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Skiing Santas hit the slopes in Maine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

NEWRY, Maine (AP) — Ho ho ho, away they go — Santa’s helpers took the day off on Sunday with a few hundred of the jolly ol’ elves hitting the slopes.With beards and stocking caps flapping, some 300 red-suited Santas were lively and quick at the foggy Sunday River ski resort in western Maine as they took a break from the holiday hustle and bustle.The annual event has been held for more than 20 years, except for once during the pandemic. The skiing Santas participate in full Kringle garb, including, of course, a white beard and red hat.The event’s rules specifically state the hat must bear a white pompom.The annual event serves as a festive kickoff to both the holiday season and the skiing season. It raises money for The River Fund Maine, an education charity. This year’s event raised $8,000, Sunday River representatives said.“Each year, the kindness of Santa Sunday participants contributes to creating impactful educational opportunities for our local stu...

UN agency warns of Afghans dying in harsh winter if there’s no proper shelter after leaving Pakistan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.N. refugee agency has warned that Afghans could die in harsh winter conditions if they don’t get adequate shelter once they cross the border from Pakistan. Almost half a million Afghans have left Pakistan since early October, when the Islamabad government announced it would arrest and deport foreigners it said were in the country illegally. The overwhelming majority of them are from neighboring Afghanistan, though Islamabad insists the policy doesn’t target a specific nationality. The forced returns are piling pressure on Afghanistan and aid agencies, which are providing the bulk of essential services like health care. Freezing temperatures are setting in and conditions at the border remain dire.“Many Afghan returnees are vulnerable, including women and children, who could lose their lives in a harsh winter if left without adequate shelter,” the U.N. refugee agency said in a report published Friday. “People arriving at the border are exhausted and req...

Catholic priest in small Nebraska community dies after being attacked in church

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Catholic priest in a small Nebraska community died Sunday after being attacked in a church rectory, authorities said. The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was assaulted “during an invasion at the rectory” of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the Archdiocese of Omaha said in a Sunday statement.Gutgsell was taken to an Omaha hospital where he died from his injuries, church officials said. Fort Calhoun, with a population of about 1,000 people, is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Omaha.Police received a 911 call of an attempted break-in at the church just after 5 a.m. When officers arrived, they found Gutgsell injured and an alleged attacker inside. Authorities took the suspect into custody, Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said in a statement. “This is an ongoing investigation, and the name of the suspect or manner of death will not be released,” Robinson said. The Associated Press

No STEM major, no problem: How to make a liberal arts degree count

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

(NerdWallet) - Majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) isn’t the only way to land a job that makes college worth it.A liberal arts degree can pay off, too — but you may need to put in more legwork than a STEM major would.“Going to school and being a liberal arts major in and of itself is not going to give you the same outcomes as focusing on your career preparation in tandem with going through your college experience,” says Joshua Kahn, associate director of research and public policy at the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).If you want to major in English, history, sociology or another nontechnical field, here are some expert-approved tips to help make your liberal arts degree pay off.Do your research before choosing a programBefore deciding on a college or specific degree program, research your post-diploma employment and salary prospects.“Check out the schools that have really good internship rates for liberal arts majors,” Kahn say...

These Texas cities have the highest teacher incomes in US: analysis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

(NEXSTAR) -- Many teachers across the U.S. continue to face low wages, but in some metropolitan areas, an educator’s salary can stretch farther than in others.The projected average national salary for public school teachers for the 2022-23 school year is $68,469, according to the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers’ union in the country. When adjusted for inflation, the average has declined by 6.4% over the past decade, the NEA said in its annual Rankings and Estimates report. The most and least lucrative college majors in Texas In McAllen, educators have the highest purchasing power compared to teachers in other cities, based on data analyzed by the personal finance firm MoneyGeek.The average annual salary in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area is $73,153 – but after accounting for taxes and the cost of living, the adjusted take-home pay comes to $68,271. Again, that’s still higher than elsewhere in the country, according to MoneyGeek's report, which ra...

Business People: General Mills announces key executive changes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

OF NOTEGeneral Mills, Golden Valley, announced the following senior leadership changes, effective Jan. 1: Jon Nudi appointed group president, Pet and International; Ricardo Fernandez, promoted to segment president, International; Dana McNabb promoted to group president, North America Retail; Bethany Quam appointed president, U.S. Morning Foods; Kofi Bruce, chief financial officer, will oversee strategy and growth on an interim basis. The company also announced the pending retirement of Group President, International Sean Walker, effective Feb. 28.ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONSMax Allers, creative director at Max Marketing Communications, St. Paul, announced that he has received a14th national GDUSA American Graphic Design Award.ARCHITECTURE/ENGINEERINGSambatek, a Minnetonka-based multistate transportation- and land use-focused engineering firm, announced the addition of Josh Maus as a transportation client service manager. Maus previously was a traffic engineering principal at SRF Con...

NYS Cannabis Expo shows how the industry is evolving

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - On Sunday, the NYS Cannabis Expo, Conference, and Career Fair was green and full of cannabis enthusiasts at Empire State Plaza. Co-creator Devon Brott says they are excited to see the event continue to grow. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “That’s what we’ve been looking forward to,” Brott said. “That growth, getting everybody together, and trying to get as much of this going as possible.”Farmers, retailers, and licensing agencies were all in attendance to help current and future cannabis business leaders learn more about the industry. Caleb Blue and Jacob Cornell attended as vendors for Bankers Life and as individuals curious to see how the industry evolves.“I like stuff like this,” Blue said. “I like networking, so this is a good opportunity to grow my business and help people.”“It’s a lot slower than what we anticipated. I think it’s a lot slower than what people want,” Cornell said. “But now that it’s coming ...

Albany Police investigating teen stabbing incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Police Department announced they are investigating a stabbing incident that occurred on December 8. The incident took place near Roots Achievement Academy on Central Avenue. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Police say that around 3:50 p.m. on Friday afternoon, a 14-year-old was reportedly slashed with a knife after a fight was started between two young people. According to police, the victim suffered minor injuries under the left eye as a result of the incident. The investigation remains ongoing. Stay with NEWS10 as this story continues to develop.

Broncos vs. Chargers: Live updates and highlights from the NFL Week 14 game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

The Broncos head to California to see if they can shake off last week’s loss to the Texans. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.Live updatesPre-game updatesScouting report (noon): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Chargers in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.Game predictionsRelated ArticlesDenver Broncos | Task No. 1 for Broncos’ offensive front Sunday: Slow down Chargers pass-rusher Khalil Mack, who at 32 is “playing out of his mind” Denver Broncos | Broncos RB Samaje Perine questionable to play vs. Chargers due to knee injury Denver Broncos | Broncos Journal: Why Denver is relying on a tight end with zero NFL catches to boost its passing-game production Denver Broncos | Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Chargers and predictions Denver Broncos | WR Jerry Jeudy’s final five game...

A Texas city’s homeless roadmap pays off big — but shows challenges for Denver as it pursues new strategy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 04:11:20 GMT

HOUSTON — The apartment complex where Teresa Eddins now lives is so quiet that “you can hear a pin drop” at night, she says — a stark contrast to the constant noise she withstood while living beneath a bridge two years ago.She was one of the first people who moved into a former hotel in Houston that served as a center to help homeless people navigate their way to more stability. She credits the transitional housing facility and programs launched as part of “The Way Home,” the large Texas city’s nationally recognized homelessness-reduction strategy, for the fact that she now lives in an apartment she loves, alongside her adopted dog, Violet. It’s also where she decided to tackle her alcoholism, getting sober.“You don’t ever want to be in those shoes under a bridge — going through a hurricane, going through the cold, going through the winds, going through hot weather, you name it,” recalled Eddins, 63, of her life in 2021, wh...