Former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, one of the top offensive players in the transfer portal, announced on social media Tuesday that he will transfer to Nebraska. Key posted a photo of himself in a Nebraska uniform wearing the No. 6 he wore at Kentucky. The simple post contained the letters "GBR," short for "Go Big Red," with an emoji heart. Key led Kentucky this past season with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as the Wildcats finished 4-8. In three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 TDs in 38 games (35 starts). Key has one season of eligibility remaining after he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. --Field Level Media
DALLAS , Dec. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF) (the "Company") today announced a dividend for its 8.50% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (NYSE: NREF PRA) of $0.53125 per share. The dividend will be payable on January 27, 2025 , to stockholders of record at the close of business on January 15, 2025 . About NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc., is a publicly traded REIT, with its common stock and Series A Preferred Stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NREF" and "NREF PRA," respectively, primarily focused on originating, structuring and investing in first-lien mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, convertible notes, multifamily properties and common equity investments, as well as multifamily and single-family rental commercial mortgage-backed securities securitizations, promissory notes and mortgage-backed securities. More information about the Company is available at nref.nexpoint.com . CONTACTS Investor Relations Kristen Griffith IR@nexpoint.com Media Relations Prosek Partners for NexPoint pro-nexpoint@prosek.com View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nexpoint-real-estate-finance-inc-announces-series-a-preferred-stock-dividend-302339003.html SOURCE NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc.First Pole in 50 years to travel into space in 2025
Traveling this holiday season? 10 things the TSA wants you to know
Visitors heading to Yosemite National Park will need to take extra precautions over the next few days after officials forecast extreme weather from an incoming winter storm. The park and surrounding area could see up to 18 inches of snow over the weekend alongside strong winds of up to 50mph and heavy rain. The National Parks Service advises against hiking in Yosemite during winter storms due to unpredictable, dangerous conditions. Weather can quickly change in the Yosemite valley, leaving even the most experienced trekkers unprepared and vulnerable. Unpredictable and fearsome, harsh winter storms can often come out of the blue, so it’s imperative to take extra precautions when heading into the wilderness during the winter season. If you’re thinking of hiking in the coldest months you’ll want to be wearing the right clothes. Make sure to be ready with a warm winter jacket like the Columbia Si Down parka. Rated as , the Si Down parka boasts 650-fill duck-down insulation to keep you toasty. Its waterproof outer is an essential component of any good winder jacket. You can’t stay warm without keeping dry, so make sure you’re clothing is well-equipped to ward off heavy rain. Layering is highly recommended. Wearing a base layer and mid layer will not only keep you warm but give you something to wear should conditions improve and you need to cool down. Wearing the right footwear is a non-negotiable for any hike, let alone in treacherous winter conditions. Terrain often becomes unpredictable in the colder months, with heavy rain and even snowfall affecting the trails. If you're heading out in extreme conditions, you’ll need a pair with ample traction and enough protection to keep your feet warm and dry when conditions take a turn for the worse. , the Scarpa Manta Techs fulfill all these criteria. Their thick, durable lugs dig into uneven surfaces for stability while gor-tex insulated comfort membrane linings keep your feet toasty, and thick waterproof outers battle off the elements. If you’re likely to encounter thick snow and ice, consider a crampon-compatible pair like the . Similarly sturdy winter boots, the Mescalito TRK Pros can be fitted with metal crampons for improved traction on snowy and icy trails. When planning a winter hike, prepare for the worst with enough food to sustain you in the short term. Light, portable snacks like contain enough calories to keep you sustained without taking up too much space. Basic medical supplies like bandages and antiseptic ointments can also be extremely useful. Slippery trails and strong winds can easily cause injury, so make sure you’re stocked with the basics. Should your situation become perilous, the first thing to do is call for help. The best way to do this is with a satellite communicator. Not reliant on cell signal, satellite communicators like the Garmin InReach can send SOS signals from remote backcountry locations regardless of the weather. Garmin’s InReach SOS service alone has in the past decade. Just two months ago, it . If you do end up needing rescue, the best way to stay warm is to seek shelter. Locate a protected area, ideally away from wind and below the tree cover to wait out the storm. Make-shift shelters can be built from nearby branches. For more information on how to have a safe winter hike, check out .
Adam Pemble, an Associated Press video journalist who covered some of the biggest global news of the past two decades, from earthquakes and conflicts to political summits and elections, has died. He was 52. Pemble died Thursday in Minneapolis surrounded by friends and family, according to his friend Mike Moe, who helped care for him in the final weeks of his fight against cancer. Known for bringing stories alive with his camera, Pemble epitomized the best of television news traditions, casting a curious and compassionate lens onto the lives of the people and communities whose stories he told. He joined the AP in 2007 in New York before moving to Prague in 2011 to help launch AP’s first cross-format operation combining photography, text stories and video. He enhanced Eastern European news coverage, creating distinctive stories highlighting the region’s culture and society. “Adam was an incredibly talented and passionate journalist and an empathetic storyteller. He had this amazing ability to get anyone to talk to him on camera, which I attribute to the Midwestern charm he embodied throughout his life.” said Sara Gillesby, AP’s Director of Global Video and Pemble’s former manager in New York when he joined the AP. “He was the best of us.” Pemble was born in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, in 1972 and grew up in Minneapolis. After graduating with a degree in mass communications from Minnesota State University Moorhead, he started his journalism career in 1997 at KVLY, a television station in Fargo, North Dakota, and later worked at WCCO in Minneapolis. “He had the skills of the old-school camera people to meet a deadline and turn a beautiful story,” said Arthur Phillips, a cameraman who worked with Pemble at WCCO. “But he had a calling for greater things.” Moving to New York, Pemble covered some of the biggest stories in the city, including the trial of Bernie Madoff, interviews with former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and with then-real estate developer, now U.S. president-elect, Donald Trump. He went to Haiti to cover the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake, where he captured shocking images of devastation. A few weeks later he was in Vancouver, covering the Winter Olympics. With his transfer to Prague, Pemble quickly became the go-to video journalist deployed to the biggest news events in Europe, interviewing government leaders, covering violent protests, the aftermath of terror attacks and numerous national elections across the continent. “An inquiring mind, a keen eye and a healthy skepticism for those in power who tried to spin away from the truth all combined to make Adam’s stories as rich in colour as he was in character,” said Sandy MacIntyre, former AP head of global video. “Time and again he was asked to do the impossible and without fail he delivered the exceptional.” ”But more than all of that, he was the colleague and friend you wanted by your side because if Adam was there we knew we were going to be the winning team.” As civil unrest rocked Ukraine in 2014, Pemble reported from Kyiv and later Donetsk, where he covered the first Russian-backed demonstrations before spending weeks in Crimea during Russia’s annexation of the strategic peninsula. His video reports included the last remaining Ukrainian sailors loyal to Kyiv, who had finally abandoned their ship and came ashore. With the Russian national anthem playing from a car in the background, his final shot showed two distraught sailors heckled as they walked away. Pemble returned to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the country in 2022. Among his many assignments was March 2023 AP interview by Executive Editor Julie Pace with across Ukraine to cities near some of the fiercest fighting. “Adam showed up to every assignment with enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to his work and his colleagues. He loved what he did, and so many of us at AP are better for having worked alongside him,” Pace said. When not deployed overseas, set his camera’s gaze on his new home in the Czech Republic, offering insight into the traditions and unique stories of Eastern Europe. From Christmas carp fishing at sunrise to graffiti artists in Prague to the intimate story of a Slovak priest challenging the celibacy rules of the Catholic Church, he brought his unmistakable style. He worked with a traditional large broadcast camera in an era where many video shooters shifted to smaller, lighter cameras. He always put himself in the right place to let reality unfold like “an old school analog painter in an often fast and furious digital age,” former AP cameraman Ben Jary recalled. Pemble’s interest in visual storytelling led to experimenting with new technologies, including aerial videography. In 2015, he was the first major news agency camera operator to film live drone footage when reporting on the migration crisis in the Balkans. An avid gardener who planted trees and chilis on his rooftop in Prague, he was adventurous in the kitchen and especially proud of his vegan “meatloaf,” friends said. He loved a seedy dive bar as much as a Michelin restaurant and foods as varied as charcoal choux pastry with truffle creme and his favourite road trip junk food, Slim Jim’s jerky and Salted Nut Rolls. Pemble’s wit, wisdom, energy and positivity enriched the lives and experiences of those around him, friends and colleagues recalled. “If someone asked me to see a picture of quiet strength and courage, dignity and grace, and most of all kindness, I would show them a picture of a man for all seasons,” said Dan Huff, a Washington-based AP video journalist, “I would show them a picture of Adam Pemble.”
THE Department of Finance (DOF) was honored by the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) for its unwavering support in advancing the country's information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industry. On Nov. 18, 2024, CCAP awarded a commemorative plaque to the DOF as part of its "Philippines: The Heart of CX" campaign, which highlights the country's leadership in customer experience services through innovation, talent development, and digital transformation. This recognition underscores the collaborative efforts between CCAP and government agencies to strengthen the Philippines' position in the global IT-BPM sector. Register to read this story and more for free . Signing up for an account helps us improve your browsing experience. OR See our subscription options.
Townsquare Capital LLC purchased a new stake in The Western Union Company ( NYSE:WU – Free Report ) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 14,929 shares of the credit services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $178,000. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in WU. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its position in shares of Western Union by 30.7% in the second quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 348,850 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $4,263,000 after buying an additional 82,018 shares in the last quarter. Foundry Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Western Union in the 3rd quarter valued at about $8,124,000. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Western Union by 293.3% during the 3rd quarter. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC now owns 198,002 shares of the credit services provider’s stock valued at $2,362,000 after acquiring an additional 147,658 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Western Union by 19.0% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 523,676 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $6,247,000 after purchasing an additional 83,715 shares in the last quarter. Finally, OLD National Bancorp IN increased its position in shares of Western Union by 11.9% in the third quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 704,054 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $8,399,000 after purchasing an additional 74,742 shares during the last quarter. 91.81% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Western Union Price Performance WU stock opened at $10.80 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $3.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 0.86. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $11.19 and its 200 day moving average is $11.86. The Western Union Company has a 52 week low of $10.51 and a 52 week high of $14.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.96, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 1.10. Analysts Set New Price Targets WU has been the subject of several research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Western Union from $14.00 to $12.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 20th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of Western Union from $13.50 to $12.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Western Union from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 25th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and eight have issued a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $12.86. Check Out Our Latest Report on WU Western Union Company Profile ( Free Report ) The Western Union Company provides money movement and payment services worldwide. The company operates through Consumer Money Transfer and Consumer Services segments. The Consumer Money Transfer segment facilitates money transfers for international cross-border and intra-country transfers, primarily through a network of retail agent locations, as well as through websites and mobile devices. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Western Union Company ( NYSE:WU – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Western Union Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Union and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Fmr LLC reduced its position in Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PLRX – Free Report ) by 0.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 3,899,481 shares of the company’s stock after selling 12,278 shares during the period. Fmr LLC owned 6.41% of Pliant Therapeutics worth $43,713,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Great Point Partners LLC boosted its stake in Pliant Therapeutics by 42.4% in the second quarter. Great Point Partners LLC now owns 2,636,864 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,346,000 after acquiring an additional 785,000 shares in the last quarter. Candriam S.C.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Pliant Therapeutics by 52.0% during the 2nd quarter. Candriam S.C.A. now owns 833,216 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,957,000 after purchasing an additional 285,216 shares during the last quarter. Fernwood Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Pliant Therapeutics by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Fernwood Investment Management LLC now owns 513,136 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,752,000 after purchasing an additional 16,850 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in Pliant Therapeutics by 4.4% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 456,663 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,119,000 after buying an additional 19,281 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Pliant Therapeutics by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 305,322 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,282,000 after buying an additional 5,152 shares in the last quarter. 97.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have weighed in on PLRX shares. Leerink Partners initiated coverage on Pliant Therapeutics in a research note on Monday, September 9th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $33.00 price target on the stock. Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Pliant Therapeutics to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, September 9th. Finally, HC Wainwright restated a “buy” rating and set a $38.00 price target on shares of Pliant Therapeutics in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $40.57. Pliant Therapeutics Stock Performance Shares of NASDAQ PLRX opened at $14.69 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $12.75. The stock has a market cap of $893.89 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.40 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 10.26, a quick ratio of 10.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. has a 12 month low of $10.22 and a 12 month high of $19.62. Pliant Therapeutics Profile ( Free Report ) Pliant Therapeutics, Inc, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and commercializes novel therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and related diseases in the United States. The company's lead candidate is bexotegrast, an oral, small-molecule, dual selective inhibitor of avß6 and avß1 integrins, which is in phase 2b trials for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and in phase 2a trial for primary sclerosing cholangitis. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Pliant Therapeutics What Are Trending Stocks? Trending Stocks Explained Fast-Growing Companies That Are Still Undervalued Stock Trading Terms – Stock Terms Every Investor Needs to Know Top Cybersecurity Stock Picks for 2025 How the NYSE and NASDAQ are Different, Why That Matters to Investors Archer or Joby: Which Aviation Company Might Rise Fastest? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PLRX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pliant Therapeutics, Inc. ( NASDAQ:PLRX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Pliant Therapeutics Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pliant Therapeutics and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
When it comes to the stock market, it can be a bit like a hurricane at sea: powerful, unpredictable, and capable of turning calm waters into chaos in an instant. Sure, stocks have been faring well all year long. In fact, the S&P 500 is up more than 27% so far in 2024 – making it the index’s best year since 2019. But while the market waters have been quite calm for a while, that certainly isn’t always the case. You see; historically speaking, the stock market averages about one bear market every five or six years. But in the past six years, we’ve had not one... not two... but three different bear markets . There was the flash crash of late 2018, which saw stocks briefly fall into a bear market right before the holidays. There was also the COVID crash of 2020, wherein stocks plunged in the fastest market crash in history. And then there was the inflation crash of 2022, when tech stocks were obliterated by sky-high interest rates. Three unforeseen bear markets in the past six years – that is wild. But, of course, on the other hand, we’ve also seen some huge stock market successes, too. Navigating Both Flash Crashes & Fast Recoveries On average, the stock market rises about 10% per year. But this year, stocks are up about 27% so far. They rose about the same in 2021 as well. And in 2019, stocks rallied about 29%. In other words, over the past six years, the S&P 500 has achieved three different years with nearly 30% returns. As a matter of fact, of the stock market’s 10 best years since 1950, three have occurred since 2018. Three different bear markets and three of the best years ever for stocks – all within the past six years. So, if the stock market has felt wild to you lately, that’s because it has been. But this wildness could be the new norm for Wall Street going forward. We can thank technology for that – at least, that’s my opinion. Why? Because algorithms run the market now. These days, algorithmic trading accounts for approximately 60- to 75% of total trading volume in the U.S. stock market. That means most trades are automatic, executed by bots adhering to pre-set parameters. And, unlike humans, robots don’t really ask why. They just do what they are programmed to. So, when something bad happens, all the algorithmic-driven systems rush toward an exit. And when something good happens, they race to get involved. That’s why, in my view, algorithmic trading creates crowding. As a result, we get wild swings in the market – both up and down. The algorithms drive momentum one way or the other, and the market follows. We get flash crashes and fast recoveries; big bear markets and massive bull runs; major meltdowns and momentous melt-ups. We get stock market volatility. The Final Word on Stock Market Volatility Such unpredictability can be scary. But since that turbulence drives stocks both ways, you can’t really afford to be crippled by fear, sitting on the sidelines. You need to be in the game. But to play well, you also need to craft an investment strategy that can handle the volatility – one that can mitigate the downside while also maximizing the upside. And we think we’ve created a strategy that could help you do just that. That is, we’ve developed a stock screening system – dubbed Auspex – that leverages fundamental, technical, and sentimental data to find the strongest stocks in the market at any given time, all according to our strict criteria. The strategy therein? Use Auspex to find the best stocks in a given month. Buy and hold those stocks, then cash out at month’s end. Lather, rinse, repeat. With Auspex at our side, we aim to take the guesswork out of investing, replacing stock market volatility with certainty and stability. And next week... on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. EST ... we’ll be debuting this new system for the very first time. Join us for that upcoming broadcast. We’re confident it’s one you won’t want to miss. Reserve your seat now! On the date of publication, Luke Lango did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. P.S. You can stay up to speed with Luke’s latest market analysis by reading our Daily Notes! Check out the latest issue on your Innovation Investor or Early Stage Investor subscriber site.T-Mobile Declares Quarterly Cash DividendTrump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is threatening 100% tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. His threat was directed at countries in the so-called BRIC alliance, which consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.. Trump says he wants a commitment from the bloc that it will not create a new currency or otherwise try to undermine the U.S. dollar. Emboldened 'manosphere' accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election CHICAGO (AP) — An emboldened fringe of right-wing “manosphere” influencers has seized on Donald Trump’s presidential win to justify and amplify misogynistic derision and threats online. Many have appropriated a 1960s abortion rights rallying cry, declaring “Your body, my choice,” and have been using it publicly on college campuses and even in public schools. While none of the current online rhetoric is being amplified by Trump, experts say many young men see the former president’s return to the White House as vindication of their views on women. For many women, the words are a worrying sign of what might lie ahead as some men perceive the election results as a rebuke of reproductive rights and women’s rights. Young men swung to the right for Trump after a campaign dominated by masculine appeals WASHINGTON (AP) — Young men shifted toward Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election in a change from recent years, when most young male voters backed the Democratic candidate. Young white men already supported him in 2020 and shifted slightly farther right this time. Young Latino men were about evenly split between the two candidates. Most young Black men backed Democrat Kamala Harris, though about a third supported Trump. Trump's campaign for the Oval Office was dominated by appeals to traditional masculinity, conveyed in appearances in nontraditional media. His campaign believed that tactic would boost his support among men who otherwise do not pay attention to political media. After entering Aleppo, Syrian insurgents advance to a nearby province. Assad says he'll defeat them BEIRUT (AP) — Thousands of Syrian insurgents have taken over most of Aleppo, establishing positions in the country’s largest city and controlling its airport before expanding their shock offensive to a nearby province. They faced little to no resistance from government troops Saturday, according to fighters and activists. Thousands of fighters also moved on, facing almost no defense from government forces. They seized towns and villages in northern Hama, a province where they had a presence before being expelled by government troops in 2016. They claimed to have entered the city of Hama. In his first public comments since the offensive began, President Bashar Assad said Syria will continue to “defend its stability and territorial integrity against terrorists and their supporters.” An Israeli strike in Gaza kills World Central Kitchen workers. Israel says 1 was an Oct. 7 attacker DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike on a car in the Gaza Strip killed five people including employees of World Central Kitchen. The charity says it is “urgently seeking more details” Saturday after Israel’s military said it targeted a World Central Kitchen worker who had been part of the Hamas attack that sparked the war. The charity says it is “heartbroken” and adds that it had no knowledge anyone in the car had alleged ties to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. It says it is pausing operations in Gaza. It paused them earlier this year after an Israeli strike killed seven of its workers. Also on Saturday, Hamas released a new hostage video of Israeli-American Edan Alexander. Lebanese fishermen hope ceasefire with Israel means normal life returning TYRE, Lebanon (AP) — The ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah is bringing hope for normality back to many in southern Lebanon. That includes fishermen who’ve long launched their single-engine wooden boats into the Mediterranean at dawn. For months, Israel imposed a siege that kept hundreds of fishermen at this ancient Phoenician port ashore. That upended their lives and dealt the industry a major blow. The port siege also cut people off from key ingredients for traditional Lebanese dishes. As war devastated their country, the loss of fish damaged a deep association with home. Now, the possibility of renewed fishing is helping fuel hope. Heavy snow blankets parts of the US during busy holiday travel weekend BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The first big snowfall of the season is blanketing towns in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania as the hectic holiday travel and shopping weekend winds down. Numbing cold and heavy snow could persist into next week and cause hazards in the Great Lakes, Plains and Midwest regions. A state of emergency has been declared for parts of New York, making it problematic for Thanksgiving travelers. This week’s blast of frigid Arctic air also brought bitterly cold temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit below average to the Northern Plains. Cold air is expected to move over the eastern third of the U.S. by Monday with temperatures about 10 degrees below average. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. What to know about the plastic pollution crisis as treaty talks conclude in South Korea BUSAN, South Korea (AP) — The world’s nations will wrap up negotiating a treaty this weekend to address the global crisis of plastic pollution. The world produces more than 400 million tons of new plastic yearly. That could climb about 70% by 2040 without policy changes. China was by far the biggest exporter of plastic products in 2023, followed by Germany and the United States. Less than 10% of plastics are recycled. Many plastics are used for packaging. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic are dumped into the world’s oceans, rivers and lakes. Romania's parliamentary vote risks being overshadowed by presidential race chaos BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country. However, Sunday's vote is sandwiched between a two-round presidential race and is overshadowed by controversies and chaos following the outcome of the first vote. While the president has significant decision-making powers in areas such as national security and foreign policy, the prime minister is the head of the nation’s government. Sunday’s vote will determine the formation of the country’s 466-seat legislature.
City Road emergency incident: Emergency services on scene after fire breaks out at social club