The WNBA didn’t waste anytime returning to the hardwood after the Olympics, and the quick turnaround following the Paris Games is something players may look to change in the next collective bargaining agreement.

Teams started playing games four days after the Paris Games ended, including Breanna Stewart and the New York Liberty, who opened up in Los Angeles — a nine-hour time difference after her time in France.

“I think that even in a non-Olympic year, you think about (the) All-Star (Game), it’s like, everybody needs some time after All-Star break or it’s not a break,” she told The Associated Press. “So, trying to kind of push that into the CBA, I think would be really important. Especially following the Olympics, because we’ve never had an Olympics in a 40-game season, except this season.”

Players or the league are able to opt out of the current CBA at the end of this season.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve was head coach for the gold medal-winning U.S. team, which featured Lynx forward Napheesa Collier. Alanna Smith played for Australia, and Bridget Carleton for Canada. Minnesota resumed its season two days after Closing Ceremonies and have their first two games heading into Wednesday night’s 8:30 p.m. tipoff at Las Vegas.

The quick turnaround didn’t seem to hurt New York, either. The Liberty had four players and its head coach competing in the Paris Games. The Liberty swept a pair of games from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to remain solidly atop the standings and clinch a playoff spot.

Stewart understands the league, which has all this momentum behind it, doesn’t want to go longer without having games after taking the break.

“From the W’s perspective, I’m sure they’re like, well, we don’t want to be not showing games for an entire month or a month plus. But at the same time, understanding the players’ perspective I think is really important,” she said. “It’s wild, from Paris to the West Coast, so it’s just like, not an ideal situation.”

The Liberty forward said “unfortunately” players are put in situations like these a lot.

“It’s like, onto the next, onto the next, onto the next, where we kind of even really celebrate what we did, of winning a gold medal, as much as you would want to.”

The Aces split their first two games, and A’ja Wilson would have loved a few more days to recover after helping the U.S. win it’s eighth consecutive gold medal. Las Vegas was one of the lucky teams that didn’t start play until Saturday.

“I definitely needed some time to decompress. Playing USAB (is) a whole other thought and mind process that you might not necessarily have to exert that much energy when you play with your respective team,” Wilson said. “So, definitely needed just a couple of days just to kind of decompress, whether that’s just get back into the flow of things, or just get my feet underneath me, because that was a long time away with a lot of just back and forth.”

Wilson said she’d be in favor of the players discussing getting more time off.

“I think if it is a chance for us to go to the table and say, ‘Hey, we should get more rest time,’ even if it’s … just a couple of days. It’s crazy to see players play fresh off of a plane in a sense. So yeah, I don’t mind asking for that.”

Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles all played three games in a four-day span to tipoff the second half of their seasons.

Fortunately from the Olympics standpoint, the next one is in Los Angeles, so travel will be less of an issue for USAB players.

Lebawit Lily Girma | Bloomberg News (TNS)

The ski resorts near Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado, are so close to Aspen, you’d think the area wouldn’t need its own airport. Their glitzier neighbor is just 48 miles north as the crow flies, though that’s roughly 150 miles by road.

But people flocking to Crested Butte’s laid-back town, extreme ski slopes and epic mountain biking have a new reason to bypass farther-away Aspen: the destination’s gleaming new airport, which debuted in January 2023.

Not only is the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport terminal easy to get across quickly, at just 40,000 square feet, it’s also heated and cooled with geothermal energy and uses triple glazed windows to keep travelers warm in a town known to be one of the coldest places in the US.

And Crested Butte isn’t the only small town airport receiving an upgrade.

All across the U.S., at least a dozen small and medium-size facilities are being renovated and, in some cases, entirely rebuilt — typically on budgets that stretch eight and nine figures. That contradicts a long-held belief among aviation industry pros that these regional facilities were destined to gather dust and die out.

Indeed during the pandemic, smaller U.S. airports fell out of favor. With business travel reduced to virtually nothing, airlines cut service to focus on more profitable leisure routes between large hubs. Planned facility improvements were also put on hold. Even as those issues faded, severe pilot shortages forced major airlines to cut back on more routes. In the process, they realized that the profit margins on smaller flight loads simply aren’t what they were a decade ago. It was a confluence of crises that seemed to doom small airports for good.

But some of these factors have since evolved. For one, second-tier cities are experiencing continued population booms, a trend that started with pandemic-era urban flight in 2020 and persists as remote workers look for more affordable places to live. A large number of unsold seats on those classic vacation flights have also proven to airlines that it’s time to reconsider their route maps, explains Brian Sumers, aviation expert and founder of the Airline Observer newsletter. Not to be overlooked is the high customer satisfaction associated with these smaller facilities, which are blissfully devoid of stress-inducing crowds and endless concourses that take forever to crisscross.

Of course money has a lot to do with it, too. The Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funneled at least $9 billion toward airport improvement around the country since 2022, which adds to public and private funding on a more local level that has helped revive a number of additional facilities. Though budgets are always subject to change, Knoxville and Memphis in Tennessee have seen a combined $830 million in airport investment; Des Moines, Iowa, has budgeted $445 million to transform its facility; and Pittsburgh has a full $1.5 billion to work with.

In other words, the renaissance of small American airports is officially in full swing. Here are a few examples of upcoming overhauls we’re excited about — consider them emblematic of what may soon come to a small town near you.

The challenge of expanding a small airport is keeping its more intimate vibe intact, says Brent Mather, the Denver-based design principal for Gensler, a leading architecture firm spearheading a number of these projects. Preserving the ability to arrive 30 minutes before your flight and still make it through security and get on a plane, he says, “means a lot, especially to people that live there. It’s a huge selling point.”

For example, at the newly redone Eagle County Regional Airport near Vail, Colorado, it takes less than five minutes to traverse the entirety of the 65,000-square-foot concourse, which opened in late 2020. By comparison, it’s 1.45 miles—roughly a 30 minute-walk—to get from the airport terminal train to the gates at Denver International.

That philosophy is driving the design of a $2 billion, 1 million-square-foot terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, scheduled to open in 2029, with a market-like dining hall right at the center of its single concourse. The idea, says Gensler aviation lead Tim Hudson, is to create a seamless passenger experience where you can eat, drink and shop in a hyper-accessible spot, from which passengers can see at least two-thirds of the airport’s gates and plenty of flight monitors. “It’s one big concourse, one central security checkpoint, and one concessions program — where passengers can access the entire building.”

The new terminal, which will fully replace the existing one, is being co-designed by Gensler and Columbus-based firm Moody Nolan to have 36 gates — seven more than the current airport — plus a 5,000 car parking garage. Its groundbreaking is set for early 2025.

“Our current terminal opened in 1958 and was built for a different time,” says Joseph Nardone, president and chief executive officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “With a more efficient, easier to navigate, and sustainable design, we will be ready to meet and exceed travelers’ expectations and support our growing community for years to come.”

The number of travelers to this central Ohio city will rise from 8.7 million passengers in 2023 to an estimated 13 million in 2033 — a spike fueled by Columbus’ emergence as a Midwest tech and business hub.

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In Nevada, Reno-Tahoe International Airport is readying for two new concourses that will begin construction in 2025 and wrap in 2030. An influx of new residents, fueled by a reputation for family-friendliness and a growing number of data centers, is expected to drive Reno-Tahoe’s annual passenger loads from 2.3 million passengers today to 3.7 million by 2046. As the airport expands, two priorities will be increasing the gate sizes to accommodate larger planes and adding more food and beverage options.

Sense of place is another consideration. Mather is keenly aware that regional airports are typically more expensive to fly into and out of than their larger, international counterparts, and with that premium comes an expectation of better service and inspired design.

“We want people arriving to go, ‘Wow! OK, I am in Reno, this is going to be a really good experience,’ whether it’s for business or for leisure,” he explains.

In Columbus, the central concession will have floor-to-ceiling views of the runways and resemble the town’s historic North Market — a farm stand and restaurant complex that’s popular with visitors. That’s expected to drive spending, too: In San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2, a similar overhaul that turned standard airport restaurants into a farmer’s market-inspired dining hall led to a 23% increase in revenue, says Hudson.

At Gunnison-Crested Butte, the main restaurant and lounge have brightly painted stripes on a pitched ceiling that nod to Crested Butte’s colorful Victorian facades downtown. Wraparound windows throughout frame a stunning mountain landscape.

The future Reno airport, too, will have a concourse lined end-to-end with panoramic views of the area’s distant peaks. Mather says he was thinking about the feeling of leaving a ski resort in Tahoe and catching a flight home from Reno when he designed those walls of windows. “I want it to feel like it’s an extension of someone’s vacation,” he says.

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

A pickup truck crashed into an SUV Sunday in Coon Rapids, leading to the SUV passenger’s death.

The crash took place about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and Springbrook Drive Northwest. Coon Rapids police, fire and EMS responded to the crash report, according to the Anoka County sheriff’s office.

The man driving the SUV  had a woman in the passenger seat. They were traveling eastbound on Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and attempted to make a left turn onto Springbrook Drive when the truck, headed west, crashed into the SUV.

The SUV passenger was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The SUV driver had non-life threatening injuries.

The woman driving the pickup truck was uninjured and taken into custody. Charges are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

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Libby Wells | Bankrate.com (TNS)

Strictly speaking, you don’t need a credit score to buy a house. If you’re paying cash, for example, no one necessarily cares whether you have good credit. However, if — like most aspiring American homeowners — you’ll need financing, then your credit score is crucial.

Your credit score is one of the most important factors lenders consider when you apply for a mortgage. Not just to qualify for the loan itself, but for the conditions: Typically, the higher your score, the lower the interest rates and better terms you’ll qualify for.

So, what is a good score if you want to buy a house? It depends on the type of mortgage you’re seeking: Many loans vary when it comes to the credit score needed to qualify. Generally speaking, you’ll likely need a score of at least 620 — what’s classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.

Why your credit score matters to lenders

Your credit score helps lenders determine your ability to repay the mortgage — and, subsequently, their risk in extending you the loan. The higher your score, the less risk you present.

Another number that mortgage lenders examine carefully is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), or your percentage of monthly debt obligations relative to how much income you bring in. To illustrate, if you earn $4,000 per month and have $1,250 in credit card bills, loan payments, housing costs and other debts, your DTI ratio would be 31 percent. The ideal ratio is typically less than 36 percent, though some lenders will accept more with a higher down payment.

Credit score needed to buy a house, by mortgage type

There’s no single, specific credit score that will automatically qualify you for a mortgage (though having the maximum score of 850 certainly never hurts). However, while lenders might not set precise qualifying numbers, they do have minimum credit score requirements.

The minimum credit score to be eligible for a mortgage depends on both the lender and the type of loan.

—Conventional loans: Conventional loans are mortgages that aren’t offered or backed by a U.S. government agency; they’re offered by commercial banks and savings-and-loan associations. Generally, the higher your credit score, the more likely you’ll qualify for a mortgage loan with these lenders. Many will accept a credit score as low as 620, but they may have other requirements for those borrowers, such as a higher income or a larger down payment.

—FHA loans: The Federal Housing Administration insures loans geared toward borrowers with lower credit scores and down payments, especially first-time homebuyers. You might qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score of 500 to 579, with a 10 percent down payment, or with a 3.5 percent down payment if your score is 580 or higher.

—USDA loans: The U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantees this loan program for low- to moderate-income borrowers purchasing a home in a qualifying rural area. Borrowers generally need a minimum score of 640 to qualify for a USDA loan. In some cases, USDA lenders may consider a lower score with additional analysis of a borrower’s credit.

—VA loans: Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA loans are offered to active and veteran military personnel and their families. The government doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement to qualify for VA loans, though many lenders — who actually extend the financing — require a minimum score of 620.

—Jumbo loans: Jumbo loans are larger-than-normal-size mortgages that exceed the conforming loan limits established by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae — $766,550 in most markets, as of 2024. Many jumbo lenders require a credit score of 700 or higher to qualify because of the increased risk that comes with borrowing such a large amount.

What is a good credit score for buying a house?

When considering the best credit score to buy a house, many lenders use the FICO model. It grades consumers on a 300 to 850 point range, with a higher score indicating less risk to the lender. FICO scores range as follows:

—800 or higher: Exceptional

—740-799: Very good

—670-739: Good

—580-669: Fair

—579 or lower: Poor

How your credit score affects your mortgage rate

Although it’s up to specific lenders to determine what score borrowers need to receive the lowest mortgage interest rates, a difference of just a few points on your credit score can sometimes affect your monthly payments substantially. For example, on a $300,000 mortgage, the difference in principal and interest payments between a 7 percent interest rate and a 6.5 percent rate is $99 per month. That comes out to more than $35,000 over the course of a 30-year mortgage term.

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“A low credit score can make it less likely that you would qualify for the most affordable rates, and could even lead to rejection of your mortgage application,” says Bruce McClary, senior VP of communications for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “It’s still possible to be approved with a low credit score, but you may have to add a co-signer or reduce the overall amount you plan to borrow.”

A co-signer would be responsible for the debt, so it’s not always easy to get someone to agree. Plus, if you miss payments, it could damage your co-signer’s credit — and your relationship with them.

Here’s how much you’d pay at the current rates for each credit score range. These examples are based on national averages for a 30-year fixed mortgage loan of $300,000.

Bankrate’s loan comparison calculator is a handy tool to help you see interest rates for credit scores. You can also use Bankrate’s mortgage APR calculator to run the numbers and see what your monthly mortgage payment might look like with different APRs.

How to improve your credit score

Before you look at houses, it’s smart to check your credit score and pull your credit reports from the major credit agencies. Addressing credit issues early on can help you raise your score before you apply for a mortgage.

If your credit score isn’t great, there are still options. Instead of settling for the mortgage rates you currently qualify for, consider postponing homeownership and working to boost your credit score and improve your options. Here are some quick tips to help:

1. Check your credit report and correct any errors

Before applying for a mortgage, request a copy of your credit reports from the three major credit agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can access your credit reports from each bureau for free once per year. If you find inaccurate or missing information, file a dispute with the credit reporting agency and the creditor. Clearly identify each item you’re disputing and be sure to include supporting documents.

2. Pay down credit card balances

Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of debt you have compared with your available credit. To calculate this, divide the amount of debt into the amount of available credit. If you have $10,000 in debt and $20,000 in available credit, for instance, your credit utilization ratio is 50 percent. Lenders like to see credit utilization of 30 percent or less.

3. Pay all bills on time

Your payment history accounts for 35 percent of your credit score. While late payments stay on your credit report for seven years, their impact on your score diminishes over time.

4. Don’t close older credit lines after paying them off

Closing unused accounts sounds like a good idea, but it may raise your credit utilization ratio and cause your credit score to drop.

5. Don’t open any new lines of credit or take out large loans

Generally, the less debt you have, the better off you are when you apply for a mortgage. FICO recommends not opening new credit accounts to increase your credit utilization ratio, because each credit request can lower your score slightly. Once your credit has improved, it’s fine to rate-shop, but keep it within a 30-day window — spreading out the rate inquiries can hurt your score. You can also use Bankrate’s mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payments.

FAQs

—Can I get a mortgage with a low credit score? Maybe — it is possible to get a mortgage with a low credit score, but it’s more challenging. For example, FHA loans might allow a score as low as 500, but will require a much higher down payment in exchange. When seeking a mortgage with a low credit score, you’ll likely pay higher interest rates and higher monthly payments. Lenders may also be more stringent about other aspects of your finances, too, such as your DTI ratio.

—Will I get a better deal on a mortgage with a higher credit score? Probably. Credit score is certainly not the only factor at play when lenders look at mortgage applications, but generally, a higher score will allow you to secure a lower mortgage rate. Typically, conventional lenders want to see a score of at least 620.

(Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com.)

©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.