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Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 7.09% this week to highest level in more than 20 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate climbed this week to its highest level in more than 20 years, pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers already challenged by a housing market that remains competitive due to a dearth of homes for sale.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan rose to 7.09% from 6.96% last week. A year ago, the rate averaged 5.13%.It’s the fourth consecutive weekly increase for the average rate and the highest since early April 2002, when it averaged 7.13%. The last time the average rate was above 7% was last November, when it stood at 7.08%. High rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much they can afford in a market already unaffordable to many Americans.The latest increase in rates follows a sharp uptick in the 10-year Treasury yield, which has been above 4% this month and climbing. The yield, which lenders use to price rates on mortgages and other loans, was at...

New Jersey shutters 27 Boston Market restaurants over unpaid wages, related worker issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — State labor officials have temporarily shut down more than two dozen Boston Market restaurants in New Jersey after finding multiple violations of workers’ rights, including more than $600,000 in back wages owed to 314 employees.A stop-work order was issued Tuesday by the Department of Labor against 27 restaurants across New Jersey. The state also imposed nearly $2.6 million in penalties against the firm.The Associated Press sent an email seeking comment to Boston Market’s corporate office in Golden, Colorado, on Thursday. There are 31 Boston Market restaurants in New Jersey and 310 nationwide, according to its website.The company has requested a hearing challenging the state’s findings, labor officials said, but a hearing date has not yet been scheduled.State officials say the investigation began in November, when a worker at a restaurant in Mercer County filed a complaint with the labor department. Since then, nearly three dozen additional complaints have...

NDP calls on feds to give study permits to institutions with ‘credible’ housing plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh announced a plan to address student housing shortages on Thursday.The party is calling on the federal government to allocate student permits to post-secondary institutions that demonstrate they have a credible and affordable housing plan.The proposal comes as the number of international students enrolled in Canada skyrockets, putting more pressure on housing shortages.Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a recent interview with The Canadian Press that the federal government is reconsidering international student flows, particularly since some students have been victims of fraud. “Landlords are asking for a whole year’s worth of rent as a deposit,” Singh said. “What student can come up with that type of liquidity? It’s impossible.”Singh is also calling on the federal government to establish a funding model to get more student housing built, which would see the federal government, provinces and territories and p...

Dogs that bit, injured young girl were under muzzle order: Newmarket animal services

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

Animal services in Newmarket had prior concerns about the three dogs that mauled and severely injured a nine-year-old girl, placing the animals under a muzzle order following an incident last year.York Regional Police responded to a call for an animal complaint at an address on Jackson Court around 6 p.m. on July 27.Investigators said a man and his 9-year-old daughter had attended a residence to view puppies for sale when three dogs rushed out of the house and attacked the girl, who was bitten and seriously injured.She was rushed to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The girl has been released and continues her recovery at home, police said.Newmarket animal services attended the residence, and the three dogs were euthanized. Ben Worthington, Animal Services Manager, tells CityNews that a muzzle order was issued following a dog-on-dog incident on September 19, 2022.RELATED: Toronto issues warning to dog owners after more than 200 incidents so far this year“...

Missing 19-year-old woman with reported high risk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

CHICAGO -- A 19-year-old woman reported missing Friday morning is considered high risk and a ward of the state, police said.Audrey Stone, who also goes by Max, was last seen at her home in the 1300 block of North Laramie Avenue around 4:53 a.m. Teen, 15, critical after shooting in Palatine: police Police say she is a ward of a state and is described as being five feet and six inches tall and 160 pounds, blonde with a faux hawk hairstyle.If anyone recovers any information on her whereabouts, contact area five detectives at 312-746-6554.

Illinois ranks #2 for most spam calls received

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

(STACKER) — Nearly everyone gets spam calls, but while some will tolerate this seemingly inescapable event, others will raise the alarm by complaining to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).Unwanted calls are the most common complaint to the FCC. So far this year, people in all 50 states and the District of Columbia have reported more than 41,000 unwanted calls.Tally up the total by state, break it down per capita, and the Land of Lincoln lands in second place for the most spam calls received so far this year. Colorado took the top spot. See the full list below. Illinois Lotto jackpot climbs again for Thursday’s drawing: $21.5 million Spam calls come in many forms, including robocalls that use automatic dialing software to quickly call a list of numbers and send a pre-recorded message or use an artificial voice to make their pitch. The robots are busy, too—the FCC notes that robocallers make about 4 billion calls a month.Robocalls have become such a nuisance that many ...

Florida student group may need to remove 'Black' from its name

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

(NewsNation) — A student organization at Tallahassee Community College is grappling with a naming predicament due to a new Florida law.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 into law in May. It aims to prohibit colleges and universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.According to BBC World Services, the new law prohibits student-led organizations that advocate for DEI from receiving state or federal funding.Now, the Black Male Achievers may need to remove “Black” from its official title or risk losing its funding. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling leaves colleges looking for new ways to promote diversity Student Tyler Soto told BBC that the group is working out possible new names, such as "Male Achievers" or "Scholar Male Achievers."According to NBC Miami, DeSantis said, ‘‘This has basically been used as a veneer to impose an ideological agenda and that is wrong.” He added, “In fact, if you look at the way this has actually been i...

Uptown Theater's Upcoming Productions & Plans To Eradicate Racism

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

The Black Ensemble Theater Company is known for its productions portraying African-American culture, musicians and performers. They've got a world premiere, an anniversary, and plans to further their mission all coming up! Here with more on all of this - Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor.  blackensembletheater.org4450 N Clark StFacebook: @BlackEnsembleTheaterInstagram: @blackensembletheaterTwitter: @blackensembleYouTube: @BEtheater"A Taste of Soul" starts performances August 26Daytime Chicago airs weekdays on WGN from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Travis Early College High School classes canceled Thursday after body found on campus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. Crisis counselors are available 24/7.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Classes were canceled Thursday morning for Travis Early College High School after a body was found on campus, officials said.Austin-Travis County EMS said a call came in at 7:41 a.m. and it pronounced one person dead on scene.In a social media thread, the Austin Independent School District said the campus was safe and there was no danger to students or staff. Travis Early College High School classes canceled after ‘incident’ on campus Aug. 17, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) Travis Early College High School classes canceled after ‘incident’ on campus Aug. 17, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Todd Bynum) According to AISD police, a girl between the ages of 15 and 20 was found near the rear end of the campus. The manner of death remained under investigation, according to officials.According to officials, an AISD police offic...

Total eclipse traffic drives some Texas schools to cancel class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:16 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video highlights how Central Texas communities are preparing for the 2024 solar eclipse event.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Texas total solar eclipse isn't until April 8, but Texas school districts are preparing now. While many districts are planning to host special events for their students, others are having to cancel class due to the expected onslaught of tourists."It's kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing for our students," Megan Hamilton, district communications specialist with Marble Falls ISD, said. The district is located in Burnet County. Texas Hill Country prepares for thousands of visitors ahead of total solar eclipse "We are canceling classes because we are actually in the path of totality," Hamilton said. Their district isn't the only one taking this approach. Academic calendars across Central Texas show at least 10 districts in the area are canceling classes on April 8, 2024, due to the eclipse."We actually just shifted one of our professional developme...