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The numbers that will shape a crucial year in US politics

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

The presidential election year is finally upon us — and with it, many important questions.Will a challenger emerge who can pose a significant threat to Donald Trump’s renomination? What are the signs that a rematch of the 2020 election might end differently? And which party will have the upper hand in the pitched battle to control Congress?There are key data points that will answer all of these questions, if one knows where to look.Here are 24 of those numbers to watch in the new year:1. Donald Trump’s share of white evangelical Christian votes in IowaEight years ago, Trump lagged with white evangelicals in Iowa (21 percent, tied with Marco Rubio for second place), who made up roughly six-in-10 caucusgoers, according to the entrance poll. But he’s now dominating this bloc — leading Ron DeSantis 56 percent to 22 percent, according to a recent Fox Business poll — foreclosing any path for DeSantis or Nikki Haley to usurp him.2. Nikki Haley’s vote share among women in New...

Israel bombs refugee camps in central Gaza: Report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

Israeli warplanes bombed two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip amid an expanding ground offensive, the Associated Press reported. Residents in Nuseirat and Bureij — two of eight urban camps set up by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to house Palestinians who fled their homes following Israel’s creation in 1948 — told the AP that airstrikes had hit the areas Friday night and into Saturday. At the same time, Israeli tanks are moving deeper into central and southern Gaza, part of a military offensive in response to the October 7 Hamas attacks in which more than 1,000 Israelis were killed and more than 200 taken hostage. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said Saturday that 165 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, pushing the death toll since October 7 past 21,600. The vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants have been displaced by the fighting, according to UNRWA, with many fleeing south from the advancing Israeli troops. The U.S...

Shopping on New Year’s Day 2024? From Costco to Walmart, see what stores are open and closed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

The New Year is almost upon us. And as the world prepares to ring in 2024, many are winding down from the holidays and getting back into their regular routines — give or take some fresh resolutions.If you’re planning on grabbing groceries or doing some other shopping to kick off the new year, it’s wise to double check stores’ hours. While more businesses typically stay open on New Year’s Day compared to Christmas Day, a handful of chains still cut back on hours or shut their doors to commemorate the holiday. Some also close up shop early for New Year’s Eve.Operations can vary on location. When in doubt, call ahead or check hours of stores in your neighborhood online.Here’s a rundown of major store hours and which businesses are open and closed in the U.S. this New Year’s Day.IS WALMART OPEN ON NEW YEAR’S DAY?Walmart is open with normal hours on New Year’s Day.IS TARGET OPEN ON NEW YEAR’S DAY?Ta...

Russia wants evidence before giving explanations about an object that entered Poland’s airspace

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Russia will not provide any explanations about an unidentified object that briefly entered Poland’s airspace until it receives evidence that shows the object was a Russian missile, Russia’s top diplomat in Poland said Saturday. Poland’s defense forces said an unknown object traveled 40 kilometers (24 miles) into the country’s airspace Friday from the direction of Ukraine before leaving minutes later and vanishing off radars. The head of the Polish armed forces, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, said “everything indicates” it was a Russian missile. Poland’s Foreign Ministry demanded explanations from Moscow. Russia’s charge d’affaires in Warsaw, Andrei Ordash, told Russian state news agency RIA Novosti on Saturday that Poland’s claims were “unsubstantiated.”“We will not give any explanations until we are presented with concrete evidence, because these accusations are unsubstantiated,” Ordash told RIA Novosti. Some 500 Polish Territorial Defense troops were combing an a...

Austrian government supports Vienna Boys Choir to help it out of financial difficulties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The Austrian government said Saturday that it is giving the country’s centuries-old Vienna Boys Choir 800,000 euros ($884,000) to help it out of severe financial difficulties. “It goes without saying that we will rescue them from their financial plight,” Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said.“We are proud of this world-famous choir, which has existed for more than 500 years and is part of the Austrian identity, and we will do everything we can to secure its future,” he added in a written statement.The choirboys should be able to “go into the coming year without existential worries,” the chancellor added.The choir had been struggling with rising costs due to inflation and a lack of income after many of its concerts were canceled during the coronavirus pandemic. The Vienna Boys Choir’s history dates back to 1498. At that time, the future Emperor Maximilian I moved his court and court music from various residences to Vienna and laid the foundation...

Israel bombs refugee camps in central Gaza as Biden administration approves weapon sales

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel bombed two urban refugee camps in central Gaza on Saturday, as the Biden administration approved an additional weapons sale to Israel despite persistent international cease-fire calls over mounting civilian deaths, hunger and mass displacement in the enclave.Israel has said it will continue its attacks until it has dismantled Hamas, a goal viewed by some as unattainable because of the militant group's deep roots in Palestinian society. The United States has shielded Israel diplomatically and has continued to supply weapons.The war, triggered by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, has displaced some 85% of the Gaza Strip’s 2.3 million residents, sending swells of people seeking shelter in Israeli-designated safe areas that the military has nevertheless also bombed. That has left Palestinians with a harrowing sense that nowhere is safe in the tiny enclave.The Health Ministry in Gaza said Saturday that the Palestinian death toll since the...

Other voices: Trump likes despots for the example they set

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

It’s said you should judge someone by the company they keep. Donald Trump doesn’t seem to keep many people in his close circle of confidants — one consequence of constantly, publicly and unabashedly tossing putative allies under a bus — nor does he reserve much praise for people other than himself. He appears to believe that the vast majority of other people, if they have any integrity at all, are suckers and losers, a sentiment many of his supporters don’t appear to realize he would surely extend to them.That makes it particularly notable when the former president does decide to pump someone up, especially off the cuff. At a New Hampshire campaign rally he managed to shout out not one, but four of what he seems to view as his contemporaries — despotic and nationalistic leaders who have weaponized their countries’ political systems to push their own power.Trump had kind words for “Viktor Orbán, the highly respected prime minister of Hu...

Rain arrives in Southern California before New Year's celebrations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

Showers have arrived in Southern California as residents prepare for New Year’s weekend.Beginning Friday night, light to moderate precipitation is expected to last through late Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.“For the cold front, you can see the storm hitting San Francisco before moving into Los Angeles County overnight,” explained KTLA meteorologist Kaj Goldberg. “By about 6 a.m. Saturday, we’ll see the mid-morning hours picking up some rainfall for Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.”Chances of thunderstorms will be active from late Friday through Saturday evening. The highest chances for showers will be across coastal regions and over ocean waters.“Rain at the coasts may enhance any coastal flooding, especially near higher terrain,” said NWS. “Heavier rain is possible near any storm that forms.”Los Angeles and Ventura counties can expect anywhere from 0.33 to 1 inch of rainfall. The highest amount of precipitation will cover mountain and foot...

The Mystery of CBC — An Intro To Cannabichromene

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

View the original article about the Cannabinoid CBC  at Real Tested CBD.When most reporters talk about hemp cannabinoids, they tend to focus on CBD and delta-8 THC. That makes sense when you consider these are the two best-selling hemp-derived products. However, dozens of other secondary cannabinoids may have phenomenal therapeutic potential.For example, cannabichromene (CBC) rarely gets a passing reference in the mainstream press. Heck, it’s even hard to find articles about CBC on hemp-focused online forums. Although CBC may not have a ton of media hype, you’ll see it in a few of your hemp-derived products. So, does CBC have anything unique to offer customers?How Does CBC Differ From CBD?Since CBD is the best-known hemp cannabinoid, comparing CBC’s traits with CBD makes sense. Interestingly, as people start exploring CBC’s chemistry, they’re amazed at just how much it resembles the more famous hemp cannabinoid.Not only is CBC a non-psychoactive compound, it’s a byproduct of the “mo...

Apple Macintosh 40th birthday kicks off a celebratory 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:17:53 GMT

Well, will you look at that? It feels like we barely got to know 2023, and the future’s here already. Fortunately, there are some things to look forward to in 2024, and a few to look back on.• For starters, Apple’s iconic Macintosh computer is celebrating its 40th anniversary in January. The Computer History Museum opened a pop-up exhibit, “Hello. The Mac@40,” in mid-December that will be up through Feb. 25 with artifacts from the museum’s collection and unique items on loan from some Apple alums. But the big event will be “Insanely Great” on Jan. 24 — an in-person discussion moderated by David Pogue and featuring insider stories about the computer’s development and earliest days from people including Andy Hertzfeld, Bill Atkinson, Susan Kare, Steve Capps, Mike Murray, and Andy Cunningham.• That’s not the only big anniversary happening this year, as the San Jose Earthquakes will be celebrating their 50th throughout the year...