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5 patio projects to enhance outdoor living

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

Warm weather paves the way to more opportunities to enjoy fresh air. For homeowners who have the luxury of outdoor spaces, including private patios, now is the time to start thinking about projects to enhance these gathering spots.A patio can be considered a transitional area that links the outdoors to the inside of a home. According to the home and lifestyle resource The Spruce, a patio is often an oasis for lounging and entertaining. And depending on homeowners’ budgets and preferences, a patio can be just as comfortable and stylish as interior spaces. The following are five patio projects that can transform these valuable spaces.Pretty pergolaA pergola is an open-air (traditionally wood) structure that adds a measure of shade and privacy without completely blocking views of Mother Nature. Installing a pergola over the patio helps define the seating area. Hanging plants can add to the ambiance and string lights can make this a great spot to gather when the sun sets.Patio fir...

Editorial: Biden’s bureaucrats busy beefing up regulatory state

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

Economic growth under the Biden administration has been underwhelming, with the economy actually shrinking during the first half of 2022. After rebounding somewhat, growth now lags again, coming in at a disappointing 1.1% for the first quarter of 2023, the Commerce Department reported last week.The president who famously told us that his self-created inflation was only “transitory” opted to put on his happy face and proclaim in a statement that “the American economy remains strong, as it transitions to steady and stable growth.” Back on Earth, Fed economists are predicting a “mild recession” later this year, according to Politico.It is against this backdrop that the White House has conducted a relentless campaign to nourish the corpulent federal administrative state. According to Dan Goldbeck, director of regulatory police for the American Action Forum, President Joe Biden in his first two years has increased the paperwork burden on businesses and others by an astounding 220 million...

Dear Abby: Older sister gives away family heirlooms

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

Dear Abby: My mother passed away years ago. I have one older sister, “Nadine.” Following my mother’s death, with the blessing of my father, Nadine and I divided Mom’s jewelry. My sister almost immediately began digging through closets and drawers and removing items from our parents’ home every time she visited our father.Dad asked if I wanted any particular items that belonged to Mom. I mentioned three things, but told him I didn’t want to take anything from his house until he passed on. I thought it would be disrespectful to do otherwise.Nadine threw her future daughter-in-law a wedding shower, and gave her two antique items that had been Mother’s — items I recognized immediately. I felt upset that she hadn’t at least mentioned them to me before she gave them away. I have the only granddaughter, and may have wanted to pass those items down to her.Following the shower, I spoke with my father. He agreed that before Nadine gave the...

King Charles III coronation in London: Watch live

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

LONDON (NewsNation) — Coronation festivities have begun in Great Britain as the royal family turns the page of a new chapter with the crowning of King Charles III, the first event of its kind in 70 years. Though King Charles III ascended the throne when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died last year, the coronation is a religious ceremony that provides a more formal confirmation of his role as head of state and titular head of the Church of England. Along with the king, his wife, Camilla, is being coronated as queen, a first for a spouse of a U.K. monarch. Five things to watch in King Charles III’s coronation A procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey starts at about 5 a.m. ET, 2 a.m. PT.The coronation is the latest event to draw the world's eyes to the British royal family, which has been rocked by tumult and scandal in recent years — from Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's shocking exit from royal duties and their subsequent onslaught of accusations against the...

Biden hopes strong job market means soft landing for economy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — For President Joe Biden, the past few days have raised hopes that the U.S. economy can stick a soft landing—possibly avoiding a recession as the 2024 election nears.Most U.S. adults have downbeat feelings about Biden’s economic leadership, as high inflation has overshadowed a strong jobs market. It’s long been economic orthodoxy that efforts to beat back inflation by the Federal Reserve would result in unemployment rising and the country sinking into recession. But to the president and some economists, the April jobs report issued Friday challenged that theory with its 3.4% unemployment rate and 253,000 jobs gained.The strong jobs report came after a Wednesday Fed meeting that suggested the U.S. central bank might pause on its rate hikes, the primary tool for cutting inflation from its still high 5% to something closer to 2%. Talks are also starting over the need to raise the debt limit — with Biden inviting congressional leaders to the White House for ...

No winning ticket sold for Friday’s $23 million Lotto Max jackpot

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

There was no winning ticket sold in Friday’s Lotto Max $23 million draw.The jackpot for the next draw on May 9 will be an estimated $28 million.The Canadian Press

Report: Iran executes leader of deadly 2018 parade attack

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran hanged a man who was allegedly behind an attack that killed dozens of people at a military parade in the southern province of Khuzestan in 2018, state media reported on Saturday.The execution was carried out in Tehran after a top court upheld a death sentence for Farajollah Cha’ab in March, Iran’s state TV reported.He was “the main person in the terrorist attack” at the parade in September 2018, authorities said, and was arrested by Iranian agents in 2020 after he left Sweden for Turkey. He is alleged to be the leader of a separatist group.Cha’ab, who holds Iranian and Swedish citizenship, disappeared under mysterious circumstances in Turkey in November 2020.In September 2018, militants disguised as soldiers opened fire on an annual military parade in Ahvaz, the capital of oil-rich Khuzestan. At least 25 people were killed and 70 wounded, including a 4-year-old boy.Iran then claimed that Saudi Arabia and Israeli intelligence services supported what it ...

WV candidates still fighting over 2020; voters, not so much

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Some Republican officeholders in West Virginia are already revving up campaigns for governor in 2024. But first, they have to sort out what happened in 2020.Years after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the presidency, Secretary of State Mac Warner and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey say they remain concerned the Democrat’s victory was not legitimate. They persist in those views despite repeated investigations, audits and court cases concluding there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud or improper counting that could have changed the results. Warner, who runs elections in West Virginia, toed the line for more than two years before going on a talk show this week to say he can “now firmly say” he believes the election was stolen. “That election was thrown, it was stolen, and we should not rest easy,” he said on Talk Radio WRNR in the state’s Eastern Panhandle. Asserting that the presidential election was stolen has been a sta...

NY jury will have wide latitude to decide civil Trump claims

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury hearing an advice columnist’s claims that she was raped by Donald Trump could begin deliberations as soon as Tuesday, and it will have wide latitude in deciding the truthfulness of the allegations against the former president.The writer E. Jean Carroll, 79, testified that Trump raped her in 1996 inside a dressing room at the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store in Manhattan after they had a chance encounter and shopped together for lingerie.Trump, 76, has said he never raped Carroll and was never with her at the department store. He has been absent from the trial, though jurors saw portions of his videotaped deposition. He has accused Carroll of making up allegations to fuel sales of her 2019 memoir.The jury’s decision in the trial — which involves a civil case and not a criminal one — may come down to who they believe more. Here’s more on how the jury will reach its verdict:___WHEN WILL DELIBERATIONS BEGIN?Closing arguments are tentatively scheduled fo...

Drying overnight with another hot day Saturday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The severe weather threat is fading and the Severe Thunderstorm Watch has expired. Storms Friday night brought hail up to tennis ball size and some beneficial rainfall. BLOG: Severe storms roll through Central Texas Friday night CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS Saturday starts with low clouds before sunshine heats us back up into the low 90s.Saturday's forecastAnother round of isolated strong to severe storms is possible late Saturday, most likely in the evening. Rain chances Saturday are only at 20%.Risk of isolated severe storms in the Hill Country on SaturdayYet another risk of severe storms is in place for Sunday. Rain chances are slightly higher at 30%.Risk of isolated strong to severe storms across the area on SundayRain chances will continue daily through the weekend into much of next week. While no one day in particular will be a washout, our 7-day forecast rain totals look healthy -- between 1"-3" in many areas. 7 day rainfall forecast NEW BLOG: May out...