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Home sales and curb appeal: A lot hinges on your door

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

Shopping for a home is a lot like online dating. So much rides on that first photo, and a prospect’s curb appeal often determines whether you cross the figurative threshold or swipe left.As homes go, the focus of that first impression falls on the front door, which should draw you in. However, many front doors don’t do their homes any such favor.“So many people buy a home and just live with the door that it comes with, when they could really improve the whole face of their home by changing it,” said Jennifer Matson, spokesperson for JELD-WEN, a North Carolina supplier of doors and windows. “Replacing a door is such an easy and relatively inexpensive project compared to most renovations. Many studies show that replacing your front door almost always pays for itself. I don’t know why more homeowners don’t do it.”“I know why,” I tell her. “Because most homeowners don’t know where to start. They look online at door options, get overwhelmed, then go play Wordle.”Matson broke the process ...

‘Marvel Snap’ adds new tournament-style Conquest mode on June 13

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

“Marvel Snap,” which was my favorite game of 2022, continues to add new features. A few months ago, the developer, Second Dinner, introduced a Battle Mode, which let players duke it out in a one-on-one competition. Now, the team is launching its Conquest mode on June 13.It’s a tournament-style mode that caters to the highly competitive. It uses the aforementioned Battle MOde, where players have 10 health instead of Cosmic Cubes and they’ll engage in a series of battles to defeat an opponent. Players risk their health instead of cubes, and the victor is the one who can get their opponent’s health to 0.What’s notable is that decks are locked, so you can’t switch them out. Players will learn their opponent’s style over the match, since it becomes a battle of wits as they figure out counters and predict what they have. Because it’s the Battle Mode format, the matches will go on a little longer so this isn’t a mode you can just ...

Trump camp braces for possible federal charges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

By Eric Tucker, Jill Colvin and Michael Balsamo | Associated PressMIAMI — Former President Donald Trump and his aides are bracing for a potential indictment in the classified documents investigation as prosecutors handling the probe were spotted Thursday at a Miami courthouse where a grand jury has been hearing from witnesses.The former president’s lawyers have been told he is a target of the investigation, the clearest indication yet that criminal charges could be coming soon, according to two people familiar with the matter. In an effort to get ahead of a potential indictment, aides over the last two days have been reaching out to Trump allies in Congress to be prepared to go on television and offer defenses of the former president, according to another person familiar with the matter.The people spoke on condition anonymity to discuss matters related to the secretive grand jury process.Meanwhile, a grand jury in Miami heard from at least one additional witness this week — a ...

2 men who allegedly committed crimes in front of SF federal building charged with felonies

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Two San Francisco men who allegedly committed crimes while standing in front of the surveillance cameras at the federal building on Seventh and Mission streets have been charged with felonies, the Department of Justice announced Thursday. Rodolfo Sagastume-Pineda was indicted by a federal grand jury. Natalin Mauricio Martinez-Hernandez had a federal criminal complaint filed against him.Both men are charged with committing felonies within view of surveillance cameras mounted outside the federal building to monitor the streets. Bay Area real estate value is fastest dropping in the nation, report says Sagastume-PinedaThe complaint against Sagastume-Pineda alleges he was on the sidewalk on Seventh Street when he was seen engaging in a "series of hand-to-hand drug transactions." The four transactions allegedly occurred on April 24, 2023, over the course of several minutes. He was arrested that same day, according to the DOJ.The complaint also alleges Sagastume-...

¿Por qué colapsó la represa de Nova Kakhovka en Ucrania? Estas son las principales teorías

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

(CNN) — El colapso de la represa Nova Kakhovka, en el sur de Ucrania, es uno de los mayores desastres industriales y ecológicos que ha sufrido Europa en décadas. La catástrofe destruyó aldeas enteras, inundó tierras de cultivo, privó a decenas de miles de personas de electricidad y agua limpia, y causó daños ambientales considerables.Todavía es imposible saber si la represa se derrumbó porque fue atacada deliberadamente o si la causa fue una falla estructural. La presa y la planta de energía hidroeléctrica están bajo control ruso y, por lo tanto, son inaccesibles para los investigadores independientes, lo que deja a expertos de todo el mundo tratando de reconstruir lo que sucedió únicamente con evidencia visual limitada.Varios funcionarios occidentales culpan a Rusia por el desastre, ya sea al acusar directamente a Moscú de atacar la represa o al decir que Rusia es responsable simplemente porque es el agresor en la guerra contra Ucrania.El secretario general de Naciones Unidas...

‘EH!PACALOPYSE NOW!’ Americans blame Canada as haze from northern fires continues

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The front page headline of the New York Post screamed “BLAME CANADA!” The Boston Herald has “Thanks Canada,” and the Dallas Morning News front page said “U.S. caught in a Canadian haze.” A thick, hazardous haze of wildfire smoke loomed over daily life this week for millions of people across the U.S. and Canada from over 400 Canadian wildfires. Canadians are unaccustomed to getting the attention of millions of Americans, let alone drawing their ire. Americans quickly poked fun as the smoke-clogged air eerily silhouetted skylines in New York, Philadelphia and Washington. The New York Post also used the headline “EH!POCALYPSE NOW” in reference to Canadians’ frequent use of the word “Eh” and went on to say “It’s the unhealthiest thing to come out of Canada since poutine.” Poutine is the popular dish north of the border of french fries, cheese and gravy.“Sorry!,” Canadian meteorologist Anthony Farnell tweeted in response to the Post headline. American composer ...

Barely a bear: Wall Street exits what turned out to be a fairly tame bear market

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — While it seemed scary and interminable, the bear market that Wall Street just exited turned out to be meeker than most.After the S&P 500 on Thursday closed at a level more than 20% above where it was in mid-October, Wall Street can give official dates for the birth and death of its last bear market, which is what traders call a long decline of at least 20% for the S&P 500. It started on Jan. 3, 2022, when the S&P 500 set a record high, and ended on Oct. 12, when it bottomed out 25.4% lower.Worries about the highest inflation in generations drove the drop. More precisely, it was worries about what the Federal Reserve would do to combat high inflation. The Fed furiously jacked rates up to their highest level since 2007, up from virtually zero in about a year. The aim of high interest rates is to lower inflation by slowing the entire economy and dragging down prices for stocks, bonds and other investments. But a nine-month bear market with a drop of 25.4% is...

Americans’ wealth rises by $3 trillion but remains below early 2022 peak

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

A 'Now Hiring' sign is displayed outside a resale clothing shop on Friday in Los Angeles, California. A 'Now Hiring' sign is displayed outside a resale clothing shop on Friday in Los Angeles, California. New York (CNN) — Elevated by a strong stock market, Americans’ household wealth rose to nearly $149 trillion in the first quarter of 2023, new federal data shows. But that’s still several trillion dollars shy of its recent peak.The net worth of households rose by $3 trillion in the early part of this year, according to the Federal Reserve’s quarterly report on US financial accounts. The data also includes nonprofit organizations.Households saw the value of their stock holdings increase by $2.4 trillion. The ...

NY attorney general files lawsuit against anti-abortion group known for blocking access to clinics

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday against an anti-abortion group whose members have been arrested for blocking access to health care clinics in New York and other states.The group, Red Rose Rescue, “has made it their mission to terrorize reproductive health care providers and the patients they serve,” said Attorney General Letitia James said in announcing the lawsuit against the organization and several members who she said have trespassed at suburban New York clinics, occupied waiting rooms and barricaded entrances.The lawsuit filed in federal court for the Southern District of New York seeks to prevent Red Rose members from coming within 30 feet of any reproductive health care facility in addition to civil penalties and damages.Red Rose Rescue started in 2017 and has staged actions in states including New Mexico and Michigan, in addition to New York. A message seeking comment on the New York lawsuit was sent to the organiza...

Broncos agree to 1-year deal with Frank Clark after Baron Browning knee surgery, AP source says

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:29:04 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have agreed to a one-year deal with former Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher Frank Clark following third-year pro Baron Browning’s knee operation, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.Browning underwent a procedure in recent weeks to repair a torn meniscus, according to the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t publicly addressed the outside linebacker’s health status and won’t discuss Clark’s contract until he signs. Browning is expected to be back for training camp next month.Clark, who turns 30 next week, was cut recently by the Chiefs in a cost-saving move. He’s a ninth-year pro who had five sacks for the Super Bowl champs last year. He spent his first four seasons in Seattle, collecting 35 sacks and 72 quarterback hits. His best season came in 2018 when he set career highs with 13 sacks and two dozen QB hits, but all three of his Pro Bowl berths ...