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New COVID variant on the horizon shows virus’ rapid evolution, as new booster nears

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

Paul Sisson | San Diego Union-TribuneThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects a refreshed booster vaccine to be available next month, but it remains to be seen whether the new shot will be able to snipe a highly mutated coronavirus variant that is just starting to appear.Nicknamed “Pirola” by scientists on social media, this new bug’s technical name is BA.2.86, which makes it a descendant of the Omicron virus that first appeared in late 2021, causing the largest surge in cases of the COVID-19 pandemic.But the latest variant is said to have more than 35 additional mutations than XBB 1.5, the variant that will be included in this year’s booster, according to a risk assessment from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Experts are recommending that people wait for the newest booster when it becomes available — even though, as with each new yearly dose, it remains uncertain how well the immunity it induces will match up with the latest coronavirus strain...

Why now might be a good time to consider longer-term CDs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

Matthew Goldberg | Bankrate.com (TNS)As the Federal Reserve continues to slow down on raising rates, you can still get the highest yielding five-year CD yields in more than a decade right now. But your window on this opportunity could soon be closing.Long-term CD rates may be peaking nowThe Fed’s rate decisions indirectly affect CD yields. Since March 2022, the central bank has raised the federal funds rate 11 times — with several of the hikes being more aggressive at 50 and 75 basis points higher.But with inflation finally cooling, future rate increases remain uncertain as the Fed weighs its options.The recent slowdown in rate increases is the main reason why CD APYs between the two- and five-year terms are peaking around now, says Greg McBride, CFA, Bankrate chief financial analyst.“And if the Fed is seen as being close to the end of their rate-hiking cycle, there’s no ongoing fuel to push those longer-term yields higher,” McBride says.The top-yielding 5-year CD rate right now is ...

Bill Belichick explains Patriots’ trades for OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Vederian Lowe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

In light of all the injuries and uncertainty around their offensive line, the Patriots swung trades for ex-Browns offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and former Vikings offensive tackle Vederian Lowe on Sunday.Wheatley, 26, has played both offensive tackle spots, while Lowe has spent most of the last year-plus at left tackle. Both players are career backups who stand at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. Wheatley, a converted college tight end, has accrued zero game experience since entering the league in 2021. Lowe, a 2022 sixth-round pick, appeared in four games last year as a rookie.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Sources: Patriots release QB Trace McSorley, P Corliss Waitman New England Patriots | Will Patriots O-line starters be ready for Week 1? Bill Belichick answers New England Patriots | Patriots 53-man roster projection: Toughest cuts at QB, tight end, linebacker New England Patriots | Patriots acquire another tackle...

Florida governor declares widespread state of emergency ahead of Idalia’s expected landfall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Tropical Storm Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it would hit within days as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges.As the state prepared, Idalia thrashed Cuba with heavy rain, especially in the westernmost part of the island, where the tobacco-producing province of Pinar del Rio is still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Ian almost a year ago. Authorities in the province issued a state of alert, and residents were evacuated to friends’ and relatives’ homes as authorities monitored the Cuyaguateje river for possible flooding. As much as 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain fell in Cuba on Sunday, meteorological stations reported.Idalia is expected to start affecting Florida with hurricane-force winds as soon as late Tuesday and arrive on the coast by Wednesday. It is the first storm to hit Florida this hurr...

University of North Carolina warns of armed person on campus and urges people to stay inside

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sent out an alert Monday warning of an “armed, dangerous person on or near campus” and urging people to go inside and avoid windows.The first alert was sent out just after 1 p.m. At 1:50 p.m., officials posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the shelter-in-place order remained in effect and that it was “an ongoing situation.” About 40 minutes later, the school added a post saying: “Remain sheltered in place. This is an ongoing situation. Suspect at large.”Officials said as soon as they had verified information, they would share it.Video footage showed a heavy police presence on the campus of the state’s flagship university, where the fall semester started last week.Campus officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking additional information.Nearby Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools posted on social media that all doors would be locked at its schools and offices until authorities say itR...

Biden will observe 9/11 in Alaska instead of the traditional NYC, Virginia or Pennsylvania events

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will observe next month’s 22nd anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil at an Alaska military base with service members and their families, the White House announced. It will be the first time that a president has not attended any of the observances that have been held annually in New York City, Pennsylvania and Virginia, just outside Washington, according to an Associated Press review of media coverage of these events. Biden will stop in Alaska for the 9/11 observance at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage on his way back to Washington after he attends a summit in New Delhi with other world leaders and visits Vietnam on Sept. 10. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will participate in the annual commemoration at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in lower Manhattan.First lady Jill Biden will lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon. Terrorists hijacked commercial airplanes ...

Report: John Herdman leaves men’s national team for Toronto FC job

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

John Herdman, who has coached both the women’s and men’s national soccer teams, has taken the head coaching job with Toronto FC, according to Joshua Kloke of The Athletic.The divagationfrom his role with the men’s national program is effective immediately, according to Kloke.John Herdman has been hired as Toronto FC's next head coach and will leave the Canadian men's national team immediately, per @joshuakloke. pic.twitter.com/xSCQm2ilE4— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 28, 2023Canada is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Mexico and the U.S., which automatically grants the team a spot in the tournament.More to come

Georgia’s election board leader who debunked unfounded 2020 election fraud claims is stepping down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — The retired federal judge leading Georgia’s State Election Board is resigning effective Friday from the panel, which sought under his tenure to debunk unfounded claims of election fraud stemming from the 2020 presidential vote.Gov. Brian Kemp made the announcement Monday that William “Bill” Duffey Jr. would be stepping down, although his resignation letter was dated July 18.Duffey wrote that he wanted to step down now that the board has transitioned to a freestanding agency under Georgia’s 2021 election law. It previously was chaired by the secretary of state.“Now that a new board structure is in place, it is important to name the next chair in sufficient time for that person to continue to prepare for the 2024 election cycle,” Duffey wrote.The board makes rules for state elections and recommends what should be done about people who break rules and laws.Duffey had only been appointed in June 2022, after a yearlong delay following the passage of the law.Und...

Haiti police probe killings of parishioners who were led by a pastor into gang territory

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The director of Haiti’s National Police vowed Monday to hold accountable those who encouraged hundreds of parishioners to take up machetes and sticks over the weekend to try and rid a community of gang members, only to be fatally shot by them. Police Chief Frantz Elbé said the group’s religious leader, identified as Marcorel Zidor, participated in the protest Saturday and was accompanied by unidentified people clad in olive green carrying assault rifles as they and the parishioners marched toward the community of Canaan.Elbé said the group drew gunfire from gang members, and that “multiple” people were killed and several kidnapped, though he did not provide numbers. He said police were trying to recover the bodies of those killed in Canaan, a community established north of the capital by survivors of the country’s devastating 2010 earthquake. The community is controlled by a powerful gang whose leader goes only by “Jeff,” and who is an ally of anot...

As worker actions continue nationwide, White House highlights how administration is helping unions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:24:37 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — As worker actions continue from Hollywood to Detroit, and new labor unions crop up at firms like Starbucks and Amazon, the White House on Monday was highlighting its effort to bolster worker organizing throughout the U.S.President Joe Biden is counting on critical labor support as he campaigns for a second term in office, holding his first re-election campaign rally at a Pennsylvania union hall in June, declaring: “I’m proud to be the most pro-union president in American history.” The White House and Treasury on Monday issued a joint analysis on what the administration sees as the importance of unions, and also the White House efforts to safeguard and bolster them. There is “evidence that unions strengthen the middle class and grow the economy” by raising wages of members and improving health care, retirement and predictable scheduling plan benefits, according to the analysis. “There have been recent signs of a reinvigorated labor movement, as union election ...