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Cash App and Square down? Payment services are ‘steadily’ recovering after hours-long outages

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands Cash App and Square customers were unable to access their accounts or send money Thursday and early Friday due to system outages impacting both payment services.Outage reports for both platforms picked up around the same time Thursday afternoon, according to data from outage tracker Downdetector. In the hours following, numerous customers took to social media to share error messages and frustrations about not being able to access their money.“Since around noon PT (3pm ET) on Thursday, sellers have been unable to access accounts or process payments due to a systems outage within Square,” Square wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, shortly before 7am ET Friday. “We know you trust us with your business, and these situations add challenges to running your operations. For that, we are truly sorry.”In a later update to its online status portal, Square said that its services were “steadily regaining their function...

Lucas: Here we go again with Trump, Biden

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

The 2024 upcoming rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is like a replay of the Iran/Iraq War (1980-1988), a war in which most observers rooted for both sides to lose.This is what America is facing in 2024, and nobody likes it. Most people would like both men to go away.In the Middle East, after eight years of fighting, and a stalemate — and some one to two million casualties — both Iran and Iraq agreed to a United Nations settlement to end the war.It is too bad Biden and Trump cannot do the same. Where are the clowns at the UN when you need them?That settlement allowed both Iran and Iraq to claim victory, which they did, much like Biden and Trump both did in 2020.Biden won, of course, but Trump claimed that he won too, despite the results.So now both are getting it on again as both candidates have a lock on their party’s nomination even though no primary votes have yet been cast.Last week’s Wall Street Journal Poll, in a two-man race, had Biden and Trump tied at 46...

How Ozomatli turned its song ‘Moose on the Loose’ into a children’s book

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

After rocking a generation of kids with a children’s album back in 2012, Grammy-winning Los Angeles group Ozomatli are once again focusing on their young fans.But this time Ozomatli isn’t reaching the youth through music and is instead dropping a new children’s book.“For the band, this has been an interesting accomplishment and we’ll see what kind of movement it makes,” said saxophonist Ulises Bella about the group’s latest project, “Moose on the Loose,” a 32-page book that will be available on Sept. 19.Written by the band and illustrated by Germán Blanco, it follows the lyrics of the breakout song of the same title that appeared on the family-friendly album “Ozomatli presents Ozokidz” more than a decade ago.Los Angeles band Ozomatli is releasing the 32-page children’s book, “Moose on the Loose,” on Sept. 19. (File photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)Los Angeles band Ozomatli is releasing the 32...

A pre-pandemic infection could explain why some patients develop long COVID

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

By Rick Sobey, Boston HeraldA pre-pandemic common cold coronavirus infection may help set the stage for long COVID, according to Boston researchers who have been looking to explain why some patients end up facing the long-lasting, debilitating symptoms.The researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital teamed up with experts in immunology and virology to look for clues about long COVID in blood samples from patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases.The team found that among these patients, those who developed long COVID were more likely to have expanded, pro-inflammatory antibodies specific to a coronavirus that causes the common cold.A person’s viral history, especially prior infection and expansion of antibodies against a pre-pandemic coronavirus, could prime the immune system for developing long COVID, according to the researchers.“Our study offers evidence and explanation for why some of our patients may be experiencing the persistent and wide...

What to know about over-the-counter Narcan

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

By Tanaz Meghjani, Bloomberg NewsNarcan, an emergency opioid overdose reversal treatment, will soon be available at U.S. pharmacies without a prescription for about $45. The Food and Drug Administration approved Emergent BioSolutions Inc.’s spray for over-the-counter use in March. It’s the first opioid antidote to be available without a prescription, which will ease access for thousands of patients and their families.Here’s what you need to know about it:Does Narcan work on heroin and fentanyl overdoses?Narcan nasal spray is a lifesaving treatment for people who overdose on opioids, including fentanyl and heroin.Related ArticlesHealth | Ask the Pediatrician: What is the best backpack for my child? Health | Mayo Clinic Minute: What you should know about enteroviruses and babies Health | As the heat cranks up, Boston Public Schools will remain open on first day of year, officials say Health | Long COVID research: A pre-pandemi...

What income do I need to afford a $700,000 house?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

By Ruben Caginalp, Bankrate.comDoes your dream home have a $700,000 price tag? That’s well above the National Association of Realtors’ median price for a home, which in July 2023 was $406,700. Whether you can afford such a pricey purchase will depend on a variety of factors, including your salary and the interest rate of your mortgage.Use Bankrate’s mortgage calculator to figure out how much you need to make to afford a $700,000 home:Assuming a 30-year fixed mortgage and a 20 percent down payment of $140,000, at an interest rate of 6.5 percent, your monthly principal and interest payment would be $3,539. That’s more than $42,000 per year on principal and interest alone.Round that monthly figure up to around $4,200 to account for property taxes, homeowners insurance and potential HOA fees, all of which vary widely. That makes your total annual housing bill $50,400.Now apply the common rule of thumb that you shouldn’t spend more than about a third of your income on housing. The $50,40...

Hungry? Here's where to dine during San Diego Restaurant Week

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It's like an eight day holiday for San Diego foodies when this biannual event makes it's return. San Diego Restaurant Week will bring an abundance of fall flavors just one day after the autumn equinox on Sunday, Sept. 24. Presented by the California Restaurant Association, over 100 participating restaurants throughout San Diego County will offer daily dining deals until Sunday, Oct. 1. The Forum Carlsbad adds three new stores Prix-fixe menu options will be available at participating restaurants, with discounted deals at casual and five-star restaurants. To put that in perspective, foodies can enjoy two-course lunches and three-course dinners starting at just $20 and increasing in $10 increments.Here's a list of the restaurants involved in San Diego Restaurant Week:North County-- Pamplemousse Grille-- Draft Republic San Marcos-- Vintana-- 20|Twenty-- 333 Pacific-- Piper at at The Seabird Resort-- Toasted Gastrobrunch-- Casa de Bandini-- Ponto Lago-- Glass BoxEast Count...

Dr. Richard Moriarty, who helped create ‘Mr. Yuk’ poison warning for kids, dies at 83

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dr. Richard W. Moriarty, a retired pediatrician from Pittsburgh who helped create the bright green Mr. Yuk sticker that warns kids away from poisonous substances, has died. He was 83.Moriarty passed away on Thursday, according to Jeffrey Fugh of the funeral home John A. Freyvogel Sons Inc., which is handling arrangements in Pittsburgh.Moriarty was involved in establishing and developing the Pittsburgh Poison Center, where he served as director. He died at UPMC Shadyside hospital several months after undergoing surgery, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.He told the newspaper that the response by children in focus groups to the Mr. Yuk sticker’s sickly green color and upset face was instrumental — “the Mr. Yuk symbol was designed by kids for kids.” The poison awareness campaign began in 1971.He grew up in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood and attended the University of Pittsburgh for college and its medical school, where he was a longtime f...

2 Kentucky men exonerated in 1990s killing awarded more than $20 million

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two Kentucky men exonerated for a decades-old killing have settled with the city of Louisville for $20.5 million after spending more than 20 years in prison, lawyers for the men said Friday.A judge dismissed murder charges against Garr Keith Hardin and Jeffrey Dewayne Clark in 2018 for the 1990s slaying of 19-year-old Rhonda Sue Warford. Authorities at the time alleged the two men killed Warford as part of a satanic ritual.Attorneys for the men brought a civil lawsuit in 2018 that alleged police misconduct and a conspiracy to hide evidence in the case. The attorneys said two additional defendants in the civil suit, the Meade County Sheriff’s office and Kentucky State Police, have not yet reached a settlement with the men.“Today’s settlement says loudly and clearly that Keith Hardin and Jeffrey Clark are innocent, and that Louisville detectives and supervisors responsible for this injustice will be held accountable,” said Nick Brustin, a New York-based la...

Kroger agrees to pay up to $1.4 billion to settle opioid lawsuits

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 13:50:38 GMT

One of the nation’s largest grocery chains is the latest company to agree to settle lawsuits over the U.S. opioid crisis.In a deal announced Friday, the Kroger Co. would pay up to $1.4 billion over 11 years. The amount includes up to $1.2 billion for state and local governments where it operates, $36 million to Native American tribes and about $177 million to cover lawyers’ fees and costs.Kroger currently has stores in 35 states — virtually everywhere save the Northeast, the northern plains and Hawaii. Thirty-three states would be eligible for money in the deal. The company previously announced settlements with New Mexico and West Virginia.Over the past eight years, prescription drug manufacturers, wholesalers, consultants and pharmacies have proposed or finalized opioid settlements totaling more than $50 billion, including at least 12 others worth more than $1 billion. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments later this year on whether one of the larger settlemen...