Museum of Illusions Mall of America announces today it will be opening to the public May 5, 2023. The 'edutainment' attraction will offer mind-bending holograms, stereograms, optical illusions and immersive rooms that stir the senses and teach visitors about vision, perception and the human brain.

The museum features over 60 exhibits within its 6,300-square-foot space that can be enjoyed by guests of all ages. Guides are also available throughout the space to explain the illusions and assist with photography. Tickets, which are available to purchase on the Museum of Illusions official website, start at $20 and are expected to sell out quickly. The Museum can be found on the second floor, near the North entrance to the Mall.

"Our museum offers a unique and unforgettable experience, meant to entertain and educate! We're so thrilled to bring our Museum of Illusions to Mall of America, continuing our US expansion in one of the most recognizable venues in the country," says Barbara Blackwell, Museum of Illusions' Vice President of Marketing and Sales. "Whether you're visiting with your family, on a school field trip, or just curious about the wonders of the mind, we're here to provide a unique and unforgettable experience. We can't wait to show you the magic of illusions!"

Museum of Illusions is the largest brand of private museums worldwide with 42 locations in 25 countries across 4 continents. Visit moimallofamerica.com to learn more, and follow Museum of Illusions Mall of America on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the latest news and updates!

About Museum of Illusions Mall of America

Museum of Illusions Mall of America is part of the global Museum of Illusions Group, the largest and fastest-growing chain of private museums in the world. The unique concept offers all age groups an interactive experience where over 60 mind-blowing exhibits play tricks on the minds of visitors and show them the exciting science behind illusions. With 42 locations in 25 countries, Museum of Illusions continues to grow and share the fascinating world of illusions with curious minds all over the world. For more information about the Museum of Illusions visit www.moimallofamerica.com.

About Mall of America

At 5.6 million square feet, Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America with more than 520 world-class retail stores and restaurants; Nickelodeon Universe, a 7-acre indoor theme park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium; FlyOver America; Crayola Experience and more. The Mall opened in 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and adjacent to the MSP International Airport. Follow Mall of America on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Download the Mall of America app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.

Melio, a leading B2B payments platform for small businesses, today announced that Rhonda Abrams – one of the nation's foremost small business experts – is partnering with Melio to provide her expert insights to small businesses.

"As National Financial Literacy Month begins, we are honored that small business advocate and expert Rhonda Abrams has agreed to partner with us to impart her wisdom and unique perspective to the small businesses community – especially at a time of tremendous economic uncertainty for Main Street," said Melio Chief Business Officer Prashant Gandhi. "Now more than ever, small businesses are in dire need of help, and financial literacy is critical to the sustainability of small businesses as they overcome these economic headwinds. By partnering with Rhonda Abrams, we are doubling down on our commitment to our small business customers by providing them with valuable resources, expertise, and support that can help them succeed."

Through this partnership, Rhonda will publish content in Melio's new Guides page. This page will provide resources and advice to small business owners who are starting a business, looking to grow their business, identifying ways to improve their financial health, and more. Through these resources, Rhonda will offer advice on how small businesses can optimize their financial health by reducing costs, increasing profits, and better managing their cash flow.

This partnership is launching during a time of rising economic uncertainty, with small businesses continuing to face high interest rates and inflation as well as reduced access to capital due to the aftermath of the recent banking crisis. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in March, two-thirds of all small businesses rated their performance as "below average" or "poor," with small businesses that have four or fewer employees reporting the weakest levels of performance compared to their counterparts.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy, but small business owners face many obstacles as they start and grow," said Rhonda Abrams. "I am thrilled to be officially partnering with Melio to help increase their chance of success – giving small businesses tools they need to succeed and thrive, even in uncertain economic climates."

Rhonda's first Melio article, The Best Ways For Your Small Business To Use Credit Cards, will be posted during National Financial Literacy Month – a month dedicated to increasing awareness and promoting education about personal finance. Many small business owners, in particular, lack the financial education to efficiently run their businesses and do not have the resources of a CFO, bookkeeper, or accountant. Although 40% of small business owners consider themselves financially illiterate, 81% report doing their business's finances themselves. Free online resources, including those from small business experts like Rhonda Abrams, help small business owners take control of their financial health and better compete against larger companies in the marketplace.

Melio is a leading B2B payments technology company that enables small and medium-sized businesses to quickly and seamlessly transfer and receive payments, helping them improve cash flow and workflow. As one of the fastest-growing B2B payment solutions in the United States, Melio is transforming how money is moved between businesses. It serves financial institutions and software companies that want to provide Accounts Payable and Receivable products for their small business customers. Melio was founded in 2018, with headquarters in New York, an R&D center in Tel Aviv, and western U.S. headquarters in Colorado.

Rhonda Abrams is widely recognized as one of America's leading small business experts and passionate small business advocates. The entrepreneurship/small business columnist for USA Today, Rhonda was named a "Top 30 Global Guru for Startups. Rhonda's books have sold more than 2 million copies and have been translated into 30 languages. Her books include America's best-selling business plan guide, Successful Business Plan: Secrets & Strategies, which was recently named one of the 100 best business strategy books of all time. She has started, built, and sold four businesses.

In its 38th year of honoring the nation's most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Juju Watkins of Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, Calif. is the 2022-23 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Watkins won the prestigious award for her accomplishments on and off the court, joining an impressive group of former Gatorade National Girls Basketball Players of the Year who have combined for more than nine WNBA MVP awards, 53 All-Star appearances, 15 WNBA championships, 15 WNBA first round draft picks and two became Hall of Famers.

Two-time WNBA champion and two-time Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year Candace Parker surprised Watkins with the news, while her family, coaches and teammates showed up with the trophy at school.

The Gatorade Player of the Year award recognizes athletes not just for their excellence on the playing surface, but for their commitment in the classroom and impact in their community. Watkins was selected from nearly half a million other student-athletes who play girls basketball nationwide, topping the list of state winners in girls basketball who collectively boast an incredible list of accomplishments, including 30 with signed National Letters of Intent to play girls basketball at Division I colleges/universities and 38 with a GPA of 3.5 and above.

"Juju was in the conversation as one of the nation's top players in the Class of 2023 prior to playing her first high school game," said Chris Menning, a national evaluator for Blue Star Basketball and U.S. Junior Nationals. "She truly separated herself from her peers as an upperclassman—her game continually evolved. A power guard who attacks the court with strength and vision, she still makes plays even when shots aren't falling. Her competitiveness and character make her a welcome addition to the legacy of the Gatorade National Player of the Year."

The 6-foot-2 senior guard led the Trailblazers to a 31-1 record and the statewide CIF Open Division tournament semifinals this past season. California's returning Gatorade Player of the Year, Watkins averaged 27.5 points, 13.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game, sparking Sierra Canyon to the CIF-Southern Section Open Division title. A McDonald's All-American, she led the USA Basketball Women's U17 National Team to the FIBA World Cup championship last summer, earning tournament MVP honors. She's also ranked as the nation's No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023 by ESPN and scored a career-high 60 points Jan. 31 against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame High.

Watkins has volunteered locally on behalf of Hands for Hope, Shoes for Souls and the Watts Labor Community Action Committee as well as toy donation drives, a food bank and youth basketball camps.

Watkins has maintained a 3.72 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at University of Southern California this fall.

In addition to excellence on and off the field of play, Gatorade Players of the Year also pay it forward for the next generation. As part of Gatorade's Play it Forward initiative, Watkins will receive a grant to give to a 501c3 youth sports charity, which includes Gatorade's social impact partners – Athlete Ally, Laureus USA, Move United, Women's Sports Foundation and Up2Us Sports – supporting Gatorade's ambition to fuel the future of sport.

"Juju's dedication on and off the field of play has earned her a spot within the prestigious Gatorade Player of the Year family, a distinction shared by sports icons such as Jayson Tatum, Derek Jeter, Elena Delle Donne and countless community leaders," said Gatorade Portfolio president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo. "We can't wait to see the impact she makes on and off the court going forward."

Each year, a selection committee evaluates the nation's top talent to choose one state winner from each of the 50 states as well as Washington D.C., in 12 different sports: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls track & field. In all, 608 athletes are honored each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports.

Whitney Houston is considered one of the most iconic artists of the 20th century. Her powerful voice, undeniable talent, and lasting impact on the music industry make her an unforgettable part of pop culture history. From her early days as a gospel singer to her rise to superstardom and her influence on today's music, Whitney Houston's music legacy will live on forever.

Houston's career began in the mid-1980s with her performance of the gospel song "The Greatest Love of All" at the 1986 Grammy Awards. From there, she skyrocketed to fame with her self-titled debut album in 1985. The album, which included her iconic version of the song "I Will Always Love You," sold over 25 million copies worldwide, earning Houston her first Grammy Award. Houston's second album, Whitney, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, making her the first female artist to ever achieve this feat.

Whitney was an instant success, topping the charts with songs like “Greatest Love of All” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” These songs, and her powerful voice, are still remembered by fans today. In the 1990s, Whitney took on a more adult sound and continued to have success. She released many albums, such as “My Love Is Your Love” and “I Look to You.”

Her songs were personal and heartfelt, and she continued to top the charts. Whitney was also an innovator in the music industry. She was a pioneer artist to use Auto-Tune in her music, which changed the sound of pop music forever. She was also an incredible live performer, often putting on mesmerizing performances.

Whitney Houston's powerful voice, innovative style, and her inspiring messages still resonate. Her music will continue to bring joy and hope to listeners for years. Throughout the '90s, Houston's music dominated the airwaves, and her albums sold millions of copies around the globe. She had five consecutive number one singles on the Hot 100 chart and earned a record-breaking 11 American Music Awards. Houston also earned multiple Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.

Houston's influence on music continued even after her untimely death in 2012. To this day, her iconic songs are still staples in the music industry, featured prominently in films and shows and covered by countless artists. She was also the first female artist to have six albums sold over 10 million copies in the United States, topping the charts with every release. Most importantly, the star singer was a great inspiration. She faced her struggles with grace and dignity. She used her platform to inspire and uplift others. She promoted self-love and positivity and was a beacon of hope.

In honour of her legacy, Houston was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. She was also the first female artist to be featured on a United States postage stamp. A decade on, Whitney Houston's voice and music still captivate audiences all over the world. It reminds us of the timeless power of her music. Undoubtedly,

Whitney was one of the most beloved singers of all time; her musical legacy endures to this day. With her powerful vocals, dazzling stage presence, and iconic songwriting, Whitney created a legacy that will never be forgotten.

From the beginning of her career, Whitney Houston was a force to be reckoned with. The singer’s debut album, “Whitney Houston”, was a massive success- she quickly became a household name. Houston was the first female artist to have seven consecutive number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100; she earned multiple Grammy awards and nominations throughout her career. Whitney Houston’s music was adored by fans and critics alike- her influence can still be seen today. Her music transcended musical genres and generations with her classic ballads, upbeat dance-pop, and classic R&B.

Whitney’s music was timeless, and her voice was incomparable; she inspired many other singers who came after her. Whitney’s legacy will always be remembered and celebrated. Her music touched the hearts of millions around the world. Her voice will forever remain one of the most powerful and moving in the history of music. Yes, Whitney’s music has inspired many; it will continue to do so for generations. Whitney Houston’s music is a pleasant reminder of her beauty, grace, and talent- her spirit will never be forgotten. The iconic music will always be remembered and celebrated as a lasting legacy of one of the greatest singers of all time.