 3rd District.

President Donald Trump, joined by Republican lawmakers, signs the "One, Big Beautiful Bill Act" into law during an Independence Day on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2025. - Samuel Corum/Getty Images

An analysis of AdImpact data found that about one-third of GOP ads in House races in September focused on tax policy, making it the top issue tracked by the firm.

Immigration, which ranked fourth, has been another key argument for Republicans. “Stelson wants you to pay for criminal illegal immigrants’ healthcare,” says an ad from the House GOP’s main super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, targeting the Democrat in Pennsylvania’s 10th District.

GOP advertisers also produced dozens of ads touting their support for law enforcement and accusing Democrats of being soft on crime. Several begin with grisly accounts of local crimes, juxtaposed with rhetoric from Democrats calling for criminal justice reform. “Attention all criminals, do we have some good news for you: Christina Hines, the liberal Ann Arbor prosecutor, is running for Congress,” says one ad airing in the competitive race for Michigan’s 10th District.

Other specific issues have also animated these key races, including Republicans’ sustained focus on transgender policies, an issue they’ve used to attack Democrats since it proved effective in the 2024 campaign. As a result, Democrats have increasingly taken to the airwaves to rebut the criticism, such as Kaptur in Ohio’s 9th District.

Republicans say the Democrats’ quick response to the transgender politics attacks show that it’s an effective issue — and believe it’s been making a dent in internal polling.

“Here’s the truth: I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools because parents know what’s best for their kids, and boys should not play in girls’ sports,” Kaptur says in one ad.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

This article originally appeared on CNN at https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/03/politics/republicans-congress-control-midterms

1. Brazil's Lula-Bolsonaro showdown unfolds in Trump's shadow — with the Amazon at stake  Axios
2. Brazil’s neck-and-neck election offers test for growing pro-Trump Latin American bloc  theguardian.com
3. What to know about Brazil’s highly polarized presidential race  The Globe and Mail
4. Lula, Bolsonaro in final push for votes ahead of knife-edge election in Brazil  National Post
5. Lula's lead over Bolsonaro narrows ahead of Brazil vote, CNT/MDA poll shows  Reuters

The This Morning presenter said she believes she experienced a panic attack on Friday's show.

The This Morning presenter said she believes she experienced a panic attack on Friday's show.

The 25-year-old was the sixth man detained as counter-terrorism police investigate ‘possible foreign state involvement’

A sixth man who was arrested in connection with a suspected terrorist plot at RAF Fairford has been released on bail.

The 25-year-old, a dual UK-Iranian national, was arrested on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts under section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Continue reading...

Kenyan survivors are challenging the UK military over decades of alleged abuses — and the immunity that has shielded it.

With the first round of Brazil's presidential election taking place Sunday, Wall Street is gearing up with starkly different market predictions.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching off the coast of Nantucket for a missing medical transport jet carrying six people after it went missing the morning of Oct. 3.

The jet, a Gulfstream G100, lost contact with flight controllers early in the morning, the Coast Guard's Northeast District said. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to USA TODAY that it issued a search and rescue alert notice for the jet at about 1:20 a.m. local time.

The six people on board were flying from L.F. Wade International Airport in Bermuda to Boston Logan International Airport, the FAA said.

Authorities are searching with air and surface crews off the coast of Nantucket, the island south of Cape Cod. Bermuda is nearly 700 miles from Nantucket.

News outlets including the New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the medical aircraft was operated by Latitude Air Ambulance, a Canada-based company.

Latitude's website says its fleet includes four Gulfstream G100s, which it says are able to travel long distances without refueling. Flights typically include two pilots, a registered nurse and a registered respiratory therapist, and sometimes a physician. Latitude provides international medical evacuation services and return flights for patients, according to its site.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coast Guard searches for missing medical jet carrying 6 off Nantucket

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY at https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/03/coast-guard-seach-jet-nantucket/92074905007/

Homeowners are stuck in houses they might have left by now due to the low mortgage rates of the past, and can't even remodel with HELOCs too expensive to tap.