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How extreme weather in the US may have affected the pumpkins you picked this year for Halloween

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

Hudson, CO. (AP) — Alan Mazzotti can see the Rocky Mountains about 30 miles west of his pumpkin patch in northeast Colorado on a clear day. He could tell the snow was abundant last winter, and verified it up close when he floated through fresh powder alongside his wife and three sons at the popular Winter Park Resort.But one season of above-average snowfall wasn’t enough to refill the dwindling reservoir he relies on to irrigate his pumpkins. He received news this spring that his water delivery would be about half of what it was from the previous season, so he planted just half of his typical pumpkin crop. Then heavy rains in May and June brought plenty of water and turned fields into a muddy mess, preventing any additional planting many farmers might have wanted to do.“By time it started raining and the rain started to affect our reservoir supplies and everything else, it was just too late for this year,” Mazzotti said.For some pumpkin growers in states like Texas, New Mexico...

8 cars stolen after suspects rappel into Spokane car dealership: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two people have been arrested and charges are being sought on a third after eight vehicles were stolen from a dealership in Spokane, Washington on Tuesday, authorities said.At around 10 a.m. on October 24, officials with the Spokane Police Department (SPD) said patrol officers responded to Northtown Auto Sales, a used car dealership, on a report of numerous stolen vehicles from their lot, which was first reported by The Spokesman-Review."I came in and cars were missing from our front line," Sales Manager Johnny Arrotta told Nexstar's KOIN. "I figured something was off."Investigators said someone broke into the business and stole multiple sets of keys. Over the course of the night and into the early morning, authorities say the suspects repeatedly returned to the dealership and took eight vehicles. American hockey player dies after ‘freak accident’ during game The stolen vehicles included three BMWs, two Mercedes Benzs, a Dodge Grand Caravan, and a Nissan Ti...

Fans, friends, co-stars react to Matthew Perry's sudden death

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

(KTLA) — The entertainment world is reeling from the news of "Friends" star Matthew Perry's death with fellow actors, studio executives, and fans paying tribute to one of America’s most iconic sitcom actors. Perry, 54, died at his Los Angeles-area home on Saturday. His assistant, who was asked by Perry to run an errand for him, returned to find him unresponsive in his jacuzzi, TMZ said. No foul play is suspected.Among the first to react to Perry’s death was Warner Bros. Television; all 10 seasons of "Friends" were shot at their studios in Burbank.  ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54: reports “We are devastated to learn of Matthew Perry’s passing,” the studio said on X, formerly Twitter. “He was a true gift to us all. Our heart goes out to his family, loved ones and all of his fans.” For years, “Friends” has been an integral part of the Warner Bros. Studios Tour in Burbank where visitors can be photographed and dine among set pieces and costumes and buy merchandise.FRIEND...

5 movies you forgot Matthew Perry starred in

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) — Matthew Perry, well known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic TV series "Friends," died on Saturday, according to multiple reports. He was 54. The news came as a shock to many, leaving fans devastated at his passing. ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54: reports In honor of his career, here are a few movies you may not remember Matthew Perry starred in.17 Again (2009)Perry played the role of Mike O'Donnell in the comedic film "17 Again." The movie switches between young Mike O'Donnell, played by Zac Efron, and the older version played by Perry. A movie description by Warner Bros. says Mike is "miraculously transformed" into being 17 again but with the perspective of his older self. The film was one of the newer movies Perry starred in, as much of his career was centered in the 90s and early 2000s.The Ron Clark Story (2006)Perry also starred as the main character in the 2006 film "The Ron Clark Story," playing the character of a suburban elementa...

Costco vs. Sam's Club: Who has better gas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

(KTXL) — Many people flock to warehouses like Costco and Sam's Club with high hopes of getting the best deal on the price of fuel. Although both offer similar savings, there's a difference in the quality of gas they pump. The most notable difference between Costco and Sam's Club is that one provides Top Tier gas while the other does not. What’s the cheapest day of the week to buy gas? "Not all gasoline is created equal," Consumer Reports wrote in March 2022. "There is plain old regular, and then there is regular gasoline that meets a higher standard, known as Top Tier.” According to Top Tier's website, the fuel was "developed by some of the leading automotive and heavy-duty equipment manufacturers." It is intended to reduce deposit buildup on fuel injectors and intake valves, which can improve your vehicle's engine performance, responsiveness, and fuel economy. In 2016, AAA conducted a study that revealed that Top Tier gasoline keeps engines 19 times cleaner. In response to increa...

Sudsy bubbles coming from your tree? Here's what it means

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

DERBY, Kan. (KSNW) — Does your tree have a case of the suds? No, we aren't talking about the illness Spongebob came down with, though it is slightly similar. A resident in Derby, Kansas, noticed the strange phenomenon known as tree suds in her yard on Tuesday. She shared the below photos with Nexstar's KSNW. (Misti Hobbs)(Misti Hobbs)Misti Hobbs took these two photos Tuesday as rain moved across the area. As you can see, it seems like sudsy soap is seeping out of the tree. Erik Draper writes for Ohio State University that tree suds are actually a fairly common phenomenon that generally happens after long periods without rain.During those dry periods, particulates from the air, salts, and plant chemicals tend to accumulate on the surface of tree bark. Rainwater washes and mixes with the different salts, chemicals, and particulates which can contain acid. When the salts, acids, and rainwater combine, a chemical reaction occurs that forms a sort of rudimentary soap.As the mixture fl...

Colder air is settling in as the cold front passes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The cold front arrived right on time this morning. It passed Austin during the 10:00 hour with a 12° drop in temperatures. Temperatures fell to the mid to upper 40s over all of San Saba and Lampasas Counties. The front will continue moving to the south leaving cold north winds. Based on present trends it should be clear out of San Marcos to Luling to Flatonia during the early afternoon.Colder air settles in this afternoonWind chills come into play for the first time thanks to a biting north winds as high as 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 to 30 mph.By 9 p.m. wind chills will be in the low to mid 30s across the northern and western Hill Country communities. They will fall further to rush hour readings ranging from the mid 20s to low 30s. Monday afternoon wind chills will be in the 30s areawide. A record will be set Monday with the forecast high in the low to mid 40s. The record for the coldest high on October 30 is 49° set four years ago.A record for the coldest hig...

Dalton Risner gets start for Vikings up front with Ezra Cleveland inactive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Dalton Risner got the start at left guard for the Vikings against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.It marked the second straight start for Risner as Ezra Cleveland continues to miss time with a foot injury.Though it’s unclear if Risner will hold on to starting spot when Cleveland returns, he’s looking to force the Vikings into a tough decision.After signing with the Vikings last month as a free agent, Risner has been biding his time in practice, trying to overtake either Cleveland or Ed Ingram on the interior of the offensive line. He finally got his opportunity last week and helped the Vikings impose their will on the San Francisco 49ers in primetime.If Risner is able to put together another solid performance for the Vikings against the Green Bay Packers, he could be looking at more playing time in the near future.The other inactives for the Vikings included running back Kene Nwangwu, linebacker Brian Asamoah, cornerback...

Other voices: Schools should ban cellphones

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

Ask any parent about the time their kids spend on mobile devices, and you’ll likely hear the same refrain: It’s too much.Excessive use of smartphones and social media is linked to rising rates of teenage depression and self-harm, while also damaging students’ academic performance and exacerbating achievement gaps. At this point, the question isn’t whether phones should be banned from classrooms, but why more schools haven’t done so already.Evidence about the negative effects of mobile devices on learning is overwhelming. Large-scale international assessments have shown that anything beyond limited use of technology in the classroom harms academic performance. A 14-country study cited in a U.N. report this year found that merely being in proximity to smartphones disrupted learning for all ages, from preschool to college, with poorly performing students suffering the most.Prompted by findings like these — and common sense — the British governm...

St. Paul’s go-to playground designers take a big cue from the disabled

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:11:02 GMT

Jill Moore’s wheelchair doesn’t prevent her from exploring parks, playgrounds and other public spaces. In fact, as an inclusive play specialist for Minnesota-based playground designer Landscape Structures, she’s developed an expertise in noodling through landscapes that able-bodied people sometimes take for granted, searching for access opportunities and impediments designers might have overlooked, or as she puts it, “connecting the lived experience with the design.”On Friday, Moore was scheduled to accompany a deaf woman, a blind man, a man with autism and a powerchair user who is non-verbal on an “audit” of sorts through downtown Minneapolis, focusing on Nicollet Mall, Peavey Plaza and the Walker Sculpture Garden. Their goal was to make sure that disability access means more than just a ramp wide enough to carry Moore’s wheels.Undated courtesy rendering, circa October 2023. Dr. Bill McGuire’s family foundation plans a state-of-...