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Challenges to library books continue at record pace in 2023, American Library Association reports

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Book bans and attempted bans continue to hit record highs, according to the American Library Association. And the efforts now extend as much to public libraries as school-based libraries.Through the first eights months of 2023, the ALA tracked 695 challenges to library materials and services, compared to 681 during the same time period last year, and a 20% jump in the number of “unique titles” involved to 1,915. School libraries had long been the predominant target, but in 2023 reports have been near-equally divided between schools and libraries open to the general public, the ALA announced Wednesday.“The irony is that you had some censors who said that those who didn’t want books pulled from schools could just go to the public libraries,”’ says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, who directs the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom.The ALA defines a challenge as a “formal, written complaint filed with a library or school requesting that materials be r...

Homeowners face spikes in insurance rates as climate change fuels wildfires, storms

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A growing number of Americans are finding it difficult to afford insurance on their homes, a problem only expected to worsen because insurers and lawmakers have underestimated the impact of climate change, a new report says.A report from First Street Foundation released Wednesday says states such as California, Florida and Louisiana, which are prone to wildfires and damaging storms and flooding, are likely to see the most dramatic increases in premiums. But the fire that destroyed the Hawaiian community of Lahaina on Aug. 8, as well as the historic flooding that happened in Vermont and Maine in July, are examples of events that could drive up insurance costs for homeowners in other states.Floodwaters rise, July 10, 2023, in Bridgewater, Vt., submerging parked vehicles and threatening homes near the Ottauquechee River. Americans nationwide face hefty increases in their homeowner’s insurance premiums in the coming years, a report by the First Street Foundation said on ...

Recipe: Pumpkin mac and cheese puts fall spin on classic

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

Football isn’t the only thing people go nuts over this time of year.September also marks the start of pumpkin-spice season, with the warming (and controversial) seasonal fall flavor finding its way into everything from your Starbucks latte and Southern Tier Brewing Co.’s Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale to cookies, popcorn, spreads, breads, creamer, yogurt, gelato, cereal and toaster pastries. Love it or hate it, Nissin even makes a pumpkin-spice cup of instant ramen noodles.This luscious mac and cheese recipe dumps the “spice” part of the popular duo, but goes heavy on the pumpkin — or should we say squash — because the bright orange puree that goes in Libby’s famous cans of pure pumpkin is actually Dickinson squash, an elongated American heirloom winter squash with tan-colored rind and dense flesh.I used ruffled campanelle noodles for a bit of flair, but any hollow and tubular pasta noodle that features nooks and crannies for capturing the cheese sauce wi...

Jimmy's Pizzeria cooking up real-world experience for local students with special needs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Three days a week, students from the Lansingburgh Central School District Special Education Department stop by Jimmy's Pizzeria to assist with the prep work. The partnership affords the students the opportunity to learn life skills and workforce habits. Lifesharing community for all abilities in Columbia County marks 60 years "They love it! If it's their Jimmy's day, they're excited. They like the different aspects of the job sometimes we’re doing blue cheese, sometimes were doing the dough, sometimes we’re making sauce,” said Michelle Burkhart, their special education teacher.The pizzeria started working with program last school year. Owner Tony Buchanan said he wanted to provide an opportunity to the community that will one day benefit his son. Local man goes extra mile to support people of all abilities Jimmy's Pizzeria is located at 475 5th Ave Suite 1 in Troy.

5 things to know this Wednesday, September 20

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy Wednesday! According to Meteorologists Jill Szwed and Matt Mackie, we can expect beautiful weather today and for the rest of the week, ending summer in style with cool nights and comfortable afternoons. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Jacob Klein told the jury he was completely innocent on Tuesday during opening statements, relying on a lack of DNA evidence to prove he isn't connected to Philip Rabadi's death. Meanwhile, a 17-year-old is being charged as an adult in a fatal shooting in the village of Fort Ann. The shooting took place in August on Charles Street. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Wednesday morning. 1. Jacob Klein claims innocence in opening statementsProsecutors in this case intend to argue Philip Rabadi’s death was calculated and planned to inflict harm on Rabadi’s wife and Jacob Klein’s ex-girlfriend Elana Radin. Klein, representing himself, t...

Ask Amy: Two besties experience “friendship interruptus”

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

Dear Amy: My childhood friend of 15 years and I lived together for three years as roommates.We were amazing friends and great roommates to each other.Two of the three years we cohabited were during the darkest days of the pandemic, so we spent a ton of time together. It was so fun.When I met my boyfriend during the second year of living together, Childhood Friend and I saw each other less often because I was getting to know him, but she and I still saw each other and texted frequently.About a year later, she met her boyfriend and communication became much less frequent, to the point where she often forgot that I had texted her. She used the excuse of, “I’m bad at responding, you know that” or, “I’m super busy — sorry for responding late.”I live with my boyfriend now and she is living alone for a few months, until she and her boyfriend move in together.I miss her a lot but don’t know what to do or say because I don’t want her to think I...

Following the expiry of the restrictive measures on Ukrainian exports of grain and other foodstuff to the EU, Ukraine agrees to introduce measures to avoid a renewed surge in EU imports

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

The European Commission has analysed the data related to the impact of the exports of 4 categories of agricultural products on the EU market.It has concluded that thanks to the work of the Coordination Platform and to the temporary measures introduced on 2 May 2023, the market distortions in the five member states bordering Ukraine have disappeared. A constructive attitude of all participants in the platform helped to solve concrete problems and ensured that exports to third countries outside the EU are flowing and even increasing.As a result, it has been agreed that:Existing measures will expire today.Ukraine has agreed to introduce any legal measures (including, for example, an export licensing system) within 30 days to avoid grain surges.Until then, Ukraine is to put in place from 16.09.2023 effective measures to control the export of 4 groups of goods in order to prevent any market distortions in the neighbouring Member States. Ukraine will submit an Action Plan to the plat...

Word Game: Sept. 20, 2023

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — REPINES (REPINES: rih-PINES: Feels dejection or discontent; longs for something.)Average mark 27 wordsTime limit 40 minutesCan you find 34 or more words in REPINES? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — PHARMACY parch pram pray harm harp harpy achy amah arch army ayah racy ramp march mayhap camp campy carp champ chap char charm chary cram crampTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Dallas, Florida and New York to host matches in men’s T20 World Cup next year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dallas, Florida and New York will host matches at the men’s T20 World Cup next year, cricket’s world governing body announced Wednesday.The United States will be staging a global cricket event for the first time as the sport looks to expand into a new territory. It is co-hosting the June 4-30 tournament with the West Indies.The International Cricket Council said an agreement has been reached for the construction of a 34,000-seat stadium in Eisenhower Park, a purpose-built sports and events park in Nassau County, New York, pending the awarding of a required permit next month.Venues in Grand Prairie in Dallas and Broward County in Florida will be increased in size to expand seating, media and premium hospitality areas to enable them to host matches in the 20-team tournament, which makes it the biggest T20 World Cup yet.“The USA is a strategically important market,” ICC chief executive Geoff Allardice said, “and these venues give us an exc...

No. 4 FSU won’t need any help getting up for Clemson, which has won 7 straight in the series

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 22:06:18 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Once a heated Atlantic Coast Conference rivalry, the Florida State-Clemson series has become a lopsided affair.The Tigers have won seven in a row against the Seminoles, including five by double digits and four in Death Valley. No one needs to remind No. 4 Florida State about the past. And no one needs to educate coach Mike Norvell’s team about the present — or what’s at stake Saturday.“I don’t think there’s going to be a whole lot of motivational talks needed,” Norvell said.The Seminoles understand how important this game is to their ACC title hopes and their College Football Playoff chances. Fittingly, it’s a high noon showdown at Clemson Memorial Stadium.“We’ll be able to sit here (at) 3:30, 3:45 on Saturday and know whether we accomplished that or we didn’t,” Norvell said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in what we’ll be able to do, and I’ll be able to live with whatever the result.”The Seminoles (3-0, 1-0 ACC) are 2 1/2-point ...