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31 cities, regions selected as federal tech hubs for AI and biotechnology

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

By Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore SunThirty-one cities and regions have been awarded federal designation as national tech hubs. President Joe Biden announced the hubs Monday, part of a program designed to invest in high-potential U.S. regions and make them globally competitive in emerging technologies.The $10 billion federal initiative, approved as part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, aims to spur technology-related manufacturing and commercialization in parts of the U.S. with potential to become globally competitive and create jobs in 10 years.The program aims to diversify technology investment and development beyond Silicon Valley, Boston and New York, which currently attract 80% of tech funding.The 31 hubs — located across 32 states and Puerto Rico in urban and rural regions — were selected from nearly 400 applications. Hubs are organized around eight general categories, such as autonomous systems, quantum computing, biotechnology, precision medicine, clean energy advancemen...

How to plan for a potential inheritance

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

The amount of wealth millennials and Gen Xers stand to inherit from their parents and grandparents almost defies comprehension: According to Cerulli Associates, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, $84.4 trillion in wealth will be transferred between 2021 and 2045, primarily from baby boomer households to younger generations.Inheritances aren’t just for the rich: Less than half of the total volume of transfers is expected to come from high-net-worth households.“It’s a really unique point in history because of the amount of wealth,” says Chayce Horton, senior analyst on the wealth management team at Cerulli. “It’s something we haven’t seen before.”As a result of that magnitude, inheritance recipients might not know what to do with one, and whether to count on the windfall before it arrives.If you’re wondering whether to broach the topic of a potential inheritance with your own parents or grandparents, here are some guidelines financial experts recommend:Talk about inheritance...

NFL power rankings, Week 8: Ravens join the elite after thrashing Lions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

Each week of the NFL season, The Baltimore Sun will rank all 32 NFL teams. The rankings will take into account not just weekly performance, injuries and roster depth, but how well each team measures up as Super Bowl contenders.Here are the rankings heading into Week 8:1. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1, No. 1 last week)Last week: Win vs. Chargers, 31-17Up next: at BroncosPerhaps flying under the radar is the fact that, in addition to having the best passing duo in the league in Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs also have one of the league’s best defenses. In fact, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranks Kansas City second behind only the Browns, citing improved depth under longtime defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. That makes the Chiefs the clear favorites nearly halfway through the regular season.2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-1, No. 4)Last week: Win vs. Dolphins, 31-17Up next: at CommandersBased on their record and past performance, the Eagles certainly have the resume of a Supe...

Israeli flyers dropped on Gaza offer cash for intel on hostages

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

By Alisa Odenheimer and Fadwa Hodali, Bloomberg NewsThe Israeli military began offering cash and protection for anyone who shares accurate information on the whereabouts of hostages held by Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.Gazans found the leaflets on the streets across Gaza on Tuesday after they’ve been dropped from Israeli aircraft, the latest in a slew of steps by Israel to locate some of the people Hamas is holding captive.“If your will is to live in peace and to have a better future for your children, do the humanitarian deed immediately and share verified and valuable information about hostages being held in your area,” read the leaflets, written in Arabic and shared by the Israel Defense Forces.“The Israeli military assures you that it will invest maximum effort in providing security for you and your home, and you will receive a financial reward. We guarantee you complete confidentiality,” they said.More than two w...

Google Maps disables live traffic data in Israel, Gaza at Israeli military’s request

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

By Marissa Newman, Bloomberg NewsAlphabet Inc.’s Google is disabling live traffic conditions in Israel and the Gaza Strip for its Maps and Waze apps at the request of the Israeli military, ahead of a potential ground invasion into Gaza.“As we have done previously in conflict situations and in response to the evolving situation in the region, we have temporarily disabled the ability to see live traffic conditions and busyness information out of consideration for the safety of local communities,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.Google is removing real-time crowding data in Israel and Gaza at the request of the Israel Defense Forces, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified to discuss internal matters. Live traffic information could reveal Israeli troop movements.Related ArticlesWorld | Israeli flyers dropped on Gaza offer cash for intel on hostages World | Israel launches 400 strikes across Gaza, where healt...

GOP picks Tom Emmer as its nominee for House speaker but there’s no guarantee he can win the gavel

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

By Lisa Mascaro, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Kevin Freking, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans picked Rep. Tom Emmer as their nominee for House speaker Tuesday as they try again to fill the top position, but the choice quickly ran into familiar resistance from hard-liners and allies of Donald Trump leaving no guarantee the latest hopeful can win the gavel.Three weeks after Republicans ousted Kevin McCarthy in a historic first, they appear no closer to choosing a new speaker who can credibly unite the GOP majority, lead the party and reopen the House.As the GOP Whip, Emmer of Minnesota jumped out front during private balloting among a hodge-podge list of mostly lesser-known congressmen for speaker, a powerful position second in line to the presidency. While he won a simple majority, he lost more than two dozen Republicans, far short of what will be needed during a House floor vote ahead.“We’re going to have to figure out how to get our act together — I mean, big bo...

How safe are cockpits? Aviation experts weigh in after security scare

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

The attempt by an off-duty pilot to shut down the engines of a U.S. airliner in midflight highlights the threat that insiders pose to aviation safety with their ability to go where passengers are prohibited.Events like the one Sunday on a Horizon Air jetliner are very rare, but they are potentially devastating.The captain and co-pilot prevented disaster by subduing the off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who — from his perfect vantage point in the cockpit jump seat — tried to cut fuel to the engines.“We’re just lucky he wasn’t flying the plane when he decided to do this. What’s going to stop that?” said Jon Loffi, a longtime law enforcement officer who teaches aviation security at Oklahoma State University and wrote a paper on identifying insider threats.There is something of a see-something, say-something mindset in aviation, where employees are encouraged to voluntarily report anything that raises a safety concern, including suspicious behavior of colleagues. It’s not clear how o...

Members of Canada’s first video game industry union vote in favour of strike action

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

EDMONTON — Video game industry workers in Edmonton have voted unanimously in favour of strike action.The Edmonton workers at Irish company Keywords Studios, who are represented by UFCW Canada Local 401, made history in summer 2022 by becoming the first video game industry union in Canada.They were laid off last month amid efforts to negotiate their first collective agreement that had gone on for over a year.The team had been working on quality assurance and testing for Edmonton-based developer BioWare, which is owned by American video game giant Electronic Arts.BioWare, which is behind the critically acclaimed “Mass Effect” and “Dragon Age” series, declined to renew its contract with the Edmonton team, which the union says resulted in the layoffs.The president of UFCW Canada Local 401 says in a statement that the strike “is about holding the company to account rather than allowing them to abandon the collective bargaining process.”“The video game indust...

Rio de Janeiro deploys helicopters in extra security after a criminal gang torches 35 buses

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Authorities deployed helicopters and other extra security Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro after members of a criminal gang set fire to at least 35 buses in apparent retaliation for the police slaying of one of their key members. The attack late Monday on public transport buses took place in a western section of Rio far from its tourist districts and caused no casualties, but it represented significant defiance of the government.Rio’s state Gov. Cláudio Castro said Tuesday after a meeting with his security officials that the city was on “maximum alert” with helicopters and drones reinforcing the police presence on the streets.Police arrested 12 people in the arson attacks, but six were released due to a lack of evidence as the investigation continues, Castro said.Authorities said the arson attacks were in retaliation for the police slaying earlier Monday of a man identified as Matheus Silva Resende, the nephew of a criminal leader of the largest militia group in the s...

The 1st major snowstorm of the season is expected to hit the northern Rockies after a warm fall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:40:22 GMT

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The first major snowstorm of the season is expected to hit the northern Cascades and Rockies and move into North Dakota this week, sending residents searching for their winter coats, gloves and boots and facing much different driving conditions after a warm fall in many places.The National Weather Service is warning of hazardous travel on snowy mountain passes and ice on some highways when snow initially melts and then freezes as road temperatures drop. The storm is forecast to begin Tuesday with rain at lower elevations in Washington and snow in the mountains before spreading snow across northern Idaho, Montana, northwestern Wyoming and North Dakota.Cold air moving down from northwestern Canada will combine with a moist Pacific weather system leading to freezing temperatures and snowfall amounts up to 18 inches (46 centimeters) in the mountains of Montana, the National Weather Service forecasts. Some higher elevations in the northern Rockies could see snow tota...