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Several states face unhealthy air conditions as smoke from Canadian wildfires returns

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency posted air quality alerts for several states stretching from Montana to Ohio on Sunday because of smoke blowing in from Canadian wildfires.“Air Quality alerts are in place for much of the Great Lakes, Midwest, and northern High Plains,” the National Weather Service said. “This is due to the lingering thick concentration of Canadian wildfire smoke over these regions. While the concentration of smoke in the atmosphere should begin to wain by Monday, there is still enough smoke to support unhealthy air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups in parts of these regions into the start of the upcoming week.” How long will the Canadian wildfire smoke stick around in the U.S.? The U.S. EPA's AirNow air quality page rated the air in Chicago as “unhealthy” as of 9 a.m. CDT Sunday. And in Michigan, state environmental officials said the air “is unhealthy for sensitive groups.”As of 12 p.m. CDT Sunday,...

Are extended car warranties worth it?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

(iSeeCars) -- While buying a used car is often a smart financial decision, some consumers don’t want to sacrifice peace of mind by purchasing a car that’s been owned by someone else. That peace of mind is also a big reason car buyers decide to purchase an extended car warranty when they go car shopping. Extended warranties are exactly what they sound like – an extension of the factory warranty that comes standard with every new car sold today. For a single one-time fee, you can extend your coverage for a few years beyond when the normal auto warranty expires.It's a tempting offer, one that looks even better when the cost of it gets rolled into a monthly payment with your car loan. For a few dollars more a month, why shouldn't a car buyer splurge on it?But there's more to it than that. Many buyers of these warranties eventually realize they spent more on the warranty than they got out of it.You'll want a full understanding before you make any decisions about getting an extended warra...

PHOTOS: Smoke billows as Moore Peak fire continues to burn in Llano County

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

LLANO COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A brush fire began burning at a ranch in Llano County Thursday afternoon and has remained active through Sunday morning, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.Officials said the fire was likely started by someone in the area operating machinery. RELATED: Llano County brush fire at 707 acres, nearly 20 agencies responding Here are some photos of the fire taken by KXAN viewers:Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County as seen from Kingsland. (Courtesy Max Galyen)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Felicia Perez, Double F Photography)Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Alan Jensen)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County taken Friday. (Courtesy Felicia Perez, Double F Photography)Photo of the Moore Peak Fire in Llano County as seen from Kingsland. (Courtesy Max Galyen)Llano County put a burn ban in place July 10.This story came from a ReportIt story tip. Send your own story ideas to [email protected]...

Museum of Ice Cream passes free scoops for National Ice Cream Day

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – If you’re looking for a sweet deal on National Ice Cream Day, the Museum of Ice Cream has got you covered. The Museum of Ice Cream is celebrating with appropriate ceremonies at its four locations in Austin, Chicago, New York and Singapore.On Saturday and Sunday in Austin, the museum will be passing out free ice cream to Austinites from a truck at 901 S Congress Ave from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. “Ice cream has a magical quality that can transport us back to our happiest moments,” said Maryellis Bunn, founder of the Museum of Ice Cream. “This National Ice Cream Day, we encourage people to connect, create memories, and embrace their inner child. It’s the perfect day to celebrate the joy and wonder that ice cream can bring to our lives.”President Ronald Reagan designated July National Ice Cream Month in 1984 and the third Sunday of the month National Ice Cream Day, according to the International Dairy Foods Association. “I call upon the people of the United...

Study: How Texas compares to America’s top 1%

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A recent research study conducted by SmartAsset looked at the differences between the top 1% in each U.S. state.SmartAsset said it analyzed data from the IRS and Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine the minimum income required to be among the top 1% of earners in each state.“The 1% threshold varies from state to state, ranging from as much as $953,000 to as little as $368,000,” according to SmartAsset.The study said income thresholds vary in the four largest states.“It takes $844,266 and $776,662 to be in the top 1% in California and New York, respectively. But households in Florida and Texas need to earn much less to be considered among the top 1% –  $694,987 and $631,849, respectively,” the study said.In the rankings, Texas placed No. 14, needing a minimum of $631,849 in 2023 to be considered in the top 1% of households, according to the study.SmartAsset said the Lone Star State’s top 1% gets taxed at an average rate of 25.83%.In Connecticut, households mus...

Minnesota’s first cat cafe relocating from Uptown to Roseville

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Minnesota’s first cat cafe is moving from Uptown to Roseville.The Cafe Meow, a business that fosters cats while providing cat-focused activities along with food and drink for the public, opened five years ago at 2323 Hennepin Ave. and said the support it has received has been “amazing,” according to a Facebook post.The cafe has outgrown its space and needs “a more spacious layout that caters to the amenities we have discovered along the way, which will better support us and our customers.”The Cafe Meow also has New Hope location.Visitors have access to a coffee shop and a cat lounge, which charges a cover fee. They can buy merchandise and locally made treats along with coffee and tea. They’re encouraged to “relax, study, or work” as long as they want, the business says on its website.The Cafe Meow hosts events such as “Paint Your Cat On Canvas” and “Yoga with Cats.”The cat-lounge cover fees are said to cover the...

Business People: U.S. Bancorp names new investment leadership

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

OF NOTEEvamarie SchoenbornU.S. Bancorp, Minneapolis, announced Evamarie Schoenborn as chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp Investments Inc., UnionBanc Investment Services and PFM Fund Distributors, effective June 30. Schoenborn joins the company from Northwestern Mutual, where she was president and CEO of its Wealth Management division.DEVELOPMENTMinneapolis-based Schafer Richardson announced that Matthew Niedenfuer has joined as vice president of construction. Niedenfuer previously led senior living projects for Ryan Cos.FINANCIAL SERVICESInsurance brokerage Holmes Murphy announced the following new hires/shareholders in Minneapolis: Ryan Anderson, Tim Boberg, April Mans and Jay Reimers.GOVERNMENTRamsey County announced that Jennifer Schuster-Jaeger has been named permanent director of its Health and Wellness Administration Division. She has served as interim director since March of 2020.HEALTH CAREBluestone Physician Services, a Stillwater-based provider of onsite medical servi...

Rapidly spreading ‘Rabbit Fire’ continues to scorch over 7,500 acres in Riverside County; remains 10 percent contained 

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

The “Rabbit Fire” that broke out on Friday night is continuing to spread and force evacuations near Beaumont. According to fire officials, the blaze has torched 7,600 acres and is just 10 percent contained. Mountainsides near the 79 Freeway were seen charred by the wildfires as early as 6 a.m. Sunday morning, and authorities confirmed that flames did briefly cross the freeway late Saturday night before crews were able to contain them. The two biggest challenges firefighters face are accessing the remote area that the fire is spreading through and mitigating the effects of the large amounts of dry brush in the area, but fighting the blaze at night is proving to be a key tactic in extinguishing it. “As the earth cools down, the wind will go in the reverse direction of where it was coming to,” said Cal Fire Deputy Chief Lucas Spelman. “In this area we’ve been having fires over and over the last few weeks because of the heat and how dry it is.” The “Rabbit Fire”...

2 Regional Mexican musicians detained at gunpoint by LAPD; manager arrested  

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Two Regional Mexican musicians were detained at gunpoint by police early Sunday morning, and a man traveling with them was eventually arrested for gun possession. According to the LAPD, officers were conducting a traffic stop around 1:30 a.m. in the area near Hawthorn Avenue and La Brea Avenue in Hollywood when they discovered one of the men in the procession they had pulled over – which consisted of a Rolls-Royce Cullinan and a Cadillac Escalade – had a gun. The man who was arrested for gun possession was identified as a manager of one of the artists, but it was not immediately known who he was associated with. Police said he also had an outstanding warrant. Video from the scene shows musicians Calle 24 and Chino Pacas being detained by officers. Both artists are signed to Street Mob Records, the record label associated with Jesus Ortiz Paz, the frontman of prominent Regional Mexican group Fuerza Regida.  According to the LAPD, officers were conducting a traffic stop...

Los Angeles one of the least safe cities for drivers, study shows

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:40:52 GMT

Los Angeles is one of the least safe cities to drive, according to a new study published by Marketwatch.The study was released this Thursday, and shows that Los Angeles drivers are at an increased risk of being involved in a fatal crash or coming across a drunk driver.The MarketWatch team combed through available data to determine which factors contributed to an overall sense of danger on the roadway.Fatal crashes, DUI arrests and number of stolen cars were all taken into account during the analysis. Pacific Coast Highway considered one of the top road trip destinations this summer Based on the publicly available information compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, there were 315 fatal crashes in Los Angeles in 2021 — the most recent available data set. Houston edged out L.A. with 322 crashes that year.The bulk of deadly crashes across the country all happen within cities, rather than highways and interstates, meaning large, expansive cities like Los ...