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In low-wage Portugal, Europe’s housing crisis bites deep

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Like a growing number of people in Portugal, Georgina Simoes no longer earns enough money to afford a place to live.The 57-year-old nursing home carer earns less than 800 euros ($845) a month, as do about a fourth of the country’s workforce. For the last decade, she got by because she’s been paying just 300 euros a month for her one-bedroom apartment in an undistinguished Lisbon neighborhood.Now, with rents soaring in the capital, her landlord is evicting her. She says she’s not budging because finding another place near work will be too expensive.“You live in this state of anxiety,” she says in her apartment with its partial view of the River Tagus. “Every day you wake up thinking, ‘Am I staying here or do I have to leave?”Simoes and many others, increasingly including the middle class, are being priced out of Portugal’s property market by rising rents, surging home prices and climbing mortgage rates, fueled by factors including the growing...

US pregnancy deaths dropped in 2022 after COVID spike, but still high

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Deaths of pregnant women in the U.S. fell in 2022, dropping significantly from a six-decade high during the pandemic, new data suggests.More than 1,200 U.S. women died in 2021 during pregnancy or shortly after childbirth, according to a final tally released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, there were 733 maternal deaths, according to preliminary agency data, though the final number is likely to be higher.Officials say the 2022 maternal death rate is on track to get close to pre-pandemic levels. But that's not great: The rate before COVID-19 was the highest it had been in decades.“From the worst to the near worst? I wouldn’t exactly call that an accomplishment,” said Omari Maynard, a New Yorker whose partner died after childbirth in 2019.The CDC counts women who die while pregnant, during childbirth and up to 42 days after birth. Excessive bleeding, blood vessel blockages and infections are leading causes.COVID-19 can be particularl...

DEC: Ulster County resident ticketed for illegally killing ducks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

ULSTER COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Ulster County resident was ticketed for illegally shooting and killing ducks on several violations. Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) withheld the name of the resident. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! ECOs say on Saturday, February 25, they received a video on Snapchat showing someone sneaking up on two ducks swimming in a pond and firing four shots, killing them. With waterfowl seasons for the region closed, ECOs went to the subject's house, which was also the location of the shooting, to interview them. ECOs say during the interview, the subject admitted to shooting the ducks while a friend videotaped it. They were issued tickets for taking waterfowl out of season, hunting without a license, taking a migratory game bird without a federal duck stamp, taking waterfowl with an unplugged shotgun, and taking waterfowl with lead shot.

Albany Academy for Girls basketball forging ahead with historic season

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- It's been milestone on top of milestone this year for the Albany Academy for Girls basketball team. After claiming the first outright Colonial Council league title and Sec. II, Class B title in school history, the Bears continue their breakout season Friday in the program's first-ever trip to the semifinal round of the NYSPHSAA Basketball Championships. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Academy has won more games this season (24) than in the four years prior to head coach Bryan Capitula's arrival ahead of the 2020 season.Capitula has instilled a desire in his team to garner Albany Academy for Girls basketball the respect it lacked for so many years. Now, the Bears aren't just making a statement to the rest of Sec. II, but to the state."From the beginning, the coaches and all of us wanted to make a name for ourselves," said senior guard Stylianna Mantzouris. "(We) wanted to show people that, you kn...

Wood sisters help Pioneers to NCAA Tournament win

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

STANFORD, C.A. (NEWS10) -- The Averill Park girls basketball dynasty has reached the NCAA tournament, and it's a family affair. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Junior Kelsey Wood and Freshman Amelia Wood helped lead Sacred Heart to the program's first tournament win on Wednesday night, topping Southern in a First Four matchup 57-47. Kelsey tallied a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards, while Amelia added 8 points.NEWS10 caught up with the Wood sisters before their game, who shared what the experience has been like so far. "Just being here is a cool experience," said Amelia. "I've always dreamed of this. I've always watched the NCAA Tournament. I really never thought I'd ever be here. But here we are.""It's just an amazing experience," added Kelsey. "Even just the quick turnaround we had from winning a championship to flying to California the next day. It's all just kind of been a rush of adrenaline." Sacred Heart...

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund 2021-2027: Commission adopts over €15 million programme for Slovakia

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

The Commission has adopted the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) Programme for Slovakia, to implement the EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and EU policy priorities outlined in the European Green Deal. The total financial allocation for the Slovak programme 2021-2027 is €20.4 million over the next 6 years, of which the EU contribution accounts for €15.2 million.The EMFAF Programme for Slovakia will help build a stronger aquaculture and processing sector in Slovakia, support innovation in productive investments, help the decarbonization of the sectors by improving their energy efficiency, improve the market organisation and increase profitability and sustainability of the entire market chain.Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “I am happy to announce the adoption of the EMFAF programme for Slovakia, the programme that will support the sustainable use of aquatic resources and development of fisheries and aquaculture in fre...

Word Game: March 16, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — AGROUND (AGROUND: uh-GROUND: On the bottom of a body of water.)Average mark 23 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 28 or more words in AGROUND? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — KINDLES kiln kind kindle ides idle inked inkle isle deli desk diel dike dine disk lend lenis lens lied lien like liken line link send side sidle silk silken sine sink skein skid skied skin sled slid slide slink snideTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game cr...

Ask Amy: Why should I pay half the power bill when I’m just one person?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

Dear Amy: I live with my daughter and son-in-law in my own private quarters, which I paid for them to build.My area covers approximately one-third of the house. I try to give them their space and live independently in my unit, which is attached by a hallway to their two-story quarters.We are a loving family and I have a perfect son-in-law.I stated that I’d pay one-third of the utilities, which includes heat, air conditioning and garbage pickup.I’m retired and living on Social Security. They are full-time successful business people.My daughter thinks I should pay for half the utilities.Granted, I don’t suffer; I use the heat and air for my comfort. Old people don’t like to shiver all winter or sweat all summer.Is it equitable to split the costs 50/50 or should we pay according to our earning power?Cool CustomerDear Cool Customer: No, it doesn’t seem equitable to split the costs of these utilities 50/50. Nor does it seem equitable to pay for utilities based on your income.The obvious ...

Harriette Cole: My husband’s cute habits are wearing on my nerves

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: What used to be cute in my marriage is now driving me crazy.I can’t stand the habits that define my husband’s daily routine. Even the way he gets out of bed in the morning grates on my nerves. It continues from there.I know it’s not right, but I feel like my whole self is screaming at him to become invisible. I know how awful that sounds.I also believe he senses my disdain for him. I can’t even look at him with a smile these days. All I see and hear are the things that drive me nuts.We used to argue about real stuff that was happening that wasn’t cool. Now, for me at least, it has devolved to me losing it over the littlest things. How can I turn this around?He Gets on My NervesRelated ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I’m 26. When will I stop being a teenager? Advice | Harriette Cole: I accidentally sent a text to my boss, and I don’t know what to do Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I ...

Dulles Greenway bald eagles have a baby, with more on the way

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:31:16 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.The Dulles Greenway and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy are celebrating the birth of a baby bald eagle on the Dulles Greenway wetlands.Rosa and Martin, the adult female and male bald eagles that reside on the wetlands near Leesburg, laid three eggs in February. The first eaglet hatched Tuesday morning, and the second and third eaglets are predicted to hatch within the week. You can view a video of the first eaglet eating here.“We are elated to share the wonderful news that Rosa and Martin have welcomed their first eaglet into the nest this season,” said Dulles Greenway spokesperson Terry Hoffman in a news release. “We look forward to sharing these captivating moments with our eagle fans, as we await the arrival of eaglet number two and three in a few days. We encourage viewers to join the live-stream camera and speak with our eagle c...