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‘Ask a lot of questions’ before deciding what to do with your tax refund: experts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

When Julian Shenoy receives his tax refund this year, he plans to set aside some of it for investments and the rest for travel. “With the pandemic and such, everything was closed over the last three years, so most likely (I’ll put) more of a proportion of it toward leisure — maybe 50 per cent of it toward investing and 50 per cent toward a holiday,” Shenoy said in a phone interview.The millennial based in Toronto said he’s “pretty lucky” not to have accumulated as much debt as many others have in his age group, which is why he plans to spend his tax refund this way.“It’s a little different for me to have more disposable income, but I think if you have more expenses, it might be difficult,” Shenoy added. With tax season upon us, experts say it’s best to take a hard look at your finances before deciding what to do with your tax refund — and they emphasize there is no one-size-fits-all approach for everyone to take. “There isn’t a cookie-cutter solution. Everybody’s d...

1st woman to lead UK communications intelligence agency GCHQ

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Anne Keast-Butler, who has spent 30 years working in national security for Britain, was named Tuesday as the first woman to head the U.K.’s communications intelligence agency.Keast-Butler, currently deputy director general at MI5, the domestic intelligence agency, will head the Government Communications Headquarters — better known as GCHQ. Her appointment comes as intelligence agencies focus on threats from Russia and China.“Anne Keast-Butler has an impressive track record working at the heart of the U.K.’s national security network; helping to counter threats posed by terrorists, cyber-criminals and malign foreign powers,” Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in announcing her appointment.In her current post, Keast-Butler has been responsible for operational, investigative and protective security work that included preparing for and responding to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Keast-Butler will start her new job in May, replacing Jeremy Fleming, who announced in ...

Chicago selected to host 2024 Democratic National Convention

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago has been selected to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention.Chicago last hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1996 at the United Center. In 2020, the convention was in Milwaukee.It will be held Aug. 19-22, 2024. The Sun-Times reports that evening events will be at the United Center and daytime business will be conducted at McCormick Place.Illinois Dem. officials have been pushing for Chicago to be selected for over a year.Chicago beat out bids from Atlanta, New York and Houston. The Sun-Times first reported the news. Previous: Chicago seeks to host 2024 Democratic National Convention Republicans will be hosting their convention beginning on July 15 just a little north in Milwaukee.“Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention,” said President Joe Biden. “Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down. From repairing our roads ...

Elderly woman dead, firefighter injured in Hammond house fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

HAMMOND, Ind. — An elderly woman died and a firefighter was injured early Tuesday morning in Hammond.Just after 4 a.m., authorities responded to the 7200 block of Lindberg Avenue on the report of a house fire.An elderly woman, whose age was not given, died as a result of the fire. A Hammond firefighter went through a floor and had to be rescued.He suffered some burns and was transported to a local hospital in good condition. Employee critical after steel pipe beating at Indiana State Prison in Michigan City The house sustained heavy damage and will need to be torn down, authorities said. The cause is still under investigation.

Cubs debut the newest update to Wrigley Field Monday

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the new features at Wrigley Field was on full display on Monday evening for the first time. This change at the "Friendly Confines" was something unique, and is a reason that the way the field looked seemed a little bit different to fans in person or at home. A first in a few ways for the Cubs in a 3-2, 10 inning win vs Mariners..1st walk-off win of 2023.1st career walk-off hit for Nico Hoerner.1st “Go Cubs Go” with the new Wrigley Field LED lights. .@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/NDW5D1FTCJ— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) April 11, 2023Wrigley Field's new LED lights were on full display for the team's first night game of the 2023 season on Monday night as the Cubs hosted the Seattle Mariners for the first of three games. The team replaced the light fixtures on the roof in November in order to put in the more energy-efficient lights to be used starting with the 2023 season. The higher-quality lights also decrease the ballpark's environmental footprint, which was a majo...

Comfort dog boosting spirits, attendance at suburban school

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

A suburban school district is taking a chance on a new staff member.Meet Davis. She is a pup helping to boost attendance and morale from the classroom to the teacher's lounge.Kelly Robinson is a school social worker at Frankfort Square Elementary.“We each had to make goals as staff members and our superintendent’s theme this year was ‘Think big.’ And so we had to write a goal that was ‘think big,’” Davis said. “Why not make this a think big goal and this is thinking big and we threw it out there to see what would happen.”And after a lot of research and proposal the school board approved Robinson’s plan.“I immediately started crying. It was a combination of extreme shock and happiness and I was like ‘Well, this is really going to happen,’” she said.Robinson got in contact with the group Healing Hearts Comfort Dogs which trained Davis for three years for this moment.Lisa Hyde is a teacher at Frankfort Square Elementary.“A lot of our students are filled with anxiety in the morning or a...

Texas middle school enacts phone-in-locked-pouch policy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

WACO, Texas (KWKT) – A Texas middle school has a new policy in place: Students are required to place their phones inside a locked pouch throughout the school day.G.W. Carver Indian Spring Middle School's principal Reggie Lewis said the Waco school is enacting the rule after noticing many students on their phones throughout the day, not focusing on the classroom."The main focus is we're not trying to take a kid's phone away from them. We don't want to inconvenience parents. We just want to create a better environment for the students to learn," Lewis said.The school received a grant to make purchasing the 800 locked pouches possible, and made the announcement last week. Indiana 7-year-old dragged down street by school bus The principal said each student will be an issued a pouch, which they can keep with them and take home at the end of every school day. When they enter, students will use a device in the classroom to lock the pouch. When they leave, they can unlock the pouch and p...

Austin 311 working to expand multilingual reach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The City of Austin's non-emergency information hotline is working to be more accessible to residents who don't speak English. According to a new memo to the city council, effective beginning last month, all Austin 311 social media posts and videos are in English and Spanish, and the service is working to have live chat options available in multiple languages by the end of this year. Right now, more than 15% of Austin 311 staff members are bilingual in English and Spanish, according to the memo, and ambassadors have access to translation services in more than 200 languages. The memo said Austin 311 also regularly conducts bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach in person and online. The service is also working to upgrade software services -- like its app, Citizen Web Portal and Customer Service Request ticketing system -- to allow future Spanish-language mobile app and web portal development. The software upgrades are scheduled to be done by the end of the year. Austin ...

Community clean-up days in the Mohawk Valley region

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

MOHAWK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- In preparation for Earth Day, Keep Mohawk Valley Beautiful, a six-county affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, is hosting six clean-up days around the Mohawk Valley region. The events are intended to bring awareness and encourage residents to host clean-up activities starting on Earth Day on April 22. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! During the six events, registered teams hosting a clean-up can pick up supplies. Volunteers are encouraged to join any of the following events:Monday, April 1711 a.m. Train Station, West Fulton Street, Gloversville 2 p.m. Veteran's Park, 135 Locust Ave, AmsterdamTuesday, April 1810 a.m. Bellamy Harbor, 139 E. Whitesboro St., Rome2 p.m. BME/Hummels; 5 Ann St., MohawkWednesday, April 1911 a.m. Oneonta City Hall; 258 Main Street, Oneonta2 p.m. SEEC Office; 287 Main Street, SchoharieOn April 22, the Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce is hosting its annual regional...

New waterfront tavern opens in Coxsackie

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:56:00 GMT

COXSACKIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Patrick Henry's, a waterfront tavern located at 48 South River Street in Coxsackie, officially opened on April 7. The tavern serves cocktails, wood-fired pizza and elevated pub food. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Patrick Henry's is located inside a historic 1908 building that originally opened as a mercantile. It went on to become Tom’s Cabin, then Costello’s, then Patrick Henry’s from 1970 until about 10 years ago.The new tavern is a revival of the original Patrick Henry's. It's owned by Dominic Purnomo, who also owns dp An American Brasserie and Yono's, both located inside the Hampton Inn & Suites on Chapel Street in Albany. Mobile pizzeria gets permanent spot in the Berkshires Patrick Henry's is part of the property of the not-yet-open James Newbury Hotel and the already open Wire Event Center. Day Line Kitchen & Oyster Bar is also scheduled to open on the rooftop of the hotel this...