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Canadians less anxious about interest rates despite hikes: Maru

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

A new Maru Public Opinion survey has found that despite interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada, part of the goal to lower inflation, less Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the five per cent it sits at today than they were last October when rates were 3.25 per cent.Fifty-two per cent of Canadians, down from 57 per cent, say the rise in interest rates over the past year, with 39 per cent (down from 36 per cent) is causing some anxiety because of money pressures. Sixteen per cent (down from 18 per cent) say the rise makes them worried about where it may lead to financially for themselves or their family.The remaining 48 per cent (up from 43 per cent) say the higher interest rates are not a problem for themselves or their family.The 16 per cent who are the most worried about the rates impacting themselves or their families are middle-aged and younger (aged 54 or less), those with the lowest income (18 per cent make less than $50K), and those residing in British Columbia...

Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith says he’ll retire in July 2024

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith said Wednesday he’ll retire next summer.The 67-year-old Smith, who has spent the past 18 years at Ohio State leading one of the largest and most successful athletic programs in the country, announced he would step down in July 2024.“I have always believed that a leader seeks to be the right person at the right time in the life of the institution,” Smith said. “I believe that July 2024 is the right time to welcome new leadership to build upon what we have achieved and continue to build upon the great tradition of excellence in athletics and business advancement at Ohio State.”Smith, a Cleveland native who played college football at Notre Dame, became Ohio State’s eighth athletic director in April 2005. He had previously been athletic director at Arizona State, Eastern Michigan and Iowa State.Ohio State teams have won 115 team Big Ten titles under Smith.___AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/colleg...

Nearly 100 Croatian soccer fans face murder, gang-related charges in Greece after deadly violence

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Nearly 100 arrested Croatian soccer fans appeared in an Athens court Wednesday to face serious criminal charges that include murder and membership of a criminal organization, over their alleged involvement in deadly fan violence. The handcuffed youths – many with their shirts pulled over their heads to hide their identity – appeared before an investigative magistrate a day after a 29-year-old Greek fan was stabbed to death outside AEK Athens’ stadium, prompting the cancellation of a Champions League qualifier against Dinamo Zagreb.Court officials said the magistrate issued the blanket charges against all 103 suspects, including 97 Croatian nationals. The indictments also included charges of multiple assault and illegal possession and use of explosive material. The murder-related charge is likely to be dropped for most of the defendants as the investigation proceeds.Amateur video of the attack showed dozens of youths wielding bats and iron bars running past the ...

Record-setting Sherpa guide sets a new climbing goal for the world’s highest peaks

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A Sherpa guide who climbed the world’s 14 tallest mountains in record time is eyeing another record, looking to become the youngest person to scale all those peaks twice. Tenjen Sherpa, 35, and Norwegian climber Kristin Harila, 37, shattered the record for the fastest climb of the 14 mountains more than 8,000 meters (about 26,000 feet) high when they topped Mount K2 in Pakistan late last month. The previous record was 189 days, and the pair did it in 92 days.Instead of taking a long break, Tenjen intends to start working toward his new goal by joining an expedition to scale Mount Shishapangma in China within the next couple of months. “I have already done (it) once and I want to double it,” he told The Associated Press in Kathmandu on Wednesday. “It is now my new target to be the youngest to scale these peaks twice.”The only other climber to have completed a second round of the 14 peaks is Sanu Sherpa, who is now 48 years old.Tenjen has already climbed ...

How much you need to make to be in Illinois' top 1%

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

(STACKER) — American wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated at the very top of the economic ladder. The top 1% of families hold over a third of the total wealth in the U.S. – up from 27% in 1989 – according to a Congressional Budget Office report from 2022. The bottom half of all households, meanwhile, control just 2% of the total wealth. But who's in this group of ultra wealthy taxpayers? Nationally, households that make $652,657 are considered among the top 1%. They earn more than eight times as much as the median household, which sits around $75,000.  Someone in Florida wins $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot, third-largest lottery prize in US history However, the 1% threshold varies from state to state, ranging from as much as $953,000 to as little as $368,000. In Illinois, a household needs to make $660,810 per year, a number which ranks the state as #9 for what it takes to make the cut. SmartAsset analyzed data from the IRS and Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine ...

75-year-old veteran with stage 4 cancer loses home in Texas wildfire

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — Michael Hinz and his son Travis walked through smoldering devastation on the land where they just lost their Texas home of 45 years. "It's just total devastation. It's just torn down to the bare ground," Hinz said. Their home is now a pile of ash and rubble that was engulfed by flames in the Oak Grove wildfire on Saturday.Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left) stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN Photo)Michael (right) and Travis Hinz (left) stand in front of their burned down home. (KXAN Photo)Hinz, 75, is a veteran and has stage four prostate cancer. He said his family got him out of the house just in time."My daughter and son-in-law just came out to pick me up, and they noticed smoke, and they said, 'We got to get out of here, because we don't know which direction it's going to go.'"The family said they didn't expect the home to be totally lost to the fire. "Sunday afternoon after church, we came out expecting to see that the fire had moved o...

People fleeing Hawaii wildfires pulled from ocean

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — Wildfires in Hawaii fanned by strong winds burned multiple structures in areas including historic Lahaina town, forcing evacuations and closing schools in several communities Wednesday, and rescuers pulled a dozen people escaping smoke and flames from the ocean.The U.S. Coast Guard responded to areas where people went into the ocean to escape the fire and smoky conditions, the County of Maui said in a statement. The Coast Guard tweeted that a crew rescued 12 people from the water off Lahaina.The county tweeted that multiple roads in Lahaina were closed with a warning: “Do NOT go to Lahaina town.”Fire was widespread in Lahaina, including Front Street, an area of the town popular with tourists, County of Maui spokesperson Mahina Martin said in a phone interview early Wednesday. Traffic has been very heavy as people try to evacuate and officials asked people who weren’t in an evacuation area to shelter in place to avoid adding to the traffic, she said.The National Weath...

No jail for owner of Michigan meat processing company after teen loses hand in meat grinder

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) — A judge declined to impose any jail or probation for the owner of a Michigan meat processing company after a teenage worker lost his hand in a 2019 incident with a meat grinder.The owner of US Guys Processing, 55-year-old Darin Wilbur of Saranac, was ordered Tuesday to pay a $500 fine, a $500 cost, two fees totaling $143 and any residual restitution owed to the young employee.The victim, who was 17 at the time, lost his hand in November 2019 while operating a meat grinder under Wilbur's supervision, according to the Michigan Attorney General's Office.The AG’s Office said Michigan Wage and Hour Division investigators found that the teen was employed illegally under the state’s Youth Employment Standards Act and that he didn’t have the work permit needed for people under 18.In June, Wilbur pleaded guilty to employing a minor in a dangerous profession. Child found under Florida roller coaster track with traumatic injuries, officials say During Wilbur's sentencin...

VIDEO: 7 spider monkeys discovered in backpack near southern Texas border

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Seven spider monkeys were discovered in a backpack by border patrol agents in Brownsville, Texas, authorities said, resulting in one arrest.Footage released by the US Border Patrol’s RGV Sector shows the animals huddled in a backpack which appears to have air holes punched through. People in Hawaii flee into ocean to escape wildfires that are burning a popular Maui tourist town US Border Patrol said the monkeys were discovered during an arrest at Fort Brown Station, in Brownsville. The animals were handed over to US Fish and Wildlife.Spider monkeys live in rainforests from central Mexico to Bolivia.Credit: US Border Patrol RGV Sector via Storyful

WGN Pat Tomasulo's wife on debilitating facial condition, 9th annual 'Laugh Your Face Off' fundraiser

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 19:50:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Amy Tomasulo, the wife of WGN's Pat Tomasulo, joined the Morning Show Wednesday to talk about the 9th annual "Laugh Your Face Off" comedy fundraiser event.Back in 2015, the Tomasulos created the event to fund research for trigeminal neuralgia — a very rare, facial pain condition that Amy has. It is a debilitating facial condition that doctors classify as "the worst pain known to man." There is currently no cure for it.Since their annual fundraiser kicked off, it has raised over $3.1 million for research.The next "Laugh Your Face Off" is on Sept. 23 at the Park West and tickets are on sale now.For tickets, go to: laughyourfaceoff.orgLove the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.