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Experts share travel trends to expect in 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

Some 4.7 billion people are expected to travel worldwide in 2024. With a new year comes new trends, and travel experts have their eyes set on what the world of vacationing will look like in the coming months.One thing is certain: it will be much busier.According to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) study, travel should increase another 4% over pre-pandemic highs.In its 2024 Trend Report, online travel site Expedia highlights specific categories of travel that will be popular in the new year, like traveling to destinations inspired by TV shows and films, seeking affordable alternatives to popular yet pricey destinations, and “go-ccassions,” which celebrate the everyday milestones in life like “date-iviersaries,” work achievements like promotions and retirement, and “puppymoons.”There are other trends coming up in 2024, including the overall demand for specific destinations and the demographic makeup of travel parties. Experts agree that the demand for t...

Gophers football vs. Bowling Green: Keys to bowl game, how to watch, who has the edge

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

BOWLING GREEN vs. MINNESOTAWhat: Quick Lane BowlWhen: 1 p.m. CT, TuesdayWhere: Ford FieldTV: ESPNRadio: KFAN, 100.3 FMWeather: IndoorsBetting spread: Minnesota, minus-3.5Records: Minnesota (5-7) went winless in November, but received a bowl berth due its high Academic Progress Rate (APR) and a shortage of six-win teams to fill out the 82 teams in the field. Bowling Green (7-5) has a Power Five Conference win over Georgia Tech, 38-27, in September.History: The Gophers will put their six-game bowl winning streak on the line against a Falcons program that pulled off a shocker against the U in 2021. Minnesota was a 31-point home favorite but lost 14-10. “Whooped us,” head coach P.J. Fleck recalled earlier this month.Key matchup: Gophers defensive line vs. Bowling Green offensive line. Minnesota’s pass rushers, led by Jah Joyner with 21 total pressures, should be able to get the quarterback because center Alex Padgett and tackle Alex Wollschlaeger are vulnerable in pass sets....

Man and his dog hit by a car and killed in St. Paul on Sunday night

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

A man and his dog were hit by a car and killed while crossing a St. Paul street on Sunday night, authorities said.A Ford Taurus heading east struck the duo as they moved across Maryland Avenue West near Park Street.The driver stopped and was cooperative, police said.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Hundreds honor slain Hmong advocate and performer Tou Ger Xiong at Woodbury memorial Crime & Public Safety | Fridley woman dies after hit-and-run; she also had been shot, police say Crime & Public Safety | Washington County man sentenced for tax crimes, swindling short-term renters Crime & Public Safety | Minnesota BCA details deadly domestic disturbance in Marshall that ended with officer killing suspect Crime & Public Safety | MN pharmacist refused to fill emergency contraception prescription. Court to decide if that was discrimination.

Wood burning banned in Southern California on Christmas Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

Many Southern Californians who want to enjoy a warm fire on Christmas Day are out of luck.The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has issued a residential No-Burn Day for December 25 due to a predicted spike in air pollution levels.The wood burning ban includes all of Orange County and non-desert areas of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, and prohibits both indoor and outdoor fires.“South Coast AQMD reminds residents in these areas that burning wood in their fireplaces or any indoor or outdoor wood-burning device is prohibited at any time,” air quality managers said in a bulletin on Sunday.South Coast AQMD map showing the wood burning restrictions for Christmas Day. (South Coast AQMD)Mountain communities above 3,000 feet are exempt from the ban, along with homes that rely solely on wood for heating or those without natural gas service.While Sunday’s air quality was listed as “good” to “moderate” across AQMD’s coverage area, managers say the decision ...

Jill On Money: Santa Claus comes early

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

The early start to the retail holiday season has seeped into financial markets.Related ArticlesBusiness | Will ‘revenge travel’ end in 2024? Business | Last minute shopping? Beware these gift card scams Business | Buying a house in 2024: How to overcome the challenges Business | New FAFSA: What parents of college students need to know Business | US baby boomers over 70 hold more than 30% of country’s wealth As of this writing, stock indexes have completed seven consecutive winning weeks, ushering in the “Santa Claus rally” in late October, rather than in December.Santa fired up his sled around Halloween and has been sprinkling holiday magic on financial markets, as evidence emerged that inflation is slowing and the Fed is gearing up to start cutting interest rates.The fourth-quarter advance has been a relief for investors, many of whom are still feeling the sting of 2022, a year when the S&P 500 fell...

Here’s a look at a few things about Santa Claus you may not have considered

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

Flying reindeer, elves and Santa Claus might seem a little far-fetched to some, so today we look at some of the science (and magic) regarding the massive mission that will take place across the globe.How long is the mission?Let’s assume Santa distributes gifts from 5 p.m. to midnight, or for seven hours. Due to the Earth’s rotation, there is an overall time difference of 24 hours between different time zones, so we can therefore say that Santa has about 31 hours to finish his work (if he logically travels east to west).A book of the Super Santa: The Science of Christmas: A Christmas Holiday Book for Kids is at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology book store is here.Here’s look at some of the numbers a scientist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology broke down:Flying reindeer?No known species of reindeer can fly. But there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not completely rule out flying reind...

Rainfall forecasted mid-week: NWS

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

(KRON) – The Bay Area is forecasted to have rainy weather for the week of Christmas, according to the National Weather Service.The first round of rain is predicted for Wednesday through Thursday. The rain is predicted to be less than one inch in the Bay. However, the North Bay is forecasted to have 0.5-2 inches of rain. Coastal flood, hazardous beach advisories for Christmas The second round of rain is forecasted from late Thursday through Saturday. According to NWS, this system could range from one to three inches in the coastal ranges and 0.2-1 inches in the interior. For your safety, allow extra time for travel and leave space in between cars. Cleaning your gutters and storm drainers can also be helpful.

2 elderly people displaced by residential building fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

(BCN) -- A fire at a residential building displaced two elderly people in San Leandro early Christmas morning, the Alameda County Fire Department said. Rainfall forecasted mid-week: NWS The blaze hit the center hallway of the building located at 14550 East 14th Street, fire officials said on social media shortly before 6 a.m. Monday.(Photo: San Leandro Fire Department)According to firefighters, the blaze has been contained.The American Red Cross has come to the aid of the displaced residents, the fire department said.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

How Sunnyvale tackles its biggest issues

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

(BCN) -- Sunnyvale's process for proposing new policies is complex, so we're breaking it down step by step.Sunnyvale's "study issue" and "budget proposal" process is how the city sets new city policies and services, respectively. The city uses this process to allocate employee responsibilities and budgetary resources, and each proposed project is ranked by priority. Those rankings are then used to determine which projects are researched, deferred contingent on resources or dropped. Rainfall forecasted mid-week, NWS Members of the public can propose study issues by reaching out to the Sunnyvale City Council, city manager, or a city board or commission, but it must be sponsored by one of them to become an official study issue. An example of a publicly proposed item becoming policy is the city's decision to permanently close historic Murphy Avenue to traffic. City officials said they received numerous requests from residents to permanently close the avenue after its temporarily closu...

Mike Sainristil becomes perhaps Michigan’s best player on defense after playing 3 seasons on offense

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:23:59 GMT

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Position switches in college football often occur when a player isn’t producing.That wasn’t the case with Mike Sainristil at Michigan.In his third season at wide receiver in 2021, he was a key target and his highlight-worthy catches seemed to set him up for a bright future on offense with the Wolverines.Jim Harbaugh had another idea entering spring ball last year, suggesting Sainristil switch to defensive back.“He saw something that maybe I didn’t see in myself at the time,” Sainristil recalled recently in an interview. “My mindset was prove him right, prove myself right and take advantage of the opportunity.”He has done just that, becoming a key contributor in the secondary last season and arguably the best player on a highly ranked defense this year.The AP All-Big Ten cornerback is about to face a tough test in his third straight College Football Playoff appearance.Michigan, whose season included a sign-stealing scandal that led to the Big...