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Navigating what an ‘ethical’ bag of coffee beans means is easier said than done

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

(The Conversation) - You’re shopping for a bag of coffee beans at the grocery store. After reading about the effects of climate change and how little farmers make – typically $0.40 per cup – you figure it might be time to change your usual beans and buy something more ethical. Perusing the shelves in the coffee aisle, though, you see too many choices.First up is the red tub of Folgers “100% Colombian,” a kitchen staple – “lively with a roasted and rich finish.” On the side of the tub, you see the icon of Juan Valdez with his donkey, Conchita – a fictional mascot representing the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation.Coffee farmer Julian Pinilla uses a coffee grinder during an interview with AFP in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Juan Restrepo/AFP via Getty ImagesNext might be Starbucks “Single-Origin Colombia.” One side of the green bag tells “the story” of the beans, describing “treacherous dirt roads” to “6,500 feet of elevation” that are “worth the jou...

A comfortable weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A cold front moved south through overnight leaving a strong north wind. Wind gusts in excess of 20 to 25 mph are part of this morning's forecast. Wind speeds and gusts will lower during this afternoon.The cooler breeze will help keep our afternoon temperatures in the 70s. Most highs today will be in the low to mid 70s. The last time we had a daytime maximum in the 70s was 77° on April 29.A lighter north wind, a mostly clear sky and dry air will send most overnight temperatures to the 50s. There will be some mid/upper 40s in the Hill Country. The last time Austin had a low in the 50s was May 1 when the thermometer fell to 58°.Rain looks to be limited to scattered showers that could begin as early as Tuesday afternoon. A tropical storm in the eastern Pacific, Lidia, is forecast to take a turn to the northeast Monday taking it to the central west coast of Mexico late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning.The forecast issue is how much moisture from the Pacific and th...

When will Texas see its first freeze of the season?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video explains why pipes burst when they freeze.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The strongest cold front of the season moved through the state on Wednesday and Thursday, finally ushering in fall temperatures for most of Texas. Now that it feels like fall, it's time to look at that first freeze. El Niño into 2024: What that means for winter and spring A freeze is defined as having a low temperature of 32º or colder. Technically a hard freeze is when temperatures drop to 28º or below. You can get frost with air temperatures several degrees above freezing.For the purposes of this, we'll just look at the average first day with low temperatures of 32º or colder coming after the conclusion of the summer months. The average is over a 30-year period from 1991-2020.StatewideAs you'd expect the earliest freezes in Texas happen in the northern and western parts of the state. Amarillo has the earliest average first freeze of this list with an October dip to 32º or below.The latest f...

Does your horse need taillights? Fact-checking Texas' strangest traffic laws

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) - While drivers in Texas tend to know the major rules of the road, the long and winding highways of history in the Lone Star State have also produced some lesser-known traffic laws - and a few notorious traffic myths. Do horses need taillights, or is that a tall tale? Here is a look at a few lesser-known Texas traffic laws, as well as a few more rules that are more fiction than fun facts. You don't need a windshield in Texas, but you do need windshield wipers.As noted in previous reports, it is illegal to drive without windshield wipers in Texas. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Transportation Code, the windshield is not an item listed for vehicle inspections; however, windshield wipers are. This note in the law can allow owners of vehicles designed without or with foldable windshields, such as certain Jeep models, to legally operate. Your vehicle needs taillights - and so does your horse.Although some claims have been mad...

'You can’t stop her:' 75-year-old grandmother lifeguards at YMCA with grandson

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — When Birmingham grandmother Martha Dawson heard about the years-long YMCA lifeguard shortage, she immediately thought of her grandson, Davis. What she didn't bargain for was becoming a lifeguard herself. ”I thought that being a lifeguard would be a really good job for a 15-year-old to have," she said.To her surprise, Martha was also recruited, an offer that she calls a great gift. ”It's amazing. I can't really put into words what it means to me," she said. "It totally connects me to my grandson; it’s something we enjoy together. And again, it’s sort of emphasizing the idea (not) just giving lip service to something worthwhile, but actually doing it.”The pair is now going on two years of protecting the pool. Davis said the experience has allowed him to see his grandmother in a whole new light. Gov. Kay Ivey suggests Alabama library funding be conditional on ‘sensible policies’ regarding controversial books ”It's an experience that a lot of people don’t get...

Gophers tailback Darius Taylor to be game-time decision vs. Wolverines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

Gophers freshman running back Darius Taylor might play against No. 2 Michigan on Saturday night at Huntington Bank Stadium.ESPN reported Saturday morning that Taylor is expected to be a game-time decision against the Wolverines after being limited in practice this week.Head coach P.J. Fleck said earlier this week he hoped to get Taylor back this Saturday, but also noted how the U has a bye week following the Michigan game. That could have been looked at as more rest and rehab time with a rivalry game against Iowa on Oct. 21.Taylor rushed for 529 yards across three weeks and won a trio of Big Ten freshman of the week honors, but injured his leg at the end of the Northwestern loss. Taylor’s 532 yards leads the conference through five weeks.Zach Evans and others stepped in last week in the U’s 35-24 win over Louisiana. Evans rushed 15 times for 85 yards and a touchdown and won Big Ten freshman of the week. Bryce Willams contributed 15 carries for 53 yards and a TD, while Sean Tyl...

Captain Dorn Unity Ride and Car Cruise: honoring a hero in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS — The Captain Dorn Unity Ride and Car Cruise is taking place today in honor of Captain David Dorn, who was shot and killed while responding to a burglar alarm at a business in North St. Louis during the night of looting and riots following the death of George Floyd.Everyone with a legal set of wheels is invited to participate in this event. It commences at 10 a.m. at the St. Louis Fire headquarters in Jefferson and will culminate at Gateway Harley-Davidson on Lee Main Road.The event promises music, food, and drinks, as well as exciting prizes and raffles. All proceeds from the event will be dedicated to supporting Missouri's first responders.

SSM Health hosts drive-through flu clinic at multiple St. Louis locations today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS — Today, October 7, SSM Health Medical Group is hosting a drive-through flu clinic at four locations in the St. Louis area. The clinic will operate from 8:00 a.m. until noon.Flu shots will be available at the following addresses:5252 S Lindbergh in South County1120 Shackleford Road in Florissant1035 Bellevue Ave. in West Saint Louis1603 Wentzville Parkway in WentzvilleWhile the Medical Group encourages you to schedule an appointment, it's not mandatory. If you wish to make an appointment, you can do so by calling 314-955-9600.

Sister Strut Parade: raising awareness and building community in St. Louis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The 14th Annual Sister Strut Breast Cancer Walking Parade kicks off at 8 a.m. this morning in downtown Saint Louis. This event is both a celebration of life and an opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer in the community.The day starts with a PEP rally at 8 a.m. to warm up before the walk, which begins at 8th and 15th streets, culminating at Chestnut Ave. Breast cancer survivors and supporters come together to participate in the walk, concluding with a celebratory parade.Sister Strut also sheds light on how breast cancer impacts the black community. Over the past two decades, despite a decrease in mortality rates, there has been a noticeable increase in breast cancer cases among black women and men.

He drove into a creek and died. His family blames Google Maps.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:02:37 GMT

The family of a North Carolina man who drowned last year after he drove off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions has sued Google for negligence, saying that the company’s failure to update its maps led directly to his death.Philip Paxson, 47, a medical device salesperson, was on his way home from his daughter’s camping-themed ninth birthday party in Hickory, North Carolina, on Sept. 30, 2022, navigating a rainy night on unfamiliar roads, when he drove off a collapsed roadway into a creek and drowned, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in Wake County Superior Court on Tuesday.Alicia Paxson, his wife, also sued two businesses and an individual who the lawsuit says owned, controlled or were responsible for the collapsed bridge, which was unmarked, with no barricades.Paxson had taken their two daughters home from the party in her car, while her husband stayed late to clean up and drove separately, she said in an interview.“This is horrific, what our family is...