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US consumers keep spending briskly even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve showed price increases remained elevated in September amid brisk consumer spending and strong economic growth.Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that prices rose 0.4% from August to September, the same as the previous month. And compared with 12 months earlier, inflation was unchanged at 3.4%.Taken as a whole, the figures the government issued Friday show a still-surprisingly resilient consumer, willing to spend briskly enough to power the economy even in the face of persistent inflation and high interest rates. Spread across the economy, the strength of that spending is itself helping to fuel inflation.In a cautionary note, consumers relied increasingly on savings to fuel their shopping last month. Income growth slowed. Adjusted for inflation, income actually fell slightly. Yet spending jumped 0.4%, after adjusting for inflation. The saving rate fell to 3.4%, down from the 6%-plus...

Landlord indicted on hate crime and murder charges after Palestinian boy stabbed to death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

PLAINFIELD, Ill. -- The man accused of fatally stabbing a Palestinian, Musim boy and severely injuring his mother, has been indicted by a grand jury. The charges stem from a violent attack that occurred at a home in the 16200 block of South Lincoln Highway, just after 11:35 a.m. on Saturday. Prosecutors allege that Czuba knocked on the victim’s door and started an argument about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.When the 32-year-old woman, later identified as Hanaan Shahin, stated she was Muslim, Czuba allegedly attacked her with a large blade. Police fatally shoot sledgehammer-wielding man in Round Lake Beach Deputies entered the home and found the two victims, including a 6-year-old boy, identified as Wadea Al-Fayoume, who had suffered 26 stab wounds. He was transported in critical condition and died at the hospital.Prosecutors say Joseph Czuba attacked his Palestinian Muslim tenants after listening to a conservative talk radio discussing the war between Israel and Hamas. ...

Man stabbed in arm during argument on North Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A 32-year-old man was stabbed during an argument on the city's North Side.The stabbing happened around 11:55 p.m. Thursday in the 800 block of West Addison Street. Police said the man was outside when he began to argue with another man.The offender took out a sharp, pointed object and swung it at the 32-year-old — cutting his arm.According to police, the offender fled the scene on foot.The victim sustained a puncture wound to the arm and was transported to Illinois Masonic Hospital in good condition. Man dead after car crashes into viaduct pillar in Little Village: CPD No one is in custody. Area Three Detectives are investigating.

Alleged victim punches 80-year-old convicted sex offender in Las Vegas courtroom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A now-adult alleged victim knocked out an 80-year-old convicted sex offender in a Nevada courtroom, according to witnesses.Richard Gross, 80, was in a Clark County district courtroom for his sentencing on Oct. 2. He was initially charged with 26 felony counts related to the alleged sexual abuse of a child. He pleaded guilty through an Alford plea to one felony count of attempted lewdness with a child under the age of 14. An Alford plea is when a defendant does not admit to committing the crime, but enters a guilty plea because they believe there is a likelihood of a conviction.Judge Tierra Jones sentenced Gross to a suspended sentence of 60-80 months. In a suspended sentence, a defendant is placed on probation; if probation is violated, the convicted could serve prison time. Nexstar's KLAS has chosen not to identify the alleged sexual abuse victim because of the nature of the circumstances.The now-29-year-old man gave a victim impact statement in court. Once ...

McDonald's getting rid of signature utensil as part of 'sustainable makeover'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – You can get burgers and fries at dozens of fast-food chains. But you can only get that silly little McFlurry spoon at McDonald’s.Until now, at least.McDonald’s has announced plans to do away with its signature McFlurry spoons — the ones with the hollowed-out handles — starting this month. The change is part of a push to reduce plastic waste at U.S. restaurants, McDonald’s said.“It’s hard to think of a utensil that’s been the focus of more intense debate over the years,” McDonald’s acknowledged in an online post earlier this week. “Why is the handle hollow? Is it a spoon, a straw, or both?” McRib coming back to some McDonald's restaurants in November The chain went on to explain what “true McFlurry fans” probably already know about the spoons: They were originally designed with hollow handles so that they could double as blending tools, or spindles, that could be attached to the McDonald’s ice-cream mixing machines.A McFlurry ice cream treat (left) from a restaurant in ...

Catalytic converter thefts on the decline. These states are seeing the largest drop, according to insurance data

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

(KTLA) — Newly released data shows catalytic converter thefts appear to be on the decline after years of near-rampant activity. State Farm reported Wednesday that the number of claims filed to report catalytic converter thefts is down significantly in 2023 compared to the previous year, marking the first decline since 2019. So far, in the first half of 2023, there were around 14,500 claims filed related to catalytic converter thefts. That's down from the 23,000 claims made during the same timeframe in 2022. Catalytic converter thefts: Which vehicles are targeted the most? If that trend continues through the remainder of 2023, State Farm data indicates that the U.S. could see the lowest number of reported thefts in years.Catalytic converters are regular targets for thieves. They can be cut from the undercarriage of a car and sold to recyclers for anywhere from $25 to $300 for a standard vehicle and up to $1,400 for hybrid vehicles, according to the vehicle data company Carfax....

The top 10 Halloween costumes for 2023, according to Google

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

(KHON2/NEXSTAR) — If you don't already have it sorted, then you only a few days to get that Halloween costume. But how can you make sure you're not wearing what everyone else is at whichever festivity you end up at?Thankfully, Google has its handy Frightgeist Halloween costume tool, which uses Google Trends technology to formulate what will be the most popular Halloween costumes for 2023. Users can not only discover the top costumes across the nation but also in their area. These scary movies raise heart rates the most, study finds No. 1 — BarbieMargot Robbie attends the press junket and photo call For "Barbie" at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo/Jon Kopaloff via Getty Images)Coming in at number one is Mattel's iconic "It Girl" doll, Barbie. You probably already guessed this would be at the top this season's list due to the release of the hugely popular "Barbie" movie this summer. Thanks to the film's costume and p...

Virgin Atlantic to suspend Austin-London route in January

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

Editor's note: The above video shows KXAN Live's top morning stories for Friday, Oct. 27. AUSTIN (KXAN) — Virgin Atlantic announced Friday morning it plans to suspend its route that connects Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to London Heathrow early next year. The British airline said in a release it plans to suspend services between London and Austin following a "persistent softening in corporate demand, specifically the tech sector." Austin airport passenger totals still on track for record-breaking year… again The last services to Austin will operate on January 7, 2024, and the airline’s teams will be in contact with affected customers due to fly after this date to provide options, which include offering a full refund, according to the release. "We've adored flying our customers to Austin and experiencing this wonderful city of music and culture, but demand in the Tech sector is not set to improve in the near term, with corporate demand at 70% of 2019 levels," said Juha Ja...

Day 5: Testimony continues in APD officer's murder trial Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The state will continue to bring witnesses Friday in the trial of Austin Police Officer Christopher Taylor, who was charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos. Taylor shot and killed Ramos, 42, during a confrontation with police back in April 2020 at a south Austin apartment complex parking lot. Taylor is on administrative leave with APD.KXAN's Grace Reader will be in court Friday providing live updates on social media platform X: Day 5: Testimony continues today in the trial of APD Officer Christopher Taylor. He's charged with murder in the death of Mike Ramos in 2020. Thread from the courtroom Friday🔽https://t.co/kE2FOwJOVF— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) October 27, 2023 Previous coverage of this trial: Medical Examiner walks through autopsy of Mike Ramos in APD officer’s murder trialAPD officers testify in fellow officer’s murder trial‘I would take that back’: Woman who called 911 testifies in APD officer’s murder trialWitness video shown in first d...

LIVE: Texas judge orders state not to release A-F school ratings after districts sue

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:06:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A Travis County judge on Thursday ordered the Texas Education Agency not to release its annual A-F school ratings after more than 100 school districts sued the education commissioner over the anticipated changes to how the scores will be calculated. The districts, including Dallas ISD and Pflugerville ISD, allege the state agency and its top leader did not provide adequate notice, under Texas law, of changes to how the 2022-23 A-F rating will be calculated. The school leaders testified in a hearing earlier this month the changes had the potential to lower scores for campuses even if performance improved. The judge, Catherine Mauzy, stated the school districts made sufficient showing the education commissioner's implementation of the A-F accountability system for 2022-23 school year "violates Texas law and would cause irreparable harm" to all school districts in the state. TEA officials said in a statement the agency will appeal this dec...