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Americans ramped up spending during the holidays

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

NEW YORK — Holiday sales rose this year and spending remained resilient during the shopping season even with Americans wrestling with higher prices in some areas and other financial worries, according to the latest measure.Holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.1%, a slower pace than the 7.6% increase from a year earlier, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards.This year’s sales are more in line with what is typical during the holiday season, however, after a surge in spending last year during the same period.“This holiday season, the consumer showed up, spending in a deliberate manner” said Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist, Mastercard Economics Institute. “The economic backdrop remains favorable with healthy job creation and easing inflation pressures, empowering consumers to seek the goods and experiences they value most.”The number of people seeking ...

Disney seeks records from DeSantis’ oversight board in new lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

Disney is accusing the Gov. Ron DeSantis-aligned tourism oversight district of violating Florida’s public records law by failing to properly preserve documents and turn them over in a timely manner, opening another front in an ongoing legal feud.The entertainment giant filed a lawsuit Friday against the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and asked an Orange County circuit judge to set an immediate hearing and order the documents to be released.“CFTOD has prevented Disney from discovering the actions of its government through public records requests, in violation of Florida law,” Disney’s lawyers wrote in the court filing.A tourism oversight district spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.In February, DeSantis replaced five Disney loyalists on the district’s board with Republican allies as part of a new state law overhauling the special district that provides government services to Disney World.DeSantis puts GOP donor, Moms for Liberty found...

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka split after 7 years together, dancer confirms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka have split after 7 years together, the dancer confirmed Tuesday.In a statement shared with The Associated Press and published to Tanaka’s Instagram, Carey’s backup dancer-turned-creative director and partner detailed their breakup. “With mixed emotions, I share this personal update regarding my amicable separation from Mariah Carey after seven extraordinary years together,” he wrote. “Our decision to embark on different paths is mutual, and as we navigate these separate journeys, we do so with profound respect and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the invaluable time we’ve shared. The memories we’ve created and the artistic collaborations are etched in my heart forever.”“I eagerly anticipate continuing my journey, knowing my passion for inspiration, dance, and the creative arts will resonate in the unfolding chapters,” he continued.Tanaka and Carey first met when Tanaka joined her 2006 The Adventures of Mimi tour as a backup dancer. The...

Kevin Spacey reprises 'House of Cards' role in Tucker Carlson interview

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

(The Hill) — Former “House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey reprised his role as the show's lead character, Frank Underwood, in an interview with Tucker Carlson posted Sunday on X, formerly Twitter.In the interview, Spacey and Carlson commiserated over their similar experiences of being ousted by their respective networks, Netflix and Fox News, and discussed the current political environment, especially approaching the 2024 presidential election.“You know you and I have something in common, actually,” Carlson said in the interview.“Oh, yes. We both got canned by our network,” Spacey replied. Trump: ‘May they rot in Hell. Merry Christmas’ Tucker said, “True, but they actually tried to kill you.”“Yes, but here we are, Tucker, bigger than ever.”Later, when asked whether he still watches Netflix, Spacey replied, “Probably as much as you watch Fox.”“It is bizarre that they decided to publicly cut ties with me on allegations alone; allegations that have now been proven false because I don't...

Homewood Chevy gives away car for 9th year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

HOMEWOOD, Ill. — A mom is heading to her Christmas celebrations in style thanks to Homewood Chevy with a big heart.For the ninth year, the dealership held its Chevy Cares car giveaway contest. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines People submitted a short entry on how a new car would change their lives.

'Cold moon' will light up sky Tuesday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

(KSWB) -- The last full moon of the year will illuminate the sky Tuesday night. The full "cold moon" peaks Dec. 26 at 7:33 p.m. Eastern Time. Its name was coined by the Mohawk people, according to CNN, and is a reference to the cold winter temperatures that coincide with the last full moon of the year.Because of the long winter nights and the path the "cold moon" travels on, you'll have more opportunity to see it than any other full moon of the year. The December full moon is at its highest path in the sky and is above the horizon longer than any other moon this year. Because of that, it is also called the "long night moon."With the full moon comes high tides. A warning is in place along West Coast beaches as high tides are expected to reach heights of over 6 feet in places like San Diego, creating hazardous swimming conditions.The first full moon of 2024, the full wolf moon, will rise on Jan. 25. There are several celestial events to look forward to in 2024: the April 8 total ...

St. Peter's to halt new mental health patients, for now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

RENSSEALEAR COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — St. Peter’s Health Partners temporarily stopped accepting new mental health patients. The medical provider decided to stop taking new clients on Christmas Day. New homeless shelter coming to Montgomery County They have nearly 700 active mental health cases with 200 more on a waitlist. Those on the waitlist will not be affected by the temporary hold, St. Peter's said.The medical group cited staffing as the main issue, one of the challenges of doing business post-COVID. Those who work in the mental health field say that problems with staffing levels are more common than you might think.“We kind of are always in that crisis mode,” said Dan Egan, the board chair of the Capital Region’s American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. "COVID really did open a lot of folks' eyes to the importance of mental health and that need to get help. And now, we're at the point where we're struggling to make sure the help is there and received by those folks who...

Remains found in Virginia woods identified as 5-year-old missing since 2003

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

CARROLL COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) —The Carroll County Sheriff's Office announced that the remains of missing 5-year-old Logan Bowman were identified. The child was murdered in Virginia's Grayson County in January 2003. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! As the search for him continued, authorities charged his mom, Cynthia Davis, and her then-boyfriend, Dennis Shermerhorn, in connection to his disappearance. Alvin “Wayne” Bowman said that he last saw his son, Logan, while dropping him off with Davis on Christmas Day 2002. The boy was reported missing a month later.In September 2022, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office responded to Iron Ridge Road in Galax, Virginia, for reports of human remains found in a trash can in a wooded area. As the investigation continued, officials determined that the remains had been in the woods for a long time. Spirit Airlines sends unaccompanied boy, 6, on wrong flight Othran Inc., a Texas-based company specializing...

Live updates | Israel expands offensive in central Gaza as Netanyahu aide meets with US officials

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

The Israeli military says it has expanded its ground offensive in the Gaza Strip to the densely populated urban refugee camps in the central part of the territory.With international pressure for a cease-fire building, top U.S. officials were meeting with Israel’s minister for strategic affairs Tuesday at the White House in Washington.Residents reported shelling and airstrikes shaking the Nuseirat, Maghazi and Bureij camps. The built-up towns hold Palestinians whose families fled or were driven from their homes in what is now Israel during the 1948 war surrounding Israel’s independence.The camps are now crowded with Palestinians who fled northern Gaza in the early stages of Israel’s ground offensive.“We have expanded the fighting to an area known as the central camps,” Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told a news conference.More than 20,900 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Health Mi...

Sean Payton says Broncos are “average to below average in a lot of things” on offense

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:36 GMT

The 6:04 mark in the third quarter served as a good representation of the offensive struggles Denver had for the majority of its 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday evening.On first down, quarterback Russell Wilson’s screen pass to running back Javonte Williams resulted in a 3-yard loss. On the following play, Wilson was pressured before he threw an incomplete pass to wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. With the Broncos facing a third-and-12, Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore pushed away Denver right guard Quinn Meinerz before recording his third sack of the game.The Broncos are in the final two weeks of the season and still searching for consistency on offense. In the last two games, Denver has scored only seven points in the first half. Against the Patriots, the Broncos had one of their worst third-quarter performances, as they were held to -13 total yards on offense and went 0-for-4 on third down.“Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offe...