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US economy added 336,000 jobs last month, almost twice what was expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Minneapolis (CNN) — Fall is here, pumpkin spice lattes are flowing, and in some states, there’s a bite in the air from the first cold snap of the season. But not for the US jobs market: September was a scorcher.The US economy added an estimated 336,000 jobs last month, blowing expectations out of the water, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Friday.It’s the largest monthly employment increase since January and is significantly above August’s net gain of 227,000 jobs, a total that was revised up by 40,000 from initial estimates.Job growth in the height of the summer was hotter than initially thought: In addition to August’s upward revisions, July’s gains were revised up by 79,000 to 236,000.“The job market is tinder-box hot,” said Sung Won Soh, professor of finance and economics at Loyola Marymount University and chief economist at SS Economics.In September, leisure and hospitality helped drive job growth higher, with 96,000 jobs added. That’s above the pace of 61,...

Poland, Hungary force EU leaders to drop migration from Granada declaration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

GRANADA, Spain — A gathering of EU leaders ended in a semi-flop when Poland and Hungary forced delegates to drop a passage summing up the countries’ views on migration from a declaration that diplomats had been working on for weeks.The last-minute row over migration came a day after another summit — this time of the European Political Community in Granada — was fraught with upsets as leaders failed to advance on resolving regional crises in the Southern Caucasus and Western Balkans. And after the British prime minister hustled a side event on migration before leaving the summit, host country Spain cancelled the planned press conference at the EPC Thursday.At the end of Friday’s EU summit, Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who faces a parliamentary election on October 15, took responsibility for strong-arming fellow leaders. “I expressed our position very strongly in the plenary and decided to veto the part of the bill that concerned migration,&#...

Hunter Biden tells judge he’ll seek to dismiss gun charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Washington (CNN) — Hunter Biden will ask a judge to throw out his federal indictment on felony gun charges, his attorneys said in a court filing late Thursday.His attorneys said they will ask for the case to be dismissed because, in their view, special counsel David Weiss was prohibited by a previous agreement from bringing the indictment.“Mr. Biden maintains that the ‘stand alone,’ ‘bilateral’ Diversion Agreement that both parties signed remains in force, and he will seek to dismiss the Indictment against him pursuant to the immunity provisions of that Agreement,” Biden’s attorney Abbe Lowell wrote in the filing.Weiss said in a Wednesday filing that the “proposed diversion agreement” wasn’t signed by a court official as required, and therefore, “it did not enter into effect.” The two sides have been fighting for the past two months over whether the deal to resolve the gun offense is still valid and legally binding.Hunter Biden pleaded not guilty on Tue...

Editorial: Dick Butkus was made to play football. In Chicago.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

He was Chicago.Pro sports fans who’ve lived in this city long enough arguably have seen two athletes who combined ferocity, God-given talent and otherworldly competitiveness into unforgettable careers.One was Michael Jordan, who won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. The other was Dick Butkus, who won zero championships with the Chicago Bears.Pure Chicago from the start, Butkus grew up in Roseland, attended Chicago Vocational High School on the South Side, was an All-American at the University of Illinois and then forged a singular career as the NFL’s best defensive player of his era and possibly of all time. On a team that lost more than it won.A later era might have defined his TV and movie roles after injury cut short his football career at age 31 as “going Hollywood,” but Chicagoans knew he was their own no matter where he laid his head.He died Thursday in his sleep, in his Malibu, California, home, his family said.Butkus was a real rarity in p...

Mike Preston’s Ravens mailbag: Answering questions about Ronnie Stanley, Greg Roman, injuries and more | COMMENTARY

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Baltimore Sun columnist Mike Preston will answer fans’ questions throughout the Ravens season. Coming off Baltimore’s 28-3 win in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns, plenty of questions remain heading into a Week 5 road matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Here’s Preston’s take:(Editor’s note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.)Unfortunately, it seems like Ronnie Stanley has not been the same since his ankle injury in 2020 after he signed his new contract. Of most concern, he seems to lack reliability, which is crucial for a key position like left tackle. Do you think it’s time for the Ravens to make a trade for another LT this season, and/or move on from Stanley after this season?— PaulA trade is not necessary. The Ravens have two capable backups in Patrick Mekari and Daniel Falalele, even though I’m not sure either is capable of playing two or three quality games in a row to get the Ravens deep into the po...

NFL picks for Week 5

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

NFL Lines Week 5Barry Bruce BillGame 33-25-1 31-27-1 26-32-1Jax v Buff (UK) -5.5 Jax Buff JaxHou @ Atl -2 Hou Atl HouCar @ Det -10 Det Det DetTN @ Ind +2 TN Ind TNNYG @ Mia -11 Mia Mia MiaNO @ NE -1 NE NE NEBalt @ Pitt +4 Pitt Pitt BaltPhil @ LAR +4.5 LAR LAR LARCin @ AZ +3 Cin AZ AZNYJ @ Den -1.5 Den NYJ NYJKC @ MN +4 MN MN MNDal @ SF -4 Dal Dal SFGB @ LV +1 LV LV GB Last week 8-7 10-5 8-7Season 33-25-1 31-27-1 26-32-1Bruce: All three of us had winning weeks last week. I like that. It’s a lot tougher having to pick all of them instead of being able to cherry-pick the ones you feel strongly about.I’m taking the Jets at Denver; not sure why. Also don’t know why I’m taking the Pats, who have done nothing to reassure a shaky fanbase. How can they possibly be favored to beat anyone?.Barry: Satchel Paige once said, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” Or someone. My lead against Bruce and Bill is dwindling, making me more nervous than Mac Jones in a collapsing pocke...

The best home remodels for aging in place: making modifications to fit your needs as a senior

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Meaghan Hunt | Bankrate.com (TNS)As they get older, many — even most — Americans prefer to remain in their own homes as long as they can, or “age in place.” But to do that, many will need to make their residences safer and easier to navigate by making home modifications.Home modification is the official term (taken from the Americans with Disabilities Act) for renovations and remodels geared towards the aged or the impaired. It means physically changing your home, removing potential hazards and making it more accessible, so you can continue living in it independently. Examples include anything from installing a shower bench to an entire ground-floor primary suite, so you don’t have to walk up and down stairs.Home modifications can be expensive, typically ranging from $3,000 to $15,000, with the average spend nationally being $9,500, according to Fixr, the cost-quoting site that connects home remodelers with licensed service professionals. But it can be a worthwhile investment, espec...

Home Showcase: Medford penthouse has dazzling potential

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Perched atop the 3920 Mystic Valley building lies a remarkable residence — home of the former mayor of Medford — a true penthouse paradise with an exclusive roof deck pavilion and uninterrupted riverfront panoramas.This 12th-floor penthouse, boasting an expansive 5,600 square feet of interior living space and a colossal 7,500 square feet of private outdoor terrain, presents an unprecedented opportunity.Crafted by the developer for his own family, the penthouse is set to change hands for the very first time, opening doors to a new owner to reimagine it. The interior, offering the convenience of direct elevator access, is a symphony of well-proportioned spaces. The living area is a luminous oasis, enveloped by floor-to-ceiling windows and sliders that usher in natural light and unveil spectacular views. This space effortlessly transitions into the expansive kitchen, creating a seamless flow for hosting gatherings and entertaining guests.The penthouse offers two spacious bedrooms, each...

‘Nut slap’ parody about Patriots QB Mac Jones gets Felger and Mazz in hot water at 98.5 The Sports Hub

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

A Felger and Mazz ticket contest that poked fun of Patriots QB Mac Jones and his alleged dirty play antics was pulled off the air this week.98.5 The Sports Hub listeners at the start of Wednesday’s show were introduced to a comedic Patriots ticket game called the “Mac Jones nut slap” after the Pats QB was accused of hitting Jets CB Sauce Gardner below the belt during their Week 3 game. Jones also faced dirty play allegations in 2021 and last season.The radio show, jumping off this most recent controversy with Jones, played a parody song to the tune of The B-52’s “Love Shack” for the ticket contest.“If you see a whiny brat quarterbacking the team, you better watch out in the pile for a… nut slap. Nut slap, yeah,” sang Felger and Mazz co-host Jim Murray.“That’s right. The Mac Jones’ nut slap,” Murray later added when promoting the ticket contest. “The mediocre Patriots quarterback best known for one th...

What to look for and where to buy solar shades for safe eclipse viewing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:12:48 GMT

Get ready, skywatchers – a “ring of fire” annular solar eclipse will blaze across a wide swath of the U.S. skies on the morning of Oct. 14, so you’re going to need some solar eclipse glasses. According to the American Astronomical Society, all 49 continental states will experience at least a partial eclipse. NASA, which has created an interactive eclipse explorer that tells users what phase the eclipse should be at a certain time and place, says the eclipse will begin in Oregon at 9:13 a.m. PDT and end in Texas at 12:03 p.m. CDT.Eager to take in this special sight? Then you will need to prepare with special viewing equipment.Do I really need special eyewear to view the eclipse?There is no safe time to look directly at the sun, even when it is partially eclipsed. Doing so can damage the retinas and expose your eyes to UV rays. A total solar eclipse will be about as bright as the moon and as safe to look at, according to AAS. But not all states will experience totality, so a saf...