By Nate Raymond
BOSTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Friday blocked U.S. President Donald Trump's administration from continuing to ask applicants for civil service jobs throughout the government to respond to ‌what unions described as a partisan "loyalty question."
U.S. District Judge George O'Toole in Boston sided with three ‌unions representing government workers who sued last year after the administration began asking applicants for nonpartisan federal jobs to write essays explaining how they would help advance Trump's policies and executive orders.
The unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, argued the question mandated by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) unlawfully politicized the hiring process for career government workers by attempting to **** s their support for the Republican president.
O'Toole, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, said the question had been asked of ‌applicants to positions ranging from an ⁠air traffic control specialist to a crane operator to a nuclear materials courier.

#applicants #unions #question #boston

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
If you're not able to move to a new home or refinance to take advantage of the equity you have built up in your home, you're likely considering a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. But besides interest rates, how do you choose between a HELOC or a home equity loan?
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ******* ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#home #rate #heloc #advertiser

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
The difference between the current home equity loan (HEL) rate and the average HELOC rate is 19 basis points, according to Curinos, a real estate data ****** ytics company. When rates are this far apart, choosing the right option isn't just about which rate is lower. How you plan to use your funds will determine the loan product that is best for you.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ****** ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#heloc #home #Equity #estate

There's a new scholarship program for those interested in golf-course design and it's being started by one of the best in the game: Tom Doak.
According to a story in golfcoursearchitecture.net, the Doak Award will go out every two years to students who have showcased a commitment to a career in golf-course architecture.
"The purpose of the award is to further the education of promising young architects who have already demonstrated their dedication to a career in golf course design," Doak the publication. "It is really a write-your-own-award set-up, so that it's tailored to the gaps in each applicant's experience, whatever they think they are."
Doak has modeled this after the Dreer Award which he earned while at Cornell in the early 1980s. That award paid for him to travel and study golf courses. The Doak Award requires applicants to propose their own program of study and inlcude travel and educational pieces.
"I do expect travel to be an important part of the award, but I am keenly aware that it is much more expensive to see great courses today than when I spent nine months in the UK for about $10,000 in 1982," says Doak. "To that end, I am enlisting a bunch of my former clients to provide lodging and food in key locations, and asking fellow architects to host a student for a day or two if travelling to their part of the country."

#Career #study

Former Miss Dominican Republic Andreína Martínez is getting closer to another major international stage. The Dominican model and beauty queen has been named one of 10 finalists in Victoria's Secret's search for its newest Angel, putting her in contention for a spot on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2026 runway.
Martínez, who represented the Dominican Republic at Miss Universe 2022 and finished as second runner-up, advanced from a massive pool of more than 100,000 applicants. She is also reported to be the only Latina among the final 10 contestants.
Miss Venezuela Amanda Dudamel Miss USA R'bonney Gabriel and Miss Dominican Republic Andrei­na Marti­nez during The 71st Miss Universe Competition (@ Getty Images)
The milestone comes months after Martínez publicly shared her goal of making it onto the Victoria's Secret runway. "Hi, I'm Andreína and I want to be an Angel," Martínez said in a video announcing her pursuit of the opportunity.
Victoria's Secret launched an open casting search in 2026, inviting aspiring models to compete for an opportunity to walk in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.

#miss #republic #andre #angel

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Interest rates vary between lenders, and so comparison shopping home equity loan and line of credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll be stuck with it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ******* ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#rate #home #credit

Humana is exiting Medicare Advantage plans affecting 600,000 members in 2027, with federally required non-renewal notices dated October 2.
Federal law grants a guaranteed-issue Medigap right when an MA plan exits, barring insurers from rejecting applicants or charging more for pre-existing conditions.
Before accepting any replacement Advantage plan, members should price Medigap Plan G and verify new coverage includes their doctors, drugs, and hospitals.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
A Humana (NYSE: HUM) Medicare Advantage (MA) member could open the mail in early October and discover that coverage ending December 31 will not be back next year. Humana told investors in July that targeted 2027 exits will affect approximately 600,000 members.

#plan #medicare

A father in Palo Alto, California, is declaring a victory in court after a federal judge allowed a civil rights lawsuit alleging anti-Asian bias in college admissions to move forward.
Nan Zhong and his son, Stanley Zhong, filed federal lawsuits against several elite institutions, including the University of California system, the University of Washington, the University of Michigan and Cornell University. The complaints allege the universities engaged in "racially discriminatory admissions practices that disadvantage highly qualified Asian-American applicants."
One of their cases will now proceed in part against the University of Washington after a federal judge granted the university defendants' motion to dismiss in part and denied it in part.
"We got an exciting ruling from the judge," Nan Zhong told Fox News Digital. "Effectively, the judge ruled in our favor by denying the university's motion to dismiss. So, this is a major development in the lawsuit. That means the judge found enough factual allegations to support our allegation."
Duke Law's Alleged Race-based Admissions Accused Of Defying Supreme Court Ruling: Doj

#university #zhong #admissions #court

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is dropping a categorical hiring ban on applicants who have had ****** ual encounters with prostitutes and will instead consider in a more holistic manner at least some candidates who have engaged in the practice in the past, according to people familiar with the matter.
The move away from an automatic disqualification falls along a continuum of evolving recruitment standards within federal law enforcement and at the ****** oned-up bureau, which several years ago relaxed its approach to candidates' past marijuana use and has drawn more recent concern among some current and former agents about a perceived loosening of recruitment requirements as it seeks to replenish its ranks.
The bureau still intends to dismiss applicants who are revealed during the vetting process to have engaged in prostitution within the last 10 years, three or more times overall or while in a position of trust such as public safety, according to guidance issued this past spring and described by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss internal decision-making and spoke on condition of anonymity. For others, it will allow for consideration of the context of the conduct rather than treat it as grounds for an automatic rejection from the FBI's hiring process.
The practical impact is not immediately clear since many who have engaged in prostitution may still be either immediately disqualified or weeded out upon further scrutiny from FBI polygraphers and security officials.
The FBI said the change was meant to account for the fact that some otherwise suitable candidates, including service members, may have engaged in the practice in places where it is legal and to accommodate applicants who themselves may have been victims of ****** ual abuse.

#according

Over the last year, Nick Maggiulli has come to what he calls an unsettling realization: The upper-middle class is caught in a trap, and many of them don't even realize it.
The chief operating officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management has spent the better part of a year building the case in pieces on his blog, Of Dollars and Data—first arguing private school isn't worth the cost despite its price tag, then that premium travel experiences have grown crowded while remaining expensive in "The Death of the Amex Lounge." He previously talked to Fortune about his book, The Wealth Ladder, and his growing belief "something weird's going on" with the upper-middle class in the U.S. economy.
In an April essay, he pulled the threads together and gave the phenomenon a name: the "upper-middle-class trap," in which people earning roughly $200,000 to $400,000 a year are working more and relaxing less to buy products and services of declining quality.
His evidence includes new single-family homes shrinking in average size by 12% between 2014 and 2024, even as the price per square foot surged 74%, according to LendingTree data. A home near a public elementary school with a top GreatSchools rating costs 78.6% more than a comparable home in the surrounding county. Homebuyers who win bidding wars end up worse off: One study found their purchases produced 6.9% lower annualized returns than homes bought without competition. In higher education, the number of college applicants has jumped 78% since 2015 even as acceptance rates at elite schools have collapsed, driving tuition and private-school costs up roughly twice as fast as overall inflation.
The mechanism Maggiulli describes is a "financial arms race": Every individual decision is rational, but collectively the competition for the same scarce positional goods lowers everyone's quality of life while draining their bank accounts.

#even #maggiulli

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Interest rates vary between lenders, so comparison shopping home equity loan and line of credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll be stuck with it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data **** ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#loan

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
The difference between the current home equity loan rate and the average HELOC rate is 19 basis points, according to Curinos, a real estate data ****** ytics company. But choosing the right option doesn't come down to just rates. It's how you plan to use your funds that will dictate the loan product that is best for you.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ****** ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#home #real

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's daughter Vivienne has completed another required step in her effort to legally remove "Pitt" from her name.
The 18-year-old filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court on July 21 requesting that her name be changed from Vivienne Marcheline Jolie-Pitt to Vivienne Marcheline Jolie. Court documents reviewed by PEOPLE list her reason simply as "personal."
Vivienne has now completed the public-notice requirement by publishing notice of the proposed change in the Los Angeles Daily Journal for four consecutive weeks. Page Six reported that the notices appeared July 24, July 31, Aug. 7 and Aug. 14.
Vivienne's petition is scheduled for a Nov. 2 hearing, when the court can consider the request and any properly filed objections.
The California Courts' official guidance for adult name changes explains that applicants are generally required to publish an Order to Show Cause in an approved newspaper once a week for four consecutive weeks. The requirement provides public notice before a judge considers the petition.

#name #marcheline

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
If you're not able to move to a new home or refinance to take advantage of the equity you have built up in your home, you're likely considering a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. But, besides interest rates, how do you choose between a HELOC or a home equity loan?
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ******* ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#heloc #you 're #rates

Around 20 people made it known to the Scottish FA that they wanted to be considered to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland's new head coach.
Not one of them was interviewed.
Not because they weren't capable, but because the computer said no.
The days of board members sifting through applicants and picking the best are long gone thanks to football **** ytics and AI.
Computers don't choose coaches but they are playing a bigger part in the process than ever before.

#steve #clarke #made #known

By Daniel Wiessner
Aug 13 (Reuters) - The U.S. agency that enforces laws banning workplace discrimination has dropped a lawsuit seeking to enforce a subpoena in an investigation of ‌Nike's treatment of white employees, saying the company has handed over a trove ‌of information.
U.S. District Judge Cristian Stevens in St. Louis, Missouri, granted the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's motion on Thursday to dismiss the lawsuit it filed in February, after the agency in a filing late Wednesday said Nike had complied with its subpoena.
The commission had claimed the footwear and apparel company refused to comply with demands for information such as data on the racial and ethnic makeup of the ‌company's workforce and a roster ⁠of employees chosen for mentoring and development programs.
The EEOC said it was investigating whether Nike intentionally discriminated against white employees and job applicants, including by ⁠disproportionately targeting them for layoffs, and that it needed the information to determine whether Nike violated the law.

#nike #white #company

Nearly half of workers say they've recently changed jobs or plan to within six months, but many remain stuck.
Nearly half of applicants say they've massaged their materials—mostly by omission, not fabrication—as competition has ramped up for scarce openings.
Job searching has become a daily habit for many American workers. Landing a new job, though, remains the hard part.
That's according to FlexJobs' State of the Job Search Report, which shows the low-hire, low-fire labor market continues to frustrate the many workers itching to move on. Nearly half of workers said they recently changed jobs or plan to within six months. More than half said they search for openings every day.
Government data on job turnover tells the other half of the story. The quits rate held at 2.0% in June, and employers hired at a rate of just 3.4%, both near their weakest levels in years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported last week.

#nearly #many #Jobs

Aug 13 (Reuters) - The Los Angeles County sheriff's department agreed to speed up licensing for people who want to carry concealed ‌weapons, to settle a U.S. government lawsuit accusing it of systematically ‌and unconstitutionally denying Californians' Second Amendment rights.
A settlement of the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit was filed on Thursday in Los Angeles federal court, and requires a judge's approval. The sheriff did not admit wrongdoing in agreeing to settle.
While Republican President Donald Trump's administration is regularly at odds with officials in Democratic-led California, ‌its lawsuit last September ⁠focused more on bureaucracy issues than policy differences.
Los Angeles officials were accused of violating citizens' right to bear arms ⁠by typically waiting nine months to review license applications, and sometimes more than two years to interview applicants.
According to the complaint, the sheriff received 3,982 applications for new concealed carry licenses between January 2024 and March 2025 but approved ‌just two.

#lawsuit #carry #concealed

Hiring may have slowed down dramatically in many industries, but that hasn't necessarily made recruiting easier for employers right now. Many businesses are currently struggling to attract qualified applicants, particularly when it comes to specialized, customer-facing and skilled roles. In turn, getting in front of the right candidates can be a challenge that's difficult to overcome, even for many of the companies offering competitive pay and benefits.
Job seekers have also become more selective about where they apply. Candidates are paying closer attention to factors like salary transparency, workplace flexibility, advancement opportunities and company reputation. And, many are applying to fewer positions overall, focusing their efforts instead on roles that align closely with their expectations and career goals. That shift means employers often have more competition in terms of capturing the right candidate's attention.
As a result, simply posting a job online is no longer enough to guarantee visibility. Thousands of listings are published every day, making it easy for even strong opportunities to get buried quickly. There are also common missteps that could be working against you, from vague job ***** les to missing salary information. So, what actually works if you're hiring and need to ensure that your job ads get plenty of exposure? Below, we'll detail five moves worth considering for employers.
If you're struggling to attract the right candidates for your open roles, here's how to improve the reach and performance of your job ads in today's hiring environment:
Use the right keywords — and use them deliberately

#hiring

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
The difference between the current home equity loan rate and the average HELOC rate is 19 basis points, according to Curinos, a real estate data ****** ytics company. Choosing the right loan option doesn't come down to just rates. It's how you plan to use your funds that will dictate the loan product that is best for you.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.16%, a new 2026 low, according to real estate data ****** ytics company Curinos.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.35%, up slightly from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#loan #average #home

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Interest rates vary between lenders, and so comparison shopping between home equity loan and line of credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll be stuck with it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.23%, according to real estate data **** ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19%, last observed in mid-May.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.36%, up from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#rate #home #Equity #credit

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
The difference between the current home equity loan (HEL) rate and the average HELOC rate is just 2 basis points, according to Curinos, a real estate data ****** ytics company. Especially when rates are this close, choosing the right option doesn't come down to just rates. It's how you plan to use your funds that will dictate the loan product that is best for you.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.23%, according to real estate data ****** ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19%, last observed in mid-May.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.36%, up from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

#home #Equity #according

Medicare Advantage enrollment is easy, but switching back requires medical underwriting that a stent, GLP-1 prescription, or high blood pressure can permanently block.
Federal law gives Medigap applicants one guaranteed-issue window: six months starting at 65 with Part B enrollment; after that, carriers can legally deny you.
Original Medicare without a supplement carries a $1,736 per-benefit-period hospital deductible and unlimited 20% Part B coinsurance with no annual out-of-pocket cap.
Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.
A 71-year-old Florida widow had spent two years fighting her Medicare Advantage plan over a cardiology referral. She finally decided she was done. A broker helped her choose Medigap Plan G and start the application. Then the insurer saw the stent placed in 2023 and declined her. Other carriers followed. She was allowed to leave Medicare Advantage. Buying the coverage she wanted on the other side was the problem.

#medicare #advantage #medigap #stent

The Trump administration has accused UC San Diego's medical school of illegally discriminating against White and Asian applicants in favor of admitting less qualified Black and Hispanic students, putting nearly $1 billion in federal funding at risk.
The findings stem from a months-long Justice Department Civil Rights Division investigation launched in March and come as the Trump administration intensifies its effort to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
According to a letter sent to the school by **** istant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the admissions committee used applicants' responses to a "hardship" essay question to determine their racial and ethnic backgrounds, using the essays as a proxy for race in deciding who advanced in the admissions process. The investigation found that from 2019 to 2025, Black applicants to UC San Diego Med were admitted at more than twice the rate of White applicants, even though White applicants, on average, had higher MCAT scores and GPAs.
"Rather than rely on MCAT scores or GPA, San Diego Med's shadow application process unlawfully judged applicants for admission based on their race," Dhillon said in a statement. "San Diego Med's blatant efforts to prioritize race are illegal, and we will end these practices."
Justice Department Zeroes In On Ucla For Alleged Illegal Dei Admissions As Elite School Crackdown Expands

#school #Trump

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
The difference between the current home equity loan (HEL) rate and the average HELOC rate is just 2 basis points, according to Curinos, a real estate data ***** ytics company. Especially when rates are this close, choosing the right option doesn't come down to just rates. It's how you plan to use your funds that will dictate the loan product that is best for you.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.23%, according to real estate data ***** ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19%, last observed in mid-May.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.36%, up from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
If you're not able to move to a new home or refinance to take advantage of the equity you have built up in your home, you're likely considering a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. But, besides interest rates, how do you choose between a HELOC or a home equity loan?
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.23%, according to real estate data ******* ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19%, last observed in mid-May.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.36%, up from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Understanding how equity rates work is more vital now that rates are on the move. Lenders have flexibility in pricing a HELOC or home equity loan, but your rate will depend on your credit score, the amount of debt you carry, and the amount of your loan or line relative to your home's value. Shop a few lenders to find your best interest rate offer.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.23%, according to real estate data **** ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19%, last observed in mid-May.
The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.36%, up from its 2026 low of 7.31% in late June.
Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Interest rates vary among lenders, so comparison shopping among home equity loan and line-of-credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll have it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term.
The average HELOC adjustable rate is 7.25%, according to real estate data ***** ytics company Curinos. The 2026 HELOC low was 7.19% in mid-May. The national average rate on a fixed-rate home equity loan is 7.86%, up appreciably from last month, and far from its 2026 low of 7.36% we observed in mid-March and in much of May. Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of less than 70%.
Most HELOCs are variable-rate products, meaning their interest rates are tied to an external interest rate. When that rate rises or falls, the rate on your HELOC generally follows suit.
HELOCs are typically tied to the prime rate, the baseline rate banks currently charge their most creditworthy customers.

Plans to "future-proof" a family farm with a new indoor padel centre have been submitted.
The development at Offerton Grange Farm, near Sunderland, would include six padel courts, a cafe, mezzanine floor, seating area and parking.
Supporting documents submitted to Sunderland City Council said it was becoming "increasingly difficult" to sustain the farm through agricultural activities alone and there was a "clear need to look beyond agriculture for diversification opportunities".
Padel tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, with demand outstripping the number of venues.
Applicants said the facility was a "natural and necessary progression" for the business and would help "support the continued operation of the family farm, safeguard its future, and ensure it can be passed on to future generations".

Some offers on this page are from advertisers who pay us, which may affect which products we write about, but not our recommendations. See our Advertiser Disclosure.
Interest rates vary between lenders, and so comparison shopping between home equity loan and line of credit lenders can save you thousands over the life of your loan. For home equity loans, securing the lowest fixed rate matters since you'll be stuck with it for the life of the loan. For HELOCs, locking in the lowest possible introductory rate is key, since your interest rate is likely to fluctuate, even rise, over the loan term.
Learn more: Discover how much you can borrow with a HELOC
Today's national average monthly adjustable-rate HELOC is 7.25%. The average fixed rate on a home equity loan is 7.86%, according to data ******* ytics company Curinos. Both rates are based on applicants with a minimum credit score of 780 and a maximum combined loan-to-value ratio (CLTV) of 70%.
Learn more: How to choose: HELOC or home equity loan?