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Christmas celebrations cancelled in Bethlehem, Jesus' traditional birthplace due to Israel-Hamas war

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Officials in Bethlehem said Christmas celebrations will be canceled in Jesus' traditional birthplace due to the Israel-Hamas war and the thousands of Palestinians lives lost. The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town's tourism-dependent economy. But joyous revelry is untenable at a time of immense suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, said Mayor Hana Haniyeh.More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed and more than 50,000 wounded during Israel's blistering bombings, according to health officials there, while some 85% of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Since Oct. 7, access to Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass military checkpoints. The restrictions have also prevented many Palestinians from exiting the territory to work in Israel.City le...

NY lawmakers call out Chick-fil-A over Sunday closures at highway rest stops

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) – A group of New York State Assembly officials wants to ensure all travelers can access every restaurant operating at rest stops along the New York State Thruway, seven days a week.It's not an issue for most of the rest-stop eateries, but it does single out one: Chick-fil-A, which operates at seven of the Thruway's 27 rest stops. What’s the fastest fast food drive-thru? It isn’t Chick-fil-A The bill's sponsor and co-sponsors are now aiming to prevent further food-service contracts at Thruway stops from closing during busy travel days."While there is nothing objectionable about a fast food restaurant closing on a particular day of the week, service areas dedicated to travelers is an inappropriate location for such a restaurant," the justification for the proposed bill reads, after calling out Chick-fil-A specifically. "Publicly owned service areas should use their space to maximally benefit the public. Allowing for retail space to go unused one seventh of the we...

Why Apple is set to pull some Apple Watches from US shelves

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — As early as this week, you won't be able to find some Apple Watches on store shelves or online.Apple confirmed to Nexstar on Monday that they will be pausing the sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 on their website starting Thursday. Apple's retail locations will no longer be selling the watches after Christmas Eve.This comes as Apple faces a legal dispute over the technology the smartwatches use to run the blood oxygen feature on the devices. Masimo sued Apple in federal court in 2020 and accused the tech giant of poaching employees and stealing trade secrets related to its light-based technology for measuring blood-oxygen levels, as The Hill previously reported. The company sued Apple again in 2021 after the release of the Apple Watch Series 6, which was the first model to have the blood oxygen feature. Apple then sued Masimo last year, alleging the company copied their technology. There’s a new iPhone update: What’s in it, and who can get it? The 2020 case en...

Minnesota native starts nonprofit for Maui wildfire victims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

BRAINERD — This Christmas will be like no other ever experienced in Maui, Hawaii, where many residents no longer have homes to call their own or the company of loved ones they so cherished, let alone a festive tree and decorations.But one Minnesota native hopes to make the holiday as jolly as it can be, under the circumstances.Hannah Erickson (Courtesy photo via Forum News Service)Originally from Crosslake and a 2014 graduate of Pequot Lakes High School, Hannah Erickson moved to Maui five years ago. The coastal town of Lahaina on Maui’s western side is now her home, and it’s struggling.Wildfires broke out on the island Aug. 8, with flames eventually fanned by Hurricane Dora. At least 100 people died, and most of Lahaina was reduced to ash, just like Erickson’s house.She was in Minnesota when the fire broke out, helping out at her sister and brother-in-law’s hockey camp in Brainerd. She wasn’t initially sure what the future held for her and her marketing company and was hesitant to g...

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards releases statement in response to social media controversy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

Anthony Edwards released a statement on social media Monday regarding screen shots circulating on social media of an alleged messaging conversation in which the Timberwolves guard pressures a woman to get an abortion.“I made comments in the heat of a moment that are not me, and that are not aligned with what I believe and who I want to be as a man,” Edwards’ statement read. “All women should be supported and empowered to make their own decisions about their bodies and what is best for them. I am handling my personal matters privately and will not be commenting on them any further at this time.”This is the second time in 15 months that the 22-year-old has posted on social media in response to a personal controversy. He apologized last fall after posting a video to his Instagram of himself making anti-gay comments.Related ArticlesMinnesota Timberwolves | Timberwolves’ offense starts slow, then revs up. Why is that? Minnesota Timberwo...

WNBA changes Commissioner’s Cup format with each team playing 5 games over 2-week period

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

NEW YORK — The WNBA is changing its Commissioner’s Cup format, playing half as many games and contesting them all during a two-week period in early June.Teams now will play only five games — once against every other team in the conference — which is down from the 10 in the first three years. The old format had teams playing one home game and one road game against each other that counted toward the Commissioner’s Cup. Now, some teams will play three games at home while others will play two. They will alternate each season who has the extra home game.“The newly designed, concentrated structure for this in-season tournament adds an increased sense of urgency and excitement as we place a particular spotlight on Eastern and Western Conference Commissioner’s Cup play in a two-week window near the tip-off of our regular season.” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.Games will be played between June 1-13. The championship game will be played on June 25 at the home of the team with the bes...

Stumped for tech gifts as the shopping season winds down? We’ve got you.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

If you’re stumped for tech gifts as the holiday season winds down, I’ve got a few suggestions for your final gadget-shopping push.I’ve tried out all of the following, and I like them enough to recommend them — though I’ve noted where I see issues.Amazon has ’em and will get them to you before Christmas Eve —but you’ll have to pay for delivery, in most cases, unless you have Prime.What gadgets are you giving or hoping to receive this Christmas? Email me at the address above.Safety-focused earbudsRockin’ your tunes with traditional earbuds that lodge in your ear canals is great … except when you’re running, jogging or driving, and you need to keep your wits about you.JVC’s HA-NP50T Nearphones solve this problem because they are positioned just above and outside your ear canals, not inside them. This means you can hear your podcasts and music clearly without blocking out ambient sounds.This is a bit of a compromise with audio that won’t blow yo...

Colonie Police Chief Michael Woods to retire in January

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Colonie Town Supervisor Peter Crummey announced on Monday that Police Chief Michael Woods will be retiring in January. Woods was promoted to Chief back in 2021. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! A lifelong resident of Colonie, Woods previously served as Deputy Chief from 2015 to 2021. Town Supervisor Crummey issued a statement recognizing Chief Woods for his dedication to the town and the police department.“Chief Woods has led a career of excellence. He proudly served the citizens of Colonie in our Police Department for over 32 years, the last two and a half years as Police Chief. As Chief, he has maintained the Colonie Police Department’s status as a premiere law enforcement agency in our nation,” said Town Supervisor Crummey. "Chief Woods has equipped our officers with body cameras, lifesaving less lethal devices, and state of the art ballistic shields. Most importantly, he will be remembered for his unwaverin...

Kiszla vs. Gabriel: Can Russell Wilson and Sean Payton get along?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

Kiz: Like it or not, Sean Payton is a jerk. He likes being obnoxious. He thinks being cantankerous and condescending helps win football games. With a Super Bowl victory on his resume and his 60th birthday just around the corner, it’s unlikely Payton is going to change. Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, on the other hand, is the last Boy Scout; he’s courteous and reverent. After watching Payton chew out Wilson during the blowout loss to Detroit, I’ve got to ask: Is there a future where these two guys can work together?Gabriel: Can? Probably. Want to? That’s the $245 million question. The $85 million dead cap hit after the 2023 season question. And the interesting part about it, Kiz, is that all along it’s been Wilson who’s been so excited about the prospect of playing for Payton. He was willing to accept a trade to New Orleans in 2021 when Payton was there. He raved about Payton right as Denver’s coaching search kicked into gear and he’s made it clear he’s all abo...

Right 3 lanes of northbound Interstate 25 closed for tractor-trailer fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:57 GMT

The right three lanes of Interstate 25 northbound and the off-ramp to exit 225 in Thornton are closed because of a tractor-trailer fire, North Metro Fire Department announced on social media Monday morning.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police shooting reported near North Boulder Recreation Center Crime and Public Safety | Aurora firefighters continue to battle construction fire Sunday Crime and Public Safety | Jefferson County inmate dies in custody, cause of death unknown Crime and Public Safety | Bomb threat sent to Boulder Jewish synagogue Congregation Har HaShem Crime and Public Safety | 6 face organized crime charges in Weld County for alleged catalytic converter theft scheme According to the department, trash that was being hauled away by a tractor-trailer caught on fire while the vehicle was heading north on Interstate 25. Fire crews initially extinguished the flames with water, and ar...