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Cutting your own Christmas tree: Do’s and don’ts

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

CONIFER, Colo. (KDVR) -- There is nothing like going out into the woods and cutting down your own Christmas tree. That’s exactly what FOX31's Dan Daru did with a friend.Back in the 1800’s there was not a fancy tree store where you could buy a pre-cut, pre-shaped and prepared Christmas tree. You had to go get it yourself.That’s why I invited my pal Jay Judd to join me. Coincidentally, Judd is a certified arborist for Davey Tree in Denver.Immediately upon arrival to “Danland,” my property, Jay took a look around and declared that all trees are not created equal. “Right here we have a pretty classic tree for the mountains," Judd said. "It’s the ponderosa pine, and what’s unique about this tree is its butter-scotchy smell.” Take a whiff and you’ll see, or actually, smell, that Judd was right. It smelled like the sweet, yellow, buttery candy. It didn’t taste like it, however.Many species of evergreen trees would make for a fine Christmas tree. Fraser fir, blue spruce, balsam fir and do...

Hot air balloon makes hard landing in Phoenix neighborhood

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

PHOENIX (KPHO, KTVK) — No one was hurt after a hot air balloon made a hard landing in a north Phoenix neighborhood Thursday morning.The incident was reported just before 9 a.m. Thursday near 22nd Avenue and Dove Valley Road, just east of Interstate 17. Aerial video shows the balloon caught on a street light in the neighborhood and draped over a backyard wall. Capt. Todd Keller with the Phoenix Fire Dept. says nine people were onboard and that no one was hurt.Michael England, a pilot with Hot Air Expeditions, told Arizona’s Family that the balloon was getting low on fuel and attempting to land in a nearby open field when the wind shifted. Even with the slightly changed trajectory, he says the basket was already on the ground when the balloon snagged the street light.“Everyone had fun, and everyone stayed safe,” England said, in spite of the unexpected circumstances.APS also responded to shut off power to the street light, and the FAA has been notified.

BSO seeks help from public in locating 43-year-old woman reported missing from Tamarac

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit is seeking help from the public in locating 43-year-old Cassandra Simone Metzger, who was missing from Tamarac.Detectives said that Metzger was last seen on Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the 2900 block of Northwest 53rd Terrace.She stands at 5 feet 5 inches, weighs approximately 120 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. According to BSO, family members said that Metzger suffers from mental illness and requires medication.Anyone with information on Metzger’s whereabouts should contact BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or the BSO non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).

Republican National Committee officially allows candidates to participate in unsanctioned debates

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

(CNN) — The Republican National Committee said Friday that it has no party-sponsored presidential debates scheduled for January and that GOP candidates are free to participate in any forum or debate of their choosing.“We have held four successful debates across the country with the most conservative partners in the history of a Republican primary. We have no RNC debates scheduled in January and any debates currently scheduled are not affiliated with the RNC,” the RNC’s Committee on Presidential Debates said in a statement. “It is now time for Republican primary voters to decide who will be our next President and candidates are free to use any forum or format to communicate to voters as they see fit.”CNN announced Thursday it will host two Republican presidential primary debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire – the states that hold the first contests in the race for the 2024 GOP nomination. ABC News and WMUR-TV will also hold a Republican presidential primary debate in Manchest...

UNLV students won’t return for in-person classes this semester after shooting that killed 3

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Students and faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas will not be returning to campus this semester for in-person classes after a gunman killed three professors, the university’s president announced Friday, saying final exams next week have been canceled.“Given the physical and emotional trauma that the university community has endured, and because of the impact to campus facilities, we have decided that faculty and staff should continue to work remotely through the end of the calendar year,” President Keith Whitfield said in a letter to students and staff.Police have said that 67-year-old Anthony Polito walked into UNLV’s business school around lunchtime Wednesday and fired shots as he roamed the top three floors, where faculty offices are located.A fourth victim, a 38-year-old visiting professor, was wounded and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.After police killed him in a shootout, Polito was found to be carrying nine magazines for a ...

BSO search for missing 17-year-old girl in Tamarac

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit is seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 17-year-old girl. Kaelah Tyndale was last seen on Monday, at around 6:30 p.m. near the 7600 block of Westwood Drive in Tamarac.She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, black leggings and brown sandals.Tyndale stands at 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs around 150 pounds, has brown hair and black eyes.Anyone with information on Tyndale’s whereabouts is urged to contact BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or at the BSO non-emergency number 954-764- HELP (4357).

Massachusetts to get pounded by strong storm: Heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, power outages possible

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

A strong December storm is expected to blast the region at the end of the weekend, likely causing some headaches for the Monday morning commute.But you won’t need to bust out your snow shovels and snow blowers quite yet.The multi-hazardous system from Sunday night through Monday will likely pound Massachusetts with strong winds and soaking rains during the unseasonably warm storm. Power outages will be possible.Coastal flooding is also a concern, along with dangerous marine conditions.“It will be a rather strong system coming into the region Sunday into Monday,” Kyle Pederson, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald on Friday.“Right now, it’s looking like it will be a pretty strong wind event for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” he added.Wind gusts could hit 60 mph along the coast, with 40 mph wind gusts for inland areas.The potential for thunderstorms could lead to more damaging wind gusts, spa...

Gene therapies for sickle cell disease approved

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

Regulators on Friday approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease that doctors hope can cure the painful, inherited blood disorder that afflicts mostly Black people in the U.S.The Food and Drug Administration said the one-time treatments can be used for patients 12 and older with severe forms of the disease. One, made by Vertex Pharmaceuticals and CRISPR Therapeutics, is the first approved therapy based on CRISPR, the gene editing tool that won its inventors the Nobel Prize in 2020. The other is made by Bluebird Bio and works differently.“Sickle cell disease is a rare, debilitating and life-threatening blood disorder with significant unmet need,” the FDA’s Dr. Nicole Verdun said in a statement announcing the approvals. “We are excited to advance the field especially for individuals whose lives have been severely disrupted by the disease.”The two gene therapies are the first approved in the U.S. for sickle cell. The FDA has previously OK’d 1...

Italian cookies are a holiday treat

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

By Carla Vigos | Laguna Woods Globe cooking columnistItalian families have certain traditions, and a lot of them circle around food. If you ever go to an Italian wedding on the East Coast, you would be amazed by the cookie table. Unless you have seen it, you could not fathom how many cookies and how much variety there is.Carla Vigos — Laguna Woods Globe cooking columnist(Courtesy photo)Italian Angel Cookies are simple to make – perfect for the busy holiday season, says Laguna Woods Globe cooking columnist Carla Vigos.(Photo by Jeff Sinclair)Show Caption of ExpandIn my Italian family, my mother would start making her cookies for the holiday season during the first part of December. She would make Italian cookies that would be decorated with icing and candy sprinkles, fig cookies called cuccidati, butter balls, and pizzelles, traditional Italian waffle cookies.Family and friends would share their cookies, and all would benefit. Traditionally, I make a variety of cookies, and so ...

Biden wants states to ensure Obamacare plans cover enough doctors and hospitals

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 12:01:31 GMT

Julie Appleby | (TNS) KFF Health NewsThe Biden administration plans to push states to boost oversight of the number of doctors, hospitals and other health providers insurers cover in Obamacare plans, under rules proposed in November.The annual regulatory proposal, known as the payment parameters rule, also seeks to expand access to adult dental coverage in Affordable Care Act marketplaces and would require states to hold open enrollment periods for Obamacare plans at the same time of year. It’s likely one of the last major ACA policy efforts of President Joe Biden’s first term — and, if he loses reelection, could represent his final touches on the landmark health program created when he was vice president.Biden has been a staunch supporter of Obamacare and has taken steps during his own first term in the White House to expand the program through rules and legislation, including measures that increased premium subsidies. In part because of those subsidies, enrollment has increased st...