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This Week in Business: Consumer confidence, inflation update, Dollar Tree earnings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

Measuring confidenceThe Conference Board issues its consumer confidence report for November on Tuesday.Analysts expect that American consumers’ confidence fell for the fourth straight month amid a squeeze from inflation and high interest rates. Consumer spending accounts for around 70% of U.S. economic activity, so economists pay close attention to gauge how it may affect the broader economy. Another drop in confidence wouldn’t bode well for the beginning of the holiday shopping season.Consumer confidence, by month:June: 110.1July: 114.0Aug.: 108.7Sept.: 104.3Oct.: 102.6Nov. (est.) 101.1Source: FactSetScanning the discountsDollar Tree reports its latest financial results on Wednesday, giving investors a glimpse into consumer spending habits at discount retailers.Wall Street expects the company to report earnings of $1.01 per share, marking a drop from a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet expect revenue rose to $7.4 billion. Retailers are being closely watched by analysts to get a ...

Israel and Hamas look to extend cease-fire on its final day, with one more hostage swap planned

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — International mediators were pressing to extend a cease-fire in Gaza that has halted the deadliest Israeli-Palestinian violence in decades but is set to expire after Monday, as Israel and Hamas prepared for a fourth exchange of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. Hamas has also said it hopes to extend the four-day truce, which came into effect Friday after several weeks of indirect negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar and Egypt.But Israel also says it remains committed to crushing Hamas’ military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza. That would likely mean expanding its ground offensive from devastated northern Gaza to the south, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have crammed into United Nations shelters, and where dire conditions persist despite the ramping up of aid delivery under the truce....

Keep the holiday from going up in flames: Safety tips from Montgomery Co. Fire and Rescue

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

As you begin decorating for the holidays, make sure to keep fire safety in mind.“Right after Thanksgiving is a popular time for people going out and getting those cut trees or live trees,” said Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer.“If you’re using the Christmas lights that your grandma had, it’s probably time to replace them. The new lights the LED lights are cheap enough and they don’t burn hot.”You can rock around your Christmas tree, but make sure to keep that tree away from heaters and fireplaces.“Just keep it away from the heat sources,” he said. “Keep it hydrated. Water the tree daily.”He recommended getting the “freshest” tree possible and keeping it in a gallon of water outside before you bring it inside your home.In addition to the lights, he added that updating electrical the cords may be a good idea.“Make sure that they are in good shape, that they don’t have any...

A parade with floats … that float! The Wharf hosts the District’s Holiday Boat Parade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

This weekend is the perfect time to dress warm and watch dazzling holiday lights float by as the fireworks explode above.A tradition continues as The Wharf hosts the District’s Holiday Boat Parade this Saturday, Dec. 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.“It’s one of our biggest events of the year, so I highly suggest everyone get there early,” Julie Keleti, senior manager of media and marketing at The Wharf, told WTOP. “This is going to be the 31st annual District’s Holiday Boat Parade. It used to be in conjunction with Old Town, Alexandria, but now we have our own separate parade hosted here at The Wharf.”The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with an array of holiday-themed activities, including holiday karaoke.“Our Corona Beer Garden on District Pier will open, so grab yourself a festive drink,” Keleti said. “You can roast s’mores. We’ll have ornament decorating for kids and live music: The Royals and Too Much Talent Band. Of course, ev...

World’s ‘most sought-after’ whisky sells for $2.7 million

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

London (CNN) — For those who appreciate the finer tipples in life, a bottle of the world’s “most sought-after Scotch whisky” sold for more than £2.1 million ($2.7 million) Saturday at Sotheby’s in London.The Macallan 1926 is one of just 40 bottles drawn after ageing in sherry casks for 60 years, making it the oldest Macallan vintage ever produced, according to the auction house.Sotheby’s had expected it to raise between £750,000 and £1.2 million ($934,274 and $1.4 million), but were in for a shock when the prized bottle fetched a whooping £2,187,500 ($2,724,967), making it a “new record for any bottle of spirit or wine sold at auction,” the auction house told AFP news agency.Ahead of the sale, Sotheby’s head of whisky Jonny Fowle told AFP that he had tried a small sample.“I tasted a tiny drop – a tiny drop – of this. It’s very rich, it’s got a lot of dried fruit as you would expect, a lot of spice, a lot of wood,” he said, calling it an “incredible” whisky that should no...

Pope Francis getting antibiotics intravenously for lung problem, limiting appointments, Vatican says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis is receiving antibiotics intravenously to treat a lung inflammation and will scale back some appointments, but he doesn’t have pneumonia or fever, the Vatican said Monday.Francis himself on Sunday revealed that he was suffering from the inflammation problem, explaining why he didn’t keep his weekly window appointment to greet people in St. Peter’s Square. Instead, he gave his blessing from the chapel of the hotel on Vatican grounds where he lives.Vatican’s press office director, Matteo Bruni, said in a written statement on Monday that the inflammation was causing some respiratory difficulties for Francis, whose 87th birthday is next month.“The condition of the pope is good and stationary, he doesn’t have a fever, and the respiratory situation is in clear improvement,” Bruni said. A CT scan, which the pope underwent on Saturday afternoon at a Rome hospital, ruled out pneumonia, Bruni added.To aid the pope’s recovery, “some important co...

Suspect arrested in shooting of 3 Palestinian college students in Vermont, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

(CNN) — A suspect has been arrested in the shooting of three Palestinian college students in Burlington, Vermont, in a case that has garnered national attention amid concerns about rising levels of hate crimes since the Israel-Hamas war erupted.Jason J. Eaton, 48, was arrested Sunday afternoon near the scene of the attack, the Burlington Police Department said in a news release. Authorities said Eaton lives in an apartment building in front of the shooting scene and a search of his home uncovered evidence that gave investigators “probable cause to believe that Mr. Eaton perpetrated the shooting.”Authorities had been investigating whether the shooting may have been a hate crime, officials said. Police did not detail early Monday what charges the suspect is facing. CNN has been unable to determine if Eaton has an attorney.Eaton is expected to be arraigned in court on Monday. Police are also planning to hold a news conference Monday to discuss the case.The stud...

Boston man arrested Sunday after overnight vandalism spree through city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

A suspect was arrested Sunday morning in connection with vandalism spree throughout Boston starting late Saturday night.Lawrence Hawkins, 46, of Boston was placed under arrest by Boston Police officers at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26 and charged with multiple counts of destruction of property, and destruction of a place of worship.Authorities were first called to the area of 125 Charles St. South around 11:30 p.m. Saturday night for a report of breaking and entering. Officers saw the front door of the business smashed and located a brick inside. After checking video surveillance a description of the suspect was circulated.About 30 minutes later, an officer checking his cruiser before starting his shift found the windshield of the vehicle smashed. Officers once again were able to view video surveillance of the incident and share a description of the suspect.Similar vandalism damage was later seen in the area of 15 Sudbury St.; further investigation generated a suspect description sim...

Mike Preston’s report card: Position-by-position grades for Ravens’ 20-10 win over the Chargers | COMMENTARY

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

Here’s how the Ravens (9-3) graded out at each position after a 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers (4-7) in Sunday night’s Week 12 game at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.QuarterbackLamar Jackson started strong but struggled throughout the final three quarters. He seemed to get caught up in dropping his arm slot while throwing the ball. That paid off at first, but not later in the game when he needed to be more accurate. Jackson completed 18 of 32 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 39 yards, but still held on to the ball too long. If he doesn’t throw quickly, he struggles through progressions. Grade: C-Running backsThe Ravens had a three-headed monster with Keaton Mitchell, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. They didn’t dominate the game but were effective on runs both inside and outside. Mitchell showed good speed on several outside runs and Hill was tough inside, especially in the red zone, though he was stopped on third-and-3 from th...

‘Final mile of the marathon:’ BPS strategizes addressing decades of neglect in school infrastructure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:59:24 GMT

Boston school officials are on the “final mile” of plotting out how to address decades of neglect and disinvestment in school facilities, district officials announced.“After many decades of the firm decision making, shifting our physical footprint will be disruptive,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper ahead of a presentation on the facilities plan at the Nov. 15 School Committee meeting. “In some cases difficult. Tools we’ve developed over the last 18 months will enable greater transparency, collaboration with our communities to understand how and why certain decisions are made.”With about half of facilities built before WWII and some around 100 years old, Skipper said, the project is an “ambitious” and unprecedented undertaking for the district but necessary to provide students “fully inclusive, high quality education.”The district will complete and present a long-term facilities plan to DESE next month as part of its...