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Another proposed airline merger tests Biden administration’s resolve to preserve competition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

Another proposed airline buyout has renewed debate over whether there has been too much consolidation in the industry, and whether it is hurting consumers.The Biden administration has taken a tough stance against mergers, and it is certain to take a close look at Alaska Air Group’s proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.The deal is smaller than the mergers that reshaped the airline industry more than a decade ago. But the Justice Department is already fighting another smallish deal — JetBlue’s proposal to buy Spirit Airlines.Alaska Airlines parent Alaska Air Group announced Sunday that it will pay $18 per share for Hawaiian — a huge premium over Hawaiian’s closing stock price on Friday. Hawaiian has struggled to recover from the pandemic and new competition from Southwest on intra-islands flights. It has lost $159 million so far this year. Alaska says Hawaiian will continue to operate as a stand-alone brand, an unusual step. Here’s some inform...

This popular Christmas tradition got its start in Denver, legend has it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Christmas and Denver are a perfect match. With the cold -- and most often snowy -- winter climate and nearby mountains, the holiday spirit seems to come naturally to the Mile High City.So, it may come as no surprise to some that one of the most popular holiday traditions was created in Denver in the 1910s.Or, at least that's the legend. When do Coloradans hang Christmas lights? Much like the origin of the cheeseburger, others have been credited with the creation of the first outdoor Christmas lights.However, the story goes that in 1914, David Dwight Sturgeon -- of Sturgeon Electric fame -- dipped ordinary bulbs in paint, strung them on a cord, and hung them on a tree outside his ill son's bedroom window to cheer him up.The word spread quickly and people started coming from miles away to see the beautiful sight outside the Sturgeon home. Even if the story is nothing but a Mile High City legend, the love Denver has for outdoor holiday lights is no joke.There are eve...

Penrose funeral home to be demolished in January

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

PENROSE, Colo. (KXRM) — The Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose where nearly 200 improperly stored bodies were discovered in October will be demolished in January, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Following a Public Health Order in November, Fremont County and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) requested that the EPA conduct a “removal action,” which includes demolishing and disposing of building materials.An EPA team and contractors visited the site in November to conduct an assessment of the building, and wore protective clothing to protect them from any residual medical or hazardous materials remaining inside the building. Funeral home stored bodies for 4 years, deceived families about loved ones’ ashes, prosecutors say In an update, the EPA said it has determined that "demolition of the building is necessary to safely remove biological and hazardous materials found in the building." The EPA said it is in the process of d...

Zoo Miami celebrates rare birth of sloth bear cubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

Zoo Miami’s sloth bear, Kematee, welcomed two cubs in her secluded den, marking the first successful births for the 4-year-old since her arrival in 2021, and the first surviving offspring for the father, Hank, aged 11. These are the first sloth bears born at Zoo Miami since 1998, providing a crucial boost for the vulnerable species threatened by poaching and habitat destruction, Zoo Miami said in a news release.Sloth bear Kematee (Courtesy Zoo Miami)Sloth bear Hank (Courtesy Zoo Miami)As Kematee and the cubs remain off-exhibit for bonding, zoo staff is monitoring their progress, with neonatal examinations planned once a routine is established to ensure proper development.

Great Pyrenees who fended off pack of coyotes in Georgia nominated for Farm Dog of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

DECATUR, Georgia (WANF) — The Great Pyrenees who fended off a pack of coyotes and was badly injured in the process is up for Farm Dog of the Year.Casper spent weeks at the veterinarian and months at home in Decatur recovering from his injuries. A year later, 3-year-old Casper is fully healed and thriving.“He’s doing superbly. His wounds are all healed, and he really loves being out with the animals and protecting them,” said John Weirville, Casper’s owner.Casper is in the running to win Farm Dog of the Year by the American Farm Bureau Federation. A panel of judges with the Farm Bureau will choose the winner based on nomination materials submitted, as well as the dog’s helpfulness to the farmer and their family, playfulness, and obedience.If Casper wins Farm Dog of the Year, he will receive a year’s worth of Purina dog food as well as a $5,000 cash prize.The general public can vote for Casper to win the People’s Choice Award, which is worth $1,000.“There are a lot of deserving ...

Subject arrested after high-speed pursuit ends in Fort Lauderdale crash; deputy, woman injured

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

A high-speed pursuit in Fort Lauderdale ended dramatically in a crash that left a Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy injured and at least one other person hurt.The incident began in Oakland Park following reports of a recovered stolen vehicle near the 2700 block of South Oakland Forrest Drive. BSO deputies responded to investigate, and while on scene, the subject, an adult male, left the area driving the stolen vehicle.Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop, but the subject fled at a high rate of speed. According to investigators, the subject drove recklessly, almost hitting a group of construction workers. As the pursuit continued, officials said the subject intentionally hit a deputy’s vehicle while fleeing.The chase ultimately ended when the subject crashed his vehicle near Powerline Road and Commercial Boulevard.A woman caught in the middle of the pursuit was also injured. Her condition is not yet known. The subject fled on foot but was quickly taken into custody be...

Putin plans to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE this week, aide says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week for a “working visit” during which he will meet Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince. Putin’s “negotiations will primarily be with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said Monday, according to Russia’s state-owned TASS news outlet. Before traveling to Saudi Arabia, Putin will also hold a “working visit” in the UAE, which is currently hosting the global COP28 climate summit in Dubai. “I hope that these will be very useful negotiations, which we consider extremely important,” Ushakov added. Putin risks arrest in many countries around the world due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) war crimes warrant against him issued in spring 2023 and related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In consequence, Putin’s trips outside his country have been curtailed — but neither ...

‘Maybe, maybe not’: Lula invites Putin to Brazil, sidesteps on war crimes arrest

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

BERLIN — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Monday that he will invite Vladimir Putin to G20 and BRICS summits in Brazil next year, but added it would be up to the judiciary to decide whether the Russian president is arrested if he decides to show up.Putin faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes committed in Ukraine, which earlier this year deterred him from travelling to a G20 meeting in India and a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in South Africa.But Lula said he would welcome the Russian leader if he decided to attend the next G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024 as well as the next BRICS summit, which Brazil may also host next year.“Putin is invited to attend the G20 and the BRICS summit in Brazil,” Lula told reporters in Berlin alongside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.“Whether he goes or not, he faces prosecution. He has to assess the consequences,” Lula went on, adding it was unclear wheth...

Elderly woman killed in North Reading after empty vehicle rolls backwards, striking victim in driveway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

Authorities say an 80-year-old woman was killed in North Reading last week after her vehicle appeared to roll backwards and strike her while in a driveway.In a joint statement released on Monday, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and North Reading Police Chief Mark Zimmerman detailed the incident, which occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 29.Authorities said police found the victim after being called to Fieldcrest and Hollywood terraces around 7:50 p.m. that night.Responding to a report that a woman was trapped beneath a car in her driveway, first responders arrived to find an 80-year-old woman underneath a Buick Regal. According to the joint statement, crews got the victim out from under the car and transported her to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.Citing a preliminary investigation, the DA’s office stated that it appeared the vehicle belonged to the victim and that for reasons that have not yet been determined, it rolled backwards and struck her.“...

Cooling Down with Snow Showers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:10 GMT

Today wasn’t the most ideal day with plenty of clouds overhead (some sun at times) but at least temperatures were in the upper 40s and lower 50s. Hopefully you enjoyed it because a dose of cold is inbound for the rest of the week. With the colder temperatures we’ll bring in the first flakes of the season for some of us, and we’ll have our first snow map of the season! (spoiler: it’s a pretty sad snow map if you’re a snow lover).While the week looks cold, it also looks dry aside from the snow showers Wednesday morning. Which, personally, I hardly count because it’s not rain and anything is better than rain. Sunday’s soaking rain was over an inch in several towns and really put a damper on the weekend. And go figure, rain on a weekend! Since June 1st we’ve only had 7 completely dry weekends. How sad!As the cold air moves in, wind on Wednesday morning will turn to the north-northeast and that little fetch off of the warmer ocean water is ...