CORAL GABLES (LALATE) – Sears, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap, and Toys-R-Us are among the nation’s retailers that will open on Thanksgiving this year. In moving Black Friday sales to Thursday, many of the nation’s top stores will test to see if Christmas shoppers will be willing to go out a day early to get a head start on the holiday shopping season.

In previous years, LALATE had reported how Black Friday sales had moved back to 3 am or midnight. But this year, multiple merchants are opening their stores early Thursday evening, even all day Thursday. With shoppers skip Thanksgiving preparations to get their shopping done as early as even 7 am on Thanksgiving day? Yes, contend many retailers.

“Our decision to stay open on Thanksgiving Day was based on our
customers’ response and desire to have an extra day to shop,” said David Friedman, SVP, Sears Holdings and president of marketing of Sears Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD), this week.

Friedman tells news that Sears is “always listening to our customers to make their shopping experience easier, and now, by being open on Thanksgiving, they can start their shopping early or pick up last minute items needed for their Thanksgiving celebration.”

While store locations different, most Old Navy stores will open at 8 a.m. Thursday. Many Banana Republic stores will open at 9 am and many Gap stores are set to open in the morning or afternoon Thursday. Toys R Us is opening at 10 pm in several of its stores. Sears and Kmart are also getting in on the action, calling the move an idea to make “holiday shopping easier and more accessible for families.”

Sears, like other retailers opening on Thanksgiving, have yet to coin an expression for the additional holiday sales date. They call it simply ”extended business hours”.

In most markets, Sears will open stores from 7 am to noon. Sears and Kmart contend the extra day will “help shoppers beat the rush and get a jumpstart on their holiday shopping.”

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – As the Cam Newton investigation enters yet another weekend with no NCAA resolution in sight, college football fans are starting to see the lack of clarity in NCAA rules regarding player-athlete solicitations. While insiders claimed the Cam Newton investigation was to be concluded by November 26, there is still no update from the NCAA about the matter.

At least two things so far are clear. Cam Newton denies any wrongdoing and the NCAA has yet to issue explanations about the solicitation rule at issue . That rule states “[t]he solicitation of cash or benefits by a prospective student-athlete or another individual on his or her behalf is not allowed under NCAA rules.”

The rule details two possible scenarios for violations. Under the first scenario, the NCAA must prove that Cam Newton solicited cash or benefits. Under the second the scenario, the NCAA must prove that someone else solicited cash or benefits on Cam Newton’s behalf.

Cam Newton Pictures
Cam Newton Photo 1
Cam Newton Photo 2
Cam Newton Photo 3

That’s the easy part of the rule to understand.

But, what if someone on behalf of a student-athlete solicits cash or benefits, not for the student-athlete, but for themselves? Would it be a NCAA violation if a parent, on behalf of their student-athlete, solicited benefits for himself or their church, and not for the student? An example is if a parent said “Pay my church money and my child will go to your school.” While the NCAA has yet to explain that scenario, Cecil Newton has said the NCAA required him to provide financial documents from his church.

What if someone on behalf of a student-athlete solicits cash or benefits for the athlete, the athlete knows the person is acting on their behalf, but doesn’t know the solicitation occurred? It doesn’t seem logical that a student can simply defend themselves by claiming that they didn’t know their rep made the solicitation. An example is if a parent said “Give me money on behalf of my son, just don’t tell me son you are doing it.” Would it be a NCAA violation if a student-athlete hires a representative to handle their recruitment, makes the solicitation, and they simply just don’t know about it?

NCAA officials had previously told news that they will not speak publicly about “current, pending or potential investigations”. George Lawson, Cam Newton’s attorney, has said that Cam Newton did not make a solicitation, did not receive money, and was not knowledgeable about any other alleged solicitation.

• Comments (0)

LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Roger Goodell’s exhaustive handling of the Brett Favre scandal investigation is prompting concerns. On October 8, Goodell and the NFL confirmed they were initiating investigations over alleged texts sent from Brett Favre to Playboy model, reporter Jenn Sterger. Now as that investigation heads into December, questions are beginning to arise as to the timeline.

On March 5, 2010, Ben Roethlisberger was accused of conduct against a female patron in a women’s restroom in a Georgia nightclub. By April 21, 2010, Roger Goodell had already reached a conclusion.

Even though Brett Favre’s matter started on October 8, 2010, the NFL is now heading into December with no ending in sight. What’s taking so long?

Adam Schefter reported just days ago that NFL is only now adding forensic work . Why now? The purpose according to Schefter is to “to trace the electronic pathways and transmission of any photos or messages that might have been sent during communication between them.” Critics wonder why this is being done now, months after the investigation began. The Favre – Sterger positions have been the same since day one. Favre has allegedly asserted he sent texts, but not the suggestive ones that appeared on Deadspin. Sterger has allegedly asserted she received such transmissions.

Jenn Sterger Pictures Set 1
Jenn Sterger Photo 1
Jenn Sterger Photo 2
Jenn Sterger Photo 3

Sterger delayed multiple times granting an interview in the NFL matter. But once the interview was granted, what else remains to be answered? Does forensic work need to be done when Goodell already has witness testimony and witness documents from both sides?

Jenn Sterger Pictures Set 2
Jenn Sterger Photo 4
Jenn Sterger Photo 5
Jenn Sterger Photo 6

The NFL has yet to comment about Schefter’s report, provided any timeline, or any indication when their investigation will be concluded, if at all, this season. On October 11, Goodell said “We are going through that and we are making sure we understand all the facts. We’ll make a determination from there.”

• Comments (1)

WASHINGTON D.C. (LALATE) – Julian Assange has lost an appeal concerning an arrest warrant. Julian Assange had appealed a lower ruling by the Stockholm Criminal Court which had found investigators may issue an international arrest warrant for Assange and put him custody.

Julian Assange is suspected of alleged conduct in August against two Swedish women.

On or around August 21, The Expressen first erroneously claimed that Assange had been arrested. Assange at the time quickly issued a news statement denouncing the report.“Expressen is a tabloid; No one here has been contacted by Swedish police. Needless to say, this will prove hugely distracting. We were warned to expect ‘dirty tricks’. Now we have the first one.”

Julian Assange Pictures
Julian Assange Photo 1
Julian Assange Photo 2
Julian Assange Photo 3

Just days ago, his group WikiLeaks said on twitter “Next release is 7x the size of the Iraq War Logs. Intense pressure over it for months. Keep us strong.” The group has released approximately 400,000 U.S. military records from Iraq (October, 2010) and 70,000 from Afghanistan (July, 2010).

National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones has previously said of WikiLeaks “The United States strongly condemns the disclosure of classified information by individuals and organizations which could put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk, and threaten our national security. Wikileaks made no effort to contact us about these documents – the United States government learned from news organizations that these documents would be posted.”

• Comments (0)

NEW YORK (LALATE) – The case of missing Jenni-Lyn Watson is being aided by Facebook and Twitter campaigns; over 12,000 persons have joined the Facebook campaign as search efforts continue Wednesday.

Jenni-Lyn Watson, 20, was last seen Friday at her family’s home.

Investigators say they have few clues. The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Department on Monday searched the vicinity around the Watson’s family. Locals passed out fliers. On Tuesday, investigators searched a wooded area near the Woodard Industrial Park in Clay, N.Y. On Tuesday evening, a vigil was held at Mercyhurst College where Watson attended. This morning, another search effort was dispatched by Wilderness Search and Rescue, Oswego County Search and Rescue, Cayuga County Search and Rescue, Massasauga Search and Rescue.

Watson left the family home on Friday morning without her keys. Family members told Erie-Times News that it’s not like Jenni to leave without notifying someone. Watson’s phone, a Verizon LG en V3, has turned on and off since she disappeared.

CNYCentral.com is doing regular updates on the search effort. On Twitter, the effort to find Jenni is being added with @FindJenni #jennilynmissing being added to Tweets. On Facebook Devin Ruic, a friend and classmate of Watson’s, has sent up an account that has grown from 7,000 to 12,000 followers within just days.

Jenni has dirty blonde hair and brown eyes, is about 5′2″ tall and weighs approximately 100 pounds. If you know any information, contact the Onandaga County Sheriff’s Detectives at 315-435-3081.

Facebook Account: HERE

• Comments (1)