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DeSantis presidential campaign is cutting staff as new financial pressure emerges

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis is cutting campaign staff as he struggles to catch former President Donald Trump in the GOP’s crowded primary contest while facing unexpected financial pressure.DeSantis, the Florida governor, let go fewer than 10 paid staffers late last week to help reduce operating expenses, according to a DeSantis aide granted anonymity to discuss internal campaign strategy. The staffers were involved in event planning and may soon join a pro-DeSantis super PAC.The moves, first reported by Politico, come as DeSantis struggles to meet expectations that he represents the Republican Party’s strongest alternative to Trump. The Florida governor’s political organization has raised more money than the other Republicans seeking the 2024 nomination, but he has shown little movement in the polls amid fierce opposition from Trump and persistent questions about his far-right policies, his political skills and his readiness for t...

Another journalist killed in Mexico amid rising cartel violence

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Another journalist was killed in Mexico on Saturday, adding to a growing list of reporters who have lost their lives amid an intensifying drug war in the country, authorities and a press freedom organization said.Nelson Matus was shot to death on the fringes of Acapulco in southwestern Mexico, officials and Article 19 confirmed. Matus had been the director of a local news organization, Lo Real de Guerrero, which covered the intensifying violence in the Mexican state of Guerrero. He had already survived an assassination attempt in 2019, according to Article 19. Local authorities said they were investigating the killing.Matus’ death comes just a week after the grisly killing of another journalist in western Mexico, something the Committee to Protect Journalists said “underscores the crisis of deadly violence and impunity that continues to plague the Mexican press.”The death illustrates a concerning uptick in the muders of reporters in Mexico and the toll the country...

People evacuated, 5 sent to hospital after possible carbon monoxide exposure in Florida prison

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

SUMTERVILLE, Fla. (AP) — People were evacuated from a federal prison camp in Florida on Sunday for suspected carbon monoxide exposure that sent two employees and three inmates to the hospital, U.S. Bureau of Prisons officials said. The incident occurred at around 2:45 a.m. Sunday in the minimum-security Sumterville Coleman Satellite Prison Camp within the Federal Correctional Complex, Coleman — the same complex where disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar was stabbed multiple times earlier this month. The complex has reportedly been experiencing staffing shortages. Prison employees contacted emergency medical services Sunday and isolated the area to provide treatment to those at risk for exposure, Bureau of Prisons officials said. No other people in custody were injured, and “at no time was the public in danger,” officials said in a press release. There are more than 450 adult inmates incarcerated at the camp, according to the federal government. The Associated Press

Flash flood on a Pennsylvania road claims 4 lives; 3 others, including a baby, are missing

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) — A sudden flash flood swamped a southeastern Pennsylvania road, sweeping several cars away and claiming at least four lives. Three other people, including a 9-month-old boy and a 2-year-old girl, remained missing, authorities said.Officials in Bucks County's Upper Makefield Township said torrential rains occurred at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Washington Crossing area. Other parts of the East Coast were experiencing heavy rain, including Vermont. Authorities there said landslides could become a problem on Sunday as the state copes with more rain following days of flooding.“My team and I continue to monitor the situation as more rain falls in Vermont. There are flash flood warnings throughout the state today. Remain vigilant and be prepared,” Gov. Phil Scott said.Sunday’s strong storms led to hundreds of flight cancellations at airports in the New York City area, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 300 flights were canceled at N...

Several states face unhealthy air conditions as smoke from Canadian wildfires returns

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires.“Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains,” the National Weather Service said. “This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions. While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wain by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week.” How long will the Canadian wildfire smoke stick around in the U.S.? The U.S. EPA's AirNow air quality page rated the air in Chicago as “unhealthy” as of 9 a.m. CDT Sunday. And in Michigan, state environmental officials said the air “is unhealthy for sensitive groups.”As of 12 p.m. CDT Sunday,...

Are extended car warranties worth it?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

(iSeeCars) -- While buying a used car is often a smart financial decision, some consumers don’t want to sacrifice peace of mind by purchasing a car that’s been owned by someone else. That peace of mind is also a big reason car buyers decide to purchase an extended car warranty when they go car shopping. Extended warranties are exactly what they sound like – an extension of the factory warranty that comes standard with every new car sold today. For a single one-time fee, you can extend your coverage for a few years beyond when the normal auto warranty expires.It's a tempting offer, one that looks even better when the cost of it gets rolled into a monthly payment with your car loan. For a few dollars more a month, why shouldn't a car buyer splurge on it?But there's more to it than that. Many buyers of these warranties eventually realize they spent more on the warranty than they got out of it.You'll want a full understanding before you make any decisions about getting an extended warra...

PHOTOS: Smoke billows as Moore Peak fire continues to burn in Llano County

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A brush fire began burning at a ranch in Llano County Thursday afternoon and has remained active through Sunday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Officials said the fire was likely started by someone in the area operating machinery. RELATED: Llano County brush fire at 707 acres, nearly 20 agencies responding Here are some photos of the fire taken by KXAN viewers:Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County as seen from Kingsland. (Courtesy Max Galyen)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Felicia Perez, Double F Photography)Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Alan Jensen)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Felicia Perez, Double F Photography)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County as seen from Kingsland. (Courtesy Max Galyen)Llano County put a burn ban in place July 10.This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to [email protected]...

Museum of Ice Cream passes free scoops for National Ice Cream Day

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – If you’re looking for a sweet deal on National Ice Cream Day, the Museum of Ice Cream has got you covered. The Museum of Ice Cream is celebrating with appropriate ceremonies at its four locations in Austin, Chicago, New York and Singapore.On Saturday and Sunday in Austin, the museum will be passing out free ice cream to Austinites from a truck at 901 S Congress Ave from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. “Ice cream has a magical quality that can transport us back to our happiest moments,” said Maryellis Bunn, founder of the Museum of Ice Cream. “This National Ice Cream Day, we encourage people to connect, create memories, and embrace their inner child. It’s the perfect day to celebrate the joy and wonder that ice cream can bring to our lives.”President Ronald Reagan designated July National Ice Cream Month in 1984 and the third Sunday of the month National Ice Cream Day, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. “I call upon the people of the United...

Study: How Texas compares to America’s top 1%

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A recent research study conducted by SmartAsset looked at the differences between the top 1% in each U.S. state.SmartAsset said it analyzed data from the IRS and Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the minimum income required to be among the top 1% of earners in each state.“The 1% threshold varies from state to state, ranging from as much as $953,000 to as little as $368,000,” according to SmartAsset.The study said income thresholds vary in the four largest states.“It takes $844,266 and $776,662 to be in the top 1% in California and New York, respectively. But households in Florida and Texas need to earn much less to be considered among the top 1% –  $694,987 and $631,849, respectively,” the study said.In the rankings, Texas placed No. 14, needing a minimum of $631,849 in 2023 to be considered in the top 1% of households, according to the study.SmartAsset said the Lone Star State’s top 1% gets taxed at an average rate of 25.83%.In Connecticut, households mus...

Minnesota’s first cat cafe relocating from Uptown to Roseville

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:34:32 GMT

Minnesota’s first cat cafe is moving from Uptown to Roseville.The Cafe Meow, a business that fosters cats while providing cat-focused activities along with food and drink for the public, opened five years ago at 2323 Hennepin Ave. and said the support it has received has been “amazing,” according to a Facebook post.The cafe has outgrown its space and needs “a more spacious layout that caters to the amenities we have discovered along the way, which will better support us and our customers.”The Cafe Meow also has New Hope location.Visitors have access to a coffee shop and a cat lounge, which charges a cover fee. They can buy merchandise and locally made treats along with coffee and tea. They’re encouraged to “relax, study, or work” as long as they want, the business says on its website.The Cafe Meow hosts events such as “Paint Your Cat On Canvas” and “Yoga with Cats.”The cat-lounge cover fees are said to cover the...