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Powell: Economy’s growth could require more Fed hikes to fight inflation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

By Christopher Rugaber | The Associated PressThe continued strength of the U.S. economy could require further interest rate increases, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Friday in a closely watched speech that also highlighted the uncertain nature of the economic outlook.Powell noted that the economy has been growing faster than expected and that consumers have kept spending briskly — trends that could keep inflation pressures high. He reiterated the Fed’s determination to keep its benchmark rate elevated until inflation is reduced to its 2% target.See more: Home sales slumped in July as rising rates and prices discouraged buyers“We are attentive to signs that the economy may not be cooling as expected,” Powell said. “We are prepared to raise rates further if appropriate and intend to hold policy at a restrictive level until we are confident that inflation is moving sustainably down toward our objective.”“Although inflation has moved down from its peak — a welcome development ...

2-year-old child fatally struck by vehicle in Fremont parking lot Thursday evening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

(BCN) -- A toddler was struck and killed by a vehicle in a Fremont parking lot Thursday evening, police said.The 2-year-old child was hit by a car around 6 p.m. in a parking lot in the 5000 block of Mowry Avenue, Fremont police announced Friday. The child was taken to a hospital but died there.The driver who struck the toddler remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, who are looking for video surveillance footage in the area that might have recorded the collision, according to police. 6-year-old San Jose boy’s accused killer behind bars Speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in the collision, the seventh on Fremont streets this year to end in a death, police said. "This tragedy deeply saddens Fremont Police Department, and we sympathize with the juvenile's family. As a community, we mourn this tragic loss of life," police said in a statement.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Venezuelan triple jumper Yulimar Rojas earns 4th straight world title on final attempt

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Down to her last jump and her rhythm uncharacteristically off, Yulimar Rojas gave herself an animated pep talk.Something the Venezuelan triple jumper muttered finally sank in. Because Rojas turned into the version of Rojas everyone knows so well — the one who wins everything in sight.Rojas jumped 15.08 meters (49 feet, 5 3/4 inches) on her sixth and final attempt Friday night to rally for her fourth straight title at world championships. Add in her Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games and that makes her 5 for 5 in major meets since 2017.The 27-year-old Rojas is as close to automatic these days as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt was in his heyday.Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk finished runner-up to earn the first medal for Ukraine in Budapest. Bekh-Romanchuk was in the lead most of the night courtesy of a big opening jump of 15 meters (49-2 1/2). Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba took bronze.For quite a while, this contest looked wide open with Rojas, the world record hol...

Descendants of a British owner of slaves in Guyana apologize as Caribbean nation seeks reparations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) — The descendants of a 19th-century Scottish sugar and coffee planter who owned thousands of slaves in Guyana apologized Friday for the sins of their ancestor, calling slavery a crime against humanity with lasting negative impacts.Charles Gladstone, a descendant of former plantation owner John Gladstone, traveled to Guyana from Britain with five relatives to offer the formal apology.“It is with deep shame and regret that we acknowledge our ancestors’ involvement in this crime and with heartfelt sincerity, we apologize to the descendants of the enslaved in Guyana,” he told an audience at the University of Guyana. “In doing so, we acknowledge slavery’s continuing impact on the daily lives of many.”Neither Guyana President Irfaan Ali, who on Thursday demanded reparations and lashed out at the descendants of European slave traders, nor other senior government officials were in the audience of a couple hundred students, university staff members and rep...

US to play CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 16

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The United States will play its first competitive match in Gregg Berhalter’s second term as coach in a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal at Austin, Texas, on Nov. 16.The U.S. Soccer Federation announced the site Friday. The second leg of the home-and-home, total-goals series will be on the road Nov. 19-21. The opponent will be determined after group play in September and October.Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica also received byes to the quarterfinals and cannot be opponents.Quarterfinal winners will qualify for next year’s Copa América, South America’s championship, and the losing quarterfinalists will compete in playoffs for two additional Copa América berths.The U.S. beat Canada 2-0 in June to win its second straight Nations League title.Berhalter was hired in December 2018 after the U.S. failed to qualify for that year’s World Cup. He led the Americans to the second round last year in Qatar before a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.He was discussing the possibility of a...

New Nebraska coach Matt Ruhle is having the time of his life ahead of opener against Gophers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A year ago, Matt Rhule was not in a good place. He was about to break training camp with the Carolina Panthers and dealing with a host of injury and personnel issues that hastened his firing five games into the season.Friday, six days before his first game as Nebraska’s coach, he showed a sunny demeanor much like he in previous meetings with the media since he arrived in Lincoln almost nine months ago.“I’m having the time of my life, I really am,” he said. “So this is as happy as I’ve been in a really, really long time. My family’s here now. My girls are happy, my family’s happy, my wife’s happy, the son’s doing well. I really enjoy this team.”It’s been a whirlwind for the 48-year-old Rhule since Nebraska landed him as one of the splash hires of the 2022-23 coaching cycle.Rhule and his assistants have visited towns and cities across the state to immerse themselves in its passion for football and build relationships with high school coache...

Months after historic flooding in Broward, residents and officials monitor potential tropical system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

A potential tropical system brewing in the Caribbean Sea is raising concerns among Broward County residents who were impacted by historic flooding earlier in the year.Speaking with 7News on Friday, Fort Lauderdale resident Chris Armstrong said he is still dealing with the ripple effects of the relentless rains that swept through the region back in April.“Yeah, the insurance money is hopefully going to arrive,” he said.Armstrong’s home was heavily damaged, and he’s hoping to start repairs next week.“It was a long back-and-forth process but, you know, it happened in April, and here we are in August,” he said.Residents are not only concerned over the potential tropical system that could impact South Florida next week, but also about the return of king tides.Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Chief Stephen Gollan said city leaders met earlier in the day.“This afternoon, leaders from the City of Fort Lauderdale met, just to see what’s out there an...

Crews extinguish flames after minibus catches on fire in NW Miami-dade

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

Crews battled fierce flames after a minibus became engulfed in flames in Northwest Miami-Dade.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units sprung into action at the scene of the blaze that completely gutted this minibus near Northwest 135th Street and 27th Avenue, Friday.According to officials, the bus was empty and no one was hurt.The fire was put out, but what exactly sparked the flame remains under investigation.

Mark Wahlberg surprises fans at Publix Liquors in Cooper City to promote tequila brand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

There was a star studded surprise at a South Florida Publix.Mark Wahlberg showed up for a special event at a Publix Liquors at 10018 Griffin Road to promote bottles of his signature new tequila brand Flecha Zul.Fans filled up the lines to pose for pictures and showed off their brand new bottles of tequila. “In my hand is a bottle of Mark’s reposado tequila,” said Alexa, a fan. “It was very nice, he was very sweet. He actually did like, he posed a couple of times and was actually really cool about it.”Mr. Wahlberg’s team said the money raised will go directly to helping the devastated community on the island of Maui.

Florida woman who was pierced by stingray in Tampa speaks out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:28:41 GMT

A woman was stabbed in the back but there was no need for an arrest in this case. While wading in the water, she was caught in a stinging situation when a venomous stingray sunk its barb into her back.“I remember saying, ‘I’m going to black out, I’m about to black,'” Kristie O’Brien said. O’Brien, talked about the stingray strike that sent her to the hospital for at least a week.She was at Bahia Beach in Ruskin, outside Tampa Tuesday as she wading in knee-deep water.When she leaned back to wet her hair, she felt a sharp stab in her back.She then leaned forward and her husband saw an angry stingray on her back, hanging by its tail.It pierced her four inches deep, missing her lungs by just centimeters.Paramedics arrived at the scene and went in the water to free her.“I know they had put the IV in while I was still standing on the beach because I told them I need fluids, I need pain medicine, I’m about to pass out, I need some oxyg...