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Farmers markets thrive as customers and vendors who latched on during the pandemic remain loyal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Farmers markets gave people something they desperately sought during the pandemic: A place to shop outdoors, and at the same time support smaller, often local businesses.The markets are now building on that goodwill as the customers that became regulars and the vendors who set up shop in 2021 and 2022 return for the new season. Back in 2020, the markets were deemed non-essential and had been forced to close. Small vendors ranging from farm stands to dog treat makers say the markets offer them access to customers and a connection to the community.Taylor Choi, operations manager at Green City Market in Chicago, said the Green City Saturday market used to bring in 5,000 to 10,000 shoppers pre-pandemic. Now that figure is 8,000 to 15,000. Green City is one of nearly 7,000 farmers markets listed in the USDA local food directory, up from about an estimated 2,000 in 1994, per the the Farmers Market Coalition.Some shoppers shy away from farmers market vendors because prices ...

Extreme heat 'disproportionately' impacts people with disabilities says human rights watchdog

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

People with disabilities in Spain and other European countries have been disproportionately affected by unprecedented heat extremes, a leading human rights watchdog said on Monday (26 June), urging authorities to provide adequate support.Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report that people with disabilities faced risk of death, physical, social, and mental health distress due to extreme heat particularly if "left to cope with dangerous temperatures on their own".Some people with disabilities are more likely to have health conditions or use medication that can affect the body's ability to respond to heat. Having to stay home due to the heat can also lead to social isolation, HRW said.Jonas Bull, assistant disability rights researcher at HRW, said that inaccessible urban spaces exacerbated the problem. Bull said his research focused on Spain but can be applied to other nations in Europe, which according to scientists is the fastest warming continent on the planet.The report said lack...

Single family residence sells for $2.4 million in Pleasanton

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

1387 Bordeaux Street – Google Street ViewA spacious house located in the 1300 block of Bordeaux Street in Pleasanton has new owners. The 2,430-square-foot property, built in 1991, was sold on May 23, 2023, for $2,350,000, or $967 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a garage. It sits on a 0.4-acre lot.These nearby houses have also recently been sold:In August 2022, a 3,328-square-foot home on Locke Court in Pleasanton sold for $2,660,000, a price per square foot of $799. The home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.On Grant Court, Pleasanton, in March 2023, a 3,357-square-foot home was sold for $3,200,000, a price per square foot of $953. The home has 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.A 3,396-square-foot home on the 4100 block of Grant Court in Pleasanton sold in July 2022, for $3,500,000, a price per square foot of $1,031. The home has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms. 

Howard leads Atlanta against Washington after 24-point outing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

Atlanta Dream (5-7, 4-4 Eastern Conference) at Washington Mystics (8-5, 4-4 Eastern Conference)Washington; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDTBOTTOM LINE: Atlanta visits the Washington Mystics after Rhyne Howard scored 24 points in the Dream’s 110-80 loss to the New York Liberty.The Mystics are 4-4 in Eastern Conference games. Washington has a 3-3 record against opponents over .500.The Dream are 4-4 against Eastern Conference opponents. Atlanta is fourth in the WNBA with 36.3 rebounds per game led by Cheyenne Parker averaging 7.3.The matchup Wednesday is the first meeting of the season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS: Elena Delle Donne is averaging 18.1 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Mystics.Parker is averaging 15.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals for the Dream.LAST 10 GAMES: Mystics: 7-3, averaging 76.7 points, 34.1 rebounds, 17.7 assists, 7.4 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 40.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 72.7 points per game.Dream: 4-6, averagi...

EPP’s Manfred Weber vows to vote down EU nature law

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

European People’s Party MEPs will vote against the EU’s Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament’s environment committee Tuesday, EPP chief Manfred Weber confirmed to POLITICO. Speaking to Brussels Playbook, Weber argued that the law risks higher food prices and threatens farmers’ livelihoods and global food supplies in times of war. “To push through a law now, which will lead to lower [food] production, also according to the Commission, is not the right time … The EPP will vote against the bill … we need a new proposal to address the concerns,” he said.The law sets a target for vegetation that supports biodiversity to cover 10 percent of the EU’s farming territory by 2030 — which would force the reconversion of some arable land into forests, orchards or ditches. While EU countries voted in favor of the law, the majority was thin, with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo saying he wants to “hit the pause button” on the legislation....

Uncommon but affecting millions: the rare disease paradox

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

References1“What is a rare disease?” EURORDIS, www.eurordis.org/information-support/what-is-a-rare-disease/.2Nguengang Wakap S, Lambert DM, Olry A, et al., “Estimating cumulative point prevalence of rare diseases: analysis of the Orphanet database,” Eur J Hum Genet, September 2019, www.nature.com/articles/s41431-019-0508-0.3Tambuyzer E, “Rare diseases, orphan drugs and their regulation: questions and misconceptions,” Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, November 2010, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21060315/.4“Regulation (EC) no 141/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 1999 on orphan medicinal products,” European Parliament, December 2019, eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2000:018:0001:0005:en:PDF.5“Orphan Medical Product designation,” European Medicines Agency, 2023, www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/other/orphan-medicines-figures-2000-2022_en.pdf.6“Expanding research into rare diseases,” Horizon, ec.europa.eu/research-and-innovation/en/horizon-magaz...

Wagner and Russia are here to stay in Africa, says Kremlin’s top diplomat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

PARIS — Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has vowed Wagner Group’s operations in Mali and the Central African Republic “will continue” despite the failed rebellion led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the mercenaries, against Russian President Vladimir Putin. The paramilitary group has expanded its reach across Latin America, the Middle East and Africa in recent years and is seen by Western governments as Russia’s armed foreign policy apparatus. Prigozhin’s mutiny raised questions about the future of its overseas operations.Prigozhin led an uprising against Putin’s army beginning Friday night, first seizing the major southern city of Rostov-on-Don and sending his mercenary forces on a march to Moscow before abruptly standing down his men Saturday night. In Africa, where the group exercises influence in the Central African Republic, Mali and Burkina Faso, Wagner offers its services and help to prop up anti-Western governments in exchange for access to natural resource...

Jordan Westburg records first MLB hit in debut as Orioles top Reds, 10-3, in rain-delayed game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

Brandon Hyde said he doesn’t have words of wisdom for young players making their major league debuts.Instead, the Orioles manager wants to be “relaxed,” hoping that energy rubs off on the player achieving a lifelong goal.Either that strategy worked Monday, or Jordan Westburg, who brings a consistent and even-keeled reputation to Baltimore along with his talent as a top 100 prospect, didn’t need to be calmed down, as the 24-year-old looked plenty relaxed in his debut Monday.Westburg did a little bit of everything to help lead the Orioles to a 10-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in a game twice delayed because of rain.After a loud ovation and a “Westy” chant, he walked in his first plate appearance to spark a two-out rally. He drove in his first run on a ground out in his second at-bat. In his third, he recorded his first MLB hit — a bloop single to left field. On the bases, he was caught stealing, and in the field, he made the defensive pla...

Lexington’s Will Smith one of the jewels in NHL draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

When speaking of Will Smith, some of the people who have watched the Lexington native over the years offer lofty comparisons.One chief amateur scout liked him to Patrick Kane. A coach of Smith’s compared him to a younger American star, Jack Hughes.Whether Smith can make the long trek from being just “a Patrick Kane-type player” to the next Patrick Kane remains to be seen. But most NHL prognosticators and talent evaluators believe some team will bet some valuable draft capital that the Boston College-bound forward will become the latter.Reached last week, Smith’s excitement level was starting to build.“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life,” said Smith. “I’m getting kind of anxious.”Wherever he gets taken – many believe he’ll go no lower than No. 4 overall to San Jose and Boston-born GM Mike Grier, though Russian forward Matvei Michkov is a wild card – Smith won’t have to wait long to hear his name at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wedne...

Japan to reinstate South Korea as preferred trade nation from July 21 as two sides improve ties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:28 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan announced a decision Tuesday to reinstate South Korea as a preferred nation with fast-track trade status starting July 21, virtually ending a four-year economic row that was further strained during their bitter historic disputes. Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told reporters that Japan and South Korea have also agreed to set up a framework to review and follow up on the systems as needed. Japan and South Korea have been rapidly mending their ties as they deepen three-way security cooperation with Washington in response to growing regional threats from North Korea and China.A reinstatement of South Korea’s preferential status next month would end a four-year trade dispute that began in July 2019 when Japan removed South Korea from its “white list” of countries given fast-track approvals in trade as ties deteriorated over compensation for Japanese wartime actions.Japan’s tightening of trade controls against Seoul was an apparent retaliation for South Korea...