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Festivus 2023: The airing of grievances, sports edition

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

Festivus is back! And with my aluminum pole, with a high strength-to-weight ratio, now pulled out of the crawl space we are ready for a tinsel-free Festivus miracle.Another year has come and gone in the sports world, memories were made, champions were crowned and over the past 12 months, my basket was filled with content for this year’s piece.We will start by paying our respect to the classic TV show Seinfeld with my favorite tradition, the “airing of grievances.”I have a lot of problems with teams, commissioners, fans, owners, players, rules and mascots. And now, you’re gonna hear about it.Here are all the ways the sports world has disappointed me over the past year:Rockies mascot Dinger is the worst in professional sports Colorado Rockies mascot Dinger the dinosaur dons a costume to mark a promotion for “Star Wars” before the Rockies’ baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Denver.(AP Photo/David Zalubows...

Cold to cool Saturday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

It’s a cold morning as temperatures fell into the teens and 20s! It’ll be cool and closer to average this afternoon in the low 40s with some increasing cloud cover. Over the next 24 hours, there’s a chance for sprinkles and flurries, but that’s about it. We stay mild over the next few days.Here’s those morning low temperatures…There’s a lot of sunshine to start, so we’ll get into the upper 30s/low 40s with a light southerly breeze by this afternoon. Our skies will gain more clouds through the day. It’ll be comfortable for any last-minute holiday shopping!A disturbance to our west will bring the chance for flurries overnight with lingering sprinkles tomorrow.

State animal health officials warning dog owners of virus outbreak in Franklin County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ (MDAR) Division of Animal Health is advising dog owners of a canine parvovirus (commonly called “parvo”) outbreak in Franklin County. At least one dog, recently purchased from Jason Whitmore at 35 Daniel Shay’s Highway in Orange, Massachusetts, has been affected. The property is currently under quarantine. Anyone who may have purchased a puppy or dog from this source on or after Dec. 1, 2023, should contact their veterinarian immediately if their animal exhibits any symptoms. Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious disease that spreads easily between dogs and can be fatal. Severe vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite are common symptoms of the virus and will usually develop after an incubation period of 3 to 7 days. Dogs that have been infected and recover can remain infectious for several months. Canine parvovirus does not affect humans or other domestic animals. Vaccinations effectivel...

Police investigating crash in West Bridgewater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

Police are investigating a crash in West Bridgewater late Friday night that prompted the closure of a stretch of Route 24 southbound.The cause of the crash remains under investigation.No additional information was immediately available.This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.

Bulls, bears and Bay Street: Test your knowledge of 2023’s business news

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

1. What sector led a rally in North American equity markets during the first half of 2023?a. Technology b. Energyc. Banksd. Telecommunications—2. Midway into the year, which airline division(s) did WestJet say it planned to shut down?a. Swoopb. Sunwing Airlinesc. Swoop and Flaird. Swoop and Sunwing Airlines—3. In July, which company filed a trademark application for its brand’s signature colour, also known as Pantone 301?a. Tangerineb. Bellc. Canadian Tired. Rogers—4. Which company pleaded guilty in June to four counts of price-fixing on bread products under the Competition Act, and was fined $50 million?a. Weston Bakeries b. Loblawc. Canada Bread d. Maple Leaf Foods—5. How many times did the Bank of Canada raise interest rates in 2023?a. Twob. Threec. Fourd. Five—6. Which Canadian company did NOT file for creditor protection in 2023?a. Bad Boy Furniture Warehouse Ltd.b. Hudson’s Bay Co.c. Metroland Media Groupd. Mastermind GP Inc.—7. Who was summoned to appear before a parlia...

Busiest holiday travel season in year is off to a smooth start with few airport delays

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The holiday travel rush hit its peak Friday as mild weather and lower flight cancelation rates raised hopes for merrier drivers and airline passengers than last year.U.S. airlines are predicting a blockbuster holiday season and have projected confidence they can handle the crowds after hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers, seeking to avoid the delays and suspensions that marred travel last year and culminated with the Southwest Airline debacle that stranded more than 2 million people.Airlines have canceled just 1.2% of U.S. flights so far this year, the lowest in five years, but bad weather is always a threat. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has warned the government will be holding the airlines accountable to operate smoothly and treat passengers well if there are disruptions. Earlier this week, Transportation Department announced a settlement in which Southwest will pay $140 million for its meltdown last y...

Saturday Forecast: Dense Fog Advisory, drizzly, mid 40s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

Saturday: Dense Fog Advisory until noon. Overcast, damp, drizzly & mild. SSE 5-10 mph. High: 48Saturday Night: Overcast and areas of dense fog forming. Unseasonably mild. SSE 5-10 mph. Low: 44Sunday: Overcast, drizzle and near record highs. Chance of late day rain. SSW 5-10 mph. High:57Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for some rain on Christmas but continued mild with highs in the mid 50s. We're in a soggy weather pattern for the beginning of the week-- each day we'll get a bit cooler with highs in the mid to low 40s. Rain/snow mix is possible by Thursday with high temps near 40. Mostly cloudy on Friday with highs back towards normal in the mid to upper 30s. 

Increasing rain/thunderstorm chances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Saturday is starting with with dense fog in many areas from I-35 eastward. For now, only Milam County is under a Dense Fog Advisory until 10 a.m. That may change in the next few hours.Rain totals since Thursday are averaging around .10" to .50". Only a gauge 8 miles south-southeast of Harper (Gillespie Co.) has recorded one inch.The upper-level low responsible for this rain has moved into southern Arizona.This morning will be cloudy with areas of fog and light rain. The fog will slowly lift during the late-morning hours. Patchy fog returns this evening and hovers over the area through Sunday morning.Rain chances increase during the early- to mid-afternoon. Thunderstorms will also be increasing late this afternoon into tonight.Thunderstorms will increase this eveningBased on present model trends it does look like the showers and thunderstorms will continue late tonight into tomorrow morning. The disturbance responsible for this rain will move east taking the rain and...

As mushers wait for snow, organizers consider postponing Beargrease sled dog race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

A lack of snow may delay next month’s annual John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon.Erin Altemus’ dog sled team pauses on a recent snow-free training run near Grand Marais, Minn. The team is pulling an ATV instead of a sled. The warm and dry winter could disrupt the 2024 Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. (Courtesy of Erin Altemus)Mike Keyport, president of the Beargrease board of directors, said a decision will be made in the first week of January on whether to postpone the race’s Jan. 28 start date to March 3.With the 300-mile route from Duluth to Grand Portage, Minn., nearly snowless, Keyport is hoping this winter’s warm weather will cool and enough snow will fall to reach the preferred 18-inch base of snow on the trails.But the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s eight- to 14-day outlook and January through March outlook both predict above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation for the region.“I would say I’m not in panic mode, but very concerned...

QR codes can hide deceptive links from identity thieves, FTC warns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:35:27 GMT

QR codes, the square bar codes that can be scanned and read by smartphones, are seemingly used everywhere: to board flights, enter concerts and look at restaurant menus.But scammers trying to steal personal information have also been using QR codes to direct people to harmful websites that can harvest their data, Alvaro Puig, a consumer education specialist at the Federal Trade Commission, wrote in a blog post Wednesday on the agency’s consumer advice page.Would-be scammers hide dangerous links in the black-and-white jumble of some QR codes, the FTC warned.The people behind those schemes direct users to the harmful QR codes in deceptive ways, using tactics that include placing their own QR codes on top of legitimate codes on parking meters or sending the patterns to be scanned by text or email in ways that make them appear legitimate, the post said.Once people have clicked those links, the scammer can steal information that is entered on the website. The QR code can also be used to ...