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Lucas: Cucumber cost an inflation stomach ache

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

Four weeks ago, cucumbers at Market Basket, my go-to store, were two for a dollar, or 50 cents each.Three weeks ago, they were 59 cents each.Two weeks ago, they were 69 cents per cuke.Last week the price rose to a whopping 79 cents a cucumber. I may be the world’s worst shopper, but even I knew that something was going on, and that it was not good.The cost of the cucumber, you see, is my barometer on inflation and the rising cost of living under President Biden. I shop. He doesn’t.In my past life — prior to living alone — I had a mate. So, I never did any grocery shopping. Shopping malls and vast supermarkets were foreign territory. I avoided them at all costs.The only stores I frequented back then were the package store and the hardware store.Since I was never good at fixing anything that required a tool, I gave up the hardware store. That left the packy.But one day, when I suddenly found myself living alone, I had to shop at stores that I had avoided most of my life. Starving was ...

Patriots-Jets injury report: Hunter Henry out, 12 other Patriots questionable

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

The Patriots ruled out tight end Hunter Henry and left tackle Trent Brown for Sunday’s season finale against the Jets.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Last day of school vibes as Patriots wait for snow day in season finale New England Patriots | Why Bailey Zappe has set ‘really good’ example for other Patriots New England Patriots | Patriots down 1 offensive starter at final practice before season finale New England Patriots | Callahan: If Bill Belichick’s time is over, say thank you before goodbye New England Patriots | Nor’easter set to blast Massachusetts with up to 12 inches of snow, Patriots could have a snow game Both players may have played their final games in New England, as Henry and Brown are scheduled to hit free agency this offseason. Henry was downgraded to non-participation at Friday’s practice. He has a lingering knee injury that will keep him out...

Under pressure to improve, did American, Southwest have more on-time flights in 2023?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

Alexandra Skores | The Dallas Morning News (TNS)Major airlines went back to the basics in 2023, emphasizing getting passengers to their final destinations and cutting down on disruptions after several turbulent years of delays and cancellations.So how well did major airlines like Fort Worth-based American Airlines or Dallas-based Southwest Airlines do at getting their passengers where they needed in 2023?American ranked third on aviation analytics firm Cirium’s on-time performance results in 2023, at 80.61%, while Southwest ranked fifth at 76.26% for North American airlines. At the top, was Delta Air Lines, which flew at 84.72% for the year. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines also ranked top five.Atlanta-based Delta, which recently announced major expansions at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, ranked fourth globally, below Avianca Airlines, Azul Airlines and Qatar Airlines. American also ranked tenth among global air carriers.Looking at airports around the world, DFW Interna...

The Supreme Court allows Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even in medical emergencies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

By MARK SHERMAN (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even in medical emergencies, while a legal fight continues.The justices said they would hear arguments in April and put on hold a lower court ruling that had blocked the Idaho law in hospital emergencies, based on a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration. Hospitals that receive Medicare funds are required by a federal law to provide emergency care, potentially including abortion, no matter if there’s a state law banning abortion, the administration argued.The legal fight followed the court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to severely restrict or ban abortion. The Biden administration issued guidance about the law, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, two weeks after the high court ruling in 2022. The Democratic administration sued Idaho a month later.U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Idaho ...

Lead-tainted applesauce pouches also contained another possible toxic substance, FDA says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

By JONEL ALECCIA (AP Health Writer)Recalled cinnamon applesauce pouches that were tied to lead poisoning in hundreds of U.S. children contained an additional contaminant, federal health officials said Friday.Besides lead, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said investigators detected “a high level” of the chemical element chromium, which can be toxic, in WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree and in cinnamon collected from the Ecuador factory where the pouches were manufactured. The additional details come as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 287 confirmed, probable or suspected lead poisoning cases from 37 states in the outbreak first detected in October. At least one adult has reported high blood lead levels after eating the lead-tainted pouches, but the median age of those sickened is 1, the FDA said. It’s not clear what type of chromium was detected in the products, FDA investigators said. Chromium is a naturally occurring element wit...

Supreme Court agrees to review Trump’s Colorado ballot ban in historic case

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

The Supreme Court agreed to take up whether former President Trump can be disqualified from appearing on Colorado’s ballot over his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack, setting up a historic case that could upend the presidential election.The justices’ order sets the case up to be heard at a speedy pace, with oral arguments scheduled for Feb. 8 and a decision to follow that could spark Trump’s removal from the ballot in states across the country.Dozens of challenges to Trump’s eligibility under the 14th Amendment have been filed nationwide, though many cases have been rejected by lower courts.But two states — Colorado and Maine — last month took the extraordinary step of removing Trump from the primary ballot.Although those rulings remain on hold until Trump’s appeals are resolved, enabling his name to remain on the ballot in the meantime, the justices’ decision to hear the Colorado case equips the high court to provide a national resolution in advance of the genera...

WWII-era munitions found at dumping site off SoCal coast in deep-sea survey

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) — An unprecedented expedition to map parts of Southern California's deep-sea has uncovered World War II military weaponry littering the seafloor in massive dumping sites off the coast of Los Angeles.The research effort spearheaded by Scripps Institute of Oceanography sheds new light on exactly what objects lay beneath the surface after thousands of "barrel-like" objects likely containing toxic chemicals were discovered by sonar in stretches of the seafloor in 2021.Made public on Friday, the latest survey using sonar and robotic vehicles found a multitude of discarded munitions boxes and other explosives along debris lines between Los Angeles and Catalina, thousands of feet below the surface where they were previously identified. Orca sightings have surged in SoCal. What experts believe is keeping the whales here Among the items discovered were depth charges typically used to attack submarines, Hedgehog and Mark 9 depth charges, and Mark 1 smoke floats, which are c...

Family grieves daughter who died after Thunder Bay police did not respond to 911 call

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

The family of a woman found dead in northern Ontario after officers reportedly did not respond to a 911 call say the case raises concerns about the treatment of First Nations women by Thunder Bay police. The family of Jenna Ostberg, in a statement shared by the Windigo First Nations Council, asked for privacy as they “grieve the loss of their daughter who died under tragic circumstances.”Ontario’s police watchdog says a 21-year-old woman was found dead at a residence in Thunder Bay on Saturday.The Special Investigation Unit says police did not respond to the scene after an initial 911 domestic disturbance call was made from the residence, or to a follow-up call to “cancel” the first call for service. The family says they will wait for the results of a coroner’s report, as well as more information from the SIU, before they make further comment or decide how to proceed. But the statement says the family fears their daughter “is the l...

A drug cartel has attacked a remote Mexican community with drones and gunmen, rights group says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A small community in the violence-torn Mexican state of Guerrero was attacked by drones and armed men from a drug cartel, a human rights group told the Associated Press on Friday.The cartel attacked at least 30 people on Thursday, according to the local religious and human rights organization Minerva Bello Center. José Filiberto Velázquez, the center’s director, said the victims were likely killed, though authorities still had not been able to enter the remote community or confirm the deaths.The community of Helidoro Castillo, on the fringes of Tlacotepec, is caught in an escalating war between the La Familia Michoacana and the Jalisco New Generation cartels. Velázquez said drone attacks by the cartels and violence had been escalating over the past year, something they alerted authorities to. Velázquez said he heard from the community around midday Thursday that La Familia Michoacana was launching “explosive devices” from drones. But communications from the ...

‘Prominent’ person in B.C. wine industry under investigation for sex assault: RCMP

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 11:43:03 GMT

OLIVER, B.C. — Police in Oliver, B.C., say they’re investigating a “prominent member” of the province’s wine industry for an alleged sexual assault on a Mexican migrant worker. South Okanagan RCMP say the unnamed suspect employed the worker, and they believe there are other victims or witnesses who have yet to speak to investigators. Cpl. James Grandy says police are hoping to talk to others in the community if they have additional information. Police say there are officers available who speak Spanish in case of a language barrier with other potential witnesses or victims. Mounties say the investigation is ongoing and they can’t release any additional details. They say anyone who may have information about the case should contact the RCMP detachment in Oliver. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2024.The Canadian Press