Author: openjargon

• Neom's $10 billion joint venture with DSV has been delayed over missing regulatory approvals.
• The partnership was due to start in the second quarter of this year, per ShippingWatch.
• Despite the setback, DSV says it remains committed to the Neom partnership.

Saudi Arabia's Neom megaproject appears to have hit another stumbling block.

Neom's $10 billion joint venture with Danish transport company DSV has been delayed over missing regulatory approvals, per reports.

The partnership was due to start in the second quarter of this year, but the company told ShippingWatch that the deal had been pushed back.

"Neom is an extensive project in which DSV will be part of a joint venture for the overall logistics solutions. As we have previously stated, it requires a number of regulatory approvals, which unfortunately are taking longer to obtain than we had hoped," a DSV representative told the outlet.

The freight company is still waiting for regulatory approvals from both Saudi Arabia and Egypt, Bloomberg reported.

However, the DSV representative told ShippingWatch that its "long-term expectations" for cooperation remained unchanged, adding that delays were routine for a project of this scope.

The logistics company said it was undertaking transportation services for Neom "while we wait for our joint venture to come into place. Therefore, we are ready to scale up our efforts when the approvals come."

Representatives for DSV and Neom did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Neom has suffered a series of setbacks in recent months.

In April, Bloomberg reported that population estimates for Neom's flagship project called The Line had been reduced amid concerns over finances.

The cost of the project has reportedly ballooned past estimates, with some reports putting the estimated cost for the futuristic megacity at $1.5 trillion.

Experts have said the kingdom is struggling to attract the foreign investment needed for the expensive plans.

Saudi officials have been keen to counter the narrative that plans for the futuristic megacity have been scaled back. In private, though, recent reports suggest that the Crown Prince is open to having "tough conversations" about his Vision 2030 ambitions.

• Justice Clarence Thomas has taken several trips with GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow in recent years.
• Democrats released new documents last week saying Thomas failed to disclose three additional trips.
• Here is a list of the trips Thomas and Crow have taken together — that we know of.

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is once again facing renewed scrutiny amid details about undisclosed trips he took with GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee last week released documents showing Thomas failed to disclose three trips he took aboard Crow's private jet in 2017, 2019, and 2021. According to Sen. Dick Durbin, the flights were gifted to Thomas.

Thomas also recently amended his 2019 financial disclosure to include two vacations paid for by Crow, according to ProPublica, that year to Indonesia and the Bohemian Grove, an exclusive gentleman's club in Monte Rio, California. ProPublica first reported on the undisclosed trips last year.

The justice has defended the missing disclosures, saying he was advised that disclosing hospitality gifts from people who had no business before the court was unnecessary.

Thomas and Crow have been friends for more than thirty years. Both have said they don't talk about politics or legal cases together, but legal experts and lawmakers have expressed ethics concerns that Crow could have an influence on Thomas, a sitting member of the most powerful court in the country.

Michael Zona, a spokesperson for Crow, told BI the billionaire provided information relevant to the Senate Judiciary Committee's requests going back seven years.

"Despite his serious and continued concerns about the legality and necessity of the inquiry, Mr. Crow engaged in good faith negotiations with the Committee from the beginning to resolve the matter," the statement said. "As a condition of this agreement, the Committee agreed to end its probe with respect to Mr. Crow."

An attorney for Thomas, Elliot S. Berke, told Business Insider the vacation information Crow provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee falls under the "personal hospitality exemption," which means it did not need to be disclosed.

"The Judicial Conference changed this provision last year, and Justice Thomas has fully complied with the new disclosure requirement," Berke said.

The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

May 2017: Montana trip

On May 7, 2017, Thomas traveled on Crow's private jet from St. Louis to Kalispell, Montana, a small mountain town known as a gateway to Glacier National Park.

According to documents released by Senate Democrats last week, the Montana excursion is among the three previously unknown trips that Thomas failed to disclose.

It remains unclear what Thomas was doing in Montana; BI could not identify any public appearances the justice made in the state at that time.

On May 9, 2017, Crow's jet left Montana for Dallas, where the billionaire resides. Beyond the flight on Crow's jet, it's unclear how much of the trip Crow paid for.

July 2017: Camp Topridge in upstate New York

ProPublica reported last year that Thomas has vacationed at Crow's lakeside resort, Camp Topridge, nearly every year for the last two decades. The secluded property is located in the Adirondacks in upstate New York and is only accessible by invitation from the billionaire himself.

According to the outlet, Topridge guests are treated to meals prepared by private chefs, guided fishing experiences, and private concerts.

During a July 2017 Topridge trip, Thomas and Crow were joined by an array of corporate leaders and political activists, including major Republican donors and executives from Verizon and PricewaterhouseCoopers, ProPublica reported.

Thomas even appears in a painting hung at the resort, which shows the Supreme Court justice conversing with conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, according to the outlet.

March 2019: Savannah, Georgia

Thomas's quick round trip to his hometown of Savannah, Georgia, was the second undisclosed trip revealed last week. It wasn't clear what Thomas was doing in Georgia, but he still has family members living there, including his mother.

July 2019: Bali, Indonesia

Thomas and Crow's 2019 Bali vacation was the centerpiece of ProPublica's original 2023 report. Although first reported last year, disclosure details about the Indonesia trip were included in recently amended financial disclosure forms and the Judiciary Committee's report.

According to ProPublica, Thomas and his wife, Ginni Thomas, spent nine days vacationing with Crow and others as they sightsaw on several islands and spent time on the billionaire's 162-foot superyacht, the Michaela Rose.

July 2019: Bohemian Grove, California

Thomas amended past filings to include a 2019 vacation he took with Crow to Bohemian Grove, an exclusive, all-male club in Monte Rio, California.

ProPublica previously reported on Thomas' trips to the gentleman's retreat. The club's prestigious alumni include US presidents, military officials, artists, and top business leaders.

June 2021: Northern California

On June 29, 2021, Thomas traveled from Washington, DC, to San Jose, California, aboard Crow's jet, The Washington Post reported. He returned to DC the same day. The reason for the trip remains unknown.

July 2022: Camp Topridge (again)

On July 7, 2022, Thomas again boarded Crow's plane to travel to Camp Topridge — possibly for his annual summer vacation at his billionaire buddy's hideaway, ProPublica reported last year.

Other suspected trips

ProPublica said Thomas cruised through New Zealand aboard Crow's superyacht roughly a decade ago. The outlet reported that the Supreme Court Justice also boarded the Michaela Rose for a river cruise around Savannah, Georgia. A photo of Thomas donning an embroidered shirt referencing a 2007 trip through the Greek Islands suggests the justice may have also vacationed in the Mediterranean.

Thomas has also made frequent use of Crow's private jet for quick day trips and business travel, according to media reports.

• Lobsterwoman Virginia Oliver, 104, has worked in the family business since age 8.
• The centenarian gets up at 3 a.m. thrice a week to start her shift on the water in Maine.
• She told Business Insider she will stay in the job "until I die."

She might be 104, but Virginia Oliver won't quit lobster catching — a job she's done on and off since she was 8.

Thick fog, stormy seas, and heavy traps haven't stopped the centenarian from stepping aboard her son, Max's boat, three times a week.

"It's a family tradition," Oliver, of mid-coast Maine, told Business Insider. "I wouldn't want to do anything else."

The formidable grandmother insisted the only "dangers" she faced were occasional cuts while she banded the lobster claws together.

She said that her most recent injury happened three years ago when she was badly pinched on the little finger by a crab.

She refused to conform to a stereotypical role

Oliver needed seven stitches but was more concerned by the attitude of the doctor who treated the wound.

He asked why a woman her age could be out on the water lobstering. "I told him, 'Because I want to,'" she said.

She first refused to conform in 1928 when she joined her father — a shop owner and lobster dealer — on fishing expeditions.

It was the year Herbert Hoover became the 31st President of the US, and Disney made "Steamboat Willie," the first Mickey Mouse cartoon with sound.

Significantly, in 1920, the year Oliver was born, the 19th Amendment was passed, and women in America finally won the right to vote.

In the short documentary "The Lobster Lady," released in 2020, Oliver said, "When I started out with lobstering, no women ever went."

She told BI that she had never experienced sexism in the job and the lobstermen she'd met were "friendly."

In the film, she said she worked with her older brother and her late husband as well as accompanying her 80-year-old son.

"My life has been altogether different from most people's," she told Dale Shierholt, who directed the film.

Meanwhile, in her interview with BI, she said the secret to her longevity was keeping busy.

She goes to bed at 9 p.m. before rising at 3 a.m.

"I've always been active and enjoy my work," Oliver, who gets up at 3 a.m. three times a week ahead of loading the boat — appropriately named Virginia.

She said she goes to bed at 9 p.m. the previous night so she gets enough sleep before heading out. She's an early bird, even when she's not working, typically getting up at 5:30 a.m.

"The Lobster Lady" was produced by amateur historian Wayne Gray, who befriended Oliver and her son.

He told BI he'd joined a family dinner on June 6, 2024, when Oliver celebrated her 104th birthday.

Gray said her relatives supported her decision to keep on lobster fishing, knowing better than to interfere. He said she often piloted the boat and helped operate the winch.

She also measured the lobsters, he added, ensuring they met the size standards set by authorities in Maine

Oliver said she never felt queasy when the ocean got rough, especially after 96 years in the business. "I get wet to the gills, but I never get seasick," she told Shierholt.

Oliver still enjoys the taste of lobster

She told BI that she has not become tired of eating lobster. "I like lobster roll, as long as it's toasted," she said.

Meanwhile, she is somewhat bemused by the attention she has attracted in Maine and beyond. Last year was the subject of a children's book and has been stopped in the street for autographs.

She hoped her career — which, she said, she plans to follow until '"the day I die" — would encourage other women to enter traditionally male-dominated industries.

"I'm glad to see younger lobsterwomen following in my footsteps," she said.

Do you have a powerful story about longevity to share with Business Insider? Please send details to jridley@businessinsider.com.

• The franchisee operating the 55-year-old Arby's on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard has closed it down.
• "Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in," 91-year-old owner Marilyn Leviton told KTLA-5.
• California's $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers and a need for new equipment also led to the restaurant's closure, she said.

Beef sandwich chain Arby's has closed its restaurant on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard after 55 years of operating under one owner.

The location is no longer listed on Arby's website. Local station KTLA-5 reported that it closed on Saturday.

Since the restaurant opened in January 1969, it has only had one owner: Marilyn Leviton, now 91, per KTLA-5.

"Truth is, I think it was the pandemic that did us in," Leviton told the station. "I really feel we would have closed during the pandemic, except for the federal loans."

Restaurants had to dramatically change their operations during the pandemic and pivot to just offering delivery, collection, and drive-thru as in-restaurant dining was prohibited under waves of lockdowns. Restaurants also had to deal with soaring food and labor costs.

There were other strains on the business, too, Leviton told KTLA-5.

"Arby's is demanding more technical equipment, which we couldn't afford, and I don't think the $20-an-hour wage increase helped either," she said.

California raised its minimum wage for workers at quick-service restaurant chains to $20 an hour in April — 25% more than the state's general minimum wage. The restaurant industry lobbied against the legislation, arguing that it would force them to up prices, lay off staff, and close restaurants.

Arby's did not immediately respond to a request for comment made by Business Insider outside regular working hours.

KTLA-5 reported that when the Arby's location first opened, it was the only fast-food restaurant on Sunset Boulevard with a view of the Hollywood sign.

Speaking about the closure of her restaurant, Leviton said: "I'm awfully sorry that it came to this."

"I think we did a good job for 55 years," she said.

• The 19-year-old daughter of a Russian mining magnate is suing her NYU roommate.
• The lawsuit claims the roommate stole about $51,000 worth of luxury items, including a ruby ring.
• According to the suit, she sold some of the items on The RealReal — a secondhand marketplace.

Aurora Agapov, the daughter of a Russian-American mining magnate, has accused her New York University roommate of stealing more than $50,000 worth of luxury handbags and jewelry from her.

In a lawsuit filed on May 31 in Manhattan's Supreme Court, Agapov, a 19-year-old freshman, claimed that her 18-year-old roommate, Kaitlyn Fung, sold some of the items on The RealReal — a secondhand luxury marketplace.

NBC News reported that Agapov said in the suit that the stolen items included a Solange Asagury 18-carat ruby ring worth over $23,000, a Bvlgari necklace, a Chanel bracelet, and bags from Chanel and Celine.

According to the New York Post, the first outlet to report on the lawsuit, Agopov accused Fung of selling some items significantly below their value, such as a $13,000 Bvlgari necklace for only $2,485.

The Post reported that Agapov noticed some of her belongings were missing last month.

According to the outlet, she became suspicious of Fung after finding a receipt from The RealReal in a pocketbook.

"My heart dropped," Agapov told the Post.

The items were gifted to her by her mother and held sentimental value, she told the news outlet.

The RealReal did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

In a statement provided to BI, NYU spokesperson John Beckman said universities are prohibited from speaking about specific students' disciplinary records.

However, Beckman added, "Stealing from a roommate is a lousy thing to do and a rarity among the 12,000 students we have in student housing."

He said that such actions violate both NYU's code of conduct and the law, and the university takes the matter seriously.

According to Beckman, anyone found guilty of such behavior would likely be removed from their room, face disciplinary proceedings, and could be suspended.

NBC News reported that Fung was taken into custody last month and charged with third-degree grand larceny. The criminal case is pending, according to the Post.

Fung's attorney and the New York Police Department did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.

According to the Post, Agapov is seeking $51,000 in damages in the civil suit, and the return of any unsold items.

According to the US Sun, Agapov's father is Andre Agapov, the president and CEO of Rusoro Mining, a company that mines gold and other materials, primarily in Venezuela.

• I'm a millennial mom and always dreamt of being the cool parent. 
• While pregnant I came across the concept of gentle parenting and was sold. 
• I realized I was enabling bad behavior from my preschool child, and stopped gentle parenting. 

As a millennial mom, I've always had this fantasy of raising my child as my friend — being the "cool mom" was absolutely my dream. I was so afraid of traumatizing my son by being too firm and imposing too many rules. Would he grow up hating me? Would his only memories of me be arguments and punishments? Would he label me as a dictator to his friends?

I was convinced I could raise a child by giving him free rein. While pregnant, I read up on parenting styles and came across an ultramodern movement called "gentle parenting." It instantly struck me as empathetic, respectful, and mindful.

It promised a deep bond between parent and child, with a strong focus on the child's feelings. It leaned more toward giving children choices instead of orders. Importantly, it frowned upon punitive tactics. It perfectly aligned with what I wanted from motherhood— peacefulness — or so I thought.

Gentle parenting worked when my child was little

Gentle parenting was relatively easy during early motherhood. I managed to avoid using the word "no," I didn't implement time-outs, and if my son really didn't want to do something, instead of being reactive, I would exercise a level of patience and graciousness that previous generations probably wouldn't have. I always tried my best to model a sense of calmness by giving my son a safe space to experience his negative emotions. This seemed like a fundamental aspect of gentle parenting.

However, as my son approached preschool age, it became apparent that he would struggle in school — and the real world — if I didn't change my approach to parenting. His tantrums would go on for too long, he would be defiant with everyday tasks, and he would struggle to recognize authority. Even when I followed the gentle parenting scripts laid out by gurus, everything felt like an ongoing tug of war.

I had joined numerous parenting groups on social media to get a better idea of how to handle certain situations, such as my son's refusal to brush his teeth. Instead of seeing rational responses, I was shocked to find some parents suggesting to avoid brushing teeth to keep children happy while defining it as "negotiable" This seemed unacceptable to me.

I needed to change my parenting strategy

I quickly realized that every child has varying levels of noncompliance, and in order for my son to assimilate well outside the home, he couldn't keep up with his behavior (which I had admittedly enabled).

I could no longer align myself with the parental restrictiveness of the movement. I felt like I was treading on eggshells all the time. The pressure to be the perfect, patient parent was wearing me down.

I found gentle parenting to be unrealistic and stressful — it was making me miserable. A small but recent study found that 40% of gentle parents who were interviewed confessed to being overwhelmed, exhausted, hard on themselves, and uncertain. I can definitely relate. Confining myself to a parenting style wasn't feasible — I needed to be adaptable to changing situations and moods with my son, which required a blended approach.

Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that gentle parenting is way too gentle. Children need to learn that the world doesn't revolve around their personal feelings. Children need a level of firmness and accountability. There should be balance instead of leaning toward extremes for the sake of fitting into parenting structures.

In all honesty, drifting away from gentle parenting made me realize that parenting is more about trusting your gut than following scripts and best practices. I've learned to be myself and foster a healthy mother-son relationship with my child by enforcing firm limits and expectations while always giving warmth and support.

That's not to say I don't believe in gentle parenting. I definitely still believe in treating children with respect, modeling behaviors for children, and regulating myself as a parent before reacting.

• Two people were injured on an Air New Zealand flight due to severe turbulence.
• A passenger was scalded by hot coffee and a crew member hit the cabin ceiling.
• Turbulence is facing a renewed focus in the aviation sector after the death of a Singapore Airlines passenger.

Two people were injured on board an Air New Zealand flight when it encountered severe turbulence, according to local media reports.

The Airbus A320 was flying from the capital, Wellington, to Queenstown on Sunday when it hit turbulence.

Suze, a passenger on board, told Radio New Zealand she was burned after a full coffee pot was spilled over her during the turbulence.

She added that it happened about 15 minutes into the flight as the cabin crew started the trolley service.

"There's nothing you can do. You're strapped in, you want to stay strapped in, there could be more turbulence and then you've got to deal with the level of burns you've just received," she added. "It was actually pandemonium."

Suze, who did not share her surname, called on Air New Zealand to improve the design of their coffee pots so that the lids are more secure.

A flight attendant was also injured on the flight, the local outlet Crux reported.

"One of the cabin crew told us how she was standing and went up and hit the ceiling," a passenger told Crux.

They added, "The jolting and dropping, tilting slightly sideways, felt like those parts where you go on a roller coaster and start dropping down and then boost back up."

In a statement shared with Crux, the airline's chief safety officer, David Morgan, said customers' safety and well-being is "our number one priority."

"From time to time, clear-air turbulence can occur where rough air is not visible to the flight crew," he added.

Air New Zealand did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

The incident comes as the aviation sector considers turbulence more closely following the death of a Singapore Airlines passenger in May. Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, said that airlines could tighten seatbelt rules and use AI to help predict when turbulence might occur.

But Sunday's incident shows that even if passengers are strapped in, flight attendants still have to move about the cabin, and debris can still be a risk for passengers.

• Elon Musk is facing another lawsuit over his turbulent takeover of Twitter. 
• Twitter's former Chief Accounting Officer is suing Musk over $3.75 million in unpaid severance.
• Earlier this year, four other ex-Twitter senior execs sued Musk over unpaid severance. 

Elon Musk's legal battles keep piling up — and now he's facing a lawsuit from another former Twitter executive.

According to a lawsuit filed at the Northern District Court of California this month, the billionaire is being sued by Robert Kaiden, Twitter's former chief accounting officer, over $3.75 million in unpaid severance.

In the complaint, Kaiden said Musk, who bought Twitter in October 2022, falsely accused him and other Twitter executives of misconduct to fire them without cause and avoid paying millions in severance.

The complaint says that Musk "cheated" Kaiden and other executives out of a combined $200 million in severance benefits and that the committee that decided Kaiden's severance claim was a "sham" staffed by employees from Musk's other companies.

Elon Musk and X Corp, formerly known as Twitter, did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal working hours.

Kaiden is the latest former Twitter executive to sue Musk over unpaid severance. Earlier this year, former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal and three other former senior executives also sued Musk over unpaid severance, collectively asking for $128 million.

Musk also faces other lawsuits from employees he laid off shortly after taking over Twitter in 2022.

Kaiden, who had been Twitter's CAO since 2015, worked to ensure Musk's takeover of the social media giant went smoothly, according to the lawsuit.

Kaiden also reportedly oversaw a payroll audit to ensure Twitter's employees were "real humans" out of Musk's concern that "ghost employees" still on the books would be given scheduled bonuses, The New York Times reported.

According to the lawsuit, Kaiden received a letter on November 2 informing him he had been terminated immediately for "gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of [his] duties." The suit said Kaiden also didn't receive his final paycheck from the company.

The lawsuit also says that Kaiden's claim for severance benefits was reviewed by a committee staffed by Lindsay Chapman and Brian Bjelde, two other defendants who the complaint says work in human resources at SpaceX, another of Musk's companies.

That claim was denied, with the committee citing Kaiden's failure to prevent the Twitter board's spending on takeover-related legal expenses, retention bonuses, and "aggressive" growth plans as reasons for his dismissal — responsibilities Kaiden claims were "invented" to justify his firing.

Both Chapman and Bjelde did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Kaiden is seeking approximately $3.75 million in severance plus interest.

• Scottsdale and Paradise Valley are among Arizona's wealthiest areas.
• I recently visited the two Phoenix suburbs for the first time and was surprised by their offerings.
• The walkable neighborhoods, luxury stores, and stunning homes made me think I could live there.

In April, I flew from my home in NYC to Phoenix to spend 48 hours in Arizona's wealth enclave.

I'd been to Phoenix many times, but I hadn't visited the two suburbs around it that are attracting affluent residents — Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

Scottsdale is growing faster than nearly every other city in America when it comes to wealth, AZ Central reported in March. Over the past decade, Scottsdale has gained 102% more millionaire residents, according to the USA Wealth Report by Henley & Partners.

Nestled between Scottsdale and Phoenix, Paradise Valley is the richest municipality in Arizona. The desert mountain town of grand estates is known as the "Beverley Hills of Arizona," and it's a billionaire hot spot.

Real-estate agent Shawn Shackelton, who has been selling luxury homes in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale for over two decades, told Business Insider that incoming residents are typically entrepreneurs, C-suite executives, medical professionals such as doctors and PAs, and young retirees.

After five years of living in NYC, I couldn't imagine ditching the big city life. But while spending one night in each Phoenix suburb, a few things about the area surprised me. And some of these surprises made me realize I could see myself moving to a place like Scottsdale or Paradise Valley.

Commuting from New York City to nearby cities and towns can take a while, so I was surprised by how quickly I could travel between Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Phoenix.

I grew up in a New York City suburb, and every trip to the airport took at least an hour.

So, I was thrilled when my cab ride from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to Downtown Scottsdale took only 20 minutes.

And when I was headed to the airport on my way home from my hotel in Paradise Valley, it only took 15 minutes. It was easy to see the appeal of living near an international airport.

I took both cabs around noon, so traffic was minimal. However, according to Google Maps, commuting between Phoenix and Scottsdale or Paradise Valley can take 30 minutes or longer during rush hour.

Ultimately, I found that the three areas were close enough together to navigate easily throughout my trip. While staying in Paradise Valley, I grabbed dinner in Scottsdale, which was less than 30 minutes away by car during rush hour. Back in New York, getting to nearby cities can take over an hour — depending on which borough you live in.

I wasn't expecting the area to have so much to offer for all types of travelers.

Arizona has a lot to offer when it comes to the luxury travel scene, Condé Nast Traveler reported in 2023.

Scottsdale alone hosted nearly 11 million tourists in 2022, and together, they spent $3.2 billion on their trips, according to the city's Tourism and Events department.

During my trip, I stayed in two of the state's top hotels — first, at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, "Arizona's Leading Resort," according to the 2023 World Travel Awards. I spent my second night at the boutique Hermosa Inn, which Travel + Leisure called the best hotel in Arizona in 2023.

I was expecting to feel like a VIP in both accommodations, and I did. However, the experiences were so different that I realized the area suits a wide range of travelers — and not just in hotels.

Scottsdale has mountain hikes for adventurers. I spotted luxury spas for those looking to recharge, high-end department stores and boutiques for shoppers, public sculptures for art enthusiasts, and an old town area for history buffs.

In Scottsdale, The Phoenician felt like a mega-resort.

The Phoenician was massive. The 600 acres were filled with five pools, eight restaurants, several shops, a spa, and a sprawling golf course.

Inside, the hotel had a modern, Southwestern style with warm hues and geometric details and 645 rooms.

The hotel reminded me of a mega-cruise ship. There was so much to do that you could spend your entire trip to Scottsdale on the property without getting bored.

But not without getting lost — if you're directionally challenged like me. I spent 30 minutes looking for my room after exploring the property.

In Paradise Valley, the Hermosa Inn provided a more intimate experience.

With just six acres of gardens, adobe structures, 43 stand-alone casitas, and one pool, the Hermosa Inn was smaller than The Phoenician and had a more cultural feel.

The inn, originally built by a cowboy and artist in 1936, is rooted in history. From the lobby to the casitas, the whole property transported me back in time with traditional Southwestern architecture and interior decor, such as rustic furniture, wooden beams, and historical works of art.

Unlike The Phoenician, which would be perfect for families, the Hermosa Inn seems to be made for travelers who want a unique and secluded experience packed with culture.

I thought I'd enjoy a couple of days in the sun, but dry heat is a different beast.

In New York, April can be pretty hit or miss weatherwise. Sometimes, we'll have a sunny, 65-degree Fahrenheit day, and other times, it'll be 40 degrees Fahrenheit and rainy.

However, Scottsdale is known for its year-round warm weather, so I was excited about having a couple of sunny days in the desert.

But I didn't expect it to be so warm — upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit when I visited in April. And unlike in NYC, the heat was dry, so I felt I got dehydrated easily. It seemed like I had to drink twice as much water as I do at home.

If I ever move to Arizona, the weather will take some getting used to.

In Scottsdale, I was impressed with the architecture.

Like New York, Scottsdale has a mix of modern and historic buildings. However, historic architecture in the Southwest looks different.

I spotted warm-toned, adobe buildings in Scottsdale with geometric features and modern glass skyscrapers. Some buildings seemed to combine modern and traditional elements.

I was also surprised to find walkable neighborhoods in the Phoenix suburb.

One of the best things about living in NYC is not needing a car. While Scottsdale as a whole is a car-dependent city, I was surprised to find that some neighborhoods are walkable, like the downtown area, which is lined with shops, restaurants, and businesses.

Unlike NYC, the area's luxury housing seemed separate from less expensive homes.

I'm used to seeing neighborhoods with a mix of expensive and affordable housing in New York. But that didn't appear to be the case in Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.

I spotted modest homes in the Phoenix suburbs, but they were nowhere near the mega-mansions. Generally, it seemed like the cheaper housing and luxury estates were separated by elevation — the streets higher up in the mountains were lined with exclusively high-end homes.

In North Scottsdale, I was amazed by mansions in the hills that reminded me of castles.

About 40 minutes north of Downtown Scottsdale, DC Ranch is home to the most expensive real-estate listing in the city — a $54 million mega-mansion.

I got a private tour of the 4,400-acre community, which is made up of four villages, and most have shops, restaurants, golf clubs, and other businesses within walking distance of many of the homes. There's even a school in the community that students walk and bike to.

Ultimately, DC Ranch felt like a little town that could sustain itself without trekking to Downtown Scottsdale.

In the most expensive village, Silverleaf, mansions line long, winding roads up the mountains. It looked nothing like the luxury housing in NYC, mostly sky-high, sprawling apartments.

My jaw dropped as we drove by these homes, most of which had multiple buildings and dramatic entryways. There was a variety of architecture up there. As I passed through the desert landscape, I was reminded of medieval castles and Greek villas.

The biggest surprise during my trip to Arizona's wealth enclave was thinking I could see myself living there.

I don't see myself leaving NYC for a long time. Still, when I do, I may consider this luxury desert oasis thanks to its surprisingly walkable neighborhoods, stunning architecture, and proximity to a bigger city, Phoenix.

If I can take the heat — and the price — there's a chance I'll call this area home someday.

• Mississippi County offers up to $50,000 for new home builds or renovations to attract residents.
• The Work Here, Live Here program aims to boost the local economy and grow the population.
• The incentive is available to employees of local companies and has drawn 80 new homeowners.

Mississippi County, Arkansas wants to help residents build their dream home, as long as they agree to live in the area for at least four years. To accomplish this goal, it's offering up to $50,000 per household for a renovation or new build.

The program — called Work Here, Live Here — is the county's effort to boost the local economy and grow the population, which is just under 40,000 people, per the 2022 Census. A two-and-a-half hour drive from Little Rock, the county borders Tennessee and includes cities like Blytheville and Osceola.

Work Here, Live Here is organized and partially-funded through a group of Mississippi County industries, community groups, and financial institutions like Farmers Bank & Trust. It first started providing resident and mover incentives in the fall of 2022.

The county is one of the nation's top steel-producing areas, President and CEO of Farmers Bank & Trust Randy Scott told Business Insider. And, the incentive program is only available to employees of specific companies, like steel producers River Steel, US Steel, and Atlas Tube. Eight companies have partnered with Work Here, Live Here so far, and Scott expects more to join this month.

"We want homeowners that are gonna stay here," Scott said.

Mississippi County's incentive program is part of a recent wave of efforts across rural America to increase populations and local businesses. Areas like Lincoln County, Kansas, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Columbus, Georgia are paying people to move there, offering perks like discounted gym memberships, internet credits, tax breaks, and up to $10,000 in cash to new residents.

Mover incentive programs have become especially popular in the aftermath of the pandemic, as more jobs are remote or location flexible. And, as the cost of living continues to rise in US cities — especially on the coasts — more prospective homebuyers are being priced out. Some are turning to these smaller cities and counties in the Midwest or South.

For Mississippi County, this growing housing demand has provided an opportunity to build their towns and cities.

"They're going to be here for generations to come," Scott said. "They're your future registered voters, future school board members, future enrollments in the schools."

With housing incentives, Mississippi County hopes to see population growth

In the 20 months since Work Here, Live Here launched, the program has drawn 80 new homeowners to Mississippi County. And, according to Scott, the majority of them are first-generation homebuyers, young people, and young families.

The housing incentive program offers a 10% forgivable loan on a new home construction with a maximum home cost of $500,000, meaning some families can receive up to a $50,000 housing credit. Existing homes can receive a forgivable loan of up to 5% for a renovation.

Per data provided to BI from Work Here, Live Here, the program has already led to the construction of 28 homes and the renovation of 52 existing homes. The average price of homes purchased is $270,253 and the average benefit received is $28,767.

"We will have an individual that gets the incentive," Scott said. "And within a week, everyone that works on his shift with him is calling us saying 'hey, how can I participate as well?"'

Work Here, Live Here was initially focused on keeping residents who already lived in Mississippi County, but it has also attracted homebuyers from out of state, Scott said. Participants have come from Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado, and Ohio.

As more families move to or settle in Mississippi County, Scott expects it will have a positive effect on businesses, the school system, and public spaces. Now, he and other northeast Arkansas leaders want to get the word out.

"Once we start having population increase — and there's no reason why we shouldn't with other jobs we have created — the quality of life will follow," Scott said. "You'll get the restaurants, you'll get the retail shops, you'll get the amenities."

Have you been paid to move? Are you open to sharing your pros and cons of moving to a new city? If so, reach out to this reporter at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com.