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BuzzFeed News shutting down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

(The Hill) - BuzzFeed is shutting down its news division. In a memo to staff and obtained by CNN, BuzzFeed Chief Executive Jonah Peretti said the company would lay off about 15 percent of its workforce as part of that shuttering.Peretti called the decision "deeply painful," in his memo and cited "a tech recession" and "a tough economy" as factors leading to the major cost-cutting measure. "Additionally I made the decision to over invest in BuzzFeed News because I love their work and mission so much," Peretti said. "This made me slow to accept that the big platforms wouldn't provide the distribution and financial support required to support premium, free journalism purpose built for social media."BuzzFeed has long been known as a news, quiz and games website that has struggled to stay profitable among a changing media landscape. It is one of a handful of major news and tech companies to slash jobs in recent months. BuzzFeed last made headlines in January when Peretti announ...

Officials in Florida mistakenly send early-morning emergency alert to devices statewide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Folks across Florida awoke Thursday morning to an emergency alert on their phones — a sound usually reserved for an Amber Alert or severe weather warning.This time, though, it was a mistake. Across the state, Floridians' phones sounded off around 4:45 a.m. and lit up with a screen reading "TEST – This is a TEST of the Emergency Alert System. No action is required." Juice Jacking: Feds warn against using public phone charging stations Plenty of residents were soon left wondering why a "test" would be scheduled so early.Turns out, the test wasn't meant to go to Floridians' phones.According to the Florida Association of Broadcasters, the test alert is scheduled to occur every other month around 4:50 a.m. But the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced that the alert was intended to be broadcast on TV, not on the phones of sleeping citizens statewide."[Florida Division of Emergency Management] wants to apologize for the early morning text," the departme...

$135M airport improvements, e-scooter maintenance changes on deck at Austin City Council

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Thursday, Austin City Council will decide whether to open up conversations on permitting more buildings along major highways, a $135 million sticker price for airport improvements and greenlight affordable housing bond use. Here are all the items we're tracking at Austin City Hall Thursday.Changing requirements for special event permits: ApprovedCouncil approved offering prioritization for special events based on the number of years it's been held within the city. Instead of offering priority on a first-come, first-served basis, the change will allow special events that have "historically been held on the same date for the greatest number of years" to have top priority.The item will also lead to some alterations to sound equipment uses and requirements.Approving city use of affordable housing bonds: ApprovedThe City of Austin will issue $350 million in public improvement bonds for affordable housing expenditures, following voter approval of the bond initiative in...

St. Paul shooting was murder-suicide, not double homicide, police say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

Evidence has pointed police away from a double homicide and to a murder-suicide in a shooting in St. Paul this week, the department announced Thursday.Tracey Loving, 27, and Jonathan Evans, 18, were cousins. Police were called about 5:45 a.m. Tuesday to a report of a person shot in the 1400 block of East Minnehaha Avenue and they found Loving in an apartment.As they were investigating, they discovered Evans shot outside the Minnehaha Apartments. Both St. Paul residents were pronounced dead at the scene.On Tuesday, police said they were investigating the case as a double homicide. Now that the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office has completed autopsies and investigators collected more information, police said Thursday that evidence indicates Evans shot Loving before he died by suicide.Police said they continue to investigate. Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | Tipster told police fatal shooting outside St. Paul Target was retaliation for killing of pregn...

BOCES students to compete in national competition

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Nearly 70 students from more than a dozen local school districts will represent Capital Region BOCES during a statewide competition later this month. The students are competing in events that showcase their work-related skills. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The competition is slated for April 26-28 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Winners from that event will advance to the SkillsUSA competition in June. Students compete in everything from demonstrating a knowledge of proper welding techniques to demonstrating how they solve a crime through their investigatory skills. Capital Region BOCES holds ‘Cinderella prom dress’ event "Winning regionals was pretty surreal," said Demari Perkins, who attends BOCES from Watervliet. "I am looking forward to going to states and exceeding my limits."Her BOCES classmate, Emily Mickle, said she enjoys the challenge of competing at such a high level....

Chapman Museum releases May event schedule

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Chapman Museum in downtown Glens Falls is lining up another list of local history events for the month of May. The museum collects local and regional history and holds talks on different parts of the North Country's makeup. Here's what's new at the Chapman in May. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Origami flower bouquet classWednesday, May 3, 4 p.m.A family craft program where students of all ages can learn how to fold origami flowers and create a bouquet; parent participation is encouraged, and supervision requiredRegistration can be made by phone call at (518) 793-2826, with a deadline of Tuesday, May 2"Joseph Warren: Why Call a County Warren?" presentationWednesday, May 10, 7 p.m.This talk in the "Conversations with the Past" series will explore the history of Warren County namesake Joseph Warren, hosted by Queensbury Town Supervisor John StroughFree program, reservation required at (518) 7...

Touch-A-Truck event at Gordon Creek Elementary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) - On May 6, there will be a Touch-A-Truck event at Gordon Creek Elementary in Ballston Spa. From 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., kids of all ages will have the opportunity to explore a variety of different vehicles such as fire, police, military and construction vehicles. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! This is a free event and is open to surrounding communities as well. The Ballston Spa High School National Honor Society is hosting the family-friendly event. Donations will benefit the National Honor Society Scholarship Fund.

Missouri lawmakers talk over each other during heated floor debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A heated floor debate broke out between two Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday, which involved a prolonged period of both speakers talking over each other. You will need to watch the clip to the end to see Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher's interesting remark.Reps. LaKeySha Frazier-Bosley (D-St. Louis) and Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs) both spoke about various elements and stances on House Bill 437, which eventually cleared the Missouri House on a 133-19 vote. The bill pertains to fiscal years and budgets of Missouri libraries. One component of it would allow a board of trustees to amend or modify the approved budget at the request of librarians or on its own motion. Trending: Woman tracks stolen AirPods, but says St. Louis police can’t help Frazier-Bosley called up Richey to question his support in funding libraries, but noted he voted to restrict funding for libraries in the latest state budget. From there, it seems the bill discussions got a bit off-t...

Unclaimed $50K Powerball ticket from Missouri set to expire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

HOWELL COUNTY, Mo. - A $50,000 Powerball ticket that was purchased last fall in Southern Missouri is set to expire next week.The ticket was purchased at The Anchor C-Store in Mountain View, ahead of the Oct. 26, 2022, drawing. The ticket matched four of the white ball numbers and the red Powerball number. The winning numbers for the Oct. 26 drawing were 19, 36, 37, 46, and 56, with a Powerball number of 24. Top Story: Former St. Louis prosecutor turned star witness says she won’t be silenced All draw game winners have 180 days from the date of the drawing to claim their prize. Any unclaimed prize money is given to the Lottery Proceeds Fund, which benefits public education in the state.Whoever purchased this ticket has until Monday, April 24, to present this ticket to a Missouri Lottery office. All draw game tickets can be scanned on the Missouri Lottery mobile app and at Check-A-Ticket machines at retailers to see if they're a winner.You can view a list of unclaimed prizes from dr...

Senate committee rejects anti-DEI language, restores library funds in Missouri budget

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:21:36 GMT

Anti-diversity budget language called a “job killer” by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce didn’t survive the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, as the panel wrapped up its work on the state spending plan for the coming year.Over two days of work, the committee added more than $3 billion to the House-approved budget for state operations in the coming fiscal year. The biggest items added Wednesday were $300 million for the Department of Mental Health to build a new psychiatric hospital in Kansas City and $461 million to increase the pay of personal care workers who assist people with developmental disabilities.The committee also restored $4.5 million for state aid to public libraries, cut in the House because the Missouri Library Association and the ACLU are suing over legislation passed last year intended to block children from accessing sexually explicit material.The biggest new item overall was $2 billion for widening Interstate 70, added on Tuesday.The 14 spending bills wil...