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EXPERTS have called for a return of social distancing as cases of the flu surge across the UK this Christmas. Even those with symptoms of a mild cold should consider self-isolating in case they carry a virus which could be fatal to those most vulnerable, health specialists warn. Advertisement 2 Health experts call for a return of social distancing (stock image) Credit: Getty 2 Family gatherings should also be avoided as well as wearing masks and social distancing - all to avoid passing on the horror bug, experts told MailOnline. Professor Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia said: "If you are ill with flu you should stay away from other people for the first three days and preferably for the first week. "This is especially important if they are elderly or suffer from medical conditions that make them more at risk." For many people, having the flu will feel like an exaggerated cold. Advertisement read more in health SYMPTOM CHECK How to tell if you've got a hangover, Covid, flu or meningitis FLU BLOW Thousands of turkeys killed after bird flu outbreak days before Christmas The NHS states that flu symptoms can come on very quickly. They include: A sudden high temperature An aching body Feeling tired or exhausted A dry cough A sore throat A headache Difficulty sleeping Loss of appetite Diarrhoea or tummy pain Feeling sick and being sick The dry cough could be similar to the cough experienced by people who have contracted coronavirus . Most read in Health Breaking SHUT UP SHOP Major supermarkets recall jewellery stocking fillers over ‘chemical’ fears HAIR THIS Physical trait makes you '6 times more likely to go bald' - find clue in fingers BIRTH TRAGEDY Mum who begged 'don't let me die' after giving birth was 'left to bleed out' 'TOTAL SHOCK' After years of trying, a scan showed '1% miracle triplets' - then tragedy hit The NHS states that the symptoms are similar for children, but they can also get pain in their ear and appear less active. Advertisement The health service offers a free flu jab to those most at risk of getting the virus, so if you qualify then you can get it free anywhere that offers it. Who is eligible for free Covid, flu and RSV vaccines? In line with JCVI advice, those eligible for a flu vaccine this year include: From October 3: Those aged 65 years and over Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups (as defined by the Green Book) Those at serious risk, including those with a BMI over 40, diabetes, heart and breathing conditions Those in long-stay residential care homes Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer-led occupational health scheme - including those working for a registered residential care or nursing home, registered domiciliary care providers, voluntary managed hospice providers Those who receive direct payments (personal budgets) or Personal Health budgets, such as Personal Assistants. From September 1: Pregnant women All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2024 Primary school-aged children (from Reception to Year 6) Secondary school-aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11) All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years Those eligible for an autumn Covid booster are: Residents in a care home for older adults All adults aged 65 years and over Persons aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in the Green Book, including pregnant women Frontline health and social care workers and staff in care homes for older adults Those eligible for an RSV vaccine are: Pregnant people from 28 weeks onwards People aged 75 to 79 his can be at your doctor's surgery as well as supermarket pharmacies like Asda and high street favourites like Boots. If you're not in the eligible groups entitled to a free vaccination listed below, you can pay for a flu jab at certain stores. All children aged two and three All children in primary and all children in school Years seven to 11 in secondary school Children aged six months to 17 years with certain long-term health conditions Those aged six months to under 65 years in clinical risk group Pregnant women Those aged 65 years and over Unpaid carers Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals Frontline health and adult social care staff The latest data shows a high flu burden within the NHS with almost 3,000 Brits in England hospitalised as of the end of last week with the virus. Advertisement Over 150 of those are considered to be in a critical condition. In comparison, there were just 700 total hospitalisations at the same time last year. And experts also warn that the worst could be coming with there being a surge in illness brought on from socialising over the holiday season and New Year. Earlier this month, an average of 1,861 flu patients were in hospital every day, up from 1,099 the previous week - 3.5 times higher than the same time last year. Advertisement Health chiefs pleaded with Brits to get vaccinated immediately if eligible to avoid “festive flu" before it was "too late". Professor Sir Stephen Powis, boss of NHS England, said: "The tidal wave of flu cases and other seasonal viruses hitting hospitals is really concerning for patients and for the NHS - the figures are adding to our 'quad-demic' worries." Read more on the Scottish Sun SHOCK SWOOP Former Celtic boss 'lines up shock January transfer swoop for Kyogo Furuhashi' MAKE THE YULETIDE GREY White Christmas update for Scots as snow & 80mph winds wreak chaos He added: "With one week left to book your vaccine, I cannot stress enough the importance of getting booked in to protect yourself against serious illness and to avoid 'festive flu.'" Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting , said: "With A&Es facing record demand, we are continuing to encourage people to protect themselves, their family, and the NHS by getting vaccinated before it’s too late.” Advertisement Which cold and flu remedies actually work? Isabel Shaw, health reporter, put nine well-known cold and flu remedies to the test when she was struck down with the lurgy. Over a week, she tested products that targeted all symptoms associated with cold and flu, as well as treatments that only aimed to get rid of specific issues. These included: Hot honey and lemon Steam inhalation and Vicks Vaporub Echinacea Chicken soup A spicy curry Beechams All-in-One Oral Solution Strepsils Lemsip Max Sudafed Blocked Nose Spray She took into account pain reduction, and how quickly and for how long they worked. Read her full verdicts here .
The 2024 Xbox Year In Review Has Arrived To Show You How Many Hours You Spent Gaming - Press Start Australia
Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad ruleA recent report from the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) explores organizations’ use of digitized assessments in the hiring process — underlining the potential negative . There has been at both the state and local levels of government, in part . And while for many organizations, for people with disabilities. CDT’s new report, argues the use of digitized assessments in hiring presents a variety of accessibility barriers and potentially discriminatory outcomes. Ariana Aboulafia, a project lead in disability rights in technology policy at CDT and one of the report’s authors, said although disabled employment has been up consistently since 2020, return-to-office mandates and hiring tools such as these digitized assessments may hinder that progress. “I think that it’s hopefully going to be really helpful to have this report out there so that employers who are considering these sorts of tools — and also developers who are considering the creation of these sorts of tools — prioritize the experience of folks with disabilities,” Aboulafia said. She emphasized no marginalized group is monolithic, something that is especially true for people with disabilities. People with different disabilities have unique experiences interacting with technologies. Michal Luria, a research fellow at CDT and one of the report’s authors, offered an example of how a digitized assessment may be inaccessible in separate ways for people with differing disabilities. The study used an emotional intelligence test in which participants had to identify the emotion expressed in an image. People with low vision or blindness could not clearly see the image, and it did not include alt text descriptions — written descriptions of visual content for people using screen readers or other assistive technologies. That is one set of challenges presented by a single test, which could present alternate challenges for someone on the spectrum of autism; in this case, interpreting an emotion based on an image with limited context could be challenging. And in either case, Luria argued the test does not accurately measure participants’ level of emotional intelligence or their ability to respond to an emotionally complex situation in the workplace. “Most of these technologies are not made with most disability in mind, much less the broad spectrum of disability,” Aboulafia said. Luria highlighted the impact of these assessments on participants' emotional experience, even in a simulated hiring environment. “The discrimination is kind of inherent in these kinds of tools,” Luria said, echoing the study participants’ sentiments: They were split on whether these tools could be made more accessible. However, the report offers recommendations to minimize the harm these assessments could cause. First, it said, employers should evaluate whether a digitized assessment is necessary for the specific role for which they are hiring. Employers can consider alternate methods of measurement that may more accurately measure relevant skills and abilities. Second, it recommends following accessibility guidelines, including the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and initiatives of the Partnership on Employment and Accessible Technology. Finally, if it has been determined that a digitized assessment is necessary, organizations can take steps to ensure the reduction of discriminatory impacts. For example, Luria said these types of assessments should be used as a supplementary part of the hiring process rather than in screening. “Those assessments, ideally, would not replace the comprehensive human evaluation of a candidate that should be in place at all stages of a hiring process,” she said. Luria also recommended transparency about when and how these tools will be used in the hiring process, urging this information be clear from the initial job posting. For some potential job candidates, the presence of such assessments may deter them from applying to a job. Transparency can not only help people with disabilities determine whether a job and employer are the right fit for them, Aboulafia said, but it can help job seekers decide if they want to disclose their disability, when to do so and whether to ask for accommodations: “If you don’t know that a tool is being used, there’s no way to know that you might need an accommodation at that stage in a hiring process."THE Golden Square Bowls Club is more than 100 years old, yet still finding ways to come up with first-time initiatives. or signup to continue reading The latest is the club's first foray into pennant bowls under lights on a Friday night. Golden Square and Bendigo will get round seven of Bendigo premier league lawn bowls with a Friday night game. It will be the first Friday night pennant game played under lights at Golden Square - . The clash is being dubbed 'The Battle of the Cathedral' given the iconic Bendigo landmark is located between the two clubs. It will be a loaded Golden Square side that takes to rink with all four of its metropolitan permit players lining up - Bryce Young and Ben Fearn from Melbourne and Dylan Fisher and Alex Skilton from Moonee Valley. The inclusion of Fisher gives Golden Square two members of the Victorian state team lining up along with Andrew Brown. It's a clash that pits top against third. Bendigo heads the ladder with four wins, a loss and a draw from the first six rounds, while Golden Square has made an encouraging start as it strives to finally end its finals drought. Golden Square - which last played finals in 2015-16 - is third on the ladder with three wins, two losses and one draw and showed just how damaging a side it can be in its last start when it thumped South Bendigo by 40 shots. Friday night's Battle of the Cathedral between Golden Square and Bendigo begins at 6pm. John Berry, Lachlan Darroch, Brad Campbell, Bryce Young (s); Guenther Ebenwaldner, Gary Beckham, Ben Fearn, Andrew Brown (s); Alan Eddy, Neville Bowland, Garri Conforti, Alex Skilton (s); Wayne Robins, Daryl Cheeseman, Jacob Croft, Dylan Fisher (s). Stephanie Priest, Troy Magnusson, Ian Ross, Brayden Byrne (s); Charlie Manning, Mark Anderson, Grant Woodward, Brad Marron (s); Luke Nemeth, Taylah Marron, Taylor Stewart, Tim Arnold (s); Gary Downie, Nick Rowley, Josh Matthews, Luke Hoskin (s). Golden Square v Bendigo (Friday), South Bendigo v Marong, Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk, Bendigo East v Moama. South Bendigo (59), Marong (49), Eaglehawk (42), Kangaroo Flat (15). DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. 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Dates Set for PG&E Quarterly Stock DividendsST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands (AP) — Michael Christmas scored 15 points as Longwood beat UAB 89-81 on Friday for its sixth straight victory. Christmas shot 4 of 6 from the field and 6 for 6 from the line for the Lancers (6-0). Kyrell Luc scored 14 points and added five rebounds. Colby Garland had 12 points and shot 5 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line. The Blazers (3-3) were led in scoring by Yaxel Lendeborg, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Ja'Borri McGhee added 16 points and four assists for UAB. Christian Coleman also had 14 points. Longwood was tied with UAB at the half, 43-43, with Luc (eight points) its high scorer before the break. Longwood took the lead for good with 1:55 remaining on a jump shot from Luc to make it 80-78. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
GPI Stock Soars to All-Time High, Reaching $422.92The Geological Survey of Bangladesh has so far discovered nine types of mineral resources. Among these, coal deposits total 7,803 million tons. Only the Barapukuria coal mine is currently operational, producing coal used for generating 525 megawatts of electricity. Feasibility studies for the Dighipara and Khalashpir coal fields have been completed. Although the Jamalganj coal field lies at a depth that makes extraction challenging, alternative methods, such as using underground coal gasification (UCG) or extracting coal bed methane, might be viable in the future. The writer is General Secretary Bangladesh Climate Change Journalist Forum
Overhauls of 'heritage brands' raise the question: How important are our products to our identities?
HAMISH MCRAE: There's method in the Bitcoin madnessWhen Katja Vogt considers a Jaguar, she pictures a British-made car purring confidently along the Italian coastline — a vision of familiarity that conveys "that dreaming, longing feeling we all love." She's not sure what to think about Jaguar now after the 89-year-old company announced a radical rebranding that featured loud colors and androgynous people — but no cars. Jaguar, the company says, will now be JaGUar. It will produce only electric vehicles beginning in 2026. Bad attention is good attention, Jaguar execs would appear to believe. The car brand has prompted mockery online for posting a glitzy ad without a single car in it. Say goodbye to British racing green, Cotswold Blue and black. Its colors are henceforth electric pink, red and yellow, according to a video that sparked backlash online. Its mission statement: "Create exuberance. Live vivid. Delete ordinary. Break moulds." "Intrigued?" @Jaguar posted on social media. People are also reading... "Weird and unsettled" is more like it, Vogt wrote on Instagram. "Especially now, with the world feeling so dystopian," the Cyprus-based brand designer wrote, "a heritage brand like Jaguar should be conveying feelings of safety, stability, and maybe a hint of rebellion — the kind that shakes things up in a good way, not in a way that unsettles." After 155 years, the Campbell Soup company is changing its name Our brands, ourselves Jaguar was one of several iconic companies that announced significant rebrandings in recent weeks, upending a series of commercial — and cultural — landmarks by which many modern human beings sort one another, carve out identities and recognize the world around them. Campbell's, the 155-year-old American icon that artist Andy Warhol immortalized in pop culture decades ago, is ready for a new, soupless name. Comcast's corporate reorganization means there will soon be two television networks with "NBC" in their name — CNBC and MSNBC — that will no longer have any corporate connection to NBC News, a U.S. legacy news outlet. CNBC One could even argue the United States itself is rebranding with the election of former President Donald Trump and Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Unlike Trump's first election in 2016, he won the popular vote in what many called a national referendum on American identity. Are we, then, the sum total of our consumer decisions — what we buy, where we travel and whom we elect? Certainly, it's a question for those privileged enough to be able to afford such choices. Volumes of research in the art and science of branding — from "brandr," an old Norse word for burning symbols into the hides of livestock — say those factors do contribute to the modern sense of identity. So rebranding, especially of heritage names, can be a deeply felt affront to consumers. "It can feel like the brand is turning its back on everything that it stood for — and therefore it feels like it's turning its back on us, the people who subscribe to that idea or ideology," said Ali Marmaduke, strategy director with the Amsterdam-based Brand Potential. He said cultural tension — polarization — is surging over politics, wars in Russia and the Mideast, the environment, public health and more, creating what Marmaduke said is known as a "polycrisis": the idea that there are several massive crises converging that feel scary and complex. Campbell's soups "People are understandably freaked out by that," he said. "So we are looking for something that will help us navigate this changing, threatening world that we face." Trump's "Make America Great Again" qualifies. So did President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" slogan. Campbell's soup itself — "Mmm Mmm Good" — isn't going anywhere, CEO Mark Clouse said. The company's new name, Campbell's Co., will reflect "the full breadth of our portfolio," which includes brands like Prego pasta sauce and Goldfish crackers. What is Jaguar? None of the recent activity around heritage brands sparked a backlash as ferocious as Jaguar's. The company stood as a pillar of tradition-loving British identity since World War II. The famous "leaper" cat Jaguar logo is pictured in 2019 at the Auto show in Paris, France. Jaguar said its approach to the rebrand was rooted in the philosophy of its founder, Sir William Lyons, to "copy nothing." What it's calling "the new Jaguar" will overhaul everything from the font of its name to the positioning of it's famous "leaper" cat. "Exuberant modernism" will "define all aspects of the new Jaguar world," according to the news release. The approach is thought to be aimed at selling fewer cars at a six-figure price point to a more diverse customer base. The reaction ranged from bewilderment to hostility. Memes sprouted up likening the video to the Teletubbies, a Benetton ad and — perhaps predictably — a bow to "woke" culture as the blowback intersected with politics. Here’s what the Pizza Hut of the future looks like Tropicana fans are ditching the brand after a orange juice bottle redesign The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
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3 US Army soldiers arrested on human smuggling charges along the border with MexicoBEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents' stunning march across Syria accelerated Saturday with news that they had reached the gates of the capital and that government forces had abandoned the central city of Homs. The government was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The loss of Homs is a potentially crippling blow for Assad. It stands at an important intersection between Damascus and Syria’s coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartus — the Syrian leader’s base of support and home to a Russian strategic naval base. The pro-government Sham FM reported that government forces took positions outside Syria’s third-largest city, without elaborating. Rami Abdurrahman who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said Syrian troops and members of different security agencies have withdrawn from the city, adding that rebels have entered parts of it. The capture of Homs is a major victory for insurgents, who have already seized the cities of Aleppo and Hama , as well as large parts of the south, in a lightning offensive that began Nov. 27. Analysts said Homs falling into rebel hands would be a game-changer. The rebels' moves around Damascus, reported by the monitor and a rebel commander, came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including several provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. For the first time in the country’s long-running civil war, the government now has control of only three of 14 provincial capitals: Damascus, Latakia and Tartus. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions, led by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. In their push to overthrow Assad's government, the insurgents, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS, have met little resistance from the Syrian army. The rapid rebel gains, coupled with the lack of support from Assad's erstwhile allies, posed the most serious threat to his rule since the start of the war. The U.N.’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, on Saturday called for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition.” Speaking to reporters at the annual Doha Forum in Qatar, he said the situation in Syria was changing by the minute. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, whose country is Assad's chief international backer, said he feels “sorry for the Syrian people.” In Damascus, people rushed to stock up on supplies. Thousands went to Syria's border with Lebanon, trying to leave the country. Many shops in the capital were shuttered, a resident told The Associated Press, and those still open ran out of staples such as sugar. Some were selling items at three times the normal price. “The situation is very strange. We are not used to that,” the resident said, insisting on anonymity, fearing retributions. “People are worried whether there will be a battle (in Damascus) or not.” It was the first time that opposition forces reached the outskirts of Damascus since 2018, when Syrian troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The U.N. said it was moving noncritical staff outside the country as a precaution. Syria’s state media denied social media rumors that Assad left the country, saying he is performing his duties in Damascus. He has had little, if any, help from his allies. Russia, is busy with its war in Ukraine . Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which at one point sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad's forces, has been weakened by a yearlong conflict with Israel. Iran has seen its proxies across the region degraded by regular Israeli airstrikes. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday posted on social media that that the United States should avoid engaging militarily in Syria. Pedersen said a date for talks in Geneva on the implementation a U.N. resolution, adopted in 2015, and calling for a Syrian-led political process, would be announced later. The resolution calls for the establishment of a transitional governing body, followed by the drafting of a new constitution and ending with U.N.-supervised elections. Later Saturday, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran, along with Pederson, gathered on the sidelines of the Doha Summit to discuss the situation in Syria. In a statement issued late Saturday, the participants affirmed their support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis “that would lead to the end of military activity and protect civilians.” They also agreed on the importance of strengthening international efforts to increase aid to the Syrian people. Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said insurgents were in the Damascus suburbs of Maadamiyah, Jaramana and Daraya. Opposition fighters were marching toward the Damascus suburb of Harasta, he added. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces had begun the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. HTS controls much of northwest Syria and in 2017 set up a “salvation government” to run day-to-day affairs in the region. In recent years, HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani has sought to remake the group’s image, cutting ties with al-Qaida, ditching hard-line officials and vowing to embrace pluralism and religious tolerance. The shock offensive began Nov. 27, during which gunmen captured the northern city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest, and the central city of Hama , the country’s fourth largest city. Opposition activists said Saturday that a day earlier, insurgents entered Palmyra, which is home to invaluable archaeological sites had been in government hands since being taken from the Islamic State group in 2017. To the south, Syrian troops left much of the province of Quneitra including the main Baath City, activists said. Syrian Observatory said government troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces. The Syrian army said in a statement that it carried out redeployment and repositioning in Sweida and Daraa after its checkpoints came under attack by “terrorists." The army said it was setting up a “strong and coherent defensive and security belt in the area,” apparently to defend Damascus from the south. The Syrian government has referred to opposition gunmen as terrorists since conflict broke out in March 2011. The foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey, meeting in Qatar, called for an end to the hostilities. Turkey is a main backer of the rebels. Qatar's top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, criticized Assad for failing to take advantage of the lull in fighting in recent years to address the country’s underlying problems. “Assad didn’t seize this opportunity to start engaging and restoring his relationship with his people,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed said he was surprised by how quickly the rebels have advanced and said there is a real threat to Syria’s “territorial integrity.” He said the war could “damage and destroy what is left if there is no sense of urgency” to start a political process. Karam reported from London. Associated Press writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad; and Josef Federman and Victoria Eastwood in Doha, Qatar, contributed to this report.Stories that dominate the pages of this newspaper are often negative. So many articles in the region are about controversies and bleak stories about crime, budget woes and political bickering. From murder and mayhem to fatal car crashes and fires, bad news often dominates our headlines. Throughout the year, we report a lot of good stories as well. As we celebrate the holiday season, we reflect on some of the positive news that appeared this year in our paper. Gilmartin returns to Scranton a hero Triumph emerged from tragedy in March when Scranton police detective Kyle Gilmartin was discharged from a Philadelphia-area rehabilitation hospital and returned to Scranton seven weeks after he was shot twice in the head in the line of duty. Hundreds of supporters and well-wishers gathered at Scranton police headquarters to welcome Gilmartin home. “That night I was just an ordinary man who was placed in an extraordinary circumstance in which I faced evil and won due to the grace of God,” Gilmartin said. “My family and I are beyond proud of Northeast Pennsylvania and how its people responded to this senseless tragedy. We thank you for the prayers, which have worked, as well as the donations which will be needed greatly in the future.” Gilmartin and two other detectives were working to prevent a gang-related shooting early Jan. 11 when a suspect fired five rounds from point-blank range into their unmarked police sedan. Two of the rounds hit Gilmartin above his right eye before a colleague returned fire and downed the suspect, who was arrested. Yuengling celebrates 195th with Stars & Stripes celebration Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, hosted its annual Stars & Stripes Summer Celebration in Pottsville in July with a free concert by country music star Lee Brice. Thousands flocked to the city for the daylong celebration, which included the 90-minute concert and a fireworks show. The event coincided with the brewery’s 195th anniversary and supported the brewery’s longtime partner Team Red, White & Blue, a nonprofit that supports better mental, emotional and physical health among America’s veterans. Brice, who previously performed at the event in 2022, said he was glad to be back. “The fans here in Pottsville really know how to have a good time,” he said prior to the concert. “Pottsville is a special place for us, and we look forward to being here.” Wawa arrives in Luzerne County, more stores planned for NEPA After years of waiting, Luzerne County finally got a modern Wawa store – and several others are on the way. A Wawa convenience store and gas station celebrated a grand opening this month in the Union Center Plaza along Route 309 in Wilkes-Barre Twp., the former KMart Plaza. Shortly after, a new Aldi discount grocery store opened in the plaza and a Cloud 9 car wash will open there next. In addition, Wawa broke ground on a new store in Dallas Twp., submitted plans for one in Plains Twp. near the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino, and is eyeing one for Market Street in Kingston. Wawa is in the planning stages of three stores in Lackawanna County, off Cold Spring Road in Dickson City, on Meredith Street in Carbondale Twp. and at Moosic Street and Meadow Avenue in Scranton. Elsewhere in the region, Wawa has stores in Kidder Twp. in Carbon County and Blakeslee in Monroe County. Hazle Twp. Little Leaguer meets the majors A badly injured Hazle Twp. Little League player had a dream come true this summer by getting to meet members of his favorite team, the Houston Astros, and its star player, Jose Altuve. The young player, Aiken, badly injured his face and lost several teeth when he rammed into an outfield fence to catch a fly ball for the final out in a game. Three weeks later, the recovering 12-year-old found himself at an Astros game against the Philadelphia Phillies. After weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the Astros organization invited Aiken and his group to the field for batting practice to meet some players who heard of his ordeal. Altuve was scheduled for a day off, but came out to the field and surprised Aiken with a signed bat, baseballs and a card. The Astros later posted photos of the experience on Facebook, writing “Moments that matter most.” NEPA’s new ‘pizza trail’ Following the lead of Lackawanna County, Luzerne County’s tourism bureau launched its own “pizza trail” competition this year. More than 40 pizza shops from Pittston to Wilkes-Barre to Hazleton signed up to be part of the contest to see who could visit all participating businesses. “Everyone knows that Northeastern Pennsylvania has the best pizza in the country, and many of those great pizzerias are right here in Luzerne County,” said Alan K. Stout, executive director of Visit Luzerne County. “How many times have we all heard from people that have moved out of the area say that the first thing they do when they come home for a visit is order a pizza? They often say that they just can’t find great pizza outside of this area.” Nearly 60 pizza places participated in the Lackawanna County pizza trail that was launched several years ago by the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, which called it “the cheesiest tour you’ll ever take.”
By LINDSEY BAHR Christopher Nolan is following his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer” with a true epic: Homer’s “The Odyssey.” It will open in theaters on July 17, 2026, Universal Pictures said Monday. Related Articles Entertainment | Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting Entertainment | ‘Squid Game’ returns looking for win with season 2 Entertainment | Taylor Swift surprises fan who dubbed her hospital-visit outfit ‘tea’ with special gift Entertainment | Blake Lively sues 'It Ends with Us' director Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment Entertainment | 10 options from Santa’s big bag of Christmas TV programming Details remain scarce, but the studio teased that it will be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX technology.” It will also be the first time that an adaptation of Homer’s saga will play on IMAX film screens. Nolan has been an IMAX enthusiast for years, going back to “The Dark Knight,” and has made his last three films exclusively using large format film and the highest resolution film cameras. For “Oppenheimer,” the first black-and-white IMAX film stock was developed. Nolan hasn’t said specifically what the new technology for “The Odyssey” will be, but earlier this month he told The Associated Press that they’re in an intensive testing phase with IMAX to prepare for the new production. “They have an incredible engineering staff, really brilliant minds doing extraordinary work,” Nolan said. “It’s wonderful to see innovation in the celluloid film arena still happening and happening at the highest level possible.” “The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures following “Oppenheimer,” which earned nearly $1 billion at the box office and won the filmmaker his first Oscars, including for best director and best picture . Rumors about his next project have been swirling ever since, with near-daily speculations about plot — none of which turned out to be true — and casting. While there are many reports about actors joining the ensemble, none has been officially confirmed by the studio.
MARICOPA COUNTY, Ariz. — There were 6,519 evictions filed in November of 2024, more than 1,000 fewer evictions filed than in October , according to the Maricopa County Justice Courts. The steep drop-off is normal for November and December, a news release from the justice courts states. In 2023, there were also more than 1,000 fewer evictions filed from October to November. With just one month left in the year, 2024 is on track to see the most evictions filed in almost 20 years. Currently, 2005 holds the top spot with 83,687 evictions filed. In 2024 so far, there have been 79,858 evictions filed. RELATED: Tracking evictions filed in Maricopa County While the housing crisis may in part be driven by the population boom in Maricopa County, the numbers show that it isn't just more people coming to town that is driving up the number of evictions filed. In 2004, the population of Maricopa County was 3.4 million, according to the United States Census Bureau. By November of 2005, there were 76,559 evictions filed. To find out how many evictions were filed per capita in the county, we divided the population using the previous year's census data by the number of evictions filed. That means that 2005 — which will have the second-highest number of evictions filed if 2024 continues its current pace — had approximately 44 evictions filed per capita. In 2024, there were approximately 57 evictions filed per capita. An eviction filed does not mean the person or people being served an eviction notice are forced out of their home, according to the Justice Courts of Maricopa County. In some cases, the eviction is filed and the dispute is handled between residents and landlords out of court. In other instances, the issue is taken to court to be resolved. When a landlord files an eviction, a tenant can still pay the "past-due" amount before a judge issues a ruling. Some tenants may move out before the eviction goes to court. A population increase also tends to lead to increased evictions filed. You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app! The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV . 12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona. Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives. Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX." Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account , or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app. Up to speed Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.
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