The Los Angeles Dodgers are re-uniting with fan favorite outfielder Teoscar Hernández on a new contract. The deal will pay the 32-year-old outfielder $66 million over three years, as first reported by Yancen Pujols on Twitter/X. Hernández subsequently confirmed he's returning to Los Angeles on his own Instagram account . Fuente: Teóscar Hernández y los Dodgers de Los Ángeles están finalizando un acuerdo por tres años y 66 millones de dólares garantizados. Felicidades para el dominicano. Hernández hit 33 home runs with 99 runs batted in and an OPS of .840 in 2024. In July, he made the National League All-Star team and became the first Dodgers player ever to win the Home Run Derby. The Dodgers signed Hernández in January to a deferral-laden, $23.5 million contract as a free agent coming off a down year with the Seattle Mariners. He proceeded to become a fan favorite in Los Angeles. Now he'll return to Los Angeles after leading the team to its eight World Series championship in October. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the contract includes a fourth-year option for $15 million, more than $23 million in deferred money, and a $23 million signing bonus. Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a fourth-year option for $15 million, a little more than $23 million in deferred money and a $23 million signing bonus. Speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings in Dallas, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he was "hopeful" about bringing Hernández back to Los Angeles. "He had a really good year," Friedman said of Hernández . "He put himself in a great position and I know he has talked about wanting to (re-sign), and I know that we have talked about him wanting to, and he and his family get to go through the interest and figure out what makes the most sense for them." Both the Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays made three-year offers to Hernández, who won two American League Silver Slugger Awards, and slashed .263/.320/.503 in 609 games with Toronto from 2017-22. More to come on this story from Newsweek Sports .Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 402 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite is down 2%. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market. The major indexes are still on track to close the week with gains, and the S&P 500 remains headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Climate-friendly electricity sees big battery projects soar again for 2024 2024 was another banner year for a source of electricity that is better for people’s lungs, better for climate change and may be reaching your home now when you turn on the lights or turn up the thermostat — large banks of batteries. Storing extra power in batteries effectively extends the hours of solar and wind power in a day. Storage is also important as global electricity demand rises. Last, it is important for increasingly frequent extreme weather events, worsened by climate change. Texas and California are embracing the benefits of batteries, but some other regions are dragging their feet.Fulks puts up 26, Milwaukee defeats IU Indianapolis 88-81
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?Arsenal and Bayern Munich secured victories in the UEFA Champions League but Manchester City squandered a three-goal lead to settle for a draw. Arsenal got back to winning ways in the competition with a commanding 5-1 victory over Sporting at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Goals by Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhães, Bukayo Saka, and Leandro Trossard made a light walk of Gonçalo Inácio’s effort for the hosts. The result means Arsenal move up to seventh in the Champions League table while Sporting are a place behind them, with both sides on 10 points. In Germany, Bayern Munich boosted their hopes of a top-eight finish in the league phase of the competition with a 1-0 victory over Paris St-Germain. Defender Kim Min-jae scored the only goal seven minutes before the interval to condemn the French side to yet another defeat as they remain winless in the Champions League since September. Read Also: UCL: Raphinha nets hat-trick as Barca thrash Bayern; Man City, Liverpool win Elsewhere, Manchester City blew away 3-0 to draw 3-3 against Feyenoord as their wretched form continued at a stunned Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola’s side looked to be cruising after two goals from Erling Haaland and another from Ilkay Gundogan put the hosts into a commanding lead. But the Dutch visitors staged a stunning comeback to take a point back, with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Giménez, and David Hancko. Having failed to win their past six matches in all competitions, City have a huge game coming on Sunday against rivals Liverpool. City are 15th in the Champions League table after dropping seven points from five matches. In the other Champions League ties of Tuesday, Barcelona thrashed Brest 5-0, Atalanta thrashed Young Boys 6-1, Inter Milan pipped RB Leipzig 1-0. Bayer Leverkusen also thrashed RB Salzburg 5-0, Atletico Madrid hammered Sparta Prague 6-0, while AC Milan won 3-2 over hosts Slovan. Opinions Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs. As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake. If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause. Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development. Donate Now
Guinness raids Irish reserves to ease shortages in BritainThe Consumer Electronics Show, known as CES, is the premiere annual event for consumer brands debuting new products. The sheer size of the event, which takes over Las Vegas from January 5 to 10 , is hard to wrap your head around, as is the breadth of products represented there. Smart home technology makes up a big enough slice of the pie to have its own section of the event, this year at The Venetian. In some ways, when we talk about what we hope to see at CES, we’re actually saying what we hope to see for the next year, because most things at CES aren't quite ready for the mass market just yet. While I’ve been getting sneak peeks at what a lot of companies are going to be releasing for CES in 2025, there are still a few types of products I really hope I'll get to see more of. More types of sensors for better automation Sensors are a key part of a smart home toolbox , serving as a trigger for various actions. Their utility depends on two factors: that they work reliably, and that the automation software offers enough flexibility in how you can use them. There's still a lot of room for both these factors improve. There are lots of brands that offer sensors with spotty reliability—particularly those that measure water and temperature. So generally, I’d like to see more big brands in this space release basic sensors (motion, light, presence, temperature, and water) that can be trusted. Beyond improving what we already have, there are some newer spaces I'd love to see smart sensors explore. With the explosion of smart lights that I expect us to see at CES, I’d love better and more sensitive light sensors that can sense a color shift—I dream of being able to run an automation where my robot mop is triggered by a sensor recognizing the white tiles are no longer white due to dirt, for example. I’d also like sensors that compare indoor and outdoor air quality with greater detail about where air issues are coming from, and weight sensors that can be used to run automations based on how much weight changes—for instance, a sensor on food and water dishes that can tell me how much my dog ate and drank today. We already know that the most trusted name in sensors, Aqara, is rumored to release a new presence sensor . As exciting as that is, I’d love to see even more sensors from them—ones that push into new areas of representation like I’ve named above. Key improvements in robot vacuums and mowers, please This year, I've played with an untold number of vacuums, a bunch of lawnmowers, and even a few personal robots like the Enabot . I expect we’re going to continue to see robot vacuums leap forward this year, as they have the past few. I expect we’ll see absurd levels of suction power, and the robots are going to start to develop a whole new set of skills. We had one stair-climbing robot last year, so I expect we’ll start to see more robots with that sort of dexterity. Switchbot started to play with the idea of a robot vacuum as a household butler, shuttling water from the source to humidifiers, and I predict it'll continue to build that idea out. If the robot can shuttle water, what else can it move for you? What I’d like to see in robot vacuums is consistency in high-end models—by now they should all have a compartment for cleaning fluid on board the charging dock, and they should all have the ability be to directed by remote control in the app. I’d like to see robot assistants for vacuums go away entirely: they’re unhelpful, unrefined, and just another unwanted voice in my house. Instead, I’d like robot vacuums to better integrate with existing voice assistants. Also, I'd love to see robot vacuums take on baseboards. I'm sure this seems small, but brands are obsessed with how close their robots get to the wall, and yet they ignore the baseboards, which remain filthy and ignored. Narwal has started to address this, although in the most basic way, by attaching a muff to the robot that sweeps against the baseboard, but it's not enough. I predict we’ll see a ton of robot lawnmowers this year, which is exciting. I predict that like the Yarbo and Mowrator , most lawnmowers will also start to do “more,” including collecting and dumping of leaves. What I hope to see is more stability in mid-large size models, with beefier wheels that can handle dips and hills with ease, but with a tighter turn radius that doesn't tear up your lawn. I would love to see a fleet of small robot lawnmowers, perfect for tiny lawns, and for them to be sold at tiny prices. I would not like to see more lawn printing, which allows you to mow designs into your lawn. Though it sounded exciting, it turned out to be pretty silly in practice. Will we finally get our personal robots this year? Remember Ballie , from Samsung? I’d love this to be the year actual personal robots make it into the consumer market in a real way. So far, I’m unimpressed with those I’ve tried. I have an Enabot that is supposed to follow my dog around, but so far, it just runs into my washing machine over and over again. Personal robots don’t have to do it all yet, but I truly think these robots could work for emotional support and a light physical assist in housework or technological chores. But for that to happen, a brand has to (please) get a good one to market already. Better smart lighting throughout the entire home Over the last year, smart home tech has deeply infiltrated the new construction and retrofit market. It’s not enough to have a smart bulb or a lamp on a smart plug, now everything from recessed lights to under cabinet lights to permanent outdoor lights are smart. I hope we continue to see growth in the retrofit market, which benefits renters. I’ve noticed a massive uptick in entertainment lighting in the last year—floor lamps that can change to any color, bendable foam lights that resemble neon lights , even light curtains. After falling in love with my glowing Nanoleaf lights, I’d love to see more exploration in LED smart lights for inside the home and office that look like they're for adults, not just kids. There’s really no reason any light in your home should only be able to be tuned to white anymore, and when all your lights can play together as one to engage in shifting color schemes, your whole house becomes a big light therapy factory. Where else can smart locks possibly go? Every time I think smart locks have been all figured out, something new comes out that improves things yet again. The first facial recognition locks came out this year, and then the palm print lock, and now, it looks like Eufy is going to announce a lock with palm recognition. It feels like Star Trek . My biggest wish for smart locks is that they get better about retrofitting older homes, which arguably need the security the most. There are still many kinds of older locks that have few or no smart lock retrofit options. I’d also like to see some smart locks that look like many of our homes do: stately and refined instead of cold and modern. Better, more secure smart cameras This year, smart cameras took on a few trends: 24/7 continuous recording , which is more informative than the clips we were used to getting. We also saw an explosion of off-grid cameras which worked well and only needed solar power. The downside of these cameras is the amount of data they use, since they’re not connected to wifi. I’d like to see better compression of that video on off-grid cameras so they become more usable. I’d love to see the cameras get smaller and less visible, too. At this point, I’m only interested in PTZ (point, tilt, zoom) cameras, and wonder why anyone would buy something else, so I’d like to see less of the static viewpoint cameras, too. Finally, I hope to see better security around these cameras, with real ways to secure the feeds. Standards, hubs, and automation I don’t want this, really, but I expect we will see tons of brands try to relaunch their hubs as multi-hubs—that is, platforms that control not just that brand's devices, but allows them to integrate and interact with all your devices across brands. Most people utilize Google, Apple, or Amazon for this. Personally, I would prefer to see brands focus on exceptional integration with major multi-hubs that already exist. Of course, I’d like to see Matter —the connection standard that was supposed to revolutionize smart home by getting rid of all your smart hubs and apps so you only needed one—utilized in all new devices as a connection method. Matter has been slow to adoption, but I still believe in its potential. I’d also like to see automation get easier with our assistants and multi-hubs. While AI has started to play a role (Google has recently added Gemini as a possibility for automation help, but I found it clunky), automation remains pretty one-note for most users. It's a lot of "if this happens, do that." It’s difficult to execute multi-step automations or dependent automations with more than one condition. I’d love to see that change.Men lose 17 minutes of life with every cigarette they smoke while a woman’s life is cut short by 22 minutes with each cigarette, experts have estimated. This is more than previous estimates, which suggest that each cigarette shortens a smoker’s life by 11 minutes. The new estimates, which suggest that each cigarette leads to 20 minutes loss of live on average across both genders, are based on more up-to-date figures from long-term studies tracking the health of the population. Researchers from University College London said that the harm caused by smoking is “cumulative” and the sooner a person stops smoking, and the more cigarettes they avoid smoking, the longer they live. The new analysis, commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, suggests that if a 10-cigarettes-a-day smoker quits on January 1, then by January 8 they could “prevent loss of a full day of life”. By February 20, their lives could be extended by a whole week. And if their quitting is successful until August 5, they will likely live for a whole month longer than if they had continued to smoke. The authors added: “Studies suggest that smokers typically lose about the same number of healthy years as they do total years of life. Make 2025 the year you quit smoking for good. There’s lots of free support available to help you. Find out more 🔽 https://t.co/J0ehnoRM1D pic.twitter.com/LQpUp6HJBm — WHH 🏥 (@WHHNHS) December 27, 2024 “Thus smoking primarily eats into the relatively healthy middle years rather than shortening the period at the end of life, which is often marked by chronic illness or disability. “So a 60-year-old smoker will typically have the health profile of a 70-year-old non-smoker.” The analysis, to be published in the Journal of Addiction, concludes: “We estimate that on average, smokers in Britain who do not quit lose approximately 20 minutes of life expectancy for each cigarette they smoke. “This is time that would likely be spent in relatively good health. “Stopping smoking at every age is beneficial but the sooner smokers get off this escalator of death the longer and healthier they can expect their lives to be.” Dr Sarah Jackson, principal research fellow from the UCL Alcohol and Tobacco Research Group, said: “It is vital that people understand just how harmful smoking is and how much quitting can improve their health and life expectancy. “The evidence suggests people lose, on average, around 20 minutes of life for each cigarette they smoke. “The sooner a person stops smoking, the longer they live. “Quitting at any age substantially improves health and the benefits start almost immediately. “It’s never too late to make a positive change for your health and there are a range of effective products and treatments that can help smokers quit for good.” There are so many reasons to quit smoking this New Year – for your health, for more money, and for your family. Make a fresh quit for 2025 – find tips and support at https://t.co/GyLk65o8kS or https://t.co/iW6WLxTL00 pic.twitter.com/KxPZ5N378y — North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust (@NTeesHpoolNHSFT) December 27, 2024 Health officials have said that smokers can find advice, support and resources with the NHS Quit Smoking app, as well as the online Personal Quit Plan. Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said: “Smoking is an expensive and deadly habit and these findings reveal the shocking reality of this addiction, highlighting how important it is to quit. “The new year offers a perfect chance for smokers to make a new resolution and take that step.” Commenting on the paper, Professor Sanjay Agrawal, special adviser on tobacco at the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Every cigarette smoked costs precious minutes of life, and the cumulative impact is devastating, not only for individuals but also for our healthcare system and economy. “This research is a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address cigarette smoking as the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the UK.”
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Biden: Israel, Lebanon agree to ceasefire designed to be permanent end to fightingNEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — Thomas Batties II had 16 points in Harvard's 67-61 victory against Iona on Sunday. Batties also contributed eight rebounds and six blocks for the Crimson (4-8). Austin Hunt scored 16 points, shooting 5 for 9 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Tey Barbour had 14 points and shot 4 for 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 3 from the free-throw line. The Gaels (4-9) were led in scoring by Dejour Reaves, who finished with 22 points and four steals. Adam Njie added 12 points and four steals for Iona. Yaphet Moundi also put up eight points and four blocks. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Professional associations honor UW Extension staff membersThe streets have been speculating about Ntando and Una Rams’s relationship for months. Back in January, notorious blogger Musa Khawula had already posted on X (formerly Twitter), introducing Una Rams as Ntando’s man. Ntando’s spicy clapback? It’s official, South Africa – Ntando Duma is a married woman! The not-so-talented actress and media personality is said to have tied the knot with Grammy-winning artist Urinane Rambani, better known as Una Rams, in a private traditional ceremony in Venda. After all the baby daddy drama with Junior De Rocka, sis has finally found her Mr. Right, and Mzansi is buzzing! According to ZiMoja, the intimate ceremony took place in Thohoyandou, Venda, surrounded by close family and friends. The event was invite-only (no crashers here!), and the invites themselves were nothing short of poetic. One read: “Join us as we celebrate a beautiful union in the heart of Venda, where tradition meets joy in a gathering of love and family.” While Ntando and Una Rams haven’t confirmed the news themselves, sources close to the couple are spilling the tea, and fans couldn’t be happier for them. After all, we’ve been watching sis recover and glow up since her split with Junior. The streets have been speculating about Ntando and Una Rams’s relationship for months. Back in January, notorious blogger Musa Khawula had already posted on X (formerly Twitter), introducing Una Rams as Ntando’s man. Ntando’s spicy clapback? “Ey nkosi yam. Wena Musa uyang’thanda shem 😭😭😂😂 and Mina uyang’chaza cabanga!” If that wasn’t confirmation enough, Ntando’s recent social media posts have been full of love and admiration for her “man.” She even credited him for her fire Instagram pics, saying: “My man took both, these pictures and my heart cabanga..” Yoh, talk about love in the air! Let’s not forget Ntando’s messy breakup with Junior De Rocka back in 2017. The two share a child together, and their relationship ended on a sour note. On Real Talk with Anele in 2018, Ntando opened up about the heartbreak, saying: “I am glad that I can speak about it now because at first, I was so crazy and in denial. Because he was my first, I really thought he would be my last. I saw a future with Junior. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out.” Well, fast forward to 2024, and Ntando has officially upgraded! No more dribbling, no more drama—just pure love and vibes with Una Rams. Mzansi, it’s time to pop the champagne and celebrate this beautiful love story. Here’s to forever for Ntando and Una!Meet the new Congress: The House and Senate freshmen elected to serve next year
Jonah Goldberg: What if most Americans aren't bitterly divided?High-Stakes Summits in Djibouti Ignore Its Domestic CrisesThe state of Ohio has finally reached the point of the year when it will have more consistent winter weather conditions. Pesky insects like mosquitos and houseflies seem to be a distant summer memory, said Thomas Becker, an OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources educator in Lorain County, in a news release. “You’d think we’d be done dealing with insects this time of year, but somehow, every year some manage to sneak their way into our homes,” Becker said. Stink bugs and lady beetles tend to be the more common home invaders this time of year. Specifically, with brown marmorated stink bugs and multicolored Asian lady beetles, both non-native species, Becker said. It can be hard to predict when there could be large outbreaks of these insects, but outbreaks aren’t necessarily going to be widespread, he said. Regardless of low pressure or high pressure from these insects, it still can be a good idea to do what you can to prevent them from making it into your living space, Becker said. “You might even make your home heating system more efficient in the process of sealing up cracks and crevices where these critters might squeeze in,” he said. Outdoors, lady beetles can be beneficial. Lady beetle adults and larvae will feed on pests like aphids, Becker said. Stink bugs, whether they are indoors or outdoors, always are going to be a pest, he said. They can use their piercing-sucking mouthpart, called a proboscis, to suck juices out of fruits and vegetables. It is not all that uncommon to find stink bug damage on tomatoes, peppers or apples. “Indoors, both the stink bugs and lady beetles are not of much harm to us, but certainly an annoyance,” Becker said. “Believe it or not, it is not the goal of the insects to make it all the way into our homes; they are looking for a sheltered place to overwinter.” The insects will accumulate fat in the late summer, then look for a sheltered place that is cool enough to slow their metabolism, so they don’t burn through their fat stores during the winter, Becker said. This makes places like attics, garages, exterior walls and window frames perfect overwintering sites, he said. However, sometimes that heat that initially draws the insects to to homes draws them all the way inside living spaces, Becker said. “This is a fatal mistake on the insect’s part,” he said. “Once they enter the living space, our homes are warm enough that their metabolism never slows. “They eventually burn through their fat reserves and die of starvation.” The best way to deal with stink bugs and lady beetles entering the home is to prevent them from getting in, to begin with. Inspect areas around doors and windows to see if there are any gaps around the frames that could allow for entry. Small gaps easily can be filled with good, flexible caulking. Larger gaps may require some insulating foam. Worn-out screening or door sweeps also can serve as entry points, so check those areas as well, Becker said. Another thing to inspect would be any vents, whether they be for an attic or kitchens and bathrooms. If they are unprotected or unscreened, these also are easy points of entry for insects. “When we do find that one of these home invaders has breached our defenses, there are a couple of ways to dispose of them without swatting or smashing them, since damaging their bodies can have an unpleasant odor and can leave stains,” Becker said. “Having a bottle with some soapy water to knock them into is one strategy, especially if there is only a small number present. “If there is a large number, you may reach for the vacuum, but first, we need to make our vacuum bug safe. If we were to just suck up all the insects without making it bug-safe, we would essentially create a bug blender that would result in a smelly vacuum cleaner and home.” Residents can make their vacuum cleaner bug-safe by fixing a nylon stocking to their vacuum hose with a rubber band. Then the insects get caught in the stocking instead of making it all the way into the vacuum. “So, don’t be too alarmed if you find stink bugs or lady beetles in your home,” Becker said. “Hopefully, some of these suggestions can help you avoid some human-insect conflict this winter.” Thomas Becker can be reached at 440-326-5851 or becker.643@osu.edu.
Senior members of Canada's cabinet held talks Friday with US President-elect Donald Trump's nominees to lead the departments of commerce and the interior, as Ottawa works to hold off the threat of punishing tariffs. Canada's newly-appointed Finance Minister Dominic Leblanc and Foreign Minister Melanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump's commerce secretary nominee, who will also lead the country's tariff and trade agenda. Interior secretary nominee Doug Burgum was also at the meeting held at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Leblanc's spokesman Jean-Sebastien Comeau, who confirmed the participants, described the talks as "positive and productive." Trump has vowed to impose crippling 25-percent tariffs on all Canadian imports when he takes office next month. He has said they will remain in place until Canada addresses the flow of undocumented migrants and the drug fentanyl into the United States. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised retaliatory measures should Trump follow through on his pledge, raising fears of a trade war. Leblanc and Joly "outlined the measures in Canada's Border Plan and reiterated the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives," Comeau said in a statement. Canada's Border Plan -- estimated to cost CAN$1 billion ($694 million) -- was crafted as part of Ottawa's response to Trump's concerns. Lutnick and Burgum "agreed to relay information to President Trump," the statement said. Trudeau is facing his worst political crisis since sweeping into office in 2015. Leblanc was named finance minister earlier this month after the surprise resignation of Chrystia Freeland. In a scathing resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing handouts to voters instead of preparing Canada's finances for a possible trade war. More than 75 percent of Canadian exports go to the United States and nearly two million Canadian jobs depend on trade. bs/ahaSeguin High School sports complex named in honor of legends
The Trump Trade Is Back. There's Still Money To Be Made In These 3 Hot Sectors.SYM Investor Alert: A Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Symbotic Inc. - Contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPTexans are running out to buy their Mega Millions tickets after no winning ticket was drawn for the jackpot on Tuesday night. AUSTIN, Texas - Texans are running out to buy their Mega Millions tickets after no winning ticket was drawn for the jackpot on Tuesday night. The big prize is now up to more than a billion dollars. "You play the lottery every day?" FOX 7 reporter Meredith Aldis asked Jake Utterback. "Every week, same numbers," Utterback responded. "Have you ever won?" Aldis asked. "A little here and there, but nothing, nothing great," Utterback replied. Some lucky person somewhere in the country has the change to become a billionaire before the new year begins. Last night's Mega Millions drawing yielded no grand winner pushing the new jackpot to around $1.1 billion. Utterback could win something really great Friday night. The Mega Millions Jackpot was up to $1.22 billion. "Billion with a B," Texas Lottery Commission Media Relations Division Director Steve Helm said. "It would be the largest jackpot of 2024. It is also currently the fifth largest in the game’s history." If there is one winner, and they choose the cash option, they’d bring home a whopping $549 million. "We’re living it up," lottery player Sal Capone said. No one hit the jackpot in the Christmas Eve drawing, so that means more ticket buying and more dreaming. MORE STORIES: "A Lamborghini Urus," Zane Allmon said. "I’d get a Lambo and a mansion," Capone said. It only takes one ticket to win, but there are slim odds, 1 in 302,000,000. "That's why I don't play because I know I'm never going to win," Capone said. Texas Lottery players seem to have more luck. "Two of the last five Mega Millions jackpot wins have happened right here in Texas, dating back to October 2023," Helm said. "Bought my ticket in Missouri and I bought my ticket down here in Austin as well," Utterback said. The drawing is on Friday, Dec. 27, at 10 p.m. CT. The Source: Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Meredith Aldis