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Amazon adding 250K holiday workers, increasing pay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

(The Hill) -- Amazon announced Tuesday that it will hire a quarter million new workers starting this month as the holiday shopping season nears.The company is also raising the starting pay for the new full-time, part-time and seasonal workers to an average of $20.50 per hour, it said.“Whether someone is looking for a short-term way to make extra money, or is hoping to take their first step toward a fulfilling and rewarding career at Amazon, there’s a role available for them,” senior vice president John Felton said in a statement.Amazon begins a mass hiring wave every fall in preparation for the holidays. The company claimed record sales in the long weekend after Thanksgiving last year, topping at least $1 billion. Clorox says its earnings will take a hit from cyberattack A Bloomberg analysis found that Amazon sales increased 9 percent in the 2022 holiday season from a year before, which is a 78 percent increase compared to 2019 figures. That outpaced nearly every brick-and-morta...

Murdaugh agrees to plea deal on federal financial charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WSAV) – Alex Murdaugh has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges that he stole millions of dollars from his former clients.According to court documents, Murdaugh, who was found guilty this March of fatally shooting his wife and youngest son in June 2021, agreed to plead guilty to 22 federal charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. Alex Murdaugh indicted on new charges, including fraud Murdaugh has agreed to pay restitution set by the court during sentencing, a special assessment fee of $100 per count. He also agrees to give up any assets and property obtained from charges in the indictment with a minimum of $9 million.The conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, bank fraud, and two of the wire fraud charges all carry maximum sentences of 30 years.The two other wire fraud charges, conspiracy to commit wire fraud charges, and 13 money laundering charges all carry a maximum sentence of 20 years.A federal hear...

Amazon driver bitten by rattlesnake during delivery in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

PALM CITY, Fla. (WFLA) — A Florida Amazon driver was hospitalized Monday after being bitten by a "highly venomous" snake while making a delivery, deputies said.The Martin County Sheriff's Office said the driver was delivering a package to a home in the Highland Reserve Community in Palm City at the time of the incident. ‘Don’t pull the trigger!’ Video shows deputy talking down teen who killed mom, officials say When the driver set down the package in front of the home's front door, she was bitten by an eastern diamondback rattlesnake that was coiled up nearby.Deputies said the driver immediately became ill and cried out for help. She was hospitalized in "very serious condition" as of Tuesday.(Credit: Martin County Sheriff's Office)Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are solitary animals that usually function as ambush predators, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.The FWC said they usually try to escape situations when they feel threatened by humans, bu...

Former Super Bowl champion arrested in Florida

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Former Super Bowl champion and New York Giants running back Dion Lewis was arrested Monday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Florida.Arrest documents show Lewis was taken into custody by Seminole Indian Police around 2 p.m. and booked into the Orient Road Jail of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office an hour later.Lewis was charged with trespassing in an occupied structure. His bond was set at $500. Instagram post may shed new light in death of former NFL player’s mother A spokesperson for the Seminole Police Department told Nexstar's WFLA that Lewis was acting "unruly" and "belligerent," including "causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the premises."New York Giants running back Dion Lewis (33) gains yards in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin)Lewis joined the New York Giants in 2020 after spending two seasons with the Tenessee Titan...

Choice, vouchers, and teacher raises: Education showdown looming in Texas legislature

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- After two weeks of a tumultuous impeachment trial following nearly nine straight months of work for the part-time legislature, Texas lawmakers are preparing to return to the Capitol in October for a special session that will determine whether Gov. Greg Abbott can finally finish his push to send public dollars to private schools.On Tuesday, Gov. Abbott is holding a tele-town hall with Christian faith leaders across the state to announce "School Choice Sunday," an event in support of state-funded education savings accounts and expanded parental rights taking place on Oct. 15. The Governor will discuss "how empowering parents with education freedom is the key to saving the hearts and minds of our children," the Texas Public Policy Foundation said ahead of the event. Rural districts fret as Gov. Abbott rallies supporters for ‘school choice’ at Capitol All year, the Governor has spent considerable time and political capital in support of his "school choice" initiati...

Temperatures remaining above normal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The final days of summer are feeling exactly like the last days of the hot season. Temperatures will run higher than the average both with morning lows as well as afternoon highs. A sunny start to this day found most lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. Camp Mabry's low fell to 72°, three degrees above normal.This afternoon will start sunny but with increasing fair-weather clouds. The pretty picture-perfect day will be accompanied by a south wind that will send daytime maximums scurrying to the middle to upper 90s.Today's normal high is 91°Our computer model is showing some triple-digit highs tomorrow afternoon but, for now, our forecast will keep most of the area peaking in the middle to upper 90s.Today will be the second day of an Air Quality Alert as designated by the Clean Air Force of Central Texas. The combination of the sunshine, the hot air, and the light winds (south 5 to 10 mph) contribute to this Ozone Action Day.Rain will return, briefly, late Friday mornin...

Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of November election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Williamson County Elections Department on Tuesday held a logic and accuracy testing on its machines ahead of the general election coming up in November. The testing started at 10 a.m. and lasted until around noon. Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) Williamson County Elections Department tests voting machines ahead of Nov. 2023 election (KXAN Photo/Ed Zavala) The general election will be held Nov. 7, and the last day to register to vote in the election is Oct. 10. The last day to apply for a ballot by mail is Oct. 27. Williamson County's comprehensive ballot for the election can be viewed online. This will be the first election under the county's new...

Pumpkins patches, corn mazes in the Capital Region

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Fall is upon us. The season comes along with apple picking, cider donuts and family-fun, including going to the pumpkin patch or corn maze. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Many farms have both pumpkin patches and corn mazes. Here's where and when you can go to pick-your-own pumpkins or explore a corn maze in the Capital Region.Pumpkin patches and corn mazesEllms Family Farm, 448 Charlton Road in Ballston SpaOpen 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on select Wednesday through FridayBellinger's Orchard, 685 Argersinger Road in FultonvilleOpen daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Liberty Ridge Farm, 29 Bevis Road in SchaghticokeThursdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.Schuyler Farms, 1124 Route 29 in SchuylervilleSeptember hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on SundayOctober hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 1...

Howard Stern says being called 'woke' is a compliment: 'I'm not for stupidity'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

(The HIll) — Howard Stern is embracing being called “woke,” saying he wants “to be awake.” In response to a YouTube personality applying the term to him, the SiriusXM host on Monday told listeners of his eponymous show, “I kind of take that as a compliment, that I'm ‘woke.’” Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In this April 14, 2018, file photo, Howard Stern speaks at the 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies in Cleveland. (AP/Michael Zorn/Invision)“To me, the opposite of woke is being asleep,” Stern, 69, said. “If woke means I can't get behind [former President Trump], which is what I think it means, or that I support people who want to be transgender, or I'm for the vaccine—dude, call me woke as you f—ing want." High school boys are trending conservative “I'm not for stupidity,” he continued, saying he recently received the latest updated COVID-19 vaccine. “F—in’ science. This f—ing country is so great,” Stern sa...

Billy Dean visiting Glens Falls for Adirondack Balloon Festival

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:54:23 GMT

GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The Adirondack Balloon Festival is getting geared up to send dozens of shapes and colors up into the skies above the Glens Falls and Queensbury area. On Saturday, guitarist Billy Dean is bringing his music to town to join in the celebration. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Dean is set to play some of his hits at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23. The Grammy-nominated guitarist will come to town with classic hits like "If There Hadn't Been You," "Billy the Kid," and "Somewhere in my Broken Heart." A performance by Art-N-Shawna, part of the local band Grit N' Whiskey, joins as the opening act.Dean's accolades include being named ACM's Top New Male Vocalist of 1992. That same year, he was a nominee at the Grammy Awards and the Country Music Awards. Saturday's show will include music and stories from over the years, and close with a question and answer segment. ...