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Will the wildfire smoke stick around all summer?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - It’s not uncommon for the U.S. to be impacted by wildfire smoke during the summer, even if those fires are in a different state or country. But, barely a month into summer, multiple states have been blanketed in apocalyptic-like smoke that caused hazy skies and poor air quality - sometimes for days at a time. Unfortunately, these waves of smoke likely aren’t going away any time soon. The smoke is coming from Canada, with fires in Quebec and Ontario causing much of the air quality impacts in the U.S. As of Wednesday, more than 30,000 square miles of the country have burned - a record, according to the Canadian government. That’s roughly the size of South Carolina. There are 485 active fires, 243 of which are out of control. Amid wildfire smoke and sweltering heat, don’t overlook this button in your car Again, it’s not uncommon for Canadian wildfire smoke to creep into the U.S. but it typically happens in the middle of summer, and often doesn’t cause multi...

Gen Zers make 'difficult' employees, managers say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

(The Hill) -- Three-quarters of bosses find Generation Z workers a trifle difficult, a corporate survey has found. A poll of 1,344 managers and business leaders by ResumeBuilder.com found that 74 percent consider Gen Z employees more challenging than older staffers.  Pressed for specifics, employers did not mince words. “They think they’re better than you, smarter than you, more capable than you, and they will tell you to your face,” said Akpan Ukeme, head of human resources at SGK Global Shipping Services.  Generation Z is the youngest cohort in the American workforce, with birth years starting around 1997. Many surveys and studies have labored to define them. The findings suggest they have not gone quietly into their cubicles.  A Gallup report termed them “Generation Disconnected,” noting that Gen Z is less likely than older generations to be actively engaged in work and more likely to suffer stress and burnout.  A study by McKinsey &am...

Former President Donald Trump wins seat on Oregon fire district board

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A former U.S. president has trumped all other write-in candidates for a seat on the Hubbard Fire District board in Oregon.Following the Oregon Special Election held on Tuesday, May 16, the Statesman Journal reports that five write-in candidates received two votes for Hubbard Fire District Board Director Position No. 3.Fire Chief Michael Kahrmann says 45th President Donald Trump was one of those candidates.Officials rolled a 12-sided die multiple times to determine which of the individuals would take over the position. After representatives stood in for the other five candidates, none of whom were present during the meeting, Trump was declared the winner of the tiebreaker. A major UPS strike is looming — here’s what that means for your packages “The next step for the Hubbard Fire District is to determine if any of the other candidates are interested in the position,” Kahrmann told Nexstar's KOIN. “There is a requirement that Board Directors must either live ...

Supreme Court will rule on student debt relief Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

(The Hill) -- The Supreme Court will release its final decisions of the term Friday morning, handing down rulings on student debt relief and a free speech case involving same-sex wedding websites.The last decisions will cap a term that has already included the gutting of affirmative action in college admissions alongside a string of victories for the left on the Voting Rights Act, a Biden-era immigration policy and federal elections.Here’s what to know with the court on the cusp of its summer recess: When will the Supreme Court term end?Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts arrives before President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool, File)After the affirmative action decision was handed down, Chief Justice John Roberts said in the courtroom that Friday will be the last day the Supreme Court hands d...

How much would the massive Malibu Barbie Dream House cost? Experts weigh in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

(KTLA) – A hot-pink oceanfront mansion in Malibu, California, is turning heads and making national headlines, just in time for the premiere of a Margot Robbie-led film named for the iconic Mattel toy. Earlier this month, Airbnb revealed that guests can sign up to stay at the life-sized doll house — free of charge — as part of a promotion by Mattel. The massive compound features a huge pool (and waterslide), a dance floor, several Barbie-inspired bedrooms, and plenty of pink.KTLA's Sky5 captured images of the "Barbie Dream House" in Malibu on June 26, 2023. (KTLA)Only two parties will be selected for the free overnight stay, but what if you wanted to make Barbie's home your own, permanently? Obviously, oceanfront property in one of America's most desired enclaves is going to cost a pretty penny. But a gaudy manor inspired by the stylistic choices of a fashionista children's doll is a bit of an unprecedented sale. For $250K you can live under a bridge in California — seriously The h...

When to go to a pet urgent care, emergency room for a summer injury

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's no surprise that it's blistering outside in Texas. But as we continue further into the summer months and pet safety remains top of mind, veterinarian specialists are warning pet owners on heat exhaustion and injuries to watch for and how to best care for their pets this summer.Thrive Pet Healthcare operates more than a dozen veterinarian clinics, urgent cares and emergency hospitals in the Austin area. Dr. Tony Coronado, Thrive Pet Healthcare's national director of emergency and urgent care services, said the business' Central Texas locations haven't seen an extreme spike in heat injuries so far this season.However, with both high temperatures and humidity levels, he said that doesn't mean pet owners shouldn't be vigilant about best practices for summer pet care.What do pet owners need to watch for in the summertime?"Unfortunately every year, we always see heat-related problems — even though we all know to avoid and watch out for it, we just sometimes forget tha...

Honey bees more faithful than bumble bees when it comes to flower patches, study says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

(KXAN) – A study by Agricultural Research Service, which is the in-house research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, showed honey bees revisit the same flower patch more often than bumble bees to collect pollen and nectar.ARS said the study shows 76% of honey bees revisited the same plot of alfalfa flowers in contrast to 47% of eastern bumble bees.The scientists did find the bumble bees were more faithful to larger flower patches, while the study found the likelihood of honey bees returning to a flower patch was not affected by patch size. According to the ARS announcement, large patches in the study were nearly 15 by 15 yards, each planted with 225 plants, more than twice as many as the small patches, which were about 10 by 10 yards with 100 alfalfa plants each.According to ARS, the study was lead by ecologist Johanne Brunet with the ARS Vegetable Crops Research Unit in Madison, Wisconsin and postdoctoral associate Fabiana Fragoso.According to the study, an insect or ani...

July 4 weekend could see Twin Cities’ hottest weather of summer so far

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

It will be a good weekend to be hanging at the lake.Possibly the hottest weather of the summer so far is on tap for Fourth of July weekend. The Twin Cities are expected to see highs near 90 today and Saturday, 93 on Sunday and 96 on Monday. Mostly sunny skies are expected today and Saturday followed by sunny skies on Sunday and Monday.A 50-percent chance of showers and thunderstorms comes Tuesday, July 4, but it will be hot, too, with a high near 91.So far this summer, the Twin Cities’ highest temperature recorded at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport has been 92, which happened a few times in June.This weekend should see decreasing Canadian wildfire smoke, which is expected to linger through Sunday as it moves south, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.The MPCA, which has issued a record number of air quality alerts this year, is forecasting “moderate” air quality Saturday and Sunday due to ozone. A big weather system is expected to arr...

Five ways college admissions could change

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

Students may change what they write about in the college essay. And they may no longer be tortured by the SAT and ACT.As for children of alumni? The pressure is on to end their advantage in the admissions game.The Supreme Court’s ruling on Thursday that ended race-conscious admissions is widely expected to lead to a dramatic drop in the number of Black and Hispanic students at selective colleges.But the court’s decision could have other, surprising consequences, as colleges try to follow the law but also admit a diverse class of students.The personal essay becomes more important.The Supreme Court made a point of noting that students could highlight their racial or ethnic backgrounds in the college essay.“Nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote, “so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can...

Rensselaer eatery to be featured on 'America's Best Restaurants'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:28 GMT

RENSSELAER, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Illusive Restaurant and Bar, located at 3 Ferry Street in Rensselaer, has been picked to be on "America's Best Restaurants," a company that brings attention to independently-owned restaurants around the United States. The company will be filming at Illusive on July 13 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! During the visit to Illusive, popular dishes will be highlighted, along with an on-camera interview with owner Joseph Ventrice Jr. The episode will air on social media at a later date.Opening a restaurant was Ventrice’s dream after he started working in kitchens at a young with his father. After challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and a kitchen fire, Illusive has been able to stay in the community. Olde Log Inn to be featured on ‘America’s Best Restaurants’ “It’s so humbling, the positivity we’ve injected into this area," said Ventrice. “I’m a unity guy. The way I c...