IJR News

California Players Win $1.15M, $239K Slot JackpotsLifestyle — 3dA guest at Pechanga Resort Casino won a progressive jackpot of about $1.15 million on a Dragon Link slot machine after a $25 bet; the casino said it was the sixth million-dollar-plus win on the game there in 18 months. Separately, a player at Thunder Valley Casino Resort won $239,079 on a penny slot machine.

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Dubuque Casino Grants Record $1.5 MillionLifestyle — 1dDubuque’s Q Casino + Resort is owned and operated by the nonprofit Dubuque Racing Association, which says its model directs casino success back to the community; this year, it awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to local organizations.

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Willamette Pass Resort Triples Snowmaking Capacity After Difficult Winter — Sep 24, 2026Willamette Pass Resort has more than tripled its snowmaking capacity by expanding its fleet to 19 guns and adding top-to-bottom trail coverage. The investment is intended to support earlier openings, more reliable winter conditions and a longer season as the resort relies less on natural snowfall.

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Theme Parks Plan Expansions, Face ClosuresTravel — 3dWalt Disney World plans to add Nomad Lounge’s popular gluten-free churros to mobile ordering, while California’s Great America faces a planned closure between 2028 and 2032 as its land is redeveloped; a Universal-branded resort in the U.K. is also reportedly planned for 2031. A recent Universal Orlando review praised the parks and Epic Universe, while this week’s operations update highlights Halloween Horror Nights and several attraction refurbishments and closures.

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Oregon Resort Plans Rare Midcentury Home TourTravel — 5dOregon offers travelers varied getaways, from Portland’s food and city attractions to Eugene’s boutique hotels, wine and farm-to-table dining. Along the coast, Salishan’s architect-designed midcentury homes add a distinctive draw, while Portland stays such as Hotel Lucia offer a downtown base for visitors.

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Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Royal Caribbean plans $3B Sandals stake acquisitionBusiness — 5dRoyal Caribbean Group plans to acquire a 50% stake in Sandals and Beaches Resorts for about $3 billion, expanding its cruise and private-destination business into all-inclusive land vacations. The companies say the partnership could broaden travel options and cross-promote offerings, though specific benefits for guests remain to be determined.

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Hotels Across Five Regions Earn 2026 Michelin KeysTravel — 5dThe 2026 MICHELIN Guide has recognized hotels across several destinations with MICHELIN Keys, including Dar Tantora in AlUla, Four Seasons Resort Puerto Rico, Dorset’s The Priory and Waco’s Hotel 1928. Five Houston hotels also earned Keys, with the distinctions recognizing exceptional stays, service, character and connection to place.

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Barry Diller Withdraws $18 Billion Bid for MGM Resorts — Sep 23, 2026Barry Diller’s People Inc. abandoned its roughly $18 billion bid to acquire the rest of MGM Resorts, signaling that the deal will not move forward and leaving MGM to continue as a standalone company. People still holds about 27% of MGM, and MGM’s stock reacted to the withdrawal with an after-hours drop as the company reaffirms its path forward.

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Priya Raman MGM can focus on its own growth now instead of dealing with a takeover, even if the stock dipped after hours.

Five Oahu Homes Listed in Honolulu, WaialuaLifestyle — Sep 28, 2026Five Hawaii property listings highlight a range of homes, from Honolulu condos with city, park, harbor, or ocean views to a spacious Kalihi Valley house and a remodeled oceanfront condo in Waialua. Features include upgraded interiors, parking, outdoor living space, and resort-style amenities.

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Vail Resorts Receives Five Board Nominations, Including Olympian — Sep 11, 2026Vail Resorts’ nominations window closed on September 10, 2026, with five shareholder-nominated candidates including Picabo Street and former Disney CEO Robert A. Chapek, plus a self-nomination by Gregory Syvert Meyer. The company will review all candidates, pursue an active search for a new independent director to be completed in early 2027, and publish its recommended slate in the proxy statement, while shareholders are not required to take action at this time.

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Priya Raman Chapek's Disney track record might help with marketing but I worry it won't address rising lift ticket prices or local community concerns.

Alterra Plans $350 Million Resort Investments — Sep 9, 2026Alterra Mountain Company will invest over $350 million for the 2026-27 season across its resorts, funding terrain expansions, snowmaking upgrades, avalanche-safety installations, guest amenities, and employee housing. Key projects include Deer Valley’s Expanded Excellence with the Hail Peak Express adding 200 acres and seven new runs, Tremblant’s Timber Summit expanding terrain in 2027-28 and introducing a new learning area this season, plus remote avalanche control systems at Palisades Tahoe and at Mammoth/June, along with broader snowmaking improvements across several properties.

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Nicole Hardy Putting money into snowmaking upgrades across resorts will hopefully lead to more consistent skiing all season long.

Quentin Tarantino vs Martin ScorseseYourlist — VS BattleThe video store savant versus the film-school don — two visions of American violence, guilt, and cool.

Bangladesh factories cancel orders as Gulf LNG supplies tighten — Sep 17, 2026The Gulf crisis is triggering severe energy shortages in Bangladesh and Pakistan, with LNG and oil supply disruptions driving blackouts, higher fuel costs, and rising production costs for industries like garments in Bangladesh. Governments are resorting to subsidies and spot-market purchases to cope, while households face intermittent gas, long cooking waits, and power outages as regional energy markets feel the strain.

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New England and Kyoto Lead Fall Foliage Travel Picks — Sep 16, 2026A trio of travel outlets highlight five top fall getaways for leaf-peeping and seasonal festivals, led by New England’s foliage, historic towns, and classic seasonal comforts, with staples like Vermont lodging, the Kancamagus Highway, and Salem’s Halloween culture. The roundups also flag a Michigan fall culinary experience at Treetops Resort in Grand Rapids, offering a multi-course progressive dinner and drink tastings in early October.

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Priya Raman The multi-course dinner at that Michigan resort in October sounds like a fun twist on fall travel.

Trump Showcases Relationships With Golf’s Top Pros — Sep 13, 2026President Donald Trump spends weekends at his Doonbeg resort in Ireland watching the Irish Open and pursuing his well-known golf passion—playing, designing courses, and building—while highlighting his friendships with top pro golfers such as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Bryson DeChambeau, and Scottie Scheffler. He frequently praises these players, shares photos with them on social media, and has invited some to the White House as part of his ongoing golf network.

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Elena Vasquez Inviting pros such as Scottie Scheffler to the White House is a solid way to celebrate golf's top talent.

Toll Brothers Expands Across Four Communities, Three States — Sep 14, 2026Toll Brothers is expanding its luxury-homes footprint with multiple new communities across California, Florida, and New Jersey, including the opening of Hillside and Crestview at Bickford Ranch in Placer County, Sawgrass Lakes at Babcock Ranch, and Vista Pointe at Port Imperial in New Jersey, along with a Redondo Beach coastal townhome project in Southern California launching for sale. The developments feature model homes, groundbreakings, and sales programs with upscale designs, extensive personalization options, and resort-like amenities.

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Priya Raman Vista Pointe looks like a decent addition near the city for anyone wanting easier commutes in Jersey.

The grammar gatekeeper testQuizie — QuizTwelve spelling and grammar traps that catch almost everyone. Pass, and the AI knights you. Fail, and it's gentle about it. Mostly.

Trump Arrives in Ireland for Meetings and Irish Open — Sep 9, 2026Local Gaelic football takes center stage as Kilcavan and Mountmellick face off in the Laois IFC semi-final for a spot in the intermediate final, while Galway dominates the 2026 TG4 All-Star nominations following their All-Ireland win; separately, a deep dive into Trump International Doonbeg looks at the luxury resort behind the gates ahead of the Irish Open, and a Indo Daily special revisits the Lance Armstrong–Floyd Landis doping saga and its fallout.

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Planned 20-Foot Virgin Mary Statue Atop California Ski Resort Sparks Anger, PetitionReporting — Dec 18, 2023A California ski resort’s plan to erect a 20-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary is being opposed by resort users who say they don’t want anything religious injected into their fun. Mt. Shasta Ski Park, which is in…

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Marriott, Catalonia Plan All-Inclusive Resorts in Jamaica and Tanzania — Jul 23, 2026Marriott International is expanding its all-inclusive footprint in Jamaica and Tanzania by partnering with Catalonia Hotels & Resorts to develop a Marriott Hotels All-Inclusive Resort in Montego Bay (opening 2028) and an Autograph Collection All-Inclusive Resort in Zanzibar (opening 2027). This strategic move, highlighted in 2026 reporting, underscores Marriott’s ongoing push to grow its all-inclusive portfolio with distinctive experiences in key leisure destinations.

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Indy Pass plans 50+ new resorts, 300+Sports — Sep 1, 2026Indy Pass has expanded to more than 300 destinations by adding over 50 independent resorts, with about 30 more announced this week and a keynote on Sept. 8 to unveil further partners. The pass remains a two-day-per-resort program with Indy+ offering no blackout dates and a discounted third day, priced at $399 for the base pass and $449 for Indy+, with waitlist presales starting Sept. 1 and general public on Sept. 8.

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One Dead, 3 Injured After Avalanche at Ski ResortReporting — Jan 11, 2024One person was reported dead and three others were left injured after an avalanche at a ski resort in California on Wednesday. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a statement on Facebook that an avalanche…

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Leaders Of Union That Threatened To Shut Down Economy Have History Of Splurging On Luxury Restaurants, Resorts — Oct 4, 2024Leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), who recently spent big money on upscale restaurants and swanky beach resorts, threatened to “cripple” the American economy over allegedly unsatisfactory…

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Trump Putting Up Linemen In One Of His Florida Resorts As Hurricane Milton Bears Down On State — Oct 9, 2024Former President Donald Trump is opening up one of his luxury resorts in Florida to host around 275 linemen who will be working to restore power after Hurricane Milton runs its course. Trump is hosting the linemen at…

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Sundance Mountain Resort plans 100 acres, high-speed lift 2026/27 — Aug 21, 2026Sundance Mountain Resort is expanding by more than 100 acres for the 2026/27 season, led by the Electric Horseman high-speed quad and a new 1.7-mile Storyteller ridge run that will push total skiable terrain to 605 acres and improve access to the back mountain. The project promises shorter lift times and expanded options for intermediate to expert skiers as the resort completes the first phase of its back-mountain expansion with plans for further terrain additions in the coming years.

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Democrats Reportedly Quietly Planning Luxury Getaway Escape To 5-Star Resort Despite Looming Government Shutdown — Sep 27, 2025The Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is planning a two-day getaway at a five-star resort in the heart of California’s wine country in early October — at the same time the country may be in the midst of a government…

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