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ChatGPT’s chief to testify before Congress as concerns grow about artificial intelligence risks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

The head of the artificial intelligence company that makes ChatGPT will testify before Congress as lawmakers call for new rules to guide the rapid development of AI technology.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to speak at a Senate hearing Tuesday. His San Francisco-based startup rocketed to public attention after its release late last year of ChatGPT, a free chatbot tool that answers questions with convincingly human-like responses.What started out as a panic among educators about ChatGPT’s use to cheat on homework assignments has expanded to broader concerns about the ability of the latest crop of “generative AI” tools to mislead people, spread falsehoods, violate copyright protections and upend some jobs. And while there’s no immediate sign that Congress will craft sweeping new AI rules, as European lawmakers are doing, the societal concerns brought Altman and other tech CEOs to the White House earlier this month and have led U.S. agencies to promise to crack down on ...

Stock market today: Wall Street tips lower as Home Depot weighs

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are ticking lower Tuesday after Home Depot warned of flagging sales, the latest discouraging signal for an economy under pressure.The S&P 500 was 0.3% lower in early trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 182, or 0.5%, at 33,166, as of 9:50 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% lower.Home Depot was one of the heaviest weights on the market after it said its revenue fell by more in the latest quarter than expected. Its stock dropped 1.8% after it described broad-based pressures across its business following years of big growth. It also cut its forecast for sales this fiscal year given all the uncertainty going forward. Home Depot’s report helped cause other retailers to fall, including a 2% drop for Lowe’s. Other big retailers are scheduled to report their results later this week, including Target and Walmart.They’re under the microscope because resilient spending by U.S. households has been one of the main positives...

Joly promotes friendship with South Korea as Canada seeks closer ties

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — Canada is vying to be the “best of friends” with South Korea, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Tuesday after launching closer talks on economic security with her counterparts in Seoul.Joly arrived in the South Korean capital with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who’s making his first official visit to the country as the two governments try to build closer ties and work together on global security concerns.Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne joined Joly to begin a “high-level dialogue on economic security,” with both countries committing to have recurring meetings and tracking their progress on moving away from dependence on China.“Ultimately we’ve been good friends for a long time, but we want to be best of friends,” Joly said in a news conference in Tuesday night.The visit by Trudeau, who is expected to remain in the country until he heads to the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on ...

Austin Parks and Rec seeing a surge in summer job applicants

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Summer is right around the corner, with most schools letting out for break next week.The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for an abundance of summer activities with a full-fledged recruiting effort.Summer seasonal employees — such as lifeguards and camp counselors — will earn a $20 minimum wage along with being eligible to earn up to $750 in bonuses throughout the summer. Austin Parks and Rec plans to offer bonuses to summer employees, open all pools June 12 PARD is also offering up to $800 in bonuses for full-time temporary positions within its operations and maintenance team. These positions include cashiers, maintenance workers, and park grounds assistants.This is all part of the city’s summer employee bonus program, aimed at attracting applicants for various part-time positions.Last summer, only 15 of 34 of the city’s pools opened at the beginning of June because of lifeguard shortages.Aquatic Supervisor Aaron Levine said it wasn’t s...

Opal Lee, ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ receives honorary doctorate degree from UNT

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

DENTON, Texas (KXAN) -- Opal Lee, recognized as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” celebrated with graduates at the University of North Texas over the weekend. The 96-year-old Marshall native received an honorary doctorate degree Sunday as part of UNT's Spring Commencement. Lee graduated from UNT with a Master of Education in 1963. She, a retired educator, was pivotal in the push to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Portrait of Opal Lee, ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth,’ unveiled in Texas Senate In 2016, she started walking two and a half miles in cities all across the country. Those miles symbolized the two and a half years it took for word to get out to all slaves that they were free.And crowds began joining her. Those walks led President Joe Biden to sign a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.Lee was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022. She was also honored by the Texas Senate in February, with her portrait going on display at the Capitol to honor her lead...

Loons star Emanuel Reynoso cleared by MLS to play again

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

Minnesota United star midfielder Emanuel Reynoso has been cleared by Major League Soccer to return to full-team participation, the club said in a statement Tuesday.Reynoso had been suspended by MLS without pay since mid-February over his failure to report to preseason training camp in early January. After nearly four months in Argentina, Reynoso returned to Minnesota in early May and went through meetings with MLS and MNUFC last week to work toward being eligible to play again.Reynoso, a two-time MLS All-Star, will not play in Wednesday’s game against Houston at Allianz Field, nor in Saturday’s game at Portland. An estimate on when Reynoso might return to first-team training is next week, once the club returns from Oregon.Reynoso had a long meeting with Loons manager Adrian Heath last week, but as of Thursday, he had not yet met with teammates. Captain Michael Boxall said he wants to see Reynoso committed to work for the collective.The Loons (3-5-3) are winless in six consecutive ga...

Cohoes tavern up for sale, still open for business

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Tugboat Tavern, located at 159 Bridge Avenue in Cohoes, is up for sale. Owners Ian and Katherine Caristi said they decided to sell the business for health reasons. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The decision to sell our business has been a difficult one," said Katherine Caristi. "We hope to find someone that will embrace what we have grown and continue to nurture such a wonderful business."The Caristi's have owned Tugboat Tavern for 16 years. They are selling the entire business including the recipes and staff, as well as the building which includes a back parking lot. Katherine said they have had some interest in it already. Castleton-on-Hudson restaurant closing after a year While the business is up for sale, the tavern is still open under the current owners. Tugboat Tavern is open Wednesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Pittsfield man sentenced to prison for assault, burning vehicle

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A Pittsfield man has pleaded guilty Monday to charges in connection to threatening and attacking two people as well as starting a fire in one of their vehicles. The incidents occurred in early April. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, Eric Lefavour has pleaded guilty to the following charges:Breaking and entering in the nighttime with intent to commit a felonyDefacement of real or personal property of anotherBurning a motor vehicleAssault and battery to intimidate8 counts of Violation of an abuse prevention orderOn April 6, a victim of the crime had Lefavour's vehicle legally towed after he refused to move it from their property. Lefavour then began threatening the victim through texts and voicemails, including threats to burn their property and sending racist threats to a second victim. Guilderland man charged with forcible touching to minor E...

Couple arrested again in contractor theft investigation

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Fort Edward couple has been arrested again in a contractor theft investigation after initially being arrested in March. Mark Hafner, 37, and Megan Hafner, 36, are both charged with third-degree grand larceny. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On October 20, 2022, police received a complaint that funds that were meant to go towards contracted construction work in Warren County were taken without any work being done. Police say an investigation found the Hafners acted as general contractors and received $33,000 from the victim for agreement upon contracted work. Police say the project never started and the Hafners never returned the money. Guilderland man charged with forcible touching to minor Both surrendered themselves to Queensbury State Police for processing on Monday. They were issued appearance tickets to return to the Fort Edward Town Court on May 23 and were released.

World's oldest dog celebrates 31st birthday, according to Guinness World Records

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:01 GMT

CONQUEIROS, Portugal (AP) — The world's oldest dog recently celebrated his 31st birthday, according to Guinness World Records. Bobi, a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo, a breed of Portuguese dog, celebrated during a party Saturday at his home in the Portuguese village of Conqueiros, where he has lived his entire life. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! More than 100 people attended the “very traditional” Portuguese party, owner Leonel Costa said. Local meats and fish were served to up to 100 guests, with extra for Bobi, who only eats human food. A dance troupe also performed with Bobi participating in one of their routines.Costa has owned several old-age dogs in the past, including Bobi’s mother, Gira, who lived to age 18. However, Costa said he never imagined any of his dogs would reach their 30s. “We see situations like this as a normal result of the life that they have, but Bobi is one of a kind,” Costa said. Reba McEntire to...