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2023’s economy didn’t play by the usual rules

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

By Anna Helhoski | NerdWalletThe U.S. economy was nothing if not weird throughout 2023, but step back and the overall picture is stronger than you might suspect.From one viewpoint, consumers are still struggling with forces beyond their control: They’re paying more for goods and services compared with the pre-pandemic years; the Federal Reserve continued its rate-hike spree for most of the year; and sky-high mortgage rates put homeownership out of reach for more people.Despite these financial challenges, the U.S. never fell into a widely expected recession. Far from it, in fact. And banks, including Chase and Goldman Sachs, and the Fed have stopped predicting one — at least for 2024.That’s because, seen from another angle, the economy is booming: Unemployment hit its lowest point in 50 years; inflation continued to slow down and certain goods and services even deflated; the Fed paused rates multiple times; the nation’s growth surpassed expectations; and consumers are still spending ...

Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo isn’t the only assistant on the defensive staff who believes he could be a head coach one day.Defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, who was named to NFL Media’s head coach watch list last month, said Tuesday during a video conference call running a team is one of his goals.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth “Obviously that’s in the horizon for me of what I want to do,” Covi...

Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

Patriots quarterback Mac Jones lost his starting job to Bailey Zappe after being benched on four separate occasions this season, but offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien didn’t close the door on the possibility of the Alabama product gaining the top role back.The Patriots are 1-2 with Zappe as the starter, and they began the season 2-9 with Jones under center.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth “I think everybody’s gotta be ready to play, especiall...

Israel delivers deadly airstrikes in south Gaza and raids a hospital in the north

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

By NAJIB JOBAIN and SAMY MAGDY (Associated Press)RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces raided one of the last functioning hospitals in Gaza’s north and bombarded the south with airstrikes that killed at least 28 Palestinians, pressing ahead with their offensive Tuesday with renewed backing from the United States, despite rising international alarm.In a hospital in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, Mohammed Zaghroub bid farewell to his two children — a 2-year-old boy, and a girl born two weeks ago — killed in a predawn strike on their home. Wounded in the strike, he winced as he peeled back the shrouds to look at their faces as his wife and mother stood by his bed.“Just two weeks old. Her name hadn’t even been registered,” said the children’s grandmother, Suzan Zoughroub. Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, she cried, “Does he think that by killing these children he will achieve something? Have they succeeded now? Has he achieved what he wants?”The air and gr...

Why Patriots still have confidence in kicker Chad Ryland despite rookie struggles

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

Kicker Chad Ryland’s disappointing rookie campaign with the Patriots continued in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs when he wasn’t even close on a 41-yard field goal attempt that missed wide left in the first quarter.Ryland went on to make a 25-yard field goal and two extra points in the game, but he’s now just 13-of-20 on field goals and a perfect 19-of-19 on extra points this season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots up-and-coming assistant has head coaching aspirations New England Patriots | Can Mac Jones regain Patriots’ starting QB job? Bill O’Brien weighs in New England Patriots | Patriots-Chiefs film review: How Pats went from hot start to getting out-coached New England Patriots | Patriots lose starting O-lineman for rest of the season New England Patriots | Patriots expected to sign ex-Bucs third-round pick to fill running back depth The Patriots traded...

Ohio prosecutor urged to drop criminal charge against woman who miscarried

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The physicians’ group behind Ohio’s newly passed reproductive rights amendment is urging a prosecutor to drop criminal charges against a woman who miscarried in the restroom at her home.Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights, a nonpartisan coalition of 4,000 doctors and others, argues in a letter to Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins that the abuse-of-corpse charge against Brittany Watts, 33, conflicts “with the spirit and letter” of Issue 1.The measure, which was approved in November with 57% of the vote, guarantees an individual’s “right to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.” It made Ohio the seventh-straight state to vote to protect reproductive rights since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling that long legalized abortion nationally.Watts’ case has touched off a national firestorm over the treatment of pregnant women, particularly those like Watts who are Black, in post-Roe America. Civil right...

Sandra Day O’Connor memorialized by President Joe Biden as a ‘pioneer’ first female justice

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the Arizona rancher’s daughter who became a voice of moderate conservatism as the first woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, was memorialized by President Joe Biden on Tuesday as a pioneer in the legal world who inspired generations of women. Biden and Chief Justice John Roberts were among those who spoke at her funeral at Washington National Cathedral. O’Connor retired from the high court in 2006 after more than two decades, and died Dec. 1 at age 93.“Sandra Day O’Connor, daughter of the American West, was a pioneer in her own right — breaking down the barriers in the legal and political worlds and the nation’s consciousness,” Biden said. “To her, the Supreme Court was the bedrock — the bedrock of America.” Biden, referring to O’Connor’s trailblazing career in the courts, added: “How she embodied such attributes...

Former Pennsylvania death row inmate freed after prosecutors drop charges before start of retrial

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

YORK, Pa. (AP) — A man formerly on death row has been released from prison following dismissal of murder charges in a double slaying a quarter-century ago that he blamed on his brother, who died in prison while appealing his own death sentence in the case.Noel Montalvo, who turned 59 Tuesday, was freed Monday night after York County prosecutors dismissed charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy and burglary shortly before a retrial was to begin. He pleaded guilty to an evidence tampering charge for which the judge sentenced him to a year of probation.Noel Montalvo was greeted by friends and supporters as he walked out of York County Prison a free man for the first time since 2002. He said he was looking forward to going back home and seeing his family, children and grandchildren, the York Dispatch reported.“We’re very happy with the outcome of the case,” defense attorney Rick Robinson said. Marshall Dayan, who chairs the board of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalt...

She bought a colorful vase at Goodwill for $3.99. The rare piece sold at auction for $107,000

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

Jessica Vincent had just started surveying the shelves of a Virginia thrift store when a vase caught her eye. It was shaped like a bottle and had ribbons of color, aqua green and amethyst purple, that spiraled up its glass surface like stripes of paint.The piece looked old amongst the clutter of measuring cups, candles and other tchotchkes. After adjusting her eyes, Vincent made out the words “Murano” and “Italia” on its base. “I bought it thinking it would look beautiful in my house somewhere,” said Vincent, 43, a horse trainer who paid $3.99 at a Goodwill outside of Richmond. “I definitely didn’t buy it thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to sell this.’ ” Her thinking changed after some research. And on Dec. 13, the vase sold through the Wright Auction House for $107,100. The buyer, a top collector from Europe, wished to remain private. Vincent’s purchase came after years of perusing yard sales and thrift stores with her mother. She loves PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” and has daydream...

Zelenskyy says he is weighing Ukrainian military’s request for mobilization of up to 500,000 troops

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 09:57:16 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s military wants to mobilize up to 500,000 more troops to fight Russia’s invasion, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he has asked them to spell out their plans in detail on what is “a very sensitive matter” before deciding whether he grants their wish as the war approaches the two-year mark.Such a major mobilization would cost Ukraine around 500 billion hryvnias ($13.4 billion), Zelenskyy said. Other aspects to be considered include whether troops currently on the front line would be rotated or allowed home leave after almost 22 months of full-scale war.Ukrainian Ministry of Defense statistics say the Ukrainian army had nearly 800,000 troops in October. That doesn’t include National Guard or other units. In total, 1 million Ukrainians are in uniform.Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country’s military to increase the number of troops by nearly 170,000 to a total of 1.32 million....