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Confidence in cruising: Travel picking up despite lingering COVID concerns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

Cindy Krischer Goodman and Spencer Norris | South Florida Sun-SentinelAfter earning a reputation in the early days of the pandemic as floating disease carriers, cruise ships are back in favor with American travelers.With COVID in the general population easing, so too, are cases aboard ships.The number of COVID-19 cases reported on cruise ships leaving U.S. Ports has declined each month since last summer, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obtained by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.Fewer than 4,400 cases were reported on ships leaving from U.S. ports during January, compared with 13,238 in July 2022. Nationally, people stepped onto cruise ships to sail 13 million times in January, versus last summer when cruise ships were sailing at limited capacity.So is it safe to go on a cruise now?“The risk is less, but there is not zero risk,” says Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist with University of Michigan.Gauge risk, take precautionsThree ...

‘Emptying the tank’ only option left for Heat in draining season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

The advantage of seeing the finish line, or at least the regular-season finish line, Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin said Wednesday, is that the marathon is now a sprint.“We’re in single digits with the season left, with the regular season left,” he said ahead of Wednesday night’s game against the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena, with only eight regular-season games left to follow. “And it’s just kind of the time to start emptying the tank and to start to figure out what type of team you’re going to be for the postseason.“So we’re ready.”It is a somewhat daunting schedule, with Wednesday night’s game followed by a key Eastern Conference seeding battle Saturday night against the Brooklyn Nets, and a back-to-back road set next week against the Toronto Raptors and Knicks.“Obviously,” Martin said, “these are the types of games that you live to play for, in this type of environment.”Which means ...

DeSantis to expand ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law to all grades

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE (Associated Press)TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ‘ administration is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run.The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for a vote next month before the state Board of Education and has been put forth by state Education Department, both of which are led by appointees of the governor.The rule change would ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades 4 to 12, unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. The initial law that DeSantis championed last spring bans those lessons in kindergarten through the third grade. The change was first reported by the Orlando Sentine...

March Madness betting guide: Alabama, Houston favored

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

By MARK ANDERSON (AP Sports Writer)LAS VEGAS (AP) — March Madness was just that over the first two rounds with No. 1 seed Purdue going down to No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson and No. 2 seed Arizona falling to No. 15 seed Princeton. And then things got crazier on the final shot of the weekend when TCU’s Damion Baugh hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that covered the 4 1/2-point spread against Gonzaga. Now, the NCAA Tournament moves to the Sweet 16 and beyond. Here’s a look at what to watch for from a betting standpoint when games resume Thursday.WHO’S FAVORED TO REACH THE FINAL FOUR?Alabama, the No. 1 overall seed, is a minus-145 favorite to come out of the South Region, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, meaning someone would have to bet $145 to win $100. Sixth-seeded Creighton is next at plus-175.Houston is the other No. 1 seed still playing, and the Cougars are minus-115 favorites in the Midwest Region. No. 2 seed Texas is next at plus-190.In the West Region, No....

BU prepared for a shootout with Western Michigan in Manchester Regional

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Boston University has the scoring aspect of its game in working order heading into Thursday’s NCAA Division 1 Manchester Regional semifinal at SNHU Arena.The same can be said for the Terriers’ (27-10-0) opponent, Western Michigan (23-14-1), which possesses a dominant first line and the overall firepower to match BU. Puck drop is 2 p.m.The No. 2 seed Terriers enter the field of 16 for the 38th time with the nation’s fourth-highest scoring offense, averaging 3.92 goals per game. The No. 3 seed Broncos are fifth with 3.87 goals per game and those numbers add up to a potential shootout in the opening match.Defending champion and No. 1 seed Denver (30-9-0), which won its ninth national championship last April at the TD Garden, will take on No. 4 Cornell (20-10-2) in the second game at 5:30.“They obviously have some great offensive players up front so it is going to be our job to just kind of take away time and space from them,” said senior defenseman Domenick Fen...

Healey: Pharmacies must stock abortion pills

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

The governor of Massachusetts reminded pharmacies Wednesday that they are required to stock a key abortion pill, despite a nationwide effort by anti-abortion activists to ban the medication.The action comes as a federal judge in Texas is considering a lawsuit that would overturn decades-old federal approval of the drug.Democratic Gov. Maura Healey issued a written statement citing guidance from the state board overseeing pharmacies that says they must maintain “a continuous, sufficient supply of all family planning medications, including mifepristone, misoprostol, emergency contraception, and contraceptive prescriptions.”Misoprostol is also used as an abortion drug.Healey said Massachusetts will always protect abortion access.“At a time when states are rushing to ban medication abortion and some pharmacies are irresponsibly restricting access to it, we are reminding Massachusetts pharmacies that they have an obligation to provide critical reproductive health medications,” Healey sai...

Credit card debt is at record high as Fed raises rates again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again, credit card debt is already at a record high, and more people are carrying debt month to month.The Fed’s interest rate increases are meant to fight inflation, but they’ve also led to higher annual percentage rates (APRs) for people with credit card debt, which means they pay more in interest. The Fed announced Wednesday that it would increase rates another quarter of a point.With inflation still high, people are leaning on their credit cards more for everyday purchases.“It’s the economy, inflation, gas prices, and food costs,” said Lance DeJesus, 46, kitchen manager at the Golden Corral in York, Pennsylvania. “A year ago, you could go to the grocery store with a hundred bucks and come out with a bunch of bags. Now, I come out with just one bag.”DeJesus said he carries a credit card balance of roughly $2,600 from month to month over several cards, which have interest rates from 16.99% to 21.99%.Early in the pandemic,...

Stocks are mixed, yields tumble after Fed’s latest rate hike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are mixed Wednesday after the Federal Reserve announced its latest hike to interest rates, while also saying it may not tighten the screws much more on the economy and Wall Street. The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in late trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 35 points, or 0.1%, at 32,525, as of 3:22 p.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher. All three indexes were close to flat before the announcement. The Fed raised its key overnight rate by a quarter of a percentage point, the same size as its last increase, in its campaign to drive down inflation. The move was exactly what Wall Street was expecting. The bigger question was where the Fed is heading next. There, the Fed gave a hint it may not hike rates much more as it assesses the fallout from the banking industry’s crisis. Instead of repeating its statement that “ongoing increases will be appropriate,” the Fed made sure to say Wednesday that it now only sees “some addi...

Almost $2M worth of fake clothes seized from Etobicoke store in fraud case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

Two men are facing fraud charges after Toronto police determined that an Etobicoke store was selling fake clothes for several months.On February 1, investigators were notified of fraudulent activity in the Kipling Avenue and The Queensway area. It was later alleged that the store Brands Gone Wild at 1255 The Queensway was selling counterfeit clothing.Toronto police executed a search warrant on March 17, and it was revealed that the store owners were selling high-end fake brands, including Nike, Puma, Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein.The police seized over $1.8 million worth of counterfeit clothing.On March 17, police arrested 64-year-old Frank Monte and 45-year-old Michael Guerriero, both of Toronto.The two men were charged with fraud of over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, and passing off descriptions of wares. Monte and Guerriero will appear in court on May 15.

Red Cross says violence displaced more Colombians in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:33 GMT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — The number of internally displaced people in Colombia increased significantly last year as several armed groups fought for control of rural pockets of the country, the Red Cross said Wednesday.In its annual assessment of humanitarian challenges in the South American country, the organization said that while confrontations between Colombia’s army and rebel groups decreased last year, fighting among rebel groups continues to take a heavy toll on civilians. Some communities are increasingly being affected by landmines, death threats and attacks on health workers, the humanitarian group said.The Red Cross’s findings come as Colombia’s recently elected leftist President Gustavo Petro tries to broker cease-fire agreements with rebel groups who are fighting for control of illegal mines, drug trafficking routes and other resources abandoned by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, following their 2016 peace deal with the government.The peace deal ended five dec...