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Fewer Americans got jobs in July than expected. But a steady market suggests US may avoid recession

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

By PAUL WISEMAN and RODRIQUE NGOWI (AP Economics Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — The job market has cooled over the summer. But it’s still strong enough to defy predictions that higher interest rates would tip the United States into recession. U.S. employers added 187,000 jobs last month, fewer than expected. But the unemployment rate dipped to 3.5% in a sign that the job market remains resilient.Hiring was up from 185,000 in June, a figure that the Labor Department revised down from an originally reported 209,000. Economists had expected to see 200,000 new jobs in July.Still last month’s hiring was solid, considering that the Federal Reserve has raised its benchmark interest 11 times since March 2022. And the Fed’s inflation fighters will welcome news that more Americans entered the job market last month, easing pressure on employers to raise wages to attract and keep staff.“This is a good strong report,” said Julia Pollak, chief economist at the jobs w...

Home Showcase: Updated condo sunny and modern

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

Boston-area homebuyers looking to put down their first roots or those looking to downsize are going to swoon over the cute condo at 25 Dunster Road Unit 1.With a coveted pondside address, the home’s location is a foodie paradise and nature lover’s dream — Centre Street eateries, Jamaica Pond, and the Arnold Arboretum are all moments away.Newly renovated with an updated kitchen and bathroom, the condo is sunny and modern. Luckily, there’s quite a bit of old world charm that’s been preserved — a dramatic period foyer with an ornate fireplace and mirrored mantle, pocket doors, and the beloved built-in corner hutch in the dining area.Bay windows in the open-concept living and dining room brighten up the space all the way to the stainless steel kitchen with its gleaming white Shaker style cabinets.In addition to three comfortable bedrooms, that condo boasts a den tucked behind pocket doors, yours to turn into a family room or home office. There’s outdoor space, too – a large front porch ...

Mayo Clinic Minute: Should you open your eyes underwater?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

Jason Howland | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkFor many people, the hot summer days are often spent swimming at the pool. But even though the water is usually clear with chlorine, it doesn’t mean you should be looking underwater.And as a Mayo Clinic eye expert explains, it could cause temporary damage to your vision.The next time you dive in, you might want to reconsider opening your eyes underwater.“Chlorine is a pretty powerful disinfectant and can, in fact, cause some damage to the outer layer cells that protect the cornea,” says Dr. Muriel Schornack, a Mayo Clinic optometrist.The occasional glance should be OK, but extended eye-opening underwater can cause damage.“The eye becomes red, irritated. You might become photophobic, or sensitive to light. Your vision might blur a little bit, and your eyes are going to feel irritated or even, frankly, painful,” says Dr. Schornack.Most of the time, those symptoms are uncomfortable but temporary. If you really ...

Recipe: Salami, cantaloupe and mint team up in this salad

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

The first time I interviewed Michael Symon, celebrity chef-TV personality-cookbook author, we discussed his notorious Pig Ear Sandwich. In the discussion, a lot of laughter mixed in. Laughing is another one of Symon’s specialties.His “Michael Symon’s 5 in 5 for Every Season” cookbook (Clarkson Potter) is a treasure of quick, easy recipes. From its pages, I’m very fond of his simple Spicy Salami, Cantaloupe and Mint Salad, a tasty mix of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors. He writes that the salad will surprise guests and family. It will wow them. Indeed.Spicy Salami, Cantaloupe and Mint SaladYield: 4 servingsINGREDIENTS2 tablespoons white wine vinegar1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oilKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste3 to 4 ounces thinly sliced salami, cut into narrow strips, see cook’s notes2 cups (or a little more) medium-diced ripe cantaloupe, see cook’s notes1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves1/2 cup whole plain Greek yogurtCook’s no...

Be aware: Someone could steal your medical records and bill you for their care

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

Michelle Andrews | (TNS) KFF Health NewsAfter HCA Healthcare announced this month that the personal identification data of roughly 11 million HCA patients in 20 states had been exposed in a breach, people may be justifiably concerned that their own medical data and identities could be stolen.Consumers should realize that such “medical identity” fraud can happen in several ways, from a large-scale breach to individual theft of someone’s data.Just ask Evelyn Miller. The first sign something was amiss was a text Miller received from an Emory University Hospital emergency department informing her that her wait time to be seen was 30 minutes to 1 hour. That’s weird, she thought. She no longer lives in Atlanta and hadn’t used that hospital system in years. Then she got a second text, similar to the first. Must be spam, she thought.When she got a call the next day from an Emory staffer named Michael to discuss the diagnostic results from her ER visit, she knew something was definitely wron...

U.S. tourist killed in boat crash off Amalfi Coast, Italian media say

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

ROME (AP) — An American woman was killed off the Amalfi Coast after the motorboat she and her family were traveling on crashed into a tourist sailboat, Italian state TV said Friday.The crash occurred Thursday off the popular stretch of coastline near Naples in southern Italy.According to Italian media reports, the motorboat, rented through a skipper, slammed into the sailboat, which was carrying dozens of U.S. and German tourists, including some celebrating a wedding.The impact of the crash knocked the woman into the water, where she was struck repeatedly by the motorboat’s propeller, the reports said.Italian state TV said the woman was pulled out of the water and brought to a dock, but she had died by the time a helicopter ambulance arrived.The Italian Coast Guard office in Amalfi was investigating the crash. A call to its office wasn’t answered, nor was there a response to an emailed request for details, including confirmation of the victim’s name and age.T...

VIDEO: Man pets dog before stealing bike in Pacific Beach: police

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Police on Friday released a video of a man they say stole a bike from a garage in the Pacific Beach neighborhood, but what he did before leaving turned out to be a surprisingly sweet moment. The incident occurred on July 15 around 10:40 p.m. when the suspect entered a garage and took a 2019 black Electra three-speed bicycle, the San Diego Police Department said in a Facebook post on Thursday.The bike, which costs around $1,300, featured "8-ball" caps on the tire valves, an "8-ball" logo on the frame and a rear wheel frame marked with a checkered black and white pattern, according to police. High tides cause coastal flooding issues As the man was about to take off with the bike, the video shows the household dog enter the garage and approach the suspect. The suspect then parks the bike in the garage and begins to pet and play with the dog."You're the coolest dog I've ever known, I love you too," the suspect is heard on the video saying to the dog.The man then asks the ...

New Jersey house explosion leaves 3 dead, 1 missing, 2 children injured

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

BUENA, N.J. (AP) — An explosion destroyed a New Jersey house, killing three people, seriously injuring two children and leaving another person missing.The cause of Thursday morning’s explosion in Buena, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) southeast of Philadelphia, is being investigated. It damaged several nearby homes, but no other injuries were reported.Two men, ages 52 and 73, and four children — a 2-year-old boy and three girls ages 1, 3 and 16 — were likely in the home at the time.Two bodies were found Thursday in the rubble, and a third was found Friday, but authorities have not been able to determine their age or sex. The year-old infant and the 16-year-old girl were flown to a hospital in Philadelphia, where the infant was in critical condition and the teen was stable.Authorities have not released the victims’ names or said whether they are related.The Associated Press

A Southern California judge has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife in the couple’s home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California judge has been arrested on suspicion of killing his wife in the couple’s home, authorities said Friday.Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was arrested late Thursday after police received reports of a shooting at the home and found the judge’s wife, Sheryl Ferguson, shot inside, said Anaheim police Sgt. Jon McClintock.She was pronounced dead at the scene in the upscale neighborhood of Anaheim Hills. The 72-year-old judge was arrested and taken to jail. He is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to appear in court in Santa Ana, California, on Monday. He has not yet been formally charged.McClintock said one other person was at the home at the time but declined to say who the person was or whether they were among the callers who notified police of the shooting. Telephone and email messages seeking comment were left for Ferguson’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer.Ferguson was elected as a judge in 2014 and took o...

How six Mississippi officers tried to cover up their torture of 2 Black men

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:34:00 GMT

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Men who had sworn an oath to protect and serve were huddled on the back porch of a Mississippi home as Michael Corey Jenkins lay on the floor, blood gushing from his mutilated tongue where one of the police officers shoved a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger.As Jenkins writhed in pain, the six white officers devised a scheme to cover up dozens of stunning acts of brutality that they had just carried out during a 90-minute period of terror against Jenkins and a second Black victim. The officers planted drugs. They stole surveillance footage from the house. They tried to dispose of other evidence. They agreed on a set of lies that would further upend their victims’ lives.And that was just the cover-up.Careful to avoid security cameras at the house, they burst in without a warrant, starting the torture session of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. They handcuffed Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker and poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup ...