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John Phelan: About those rankings …

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

When CNBC announced recently that they had ranked Minnesota fifth on their annual “America’s Top States for Business” ranking, the state’s media went wild. No less excited were our state’s political leaders, who have since been citing this and another CNBC ranking of fourth for “States to live and work in” as though they are incontrovertible facts. A closer look at these rankings suggests that the champagne should go back on ice.Any ranking of “America’s Top States for Business” ought to be somewhat correlated with business activity in the states. That is not the case for CNBCs ranking.Despite its ranking of fifth as a “Top State for Business” in 2023, Census Bureau data show that, in 2022, the number of new business applications in Minnesota declined by 6.2%, 37th (tied with Alabama) out of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that, in 2022, the number of jobs in Minnesota increased by 2.8%, 39th (tied with Kansas) out of the 50 stat...

Four more new suburban restaurants (and one in Minneapolis) worth checking out

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

This season is a busy one for Twin Cities restaurants!Earlier this spring, we visited 10 great new restaurants around the metro, but even more fun neighborhood spots outside of St. Paul proper have opened since then.Here are five more new restaurants to check out this summer.Don Papi ChuloEnchiladas (left), beef birria torta sandwich (right) and Tony’s Fries with carne asada and queso (back), shown on Aug. 8, 2023, are all newer additions to the menu at Don Papi Chulo in Inver Grove Heights. The popular food truck expanded to a brick-and-mortar restaurant this summer. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)Popular South metro food truck Don Papi Chulo expanded to a permanent counter-service location in Inver Grove Heights this summer — and luckily, they kept their street-food sensibilities. The food truck menu was already quite extensive, and the brick-and-mortar kitchen has allowed them to branch out even more. So we figured we’d try some of the new additions.They’ve always offered a...

Minnesota boy named Grady takes a road trip to reunite with a giraffe named Grady

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

A milestone birthday can really make you think.As 13 approached, Grady Holton thought about a giraffe.Grady has a lot in common with this giraffe. Well, mostly one thing: The boy and the giraffe are both named Grady.“My giraffe twin,” Grady says.But could these “twins” reunite before the milestone?It was a birthday wish.This interspecies friendship began in Jacksonville, Florida.“My husband was in the military, and we were stationed down in Jacksonville,” says Grady’s mom, Lisa Holton. “We would go to the Jacksonville Zoo all the time.”Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens welcomed a baby giraffe in February 2013.“We found out when we were visiting that his name was Grady,” Holton says.This was big news for Grady the boy, who turned three that year.Grady Holton, then 4 years old, with Grady the giraffe, then 2 years old, at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida, in June 2015. (Courtesy of Lisa Holton.)̶...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Would You Bill Your Family for Medical Advice?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Jimmy and it's about family and advice. Here's his email: Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime I recently (about eight months ago) got remarried after my first wife passed away. My wife is a doctor...an internist to be specific. We dated for two years before we got married and my family was great with her. But, ever since we've gotten married, my family, and I mean, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. all feel like they can call or email her with every single medical question under the sun. It doesn't happen once or twice. I mean, she's getting questions at least 3-4 times a week, anything from dealing with a bee sting, to an ache or pain someone has. I think my wife should start charging for consultations because it's gotten out of hand. I say $25 per question unless it's an emergency. That's still a lot cheaper than what they would pay their own docto...

5 things to know this Thursday, August 17

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy almost Friday! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we'll have some warm and muggy temperatures under a mix of sun and clouds. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! A teenager died after a shooting in Fort Ann Wednesday evening, police said. The incident took place around 5:15 p.m. at an apartment building on Charles Street. Meanwhile, the FBI and Saratoga County Sheriff are investigating a case that involves tampering with a railroad track. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Teen killed in Fort Ann shootingA teenager has died after a shooting in Fort Ann Wednesday evening, police said. The incident took place around 5:15 p.m. at an apartment building on Charles Street.2. FBI investigating rail line tampering in CorinthThe FBI and Saratoga County Sheriff are investigating a case that involves tampering of a railroad track.3. 16-year-old charged ...

Ask Amy: Doctor’s husband quarantines from friend

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

Dear Amy: My wife is a doctor who, at the beginning of the pandemic, needed to be extremely cautious about her exposure to COVID.We asked our adult daughter, “Sarah,” to limit the circle of people she had personal contact with so we could still have in-person visits with her and our grandchildren, while protecting my wife’s patients.One day we saw a picture of Sarah on social media having cocktails unmasked and indoors at a mutual friend “Carrie’s” house.We informed both Sarah and Carrie that Sarah now had to quarantine for two weeks.We called Carrie to ask her to stop these invitations so that we could see our daughter.While we were on the phone with Carrie, she texted Sarah to invite her for cocktails that evening (Sarah was sitting next to us while we called)!My wife later told Carrie how angry we were.Carrie brushed this off and said my wife was being overly sensitive.A few weeks later, Carrie’s husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. She promptly informed everyone how impor...

Reforming the Common European Asylum System 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

The migratory pressure on Europe has exposed the need for a reform of the EU asylum system, as well as for greater sharing of responsibility between EU countries, Society.In recent years, people have been fleeing to Europe in large numbers from conflict, terror and persecution in their own countries. In 2022, EU countries received 966,000 asylum applications - almost double the number of applications in 2021. Irregular crossings also peaked last year, reaching around the highest number since 2016 and up 64% from 2021. The EU is reforming the Common European Asylum System to ensure that all EU countries take shared responsibility for asylum management.Read more about the EU response to the migrant challenge.Introducing responsibility-sharing with the new asylum and migration management regulationThe procedure for seeking refugee status is determined by the Dublin regulation, the single most important element of the Common European Asylum System. It determinS which EU country Is respo...

Single family residence sells in East Palo Alto for $1.6 million

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

939 Mouton Circle – Google Street ViewA 2,330-square-foot house built in 2001 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 900 block of Mouton Circle in East Palo Alto was sold on July 6, 2023, for $1,600,000, or $687 per square foot. This two-story house provides a generous living space with its four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property is equipped with central heating. In addition, the home provides an attached garage. The lot of the property covers an area of 3,529 square feet.Additional houses that have recently been purchased close by include:On Wilks Street, East Palo Alto, in June 2023, a 1,760-square-foot home was sold for $1,150,000, a price per square foot of $653. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 1,823-square-foot home on the 900 block of Oakes Street in East Palo Alto sold in July 2022, for $1,475,000, a price per square foot of $809. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In May 2023, a 1,890-square-foot home on McNair Street in East Palo Alto...

Horoscopes Aug. 17, 2023: Austin Butler, know when to say no

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Austin Butler, 32; Tammy Townsend, 53; Donnie Wahlberg, 54; Robert De Niro, 80.Happy Birthday: Keep close tabs on your health, finances and legal matters. Precision and detail will make a difference in the outcome of such issues and bring positive results. Use charm to get the attention you desire and the help you need to reach your target. Personal growth and self-improvement will pay off. Someone will be jealous or use temptation to lead you astray. Know when to say no. Your numbers are 4, 12, 18, 23, 30, 34, 42.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Social events, personal growth and physical fitness are favored, but before you set your sights on something, evaluate the emotional, financial and material costs involved. Too much of anything will prove more harmful than good. Don’t let temptation and shortcuts take over. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Don’t jump for joy prematurely. There will be some ifs and buts to deal with before you get what you...

Bridge: Aug. 17, 2023

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:30:29 GMT

“I know a little learning is a dangerous thing,” a fan writes. “Nothing about it is more dangerous than thinking your wife doesn’t have it.”My fan was today’s East. When North-South bid to four hearts, his 4NT asked West to choose a minor suit.“My wife led a club against five hearts,” East writes, “and declarer took the ace and led the king of trumps. I won and shifted to a spade, and South won, led a diamond to the ace and ruffed a diamond. He led a trump to dummy, discarded a spade on the king of diamonds — my partner pitched a club — and ruffed a diamond.”LAST DIAMOND“South next ruffed a club in dummy and led the last diamond. When I followed, he threw a spade. I had to lead a minor, and he threw his last spade and ruffed in dummy. Making five. My wife said I blew the defense. She’s no expert, but maybe she was right.”West’s analysis was correct. East prevails by leading a club at Tric...