Category: News
La Saudi Pro League continúa con su calendario de partidos pese a guerra en Irán
ABHA, Arabia Saudí (AP) — La Saudi Pro League intenta seguir adelante con los partidos, aun cuando el fútbol en otros países del Medio Orente está en pausa debido a la guerra con Irán.
El jueves el Damac venció a Al-Riyadh 3-0, pero el segundo duelo fue reprogramado para el sábado después de que se cancelara el vuelo de Al-Qadsiah para jugar contra Al-Kholood.
Al-Ahli enfrenta a Al-Ittihad el viernes en el derbi de Yedá, uno de los partidos más importantes del calendario nacional, y en el que se espera una multitud de casi 60.000 personas.
Los clubes saudíes no pudieron disputar a principios de semana sus partidos de eliminación directa de la Liga de Campeones de Asia debido a preocupaciones de seguridad en la región.
En el país, el Ministerio de Defensa de Arabia Saudí informó de un presunto ataque con dron iraní contra la Embajada de Estados Unidos en Riad a primera hora del martes.
Aun así, la liga señaló que es seguro seguir jugando, según una carta que envió a los clubes esta semana.
La liga hará una pausa del 14 de marzo al 3 de abril —lo que incluye la próxima ventana internacional.
El entrenador de Al-Hilal, Jorge Jesus, comentó a los medios locales que se estaba preparando para el partido del viernes contra Al-Najma como de costumbre.
“Nosotros en Riad estamos a salvo, estables y seguros, y estamos siguiendo los acontecimientos políticos con cautela y esperando las instrucciones necesarias”, manifestó el martes el exentrenador del Benfica. “Continuamos nuestro trabajo a diario como siempre”.
Al-Nassr lidera la clasificación, pero no contará con Cristiano Ronaldo para el partido del sábado contra Neom SC en Riad. La estrella portuguesa tiene una lesión en el tendón de la corva.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
Ex-etiquette: 10-year-old tells the gory details of our divorce
Q. My ex continually tells our 10-year-old the gory details of our divorce. Our child doesn’t really understand what he’s being told and comes home with wild stories — some parts are true; other parts are completely off. How can I help my child understand what’s real without badmouthing the other parent? What’s good ex-etiquette?
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A. Oh my. I wish I could say this rarely happens, but that’s not true. Parents often try to sway their children to “their side” after a breakup and feel that “setting the record straight” is the way to do it. But children are not miniature adults. A 10-year-old does not have the emotional or cognitive framework to process adult relationship details, especially the painful or blame-filled parts of a divorce. When those details are shared, the child doesn’t receive them as information. They experience confusion, fear and pressure to make sense of something that was never meant for them to carry.
This is where Rule No. 1 of Good Ex-Etiquette, “Put the children first,” must guide your response.
When children hear adult divorce narratives, they don’t evaluate accuracy. They try to organize what they hear in a way that feels emotionally safe — or at least makes sense to them. That’s why your child comes home with stories that are partly true and partly wildly off. His brain is filling in gaps, not to mislead, but try to make sense of it all. And, unfortunately, when he hears something questionable or that he doesn’t understand, he will try to figure out which parent is telling the truth. That’s the first step to asking your child to take sides.
Your role is not to correct your ex through your child. Doing so would place your child squarely in the middle of adult conflict, something good ex-etiquette asks parents to avoid at all costs. Even calm, well-intentioned “clarifications” force a child into an impossible position: deciding which parent’s version is right.
Instead, your job is containment, not correction.
When your child shares confusing or alarming information, resist the urge to interrogate or fact-check. You don’t need to untangle every detail. What your child needs most is reassurance that the adults are still in charge.
A grounding response might sound like this: “Getting a divorce (or breaking up) was an adult decision that your dad and I made together. You don’t need to understand the details or worry about any of it. That’s our job. We both love you and always will.”
This kind of response does several important things at once. It restores adult authority. It removes responsibility from the child. And it does so without criticizing the other parent.
If your child asks direct questions, keep your answers brief, neutral and age-appropriate. Think headlines, not explanations. “This was an adult decision.” “Adults handle adult problems.” Then stop. Over-explaining often increases anxiety rather than reducing it. If a child then pushes, reply like this: “Your dad and I simply see things differently. That’s OK. It doesn’t change how we feel about you.”
It’s also helpful to focus on feelings rather than facts. Try statements like:
“That sounds confusing.”
“I can see why that would feel upsetting.”
This teaches your child to trust their emotional experience without asking them to solve adult problems.
You cannot control what your ex says. But you can control what your child experiences in your home. When one home feels calm, predictable and free from adult conflict, children instinctively recognize it as safer.
The key here is not about correcting the story. It’s about protecting the child from having to carry it. That’s good ex-etiquette.
____
(Dr. Jann Blackstone is a child custody mediator and the author of “The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Co-parenting and Creating Stronger Families. She can be reached at www.bonusfamilies.com or jann@bonusfamilies.com.)
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/ex-etiquette-telling-too-much/
Tottenham vuelve a perder y sigue en la pelea para sobrevivir en la Liga Premier
LONDRES (AP) — El Tottenham recibió otro golpe en su intento de segir en la Liga Premier al perder el jueves 3-1 ante Crystal Palace.
Los Spurs —uno de los equipos más ricos de Europa y miembro fundador de la Liga Premier— está apenas un punto por encima de la zona de descenso y sin una victoria en la liga doméstica en 2026.
Esta fue su quinta derrota consecutiva y la tercera bajo el nuevo entrenador Igor Tudor, a quien se le encomendó la responsabilidad de enderezar la temporada.
Tudor observó cómo los Spurs se derrumbaban ante su afición en el Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Los Spurs encajaron tres goles en la primera mitad, después de haberse puesto en ventaja y de quedarse con 10 hombres cuando Micky van de Ven fue expulsado.
Palace aprovechó al máximo al anotar tres veces en siete minutos antes del descanso.
Ismaila Sarr marcó dos goles — uno desde el punto de penal — y Jorgen Strand Larsen consiguió el otro para los visitantes.
Eso ocurrió después de que Dominic Solanke le diera la ventaja a los Spurs a los 34 minutos. Van de Ven vio la tarjeta roja cuatro minutos más tarde por derribar a Sarr dentro del área.
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Deportes AP: https://apnews.com/hub/deportes
‘They want to get better’: Chicago White Sox pitching coach Zach Bove offers camp evaluations of ‘hungry’ staff
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Zach Bove is in his first season as the Chicago White Sox pitching coach.
He sees a group that is “hungry.”
“They’re open to suggestions,” Bove said Tuesday at Camelback Ranch. “They want to get better. It’s been great. Just build that relationship, guys want to continuously improve.”
Photos: An inside look at Chicago White Sox spring training
Count leverage has been a big emphasis at camp, and Bove said the Sox are in a good spot when it comes to getting ahead with first-pitch strikes.
Bove provided an overview of how the pitchers are coming along as competition continues for spots in the rotation and bullpen.
Shane Smith, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Jonathan Cannon, Erick Fedde, Sean Newcomb, Chris Murphy and Mike Vasil are among the pitchers the Sox have stretched out while evaluating rotation options.
“We experienced that with Kansas City, it’s good for everybody,” said Bove, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant pitching coach with the Royals. “(It) raises the standard across the board.
“Guys still want to help each other with whatever is best for the White Sox. But the more competition, it’s going to bring out the best in everybody.”
He doesn’t have a specific date in mind for when the Sox want to get the list down to five.
“Just working through it,” Bove said. “Things shake out. Hopefully everyone is healthy and we have to make some tough decisions. We are kind of seeing, building stuff out and maybe regroup in a couple of weeks and see where we are at.”
White Sox starter Shane Smith pitches during live batting practice at spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 18, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Smith is coming off a successful rookie season. Bove said the focus for the right-hander has been getting the slider in consistent shape.
“Other than that, it’s just repeat,” Bove said. “Obviously he had a great year last year, so make sure everything is in a good spot. The consistency of the fastball is something we worked on the last outing.
“He’s in a really good spot.”
Bove said Kay has been “awesome to be around” as he readjusts to the big leagues after spending the last two seasons pitching in Japan.
“The velo has been really good,” Bove said. “You see the shapes, the hitters’ reactions. Very impressive with him so far and he’s been great, easy low motor.”
Bove also was asked about the next steps in development for Burke and Cannon.
“Cannon has been good,” Bove said. “It’s unique because hearing the perspective of people who have been here, seeing him, they think he’s made a big step — which I totally agree with that.
“We tried to get him back to, ‘This is where you are really good, don’t try to overcomplicate it, don’t try to do too much.’ You’ve seen that, he’s just attacking the zone.”
White Sox pitcher Sean Burke speaks with catcher Korey Lee during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 17, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
He added that Burke “has been awesome too.”
“He is moving in the right direction,” Bove said. “Every outing, you can see building.”
Bove is excited about how the bullpen has been shaping up, with Seranthony Domínguez a key addition.
“He’s done it at a high level, feeling confident,” Bove said. “The ninth, experienced that with Carlos (Estévez, who had 42 saves with Kansas City) last year. Definitely creates some calmness.
“(Domínguez) has been awesome off the field with the guys, with everybody. Go to him to maybe to put some messages through the guys. He’s been awesome on and off the field.”
Overall, Bove sees the makings of a bullpen that can be effective in a variety of ways.
“We have some velo, we have some uniqueness from the angles and stuff like that,” Bove said. “You’ve seen it across the board. There’s not one team that is doing it a certain way — having multiple options working through lineups, lefties, righties, splits.
“(It’s) understanding what guys do really well. We want to incorporate that as much as possible. You feel good about the options we have in the pen right now.”
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Starter or reliever, Sox manager Will Venable sees the bonds Bove is making with the staff.
“He has a really interesting background, having not been a pitcher and really just recently turning to pitching coaching,” Venable said Tuesday. Bove played first base in college and was first a hitting coach in college before switching to work with pitchers.
“He has this ability to connect with the guys, he understands the objective stuff, how to get guys better,” Venable said. “For somebody who hasn’t pitched, you wouldn’t know it if you see how he communicates with players and creates buy-in on the things he wants them to do. A really interesting skill set, but it’s been great.”
Bove sees it as a collaborative effort.
“It’s the team approach,” Bove said. “I don’t have all the answers. I want to surround myself with good people and we definitely have that here with the White Sox. It’s utilizing every department, every resource to help the guys.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/chicago-white-sox-zach-bove-camp-evaluations/
Iraqi Supply Loss Could Expose The Real Limits Of OPEC Spare Capacity
Iraqi Supply Loss Could Expose The Real Limits Of OPEC Spare Capacity
Authored by Julianne Geiger via OilPrice.com,
Iraq has already begun shutting in production as exports through the Strait of Hormuz become increasingly constrained. Roughly 1.5 million barrels per day are reportedly offline, and officials have warned that figure could approach 3 million bpd if disruptions persist.
At 3 million bpd, this becomes one of the largest sudden supply losses in the modern market outside of sanctions or war.
Iraq’s total crude production has been running near 4.0–4.3 million bpd, according to recent OPEC secondary-source data. Exports typically average between 3.2 and 3.4 million bpd, the vast majority shipped from southern terminals at Basrah. China and India together account for roughly two-thirds of those flows, making Iraq one of Asia’s most critical heavy crude suppliers.
That output is heavily concentrated in the southern fields feeding Basrah exports. Rumaila alone has nameplate capacity of around 1.4–1.5 million bpd and routinely produces well above 1.3 million bpd. West Qurna 1 produces roughly 600,000 bpd, with capacity closer to 650,000–670,000. West Qurna 2 is producing around 460,000 bpd, though development plans have targeted 750,000–800,000. Zubair’s design capacity is roughly 700,000 bpd. The Maysan complex contributes roughly 300,000–350,000 bpd.
Taken together, those fields account for the bulk of Iraq’s export engine. A 3 million bpd shut-in would effectively sideline most of the southern system and remove a significant share of medium and heavy sour barrels from global trade.
The obvious question is whether OPEC can replace those barrels.
And the answer depends on who you ask and how you define spare capacity. But even theoretically, it’s a stretch. In December last year, the EIA redefined the terms “maximum sustainable capacity” as the upper limit a producer could reach within a year if everything runs smoothly and “effective capacity” which is the amount of oil that could be realistically brought online within 90 days and sustained without damaging fields or infrastructure.
Let the terms “90 days” and “with a year” sink in for a moment.
For the sake of exactness, the EIA defines spare capacity using the second of those terms.
So, does OPEC really have the spare capacity to meaningful fill the gap right now?
Under that 90-day definition, OPEC’s effective spare capacity is generally estimated in the range of roughly 3 to 4 million barrels per day. And almost all of it sits in just two countries: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia accounts for roughly 2 million barrels per day of that cushion. The UAE contributes somewhere around 0.8 to 1.0 million barrels per day. The rest of OPEC’s members add relatively marginal volumes.
If Iraqi shut-ins approach 3 million barrels per day, you are no longer talking about dipping into spare capacity. You are talking about testing the outer boundary of it and would be almost entirely reliant on two producers ramping quickly, sustaining output, and pushing those barrels through the very same Strait of Hormuz that is currently under strain. And those spare capacity figures include everything that could take them 90 days to turn on.
OPEC could potentially turn on all its spare capacity, but it could take them months to do it. Mobilization is not instantaneous.
Just as importantly, crude oil quality matters. Iraqi exports are mostly comprised of medium and heavy sour grades. Refiners in China and India, which together take roughly two-thirds of Iraq’s exports, take about 2.1-2.5 million bpd—and they are largely configured for those heavier grades. Substituting lighter grades alters yields, diesel output, and refining margins. This is already playing out in today’s tightening heavy crude differentials.
And finally, even with the upstream issue resolved, the oil would still have to move.
Even if Saudi Arabia and the UAE open the taps, much of those exports would still need to transit the Strait. If traffic slows, if insurance costs spike, if tankers hesitate, the constraint shifts from upstream capacity to physical flow. Spare capacity in a field does not equal barrels on a ship.
And timing matters. The EIA’s definition allows up to 90 days to bring that oil online and sustain it. Ninety days is a long time in a market reacting in real time. A 3 million bpd disruption doesn’t give producers a comfortable ramp window. It forces a response under pressure.
So yes, OPEC has spare capacity on paper. But if Iraqi shut-ins approach 3 million bpd and linger, the discussion would quickly stop being about headline spare capacity and would instead be about deliverable barrels — in the right quality, moving through functioning shipping lanes. That is a much narrower margin of safety than the top-line numbers imply.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 17:40
https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/iraqi-supply-loss-could-expose-real-limits-opec-spare-capacity
As Chicago Blackhawks see veterans move on, they hope ‘this is the last year’ of being trade-deadline sellers
Add Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno to those who believe the NHL shouldn’t play games on trade-deadline day.
The deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Friday, and the Hawks — who already made a pair of deals this week — play the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center at 7:30 that night.
“I always thought that was stupid. It’s such a distraction for everybody,” Foligno said Thursday. “Regardless, you’re watching it whether you’re on the (trading) block or not.
“I don’t know why the league hasn’t decided just to make it a practice day for everybody. I think it would help a lot of the teams’ travel.”
Thursday’s practice was the first in a while back at the Blackhawks Ice Center after the Hawks went 1-2-1 on their four-game trip coming out of the Olympic hiatus. As Foligno walked into the locker room, he surely noticed the vacant area next to Connor Bedard’s slot or the slot across the room that now belongs to defenseman Ethan Del Mastro.
Those spots belonged to former alternate captains Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, who both were traded to the Edmonton Oilers this week. Foligno has been through plenty of trade deadlines in his 20-year career, but it doesn’t change the emotions.
“For a guy like Murph, it is bittersweet because you love him and what he’s meant to this organization and the city (and) how he’s come in and been a real great ambassador for the Blackhawks through probably a tough time and tough transition,” Foligno said. “He’s always kept his head up and led the right way, so to see him get an opportunity with a really good team is gratifying for us all.
“You see what Jason Dickinson’s meant to this group, and that was a tough guy to lose, just with the way he’s connected with every guy and how much he matters, the way he led, the minutes that he ate that were hard minutes and not-so-fun times. You’re thrilled for a guy like him that gets a chance to slot into an area that really makes a lot of sense when you can look at it.”
Murphy’s “A” patch went to Bedard after the veteran defenseman was dealt Monday for a 2028 second-round pick, and now the Hawks will need another new alternate captain after sending centers Dickinson and Colton Dach to Edmonton on Wednesday night for left wing Andrew Mangiapane and a top-12-protected 2027 first-round pick.
Foligno’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors, too, so the “C” also could be stitched elsewhere by Friday night.
A popular pick as the next alternate or captain is defenseman Alex Vlasic, now the longest-tenured Hawk in his fifth season with the team — an unusual designation for a 24-year-old.
“It’s definitely pretty weird but a great honor and cool opportunity for me to be here with everything that this organization has been through since I’ve been here,” Vlasic said. “I’m really grateful for my experience here and looking forward to the future.”
Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic goes for the puck during the second period against the Penguins on Dec. 28, 2025, at the United Center. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Foligno’s time with the Hawks seems to be nearing its end — if not Friday, likely this offseason for the impending free agent — meaning the locker room will become even younger. Vlasic is ready to step up into a leadership role and carry it for a while.
“The way that (Dickinson) and (Murphy) played the game (was) very honorable, and the way that they played was a way to set the tone and be a leader,” Vlasic said. “We’re going to need some guys to step up and do that.
“I consider myself one of those guys that can potentially do that. So it’s going to be a contribution from everybody in the locker room.”
Foligno, 38, said he has had discussions with general manager Kyle Davidson. The captain put it simply: It’s tough waiting to learn if and when you’ll be moved.
“I made it no surprise how much I care about this group,” Foligno said. “Especially as a guy who’s led this group for a few years, you feel weird when you have those those hard conversations, but it’s the reality of where we’re sitting. There’s always a personal thing that you go through to where you want to still compete and battle and win.
“I believe in this group so much and it’s been an absolute honor to be the captain here, so I’m still fully committed to that until told otherwise. There’s a competitor inside you, too, that wants to be playing meaningful games.”
That’s the plan for the young Hawks, to be in those meaningful games. Bedard, Dach and Ryan Greene vacationed together and told each other that when they win a Stanley Cup, they would come back for a celebratory trip.
Now Dach is in Edmonton — a rapid change of future offseason plans.
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“It’s a family and these are guys you’re with every single day,” Bedard said. “You’re maybe a little nervous that guys are going to get moved, but it’s part of it.
“Yesterday was really tough. (Dickinson), I’ve been with the whole time, he’s like an older brother to me. It sucks for sure.”
Bedard already has been an alternate captain this season, so receiving the “A” wasn’t anything new. He likely won’t be without a patch for the rest of his Hawks career.
“It doesn’t change anything I’m going to do as a person (or) as a player, but it’s a good honor to be recognized with that,” he said. “I’ve been able to learn from a lot of great guys in the last three years and feel like I’ve grown a lot in a lot of ways.”
Bedard has seen a lot of teammates come and go in his three seasons. This week’s trades indicate Davidson’s confidence that the young Hawks will flip things around in the future.
“That’s motivating that this is the last year that we’re in a spot where we’re moving guys that help us win games,” Bedard said. “That’s a (expletive) feeling, but (we’ll) try to not let that happen.”
Practice notes
Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser is expected to play against the Canucks on Friday. He has been on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 4 with a lower-body injury but practiced fully Thursday.
Coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t know when Mangiapane, 29, will join the team. He must clear immigration first.
“He gets an opportunity to have a clean slate,” Blashill said. “He’s been a good player in this league (and) he’ll get an opportunity to be a good player here.
“He’s been a guy who’s got really good work ethic and speed. He’s a dog on a bone (and) that fits into how we want to play, and he’s got that with some offensive touch. Where he slots in with which line? We’ll see as we go.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/chicago-blackhawks-nhl-trade-deadline-reaction/
Phone conversations played of defendant in 2012 Calumet City murder case
Prosecutors played two recorded phone calls in court of calls Donol Clark made to his brother in 2012 while a suspect in the 2012 killing of Gena Chiodo in Calumet City.
Clark was charged with murder and is on trial this week at the Markham courthouse, 13 years after charges were first announced. The case was cited in the Chicago Tribune’s stalled justice series on delayed court cases.
In the phone call from the Calumet City Police Department, Clark asked his brother for help getting a lawyer.
“I woke up with her covered in blood,” Clark said in one of the calls.
Chiodo disappeared in October 2012. Her manager testified Wednesday she called the police after Chiodo failed to show up for work multiple days. Police conducted a well-being check and found what appeared to be blood throughout the house while searching for her, officers testified.
Clark, who was home when police arrived, was brought to the Police Department to file a missing persons report. Clark claimed that he and Chiodo got drunk and started arguing a few days before over accusations of infidelity, and she had left the house, according to testimony from the officer who took the report.
However, her car was still in the driveway and no one had seen her.
Chiodo’s body was found in a wooded area in Lowell, Indiana, in early December 2012, a month and a half after her disappearance.
Donna Wuchter holds a picture of her friend Gena Chiodo Dec. 19, 2023, at her home in Munster, Indiana. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Lake County sheriff’s Sgt. Kiel Sopko, who was a detective and evidence technician at the time of Chiodo’s death, was one of the officers who responded to Lowell when a hunter found her body in a stand of trees in a remote area, off a private road marked with a do not trespass sign.
“There’s really nothing out there,” Sopko said.
Prosecutors showed photos of Chiodo’s badly decomposed body in court. The body was found naked and wrapped in a white blanket, and had apparently been damaged by animals.
Evidence preserved from the scene included the blanket the body was wrapped in and pieces of rope recovered from around Chiodo’s feet and under her body.1
Clark’s lawyers repeatedly questioned police officers Wednesday about whether Clark was free to leave the department prior to being formally placed under arrest, as he was escorted by police officers to the station to file a missing persons report but had not been read his rights.
Clark’s lawyers argued Thursday, through an objection, that evidence obtained from searches of the house conducted before the police had obtained a search warrant for the property, including photos of apparent blood on the walls and bed, should not be introduced at the trial.
Cook County Judge Carl Boyd is hearing the case, with testimony expected to continue into next week.
elewis@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/05/donol-clark-murder-trial-calumet-city/
Americans Are Plundering Their 401(k) Savings In “Record” Numbers
Americans Are Plundering Their 401(k) Savings In “Record” Numbers
More Americans are tapping their retirement savings to deal with financial emergencies, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Last year, a record 6% of workers in 401(k) plans administered by Vanguard took hardship withdrawals, up from 4.8% in 2024 and about 2% before the pandemic. The figures point to a mixed financial picture: many Americans are doing well, but a growing share are under pressure.
At the same time, retirement balances have climbed alongside strong markets, and more workers are participating in 401(k) plans. As a result, those accounts are increasingly becoming a financial backstop when unexpected expenses arise.
Hardship withdrawals have now increased for six straight years. Part of the rise dates back to a 2018 change that made it easier to access retirement funds by removing the requirement that workers take a 401(k) loan before requesting a hardship distribution. Vanguard administers plans for nearly five million participants.
The most common reasons for withdrawals last year were avoiding foreclosure or eviction and covering medical costs. The median amount taken out was $1,900.
Financial strain is also showing up in other ways. More Americans are falling behind on some types of debt, including mortgages, while credit-counseling groups report that the average income of people seeking help has increased. Even so, unemployment remains relatively low and consumer spending has stayed resilient.
Policy changes have also expanded the situations where hardship withdrawals are allowed. A 2022 law gave employers the option to permit withdrawals for victims of domestic abuse and people impacted by federally declared disasters. It also allows workers to withdraw up to $1,000 penalty-free for an emergency once every three years, with the option to access funds again sooner if the money is repaid.
Another driver is the spread of automatic enrollment. As more employers automatically place workers into retirement plans unless they opt out, more people now have savings available to draw from during emergencies.
The Journal writes that among about 1,300 employer plans Vanguard administers, 61% automatically enrolled new hires in 2025, up from 34% in 2013.
Workers who take hardship withdrawals from traditional accounts typically owe income tax and may face a 10% penalty if they are under 59½.
Despite the rise in withdrawals, overall retirement savings remain strong. The average 401(k) balance rose 13% in 2025 to a record $167,970.
Participation is also growing. A record 45% of workers increased their savings rate in 2025, matching the share that did so the year before, largely through automatic escalation programs.
“People are saving more, remaining invested, and being automatically rebalanced in a professional way,” said David Stinnett, head of strategic retirement consulting at Vanguard.
Tyler Durden
Thu, 03/05/2026 – 17:20
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/americans-are-plundering-their-401k-savings-record-numbers
Big Ten Tournament: No. 11 Ohio State women cruise past Indiana to advance to quarterfinals
INDIANAPOLIS — Jaloni Cambridge had 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Chance Gray added 18 points and No. 11 Ohio State eased past Indiana 83-59 on Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State (25-6), a No. 5 seed, advances to play 19th-ranked Minnesota in a quarterfinal Friday. The Buckeyes secured their fifth straight season with 25-plus wins.
Cambridge and Gray combined for 10 of Ohio State’s points during a 12-0 run to take the first double-digit lead of the game at 24-14. The Buckeyes’ lead did not drop below eight points the rest of the half, and Gray’s 3-pointer with 20 seconds left made it 36-24 at the break.
Ohio State added a 10-0 run early in the third quarter for a 17-point advantage. The Buckeyes led by as many as 30 points, 81-51, with three minutes to play in the game.
Kennedy Cambridge had 14 points and Elsa Lemmilä grabbed 13 rebounds to go with six points, five assists and three blocks for Ohio State. Gray made four of Ohio State’s 10 3-pointers — a game after the Buckeyes sank a program-record 18 3s in an 87-68 win against then-No. 15 Michigan State on Sunday.
Maya Makalusky led Indiana (18-14) with 21 points and five 3-pointers. Shay Ciezki added 12 points and Nevaeh Caffey scored 10.
Washington 76, USC 64
Elle Ladine scored a season-high 25 points, Avery Howell added 18 points and nine rebounds and Washington defeated USC in the first second-round game.
The eighth-seeded Huskies (22-9) will take on top-seeded and No. 2 UCLA in a Friday quarterfinal.
Hannah Stines scored 12 points, Brynn McGaughy added 10 and Yulia Grabovskaia had 10 rebounds for Washington. Leading scorer Sayvia Sellers (19.2 ppg) dealt with four fouls and had just four points on free throws in 28 minutes. Other Huskies filled the scoring gap with Washington shooting 50% and dominating the boards 44-27 in outscoring the Trojans 40-14 in the paint.
Londynn Jones scored 19 points, Kennedy Smith added 14 and Laura Williams had 13 rebounds to go with nine points for the Trojans (17-13).
Big Ten freshman of the year Jazzy Davidson, who leads the Trojans in scoring, rebounding and assists, scored eight points on 2-of-13 shooting over 29 minutes. Davidson, who appeared to suffer a shoulder injury early, sat out the final seven minutes.
The Huskies led by double figures throughout the second half and by as many as 23. They shot 67% in the third quarter with Ladine scoring eight points to lead 56-36. USC got as close as 10 with two minutes left in the game.
After a first quarter when the teams combined for just 14 points, Ladine scored 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting in the second, including the last six points for a 32-20 halftime edge.
Big Ten Tournament schedule
Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
Thursday’s second round
(8) Washington vs. (9) USC, 11 a.m.
(5) Ohio State 83, (13) Indiana 59
(7) Michigan State vs. (10) Illinois, 5:30 p.m.
(6) Maryland vs. (11) Oregon, 8 p.m. (approx.)
Friday’s quarterfinals
All games on BTN and the Fox Sports app
(1) UCLA vs. (8) Washington, 11 a.m.
(4) Minnesota vs. (5) Ohio State, 1:30 p.m. (approx.)
(2) Iowa vs. (7) Michigan State/(10) Illinois winner, 5:30 p.m.
(3) Michigan vs. (6) Maryland/(11) Oregon winner, 8 p.m. (approx.)
Saturday’s semifinals
All games on BTN and the Fox Sports app
First two quarterfinal winners, 1 p.m.
Last two quarterfinal winners, 3:30 p.m. (approx.)
Sunday’s final
Semifinal winners, 1:15 p.m., CBS-2
Man dragged by car, hospitalized after Glenview fare dispute with cabbie
Glenview police have charged a taxi driver with one count of misdemeanor reckless driving after an investigation found he sped up as his passenger was trying to get out of the vehicle, they said in a news release. The passenger remains hospitalized three days later.
The dispute and the injuries occurred at 3100 Sanders Road, Glenview, on March 2.
Abderrezak Djerrah, 60, of the 7400 block of North Oconto Avenue, Chicago, was found and charged March 3 just after 1 p.m. on Milwaukee in Niles, Glenview police said.
They added that their investigation found Djerrah drove a taxicab to the Sanders Road address with a male passenger. Once they were parked, per police, Djerrah and the male passenger were involved in a physical altercation inside the vehicle over the fare. While the passenger attempted to exit the vehicle, Djerrah accelerated, and police said that caused the passenger to fall out of the vehicle.
The passenger struck the ground and suffered severe injuries. Glenview police secured the scene and Glenview Fire Department responders took the victim to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge.
The charges were filed after reviewing the case with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Djerrah has a return court date of March 26 at 9 a.m. at the Skokie Courthouse in the Cook County Courts system.
Some initial reports about the incident said a shooting was involved, and Glenview police said Thursday the investigation
revealed no firearms were involved and no shooting occurred.
Glenview Police Department thanked the North Regional Violent Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
