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James Patterson awards $500 bonuses to 600 employees at independent bookstores

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Six hundred employees at independent bookstores — from Chapter One in Victoria, Minnesota, to The Cloak & Dagger in Princeton, New Jersey — will be receiving $500 holiday bonuses from author James Patterson. Employees were able to nominate themselves, or be recommended by store owners, managers, peers, community members and others. “I’ve said this before, but I can’t say it enough — booksellers save lives,” Patterson said in a statement Wednesday. “What they do is crucial, especially right now. I’m happy to be able to acknowledge them and their hard work this holiday season.”One of the world’s most popular and prolific writers, Patterson has given millions of dollars to booksellers, librarians and teachers. In 2015, the same year he began awarding employee bonuses, he was presented an honorary National Book Award for “Outstanding Service to the America Literary Community.”Patterson has even co-authored a tribute book, “The Secret Lives of Booksellers ...

Toronto vs. Uber, and the future of rideshares 

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, it started as a way to earn a few extra bucks on the side — or at least that’s how Uber was pitched to potential drivers when it came to Canada in 2014. But now for many it’s way to (try to) earn a living, one that’s been getting tougher for years, and streets become crowded with empty Ubers hunting their next fares. Related: Uber taking Toronto to court, alleging move to cap rideshare vehicles is ‘illegal’ Uber, Lyft warn of higher costs, long wait times as Toronto moves to cap drivers Thorben Wieditz is an urban geographer and the co-founder of MetStrat, a research and campaign firm that specializes in public interest campaigns, including RideFairTO (Read his piece in Ricochet). “We know that Uber cars are circulating empty about 48 per cent of the time. This contributes to added vehicle kilometers traveled in the city of Toronto,” said Wieditz. That’s one of many reasons Toronto plac...

A volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island is sacred to spiritual practitioners and treasured by astronomers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

MAUNA KEA, Hawaii (AP) — Shane Palacat-Nelsen’s voice drops to a reverent tone as he tells the story of the snow goddess Poliahu who Native Hawaiians believe inhabits the summit of Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii. The tale speaks of a chief who yearned to court Poliahu but was stopped by her attendants guarding the sacred mountain top — the abode of the gods and cradle of creation.Today, this sublime summit on Hawaii’s Big Island is also treasured by astronomers as a portal to finding answers to the universe’s many mysteries, creating varied — and sometimes incompatible — views on what’s best for Mauna Kea’s future. The chief was eventually granted access on the condition that he stepped only on the same set of footprints left by the attendant escorting him up and down, said Palacat-Nelsen. He says it’s a metaphor for why Mauna Kea must be protected from further human intrusion, pollution and erosion.“You do not go up the sacred mountain unless you are called. You do not go u...

Kishida says he regrets a ruling party funds scandal and will work on partial changes to his Cabinet

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday announced plans to replace some of his Cabinet ministers to address public criticism and distrust over his governing party’s widening slush funds scandal that has shaken his grip on power.The scandal mostly involves the Liberal Democratic Party’s largest and most powerful faction formerly led by assassinated ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Its key members, including those in top Cabinet and party posts, were suspected of systematically failing to report several hundred million yen (several million dollars) in funds in possible violation of campaign and election laws, media reports say. The money is alleged to have gone into unmonitored slush funds.The scandal and a purge of Abe’s faction, which was key to Kishida’s own future, could stir a power struggle within the party ahead of a key leadership vote in September, even though Kishida doesn’t have to call a parliamentary election nearly two more years. The grip on power of...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 40s with mostly sunny conditions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly sunny conditions Wednesday. Winds: WSW 5-10. High: 40. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Clear conditions tonight. Winds: WSW 0-5. Low: 27.Thursday Forecast: Mainly sunny. Winds: WSW 5-10 G15. High: 47.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Dean’s Home Video: The Family Plan, Finestkind, The Crown: Season 6-Part 2 and more

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

WGN Entertainment Reporter Dean Richards has this week’s home video picks.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Nearly half of 5 million veterans screened found to have potential toxic substance exposure

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

(The Hill) - Nearly half of the 5 million veterans that have been screened by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) under a new law have reported at least one possible exposure to toxic substances during their military service.Announcing the 5 million screening milestone, the VA revealed that 2.1 million veterans — or 43 percent of those screened — were potentially exposed to such substances during their service.An Afghan National Army pickup truck passes parked U.S. armored military vehicles, as smoke rises from a fire in a trash burn pit at Forward Operating Base Caferetta Nawzad, Helmand province south of Kabul, Afghanistan, April 28, 2011. The House has approved a significant expansion of health care and disability benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Simon Klingert, File)A variety of toxic exposures can come up in these screenings, but the most common were exposures to burn pits and Agent Orange...

What to know for Saratoga New Year's Fest

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Saratoga New Year's Fest is returning to the Spa City for its second year. Festivities are planned from December 29, 2023, to January 1, 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! Formerly called First Night Saratoga, the annual New Year's Eve party got an overhaul in 2022. Saratoga New Year's Fest is now over several days and has more venues and activities.You can buy tickets on the event website. Here's what you need to know for the 2023-2024 Saratoga New Year's Fest.Music lineupFriday, December 29DJ Logic, 10 p.m. at Putnam Place Jordan Peterson coming to Proctors Theatre in Schenectady Saturday, December 30The Nth Power, 7 p.m. at Universal Preservation HallThe Weight Band, 8 p.m. at Universal Preservation HallSunday, December 31AfternoonKids Music Show, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Caffe LenaTBA Band, 3 p.m. at the City Center "Jazz Room"Will Pedicone, 2:30 p.m. at Impressions of SaratogaMaurizzio & Kaos...

Police investigating 'BP' gas station break-in

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Police are investigating a burglary at a gas station in north St. Louis.This happened at the 'BP' station on West Florissant and Park Lane. Burglars smashed the glass on the front door to get inside. 12-year-old shoots mother’s boyfriend following argument There's no word on what they stole. So far, the suspects have not yet been found. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Fire destroys home in Pine Lawn

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:53 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A fire destroyed a house in Pine Lawn.The fire broke out on Blakemore Avenue a little before 2:30 a.m. Crews from multiple departments were needed to put out the flames. 12-year-old shoots mother’s boyfriend following argument Firefighters say the house was vacant and no one was injured. Our Nissan Rogue Runner reporter, Nic Lopez, captured footage of the scene.