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Mystery objects falling from sky in California may be spider 'balloons'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

(KRON) - California residents submitted photographs and videos to Nexstar's KRON this week of mysterious objects falling on their neighborhoods. Morgan Hill resident Gina Watson shot images of strange, white webby objects that fell "from my house all the way to work," she said.John E. Banks, an environmental sciences professor at California State University Monterey Bay, said the objects are likely silky webs created by spiders that are ballooning. "No one has definitively figured out what they are, but they appear to be spider silk," Banks told KRON.(Photo by Gina Watson)Spiders spin out long lines of silk in a phenomenon called ballooning. Several spider species use ballooning to blow in the breeze from one habitat to another, Banks said. A spider will weave its own parachute, or "balloon," and drift through the sky with help from the wind, he explained. The New York Times reported that spider silk is so thin and light that air is like a "thick fluid" in comparison. "The...

Stouffer's frozen dinner advent calendar sells out in 15 minutes, but will be restocked soon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

(KTLA) – Yes, advent calendars have reached the frozen food stage. Stouffer’s is releasing an advent calendar of sorts — or rather, a "Comfort Calendar" — which includes seven dishes from its frozen food product lineup.Stouffer's further claims the Comfort Calendar marks the first time any company has released a frozen-foods advent calendar of any kind, according to a recent news release. Girl Scouts discontinue popular cookie one year after its release The Stouffer's Comfort Calendar, which comes in a gingerbread-house-shaped package, is filled with Stouffer's dishes including family-sized meals, individual meals, sides, and even French bread pizza.Specifically, the "advent calendar" includes the Family Size Macaroni & Cheese, Family Size Lasagna with Meat & Sauce, Chicken Bacon Ranch Bowl, Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Bake, Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, Pepperoni French Bread Pizza, and the Ultimate Five Cheese Mac.(Stouffer's) The first batch of Comfort Calendars, which went on...

Ozempic may impact food industry's bottom lines

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

(NewsNation) — There are signs America's weight-loss drugs may also be taking a bite out of food industry profits. Walmart executive John Furner said in an interview with Bloomberg this week that drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have impacted sales.“We definitely do see a slight change compared to the total population, we do see a slight pullback in overall basket,” he said. “Just less units, slightly less calories.” Does Medicare cover Ozempic? Other executives tied to the food industry acknowledged they may also start seeing an impact from the drugs."Like everything that potentially impacts our business, we’ll look at it, study it and, if necessary, mitigate," said CEO Steve Cahillane, whose company produces Pringles."A company like Campbell Soup doesn't want to see any of their profits erode. So, look, if there's even a 1% hit on a bag of Fritos, that's gonna be fairly significant. I think they'll start to look for other avenues if you will. You'll see a healthy bag of Doritos, a...

Dean's Reviews: "The Exorcist: Believer"

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

Check out Dean's Review on 'The Exorcist: Believer' that is in theaters now.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!

Dean's Weekender: Dave Chappelle, Bob Dylan and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

Check out Dean's Weekender for the latest events coming to the Chicagoland area this weekend.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!

The best 'Foodie Cities' in America, according to WalletHub

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

(KOIN/NEXSTAR) – Are you one of the 340 million Americans who eats food from time to time?Oh, good! You’ll want to take a look at this new WalletHub study.WalletHub, the personal finance website, has ranked over 180 of America’s most populous cities in order of “foodie-friendliness” based on a smorgasbord of metrics related to accessibility, diversity and quality. Each city was also graded on the overall affordability of its dining options and groceries, to present a list that highlights not just the tastiest but also the cheapest “Foodie Cities in America,” according to WalletHub. The 25 best ‘hidden gem’ restaurants in the US, according to TripAdvisor At the top of the list, perhaps surprisingly, is Orlando, Florida, which ranked high in terms of accessibility, diversity, and quality thanks to its large number of well-reviewed restaurants, ice cream parlors, coffee shops and specialty food stores. The city, however, did not score so high in terms of affordability (ranking #108 o...

Minnesota United parts ways with manager Adrian Heath

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

Minnesota United has let go of manager Adrian Heath and technical director Mark Watson with two games remaining in the 2023 season, a source confirmed to the Pioneer Press on Friday morning.Assistant coach Sean McAuley will serve as interim head coach for the final two matches. The Loons play L.A. Galaxy at Allianz Field on Saturday, following by Sporting Kansas City on Decision Day, Oct. 21.After the blowout loss to LAFC, Heath twice said he took “full responsibility” for that performance.The Loons are winless in seven straight games and sit in 12th place in the Western Conference standings. Nine teams make the playoffs and MNUFC’s chances hang by a thread.Heath signed a two-year contract extension before the 2023 season, meaning the club will need to buy him out of the remaining year on his deal for 2024.The biggest question going forward is who will hire Heath’s replacement?CEO Shari Ballard and owner Bill McGuire do not hold soccer expertise.After the 2019 season, MNUFC pr...

Other voices: Congress should do right thing on Afghan refugees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan is one of many blights on the Biden administration’s spotty record. The fact that this nation since then has turned its back on Afghans who helped U.S. troops only makes the matter worse.But there is a remedy for this injustice.Since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan more than two years ago, the United States has welcomed more than 80,000 refugees from the country. Some have relocated to Southern Nevada.But the humanitarian program that allowed them to come here provides only temporary protection and no road to permanent residency. In addition, thousands of Afghans who aided the American war effort remain at risk in their home country, unable to cut through the red tape and flee to the United States. They and their families are targets for retribution from the brutal Taliban.“Helping these Afghans would signify to other allies that the U.S. doesn’t abandon its friends,” Sierra Dawn McClain wrote in t...

Tickets available for gala honoring chef Sean Sherman’s Julia Child award

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

Chef Sean Sherman, co-owner of Owamni and founder of North American Traditional Indigenous Food Systems (NATIFS), is curating the menu for a dinner in his honor at the Minneapolis Depot on Oct. 24.Sherman will be presented with the 2023 Julia Child Award at the gala, which is open to the public. The award is accompanied by a $50,000 grant, which will help support NATIFS and the newly opened Indigenous Food Lab in Midtown Global Market. The Indigenous Food Lab’s mission is to expand access to Indigenous food.Sherman’s gala menu ranges from scallop ceviche to cedar-braised elk, and will be prepared by his non-profit team and paired with wines from Native American vintners to celebrate the occasion.Megan O’Hara and R.T. Rybak, president and chief executive of the Minneapolis Foundation, will co-host the awards on behalf of the Julia Child Foundation and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Speakers include Toni Tipton-Martin, award-winning author and food journalist a...

Palace Theatre announces new comedy, music shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Palace Theatre in Albany has recently announced three new shows. Celtic Women, Black Violin and the Bored Teachers Comedy Tour are all set to perform in March 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Bored Teaches Comedy Tour is coming to the Palace on March 2. The show features skits about the life of teachers inside and outside the classroom by a group of teacher-comedians. Celtic Woman, an all female Irish group, is set to perform at the Palace for its 20th Anniversary Tour on March 20. The group is known for its traditional and contemporary Irish music. Inside the new Crumbl Cookies in Clifton Park Black Violin, a hip hop duo of two classically trained string instrumentalists, is making its way to the Palace on March 29. The duo plays about 200 shows in a year and the performances are mainly for young, low-income students in urban communities. A dollar from every ticket sold will go to The Bl...