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Good news: The pandemic didn’t make us meaner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

In today’s Big Story Podcast, before we break for the holidays, The Big Story team decided to try to end our year on a positive note with a week of good news stories. We hope this week brings you hope, light and laughter. It might be our job to often deliver bad news, but that doesn’t mean that’s all the world is.Today: You might have thought — based on everything you’ve seen and heard in the media and through your social channels — that the pandemic turned us all into angry people, yelling at one another and throwing tantrums. We’re delighted to inform you that’s simply not remotely true, and we have the data to prove it.Dr. John Helliwell is a professor emeritus at The Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia, and a founding editor of The World Happiness report. “The most dramatic evidence we found on that was […] all over the world, people dramatically increased relative to pre-pandemic levels, the frequency which they...

BP is the latest company to pause Red Sea shipments over fears of Houthi attacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Oil and natural gas giant BP has joined the growing list of companies that have halted their shipments through the Red Sea because of the risk of attack from Yemen’s Houthi rebels, threatening a major trade route in what is expected to have global effects.London-based BP said Monday that it has “decided to temporarily pause all transits through the Red Sea,” including shipments of oil, liquid natural gas and other energy supplies. Describing it as a “precautionary pause,” the company said the decision was under ongoing review but that it was prioritizing crew safety.Oil prices rose Monday partly over market nerves about attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis, which have targeted container ships and oil tankers passing through a narrow waterway that separates Yemen from East Africa and leads north to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, where an estimated 10% of the world’s trade passes through. The Houthis have targeted Israeli-linked vessels during Israel’s wa...

Flood and wind warnings issued, airlines and schools affected as strong storm hits the Northeast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Heavy rain and high winds swept through the Northeast on Monday for the second time in a week, spurring flood warnings, electricity outages, flight cancelations and school closings.The National Weather Service predicted up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain in some parts of the region. More than 245,000 power outages were reported from Pennsylvania to New York to New England, with numerous reports of trees falling on power lines. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph (97 kph) were forecast for the southeast New England coast, the Weather Service said.Nearly 50 flights were canceled and nearly 90 were delayed at New York-area airports, according to FlightAware. Many school districts canceled or delayed classes because of the conditions. Commuter rail systems were reporting delays.In New York City, high winds prompted the temporary closure of the Verrazzano Bridge. It reopened later Monday morning, but with a ban on tractor-trailers and other large vehicles.Guilford, Connecticu...

COPA investigating shooting involving off-duty officer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are investigating a shooting involving a Chicago off-duty officer.According to police, the incident happened just before 11 p.m. Sunday near the 7900 block of South Sacramento in the Ashburn neighborhood.Police said an off-duty officer discharged their weapon during an attempted carjacking.No one was injured during the shooting. It is unclear how many shots the off-duty officer fired.No one is in custody.Investigators are working to determine the exact details of the shooting.The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) is investigating the incident. The officer involved will be placed on routine administrative leave for 30 days.

USGS: 3.1 earthquake reported in Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ill. — A 3.1 magnitude earthquake was reported in central Illinois, according to the United States Geological Survey.The USGS reports the earthquake happened around 4:10 a.m. Monday near Waltonville, a village in southern Jefferson County, Illinois.So far, there have been no reports of damage. No further details have been provided.Just last month, a 3.6 magnitude quake was centered about a mile southeast of Standard, Illinois — which is southwest of La Salle.

Homeless encampments to be cleared to clean viaducts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

CHICAGO -- Homeless encampments will be cleared as viaducts in West Loop begin cleaning Monday as requested by local residents and aldermen.After months of exchanges between Conway and Ald. Brendan Riely and the Mayor's office and homeless camps will be cleared and crews will power wash the viaducts. In a statement 34th ward Ald. Bill Conway calls it a big step forward but says he recognizes it will not solve the problem. The group called on Mayor Johnson to authorize power washing under viaducts and the removal of tents. "This was once a peaceful homeless encampment years ago but over the past year or so we've seen the change very dramatically," Conway said in a statement along with Riley at a press conference near Clinton and Lake Street earlier this month. They say the encampments have been magnets for violent crimes. On Dec. 7 a man was found near Clinton and Lake Street unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest. Police said that was a case of a drug deal gone wrong. Dow...

Did you know this famous Christmas song was originally written for Thanksgiving?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

(WHTM) - Whether you believe Christmas music is meant to be played before Thanksgiving or after Thanksgiving, one thing is true. "Jingle Bells" was originally written as a Thanksgiving song."Jingle Bells" was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1857.According to History, Jingle Bells wasn't even the song's original name, it was "One Horse Open Sleigh."(Getty Images)According to Southern Living, Jingle Bells would first be performed in a church by a Sunday school class.Where Pierpont wrote the song isn't clear, but two places claim that he wrote it in their city: Medford, Massachusetts; and Savannah, Georgia.The song doesn't mention Christmas at all, according to the Washington Post – the song was inspired by sleigh races that were popular in the 1800s. This could explain why Medford claimed the song as the sleigh races took place in Massachusetts and not Georgia.According to Southern Living, the reason the song became associated with Christmas is because the children per...

Texas Lottery plans to launch contest winners to space; how you can enter

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A $20 scratch off could be your ticket to space. The Texas Lottery announced this month a new promotion, the "Space Perspective Cash Adventure," that could send four lucky winners to space."We're always looking for these kinds of unique, extraordinary special prizes," said Ryan Mindell, Deputy Executive Director for the Texas Lottery.According to Mindell, this prize isn't like a normal scratch off. You win this prize by losing. The $1,000,000 Cash Blast ticket has numerous prizes on it, but if you don't win any of those you can then enter the "2nd Chance Promotion.""You go onto our login promotion site, you enter in the losing ticket, and then we're going to do drawings off of the losing tickets," Mindell said. "If you win, you win some cash. If not, then you're gonna have a chance to win this."75 winners of the "2nd Chance Promotion" will receive a four day trip to Florida. Of those 75, four plus a guest will be selected to travel to space.Starship Neptune will take...

BOA discussing new plan for Rams settlement money today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Rams settlement money, all $250 million dollars, could be left in the bank.According to FOX 2's partners at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, aldermen are looking into setting up a municipal endowment to invest some or all of the cash. That would generate recurring returns that could then be spent on various city needs. Is ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ a Christmas movie? Depends who you ask Mayor Tishaura Jones and the Board of Aldermen President Megan Green are in agreement about finding a plan that can produce an evergreen crash for roads, bridges, and development projects.

Japanese steelmaker 'Nippon Steel Corporation' buys U.S. Steel

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:26 GMT

GRANITE CITY, Ill. - Japanese steelmaker 'Nippon Steel Corporation' announced Monday morning that it is buying U.S. steel.The two companies reached an agreement this morning for NSC to acquire U.S. Steel for $55 per share in an all-cash transaction. It's unclear how this will directly impact the U.S. steel plant in Granite City. Police cruiser crashes into south St. Louis City bar overnight NSC says it will honor all collective bargaining agreements with the United Steelworkers Union. U.S. Steel will keep its name and headquarters in Pittsburgh.