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Stock market today: Asia follows Wall Street lower after Fed’s notes dent hopes of rate hikes ending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Asian stocks followed Wall Street lower Thursday after notes from a U.S. Federal Reserve meeting dented hopes interest rate hikes are finished.Hong Kong and Tokyo lost more than 1%. Shanghai, Seoul and Sydney also retreated. Oil prices declined.Wall Street’s benchmark S&P 500 lost 0.8% on Wednesday after minutes from the Fed’s latest meeting suggested board members are unsure what to do after raising their key lending rate to a two-decade high. Traders had hoped they would decide inflation was under control and last month’s rate hike was the last.Fed officials face a “tough balancing act” between “the risk of an inadvertent over-tightening of policy against the cost of an insufficient one,” said Tan Boon Heng of Mizuho Bank in a report.The Shanghai Composite Index sank 0.4% to 3,136.17 and the Nikkei 225 in Tokyo retreated 1.2% to 31,379.24. The Hang Seng in Hong Kong lost 1.6% to 18,018.20 after being down more than 2% in early trading.The Kospi...

Judge declines to approve Hyundai/Kia class action settlement, noting weak proposed remedies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

A federal judge on Wednesday declined to approve a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit prompted by a surge in Hyundai and Kia vehicle thefts, saying it fails to provide “fair and adequate” relief to vehicle owners. The proposed settlement, announced in May, could be valued at $200 million and covers about 9 million 2011-2022 model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles in the U.S., the companies said at the time. These cars are not equipped with push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices. That has allowed thieves to easily steal them using just a screwdriver and a USB cord, creating a recent rash of auto thefts across the country.The proposed settlement would offer vehicle owners cash payments for theft-related damage and a voluntary recall to update theft-protection software. But U.S. District Judge James Selna raised concerns about the process for calculating payments and the adequacy of the software update in preventing future thefts.The two automakers announced t...

Naperville non-profit told they need to move emotional support chickens elsewhere

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

NAPERVILLE, Ill. — A husband and wife who house and train emotional support chickens in their backyard have one year to find a new location for the program.Rick and Wendy Montalbano, co-founders of the non-profit Touch My Heart, say the animals are used to provide comfort and relaxation for adults with special needs.The idea to create the organization was born during COVID, when the Montalbanos decided they needed to find a way to get out of the house and socialize. Combine that need with the fact that the Montalbanos have a special place in their hearts for adults with disabilities, and the non-profit came into fruition, with notable fanfare from the community."Agnes is their favorite, Lavernge is their favorite," Rick Montalbano said of their emotional support chickens. "We get emails. We [even] get birthday cards."Touch My Hearts' feathered friends currently number at 16 in total, and according to Wendy Montalbano, each one has been trained to provide a unique, special experience...

WGN's Mike Lowe skydives with Golden Knights

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

The Chicago Air and Water show is scheduled for this weekend along the lakefront. The free show is the largest of its kind in the United States.There will be a rehearsal show on Friday, the formal show goes from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say the best viewing location is North Avenue Beach. More than a million people are expected to watch the show from locations up and down the lakefront. This year’s headliners include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights.The Golden Knights were founded in 1959.  The unit travels across the nation performing demonstrations at events like the Chicago Air and Water Show and competing in international contests. The maneuvers they’ve mastered can be used in real-life combat situations, but through their dazzling demonstrations, the expert jumpers mainly serve as ambassadors of the U.S. Army.Each Golden Knight must complete a rigorous eight weeks of assessment before  selection. The...

Maui fire death toll reaches 110, few victims identified

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (KHON/NEXSTAR) - Federal officials sent a mobile morgue with coroners, pathologists and technicians to Hawaii to help identify the dead, as Maui County released the first names of people killed in the wildfire that all but incinerated the historic town of Lahaina a week ago and killed at least 110 people.A week after the fires started, some residents still had intermittent power, unreliable cellphone service and uncertainty over where to get assistance.Some people walked periodically to a seawall, where phone connections were strongest, to make calls. Flying low off the coast, a single-prop airplane used a loudspeaker to blare information about where to get water and supplies. Remembering those lost in the Maui fires Just two victims have been named so far, while the county said it has identified three more and will release the names after notifying the next of kin. Robert Dyckman (74) of Lahaina and Buddy Jantoc (79) of Lahaina were identified by Mayor R...

US women’s national team coach resigns after early World Cup exit: AP source

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

(AP) - U.S. women's national team coach Vlatko Andonovski has resigned, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The move comes less than two weeks after the Americans were knocked out of the Women's World Cup earlier than ever before.The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the move had not been officially announced. An announcement was expected Thursday.The four-time tournament champions struggled throughout the World Cup. A victory over Vietnam to kick off the group stage was followed by a pair of draws against Netherlands and Portugal — barely enough to get the team into the knockout stage,The Americans played well in the Round of 16 against Sweden, but ultimately fell on penalties after a scoreless tie. The U.S. scored just four goals over the course of the tournament.The United States had never finished worse than third at the World Cup.The 46-year-old Andonovski was named coach of the United States in October 201...

Mother drowns trying to save son at a popular waterfall, turning family outing grim

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A mother drowned trying to rescue her 10-year-old son as he was pulled by the current at a popular waterfall, New Hampshire authorities said. An older son who jumped in to help became lodged in boulders and was rescued by his father, a Massachusetts police officer.Melissa Bagley, 44, was part of a family of six from Lynn, Massachusetts, visiting Franconia Falls in the White Mountain National Forest along with a friend Tuesday afternoon, authorities said. The falls are several miles off the scenic Kancamagus Highway.A child slipped and fell into a pool and could not escape the fast, circulating current, Sgt. Heidi Murphy, of the state Fish and Game Department, said in a news release. Bagley “jumped into the river to help her child and began to immediately have trouble,” she said. Inspectors find bed bugs at several Las Vegas Strip hotels Two other children jumped in to help their brother and mother. They were able to get the child out of the water, but an 18-ye...

Air-quality alert: Canada wildfire smoke blowing into Minnesota on Thursday and Friday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

Another incursion of smoke from Canadian wildfires has prompted the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue a statewide air quality alert for the next two days.The MPCA said the impact is expected to be “significant” during the alert, from 12:00 a.m. Thursday through 11 p.m. Friday.The smoke from Canada’s Northwest Territories is expected to move in and cause orange alert conditions (unhealthy for sensitive groups) and red alert conditions (unhealthy for all).“What this will mean is that once smoke arrives it will be significant and will linger,” the Minnesota agency said on its website Wednesday, noting it could rival record poor air quality conditions seen in July/August 2021.There is also the possibility of a purple alert (very unhealthy) in far northern Minnesota.“In this concentration smoke will be easily visible and there will likely be a strong smoke odor,” the MPCA said.In some cases, there may be a burned plastic smell instead o...

Motorcycle advocates share safety awareness amid the rise of accidents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A tragic motorcycle accident in Clifton Park on Wednesday has become another reminder of how important it is for both drivers and riders to share the road responsibly.Andrew Liuzzi, President of the New York chapter of the American Bikers Aim Towards Education (ABATE), is an advocate trying to help prevent these types of crashes from happening. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “The Safety Board says there is a 6% -8% increase in crashes and fatalities in New York State. And sadly, I believe that number is considerably higher,” he said.Liuzzi believes that number may be as high as 20%.“Lane changing sensors that tell you that there’s no one beside you don’t always pick up motorcycles, unfortunately. People need to turn their heads,” he said.From automatic lane detectors, brakes, and rearview cameras, Liuzzi says there is still room for human error.One commuter agreed that drivers should be more careful on ...

Troy to finalize downtown infrastructure plans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:30:20 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Its been more than ten years since the old city hall was torn down. A fence is still keeping people out of the spot.Assemblyman John McDonald says the city has been working on finding just the right plan. “This has been a critical site in the heart of downtown Troy that has gone through different variations. I think four or five.”As of January 2022, the city started preliminary site work for their project partner, Hoboken Brownstone. This included the relocation of an existing water service line and the installation of improved sewer lines. The project needed financial help from the state to continue and that came in the 2023 budget. “We were fortunate in the budget with the support of Governor Hochul to direct $19 million into the project," said McDonald. What would you like to see at the old Troy city hall location But before construction begins on the projected $64 million project, all the money needed is not yet in order. “The developer is working with var...