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ThunderShirts, dance parties and anxiety meds can help ease dogs’ July Fourth dread

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

By TERRY TANG (Associated Press)PHOENIX (AP) — On the Friday before the Fourth of July, more than a dozen dog owners waited in triple-digit temperatures in south Phoenix to get into a microchipping event inside a shelter.It didn’t hurt that Maricopa County was offering a discount. But, several were there because they knew having a microchip with their contact information implanted in their pups would increase the likelihood of their pet being returned if the worst happens on Independence Day. “Ava’s a scaredy-cat of any loud noises,” said Rori Chang, who was there with her golden retriever. “Her immediate reaction is to hide in corners and after that, she will literally paw at you wanting you to pet her the whole time.” Most of the U.S. may be looking forward to Tuesday for dazzling displays of fireworks or setting off firecrackers and poppers with their neighbors. Those with furry, four-legged family members — maybe not so much. They&...

Is the housing market about to crash? Here’s what experts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

Jeff Ostrowski | (TNS) BankrateAfter a record-breaking run that saw mortgage rates plunge to all-time lows and home prices soar to new highs, the U.S. housing market finally started slowing in late 2022. Mortgage companies engaged in mass layoffs, real estate economists lamented a “housing recession” and home prices seemed poised for a correction.But a strange thing happened on the way to the housing crash: Home values started rising again. In fact, housing prices have increased for three months in a row, according to the latest Case-Shiller home price index.“The U.S. housing market continued to strengthen in April 2023,” Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in a June 27 statement about the latest Case-Shiller reading. “Home prices peaked in June 2022, declined until January 2023, and then began to recover.”Yes, home values were down compared to April 2022 — but only by a mere 0.2 percent. In other words, the housing boom might be over, but this pau...

Police confirm two more Wichita club shooting victims, bringing total to 11 hurt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

By The Associated PressWICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Two additional gunshot victims have emerged from a weekend shooting at a Kansas nightclub, bringing the total number of injured people to 11, Wichita police said Monday.Meanwhile, a St. Louis-area man was arrested in connection with the shooting, and police are working to “identify all individuals involved in the shooting and hold them accountable,” according to a news release.Several shooters opened fire just before 1 a.m. Sunday inside the City Nightz club in downtown Wichita, according to police. Seven people were initially listed as injured by gunfire, and two others were trampled in the rush to escape.Two additional shooting victims arrived at hospitals later Sunday with minor injuries, Officer Juan Rebolledo said. All of the victims are expected to survive, he said.One suspect, a 31-year-old man from Florissant, Missouri, was arrested on suspicion of aggravated criminal battery. He had not been formally charged as o...

Four ways to accommodate special diets at your Fourth of July celebrations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

The Fourth of July is an occasion to celebrate the birthday of the United States. It’s also a time for gathering with friends and family, grilling and enjoying good food and cool drinks.Unfortunately, those with special dietary needs face unique challenges when eating away from home.Nearly one in five adults report following a special diet. Special diets are sometimes needed to help manage medical concerns or food allergies, requiring limiting or avoiding certain ingredients or foods such as sugar, salt, dairy, nuts or gluten, for example. They may also involve adhering to a dietary pattern such as vegan or vegetarian for ethical or environmental concerns.Regardless of the reason for special diets, it’s important for guests to have safe, healthy and satisfying food options. While it may not be realistic to serve a menu that 100% accommodates all guests with and without food restrictions, it’s important to offer safe alternatives when able. Whether you are hosting the barbeque or bri...

What we know so far about the mass shooting in Baltimore

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

Dan Belson | The Baltimore SunA mass shooting at a block party early Sunday morning in South Baltimore’s Brooklyn neighborhood killed two people and wounded 28 others — a victim tally that rivals any act of gun violence in the city in at least several decades.What happened?The gunfire erupted on the 800 block of Gretna Court in the Brooklyn Homes complex after midnight Sunday morning during the community’s “Brooklyn Day” celebration — an annual toast to the South Baltimore neighborhood with grilled foods, pony rides, face painting, dance competitions, music from a DJ, and appearances by Baltimore rappers Roddy Rackzz and OTR Chaz. Parents in the crowd before the shooting had babies strapped to their backs, residents said.Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley said Sunday that the event was “unpermitted,” meaning police were not told about it in advance. He said he would be looking into what officers did once it was determined there was a large party.While there has been...

Venus Williams falls early in her first match at her 24th Wimbledon and loses to Elina Svitolina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — As Venus Williams entered Centre Court for her 24th Wimbledon appearance at age 43, greeted by a standing ovation, she held a green exercise band overhead with both hands and stretched it while striding to her sideline seat.Once her first-round match against Elina Svitolina began, Williams played like a throwback version of herself. Those big serves. Those crisp strokes. Quickly, she was a point from a 3-0 lead on Monday.And then, moving forward to attempt a volley, Williams slipped on the green grass. Her right foot gave way. She collapsed to the ground. She shrieked and clutched at her right knee, which already was covered by a beige sleeve. Williams twice was treated by a trainer — including getting that knee taped up during a medical timeout after the first set — and although the American kept playing, she could not manage to overcome 2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Svitolina in a 6-4, 6-3 defeat.Williams was the oldest player in this year’s field and the f...

Wildfire destroys several structures in southwestern Washington’s Skamania County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A weekend wildfire in southwestern Washington has grown to 533 acres, leaving an undetermined number of structures destroyed, according to authorities.Skamania County firefighters responded to reports of the wildfire on Sunday at 11:19 a.m. near Highway 14 in Underwood, an unincorporated community near the Columbia River. Hot, windy conditions caused the “Tunnel 5” fire to spread rapidly through the afternoon, prompting authorities to issue an evacuation notice for a two-mile radius around Cook Underhill Road, where crews are engaged in active firefighting. A shelter has been set up at Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson, Washington. The fire’s cause is under investigation, authorities said.As of Monday morning, 26 engines, 5 hand crews and 19 water tenders — 166 fire personnel total — were engaged with the fire, which is 0% contained. “Several structures have been lost,” the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office wrote in an update posted to Facebook late Sunday...

Hawaiian Airlines plane hits severe turbulence on flight from Honolulu to Sydney

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Sydney hit severe turbulence, leading to medical care for at least seven people on board.The plane was carrying 163 passengers and 12 crew members when it encountered turbulence five hours into Thursday’s flight, officials told Hawaii News Now. The aircraft was inspected after landing safely in Sydney. Four passengers and three flight attendants needed medical attention from a doctor who was on the flight, the Honolulu television station reported.Airline representatives didn’t immediately return emails Monday seeking an update.Last year, severe turbulence injured 25 people on board a Hawaiian Airlines flight. Four passengers and two crew members were seriously hurt. The plane sustained minor damage. The captain of the Dec. 18 flight from Phoenix to Honolulu told investigators that conditions were smooth with clear skies when a cloud shot up in front of the plane, and that there was no time to change course, according ...

Novak Djokovic uses his towel at Wimbledon to help dry the Centre Court grass after a rain delay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Anxious to get on with the match, Novak Djokovic literally took matters into his own hands on the wet Wimbledon grass by using his towel and some elbow grease to help dry the surface.Djokovic, who has won the Wimbledon title seven times, was playing in the opening match of this year’s tournament on Centre Court — the traditional spot for the defending men’s champion at the All England Club.But as it so often does in southwest London, it started raining just as Djokovic won the first set 6-3. That led organizers to stop play and close the roof over the stadium.When Djokovic and Argentine opponent Pedro Cachin returned after the tarp was removed, the ground was still slick. That’s when Djokovic jumped into action.“I normally come out with rackets, not with towels,” said the 36-year-old Serb, seeded No. 2 at the tournament. “But it was fun to do something different, a little bit of a strange feeling but hopefully you guys liked it.”Djok...

Erdogan signals Turkey isn’t ready to ratify Sweden NATO membership, saying there’s more work to do

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:02:24 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled Monday that his country is not ready to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO, saying Stockholm had to work harder on the “homework” it needs to complete.Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan also renewed his condemnation of a Quran-burning protest that took place in Sweden last week, describing the action as a hate crime against Muslims. “We have made it clear that the determined fight against terrorist organizations and Islamophobia are our red line,” Erdogan said. “Everyone must accept that Turkey’s friendship cannot be won by supporting terrorism or by making space for terrorists.”Turkey has delayed giving its final approval to Sweden’s membership in the military alliance, accusing the country of being too lenient toward anti-Islamic demonstrations and groups that Ankara regards as security threats. These include militant Kurdish groups that have waged a deadly, decades-long insurgency in Turkey. ...