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Stock market today: Wall Street drifts following mixed reports on US job market, Big Tech earnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are drifting Friday following mixed reports about the U.S. job market and profits at two of Wall Street’s most influential stocks.The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% in afternoon trading after giving up slight gains from earlier in the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 32 points, or 0.1%, at 35,178, as of 2:24 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher.Taking some pressure off stocks were falling Treasury yields in the bond market. They dipped after a highly anticipated U.S. jobs report said hiring was a touch weaker last month than economists expected, though wages for workers rose more than forecast.The job market is in a precarious place, where investors want a reading that’s neither too hot nor too cold. On one hand, investors want it to remain strong enough to keep the economy out of a long-predicted recession. On the other, they don’t want wage growth in particular to be so strong that the Federal Reserve sees it putting upward pre...

Power at the gas pump: Oregon lets drivers fuel their own cars, lifting decades-old self-serve ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — For the first time in 72 years, Oregon motorists can grab a fuel nozzle and pump gas into their cars without an attendant, since a decades-old ban on self-serve gas stations has been revoked.Gov. Tina Kotek signed a bill on Friday allowing people across the state to choose between having an attendant pump gas or doing it themselves. The law takes immediate effect. That leaves New Jersey as the only state that prohibits motorists from pumping their own gas. A few countries also ban it, including South Africa, where attendants offer to check fluid levels and clean the windshield, with tipping expected.“It’s about time. It’s long overdue,” said Karen Cooper, who lives in Salem, said shortly before the bill was signed.“I’ve spent a lot of time in California,” Cooper said. “I know how to pump my own. Everybody should know how to pump their own gas.”At the same gas station, T.J. Rogers climbed into his pickup truck after squeegeeing his windshield. He expressed a differ...

What you need to know about checking for and identifying melanoma

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

A lifelong sunscreen user, London, Ont., resident Maureen Meehan was always aware of the dangers of sun exposure and says she was diligent about protecting her skin — her fair complexion means she’s prone to burning easily.“I’ve always worn a sunscreen or a sunblock. I stayed out of the sun during peak times. I never laid outside and worked on my tan,” she says. “So I think I always had a little bit of that consciousness in the back of my mind.”When a mole on her right arm became raised and began to itch, she knew it wasn’t something to ignore.“So I went to my GP and initially she wasn’t as concerned as I was. I went back to her a few weeks later and I said, ‘you know, I really am concerned about this mole.’ And she said okay and she referred me to a tissue specialist,” she says.Two days after a punch biopsy, she received a call that she describes as “life-altering.”“[He said] You have a ...

Pentagon warns of disruptions as Army, Marines both lack confirmed leaders for first time

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that troop readiness and retention is at risk as the Army’s chief stepped down Friday, leaving the military’s two ground combat forces without Senate-confirmed leaders for the first time in history.Speaking during a ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Austin said the Senate’s failure to confirm the services’ new leaders is disruptive to the force and could impact relationships with allies and partners around the globe. The confirmation of the next Army chief and Marine commandant are among more than 300 military nominations stalled by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican, over the Pentagon’s policy to pay for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. “Today for the first time in the history of the Department of Defense, two of our services will be operating without Senate confirmed leadership,” said Austin. “Great teams need gr...

Glendale Heights village president accused of lying about assault

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, Ill. — Prosecutors say a suburban mayor lied about being the victim of an assault on two separate occasions after a long-running and heated dispute with a village trustee.Glendale Heights village president Chodri Ma Khokhar, 66, is charged with two counts of disorderly conduct which is a Class 4 Felony, according to the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. The indictment alleges Khokhar filed a false report with Glendale Heights police and the state’s attorney’s office on April 26 and again on May 12 — claiming he had been the victim of a threatened assault by a village trustee. The indictment says the village president filed a report claiming “Mohammad Siddiqui, a Glendale Heights village trustee, threatened to bite the defendant knowing at the time it was false.”WGN Investigates reviewed months of video recordings of village board meetings to better understand the animosity between the two.“You are ruining this city,” Trustee Siddiqui told Mayor Khokhar at a ...

Central Illinois community mourns loss of girl who died after county fair accident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

CHARLESTON, Ill. (WCIA) -- People across Central Illinois are mourning the death of Harper Finn after the news broke of her passing Thursday morning.The five-year-old girl from Altamont died at St. Louis Children's Hospital on Wednesday, three days after a tragic accident at the Effingham County Fair. She was hit by a car-mounted starting gate during a harness racing event at the fair.The news of Harper's death sent shockwaves across the region, but especially in the horse racing community. The Finns are well known in that community, going back generations. Fairgoers at the Coles County Fair held a prayer on Wednesday and two of them said it is a heartbreaking feeling and they can't imagine what the Finns are going through.Coles County Fair Director Tom Niemeyer said the entire situation is devastating."These kids of things happen and it's tragic to lose a little girl like that," Niemeyer said.But he went on to say that these kinds of things haven't happened at his fair."We're never...

Big Ten clears way for Oregon, Washington to join, AP sources say, putting Pac-12 on brink

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

The Big Ten has cleared the way for Oregon and Washington to apply for membership and join the conference, four people with familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday, dealing a crushing blow to the beleaguered Pac-12.The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the Big Ten and the schools in the Pacific Northwest were finalizing an official agreement and announcement.The Ducks and Huskies from the Pac-12 still must officially apply for membership and the Big Ten presidents, who met Friday morning to discuss expansion, need to officially approve any moves.Two of the people familiar with the negotiations said the schools' applications are expected to be approved unanimously.When approved, they will become the 17th and 18th members of the Big Ten, and the third and fourth on the West Coast, joining USC and UCLA. The Big Ten will be the largest conference in major college sports, spanning 15 states from New Jersey to Washington.Former Big Ten Com...

Obituary: Joe Corcoran, who led St. Paul police homicide unit and helped victims’ families, dies at 83

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

As St. Paul police Lt. Joe Corcoran would drive to a homicide scene, he would say a prayer: “Lord, I need your help with this.”Officers knew of Corcoran’s strong faith as an Irish Catholic and it was a bit of a running joke for them to ask him, “Did you talk to your Friend on the way over?”With his faith, attention to detail and to victims’ families, Corcoran became known for his work as the head of the St. Paul police homicide unit for eight years in the 1990s. He was in charge during a time of historic cases, including the firebombing murders of the five Coppage children and the killings of officers Ron Ryan Jr. and Tim Jones.The 83-year-old died last month and his celebration of life is planned for Sunday.“The thing that stuck with him the most were the victims. He was a very big advocate for them and their families,” said John Corcoran, who followed in the footsteps of his older cousin and is still a St. Paul officer. “He loo...

Capital Region Restaurant Rundown: July 31-August 4

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The restaurant industry is ever-changing with restaurants opening, closing, relocating, or just doing their thing. Here’s a recap of the latest Capital Region restaurant news, July 31 through August 4. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Schenectady eatery offered free vegan chicken sandwichesOnly a few days after The Nest 518 gave away $1,500 worth of chicken sandwiches, Take Two Cafe did the same, but with vegan sandwiches. These small business chicken sandwich giveaways come after Jeff Buell, a Principal at Redburn Development, made a social media post about the Capital Region Chick-fil-A’s opening.Fine dining restaurant opens in North GreenbushThe Roosevelt Room, located at 112 North Greenbush Road, officially opened on Monday, July 31. This intimate, fine dining restaurant has 60 seats and a cocktail bar.The Tailored Tea in Latham up for saleThe Tailored Tea, located at 1010 Troy Schenectady Road in La...

Early tickets up for 2023-24 Park Theater events

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:45:41 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Park Theater Foundation, the charitable arm of Glens Falls' downtown Park Theater, has its own list of events that extend far past the theater itself, bringing live entertainment to the city's parks. On Friday, tickets went on sale for those who want to get in early on their next year of membership - and all that comes with it. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The foundation's 2023/24 season features The Park Presents, the theater's annual catalog of visiting musicians. Featured guests over the last year include The Small Glories, Suitcase Junket, and The Po' Ramblin' Boys. The foundation also brings cover bands, jazz, and more to town with series like Rewind at the Park, Live & Local, and Third Thursday Jazz.The schedules for the 2023/24 season have yet to be released, but passes for the next year of entertainment are up now. Prices range from $30 for students and seniors, $45 for individual...