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Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning
Rise In Walking Pneumonia Cases Prompts CDC Warning Cases of walking pneumonia have spiked significantly, especially among children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning in a brand-new advisory. The agency said increases in M. pneumoniae-associated pneumonia infections began late this past spring, peaked in August, and have remained high.  The CDC said it's using various surveillance tools "to better understand any differences in demographics, severity of illness, and outcomes as compared to M. pneumoniae infections prior to the COVID-19 pandemic." The agency said it's also contacting heal…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Most Americans Say 2024 Election Is Damaging Their Mental Health: Study Most Americans Say 2024 Election Is Damaging Their Mental Health: Study
Most Americans Say 2024 Election Is Damaging Their Mental Health: Study Feeling a bit anxious these days? You're not alone. A total of 61 percent of Americans say that the upcoming Tuesday, Nov. 5 election has slightly, moderately, or significantly impacted their mental health, according to a brand-new poll published by Forbes Health. “I believe some people’s anxiety comes from past post-election results,” Dr. Rufus Tony Spann, a certified school psychologist and licensed professional counselor, told Forbes. “Based on the results of previous elections, some communities felt they needed to prepare for the backlash due to the results of an election.” About 2,00…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Most Snowfall Expected In These Areas This Winter: AccuWeather Releases Long-Range Outlook Most Snowfall Expected In These Areas This Winter: AccuWeather Releases Long-Range Outlook
Most Snowfall Expected In These Areas This Winter: AccuWeather Releases Long-Range Outlook AccuWeather meteorologists have just unveiled their forecast for the winter of 2024-25 and have released a map of where in the US the most snowfall is expected. In the image above, higher-than-average snowfall is predicted for those areas shown in light blue, with most areas in the Northeast are expected to receive more snow this season than last winter. Areas in the darker shade are expected to see below average snowfall in 2024-25, including in much of the Mid-Atlantic states. Click here for a new, related story: Winter 2024-25 Forecast Released By NOAA National Weather Service …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
7-Eleven To Close Hundreds Of Stores 7-Eleven To Close Hundreds Of Stores
7-Eleven To Close Hundreds Of Stores Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is closing hundreds of stores in North America. Parent company Seven & I Holdings said that the 444 locations were “underperforming.” They make up about 3 percent of 7-Eleven's total of around 13,000 outlets in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Specific sites of the stores have not yet been released. In announcing the closures, the company said that 7-Eleven stores saw a 7.3 percent decline in traffic in August, saying a "pullback in consumer spending has persisted beyond prior expectations" that has affected store traffic and sales growth "as consu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
McDonald's Much-Awaited Chicken Big Mac To Debut - Here's When McDonald's Much-Awaited Chicken Big Mac To Debut - Here's When
McDonald's Much-Awaited Chicken Big Mac To Debut - Here's When The iconic McDonald's Big Mac sandwich will soon have a new twist. Chicken. After making appearances on McDonald’s menus around the world, the Chicken Big Mac will now be available in the US for a limited time starting Thursday, Oct. 10, at participating locations while supplies last. The original Big Mac has been an international staple since its introduction in 1968. The ingredients for the new sandwich are similar to the original—except, of course, there are no all-beef patties and no onions. The Chicken Big Mac is comprised of two tempura battered chicken patties, special sauce, lett…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe COVID-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe
Covid-19: Here's What To Know About New XEC Strain That's Arrived In US From Europe A new highly transmissible COVID-19 strain that first appeared in Europe is now beginning to spread in the United States. Called XEC, the offshoot of the Omicron strain was initially identified in Germany early this past summer before quickly spreading throughout Europe. It is not causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, but it is causing concern. “The rate of infections from XEC they're seeing in some countries rose pretty quickly compared to previous variants in those same places," Dr. Scott Roberts, a Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist said in YaleMedicine.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
New Tropical Threat Looms For US Coast As Helene Death Toll Rises To 130 New Tropical Threat Looms For US Coast As Helene Death Toll Rises To 130
New Tropical Threat Looms For US Coast As Helene Death Toll Rises To 130 There's a new threat in the tropics as millions of Americans are still reeling from Helene, which devastated the Southeast after making landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane.  The death toll from Helene has increased to 130, with hundreds missing, and many still without power or having issues with cell phone signals and internet connectivity. The new potential tropical storm is now located over the western Caribbean Sea and is expected to slowly move west-northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico during the latter portion of this week. That's the…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms COVID-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms
Covid-19: KP.3.1.1 Strain Now Makes Up About 60 Percent Of US Cases; Here Are Symptoms A highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3.1.1 now accounts for nearly 60 percent of infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, Sept. 28, the strain made up 58.7 percent of cases nationally, with the KP.2.3 variant second at 9.4 percent. Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.” Neither is causing more serious symptoms than other COVID strains, according to experts.…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents' Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents'
Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents' Millions of teenage Instagram users are being forced into private accounts with enhanced security features aimed at limiting their exposure to harmful content. Meta, the social media platform’s parent company, unveiled its “Teen Accounts” feature on Tuesday, Sept. 17, automatically placing anyone under the age of 18 into a default private account. Teens with a private account must accept new followers and people who don’t follow them can’t see their contact or interact with them. It also comes with strict messaging settings, making it so they can only receive messages from people they foll…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
US Median Household Income Rises For First Time Since Before COVID-19 Pandemic US Median Household Income Rises For First Time Since Before COVID-19 Pandemic
US Median Household Income Rises For First Time Since Before Covid-19 Pandemic Real median household income in the United States rose for the first time in four years. The amount of to $80,610 in 2023 marked the first annual increase since 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a US Census Bureau report released this week. The report, Income in the United States: 2023, compares median household income by different characteristics, including race and Hispanic origin, and shows that not all groups had an increase in median household incomes from 2022 to 2023. Household characteristics are determined by the person, or one of the people, who owns or rents t…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia
Harris, Trump Come Out Swinging In Presidential Debate In Philadelphia Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump came out swinging at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their first and possibly only presidential debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 5 election. Harris made the first move by shaking Trump's hand on stage — in their first face-to-face encounter. Political observers noted how Harris "baited" the former president, prompting him to look increasingly angry. But Trump entered the "spin room" less than an hour after the debate, saying, "I think it was the best debate, personally, that I've ever …

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by Jon Craig
News
COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases COVID-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases
Covid-19: New XEC Strain 'Just Getting Started' Sparks Concern Amid Summer Wave Of US Cases A newly discovered more contagious COVID-19 strain spreading rapidly through Europe is sparking concerns among health authorities around the globe as the United States is experiencing its largest wave of cases in over two years. XEC, which was first identified in Germany, may eventually overtake the current dominant subvariant, KP.3.1.1, which is currently most common in the United States, accounting for about 42 percent of cases nationally according to data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on Saturday, Aug. 31. XEC make take weeks or even months before it s…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Dueling Winter Weather Predictions Released By Old, New Farmer's Almanacs Dueling Winter Weather Predictions Released By Old, New Farmer's Almanacs
Dueling Winter Weather Predictions Released By Old, New Farmer's Almanacs The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its winter weather predictions for the 2024-25 season. This year's title speaks for itself: "The 2025 Old Farmer’s Almanac Forecasts a 'Calmer, Gentler' Winter." The Old Farmer's Almanac touts 80 percent accuracy in its forecasts dating back to 1792. Last year, it predicted a winter wonderland. Parts of the forecast seem to contradict the predictions of the Farmer's Almanac, which predicts this winter will be a wet one with "above-normal amounts of winter precipitation and near-to above-normal temperatures" in the Northeast. Snow will be mos…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
41-Year-Old In New Hampshire Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis 41-Year-Old In New Hampshire Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis
41-Year-Old In New Hampshire Dies From Serious Mosquito Virus Eastern Equine Encephalitis One person has died and two others in the Northeast have been infected this summer with a rare but serious mosquito-borne disease. Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is caused by a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, similar to the West Nile virus. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, an adult from the town of Hampstead, in southeastern New Hampshire who tested positive for EEE died, the New Hampshire Department of Public Health announced. He had been hospitalized with the illness. The man has been identified by his family as 41-year-old Steven Perry, according to ABC…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
String Of Storms Could Develop As Height Of Hurricane Season Nears - Here's Timing: AccuWeather String Of Storms Could Develop As Height Of Hurricane Season Nears - Here's Timing: AccuWeather
String Of Storms Could Develop As Height Of Hurricane Season Nears - Here's Timing: AccuWeather A newly released forecast predicts between six to 10 named storms through the end of September. “We could see a parade of storms developing during September," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. "There’s a possibility that we could see multiple tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic basin on the same day, similar to the frequency of storms we’ve seen during other supercharged hurricane seasons like 2020." The 2024 hurricane season, which began Saturday, Jun 1, runs through Saturday, Nov 30. The statistical peak of the hurricane season is traditionally around the mi…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Presidential Bid, Backs Donald Trump Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Presidential Bid, Backs Donald Trump
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Presidential Bid, Backs Donald Trump Robert F. Kennedy Jr., afraid of becoming a "spoiler," said he was suspending his independent presidential campaign and removing his name from the ballot in battleground states as he threw his support behind former President Donald Trump.  "I cannot in good conscience ask my staff to continue to work long hours or my donors to continue to give me their dollars if I believe I have no realistic path to the White House," the former Democrat said in a Friday, Aug. 23, press conference. He said he would remain on the ballot in states already assured to either Trump or Vice President Kamala …

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by Josh Lanier
News
COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern COVID-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern
Covid-19: Surge In Summer Cases Sparks Concern A surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States and around the globe is sparking concern among health officials who are warning that more severe variants of the virus may be coming. “COVID-19 is still very much with us and circulating in all countries," Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said in a news conference last week. “Data from our sentinel-based surveillance system across 84 countries reports that the percent of positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 has been rising over several weeks." Wastewater surveillance suggests that the circulation of COVID is two to 20 times…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches
Donald Trump Paints America In Collapse In Elon Musk X Interview Plagued By Tech Glitches In an at-times rambling conversation plagued by tech glitches that jumped from fawning praise to forced questions, former President Donald Trump laid out his clearest thesis for his campaign: Vote Trump to preserve American supremacy around the globe and avoid a World War.  The conversation began about the assassination attempt on Trump's life. Musk said he was stunned at how close Trump was to losing his life. The former president said even his doctors couldn't believe his luck.  The former president said it was most likely divine intervention that saved his life. https://t.c…

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by Josh Lanier
Politics
Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention
Harris Taps Gov. Tim Walz As Running Mate As Swing State Tour Starts Ahead Of Convention Vice President Kamala Harris has ended weeks of speculation after naming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, Aug. 6.  The 60-year-old Walz was a seemingly late entrant to the "veepstakes" but gained popularity after several media appearances went viral.  The chair of the Democratic Governor's Association, Walz was a US Congressman from 2007 to 2019. A former high school social studies teacher, he's served 24 years in the Army National Guard. Harris said she chose Walz because of his dedication to working-class families.  One of the things that stood out …

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital
Dow Drops 1,000 Points: US Stock Market In Free Fall, Wiping Away Trillions In Capital Investors hoping the major dip in the stock market last week was just a blip were greeted with even more losses on Monday, Aug. 5, as fears of a recession and global turmoil sent stocks tumbling. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,200 points at one point but closed 1,000 down. The S&P 500 dropped more than 3 percent and the Nasdaq fell 3.4 percent.  The massive sell-off began on Friday after a US jobs report showed that employer hiring in July had slowed more than analysts had predicted. Investors were already on edge over fears the US Federal Reserve had left interest ra…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now
Tropical System In Atlantic Could Become Named Storm, Affect East Coast: What To Know Now A new tropical rainstorm in the Atlantic may strengthen into a named storm and affect parts of the East Coast. According to the National Hurricane Center, a tropical depression could form late this week while the system is near the Greater Antilles or the Bahamas. (See the first image above.) It could become a named storm as soon as this weekend. If that's the case, it will be called Debby. “Right now, this tropical rainstorm has a 60 percent chance of strengthening into a named storm no sooner than this weekend or early next week," AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno …

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee
Biden Withdraws From 2024 Presidential Race, Endorses VP Kamala Harris To Be New Nominee President Joe Biden has just announced he is pulling out of the 2024 race against Republican nominee Donald Trump. In a letter to "My Fellow Americans" released just before 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, Biden said: “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your president. “And while it has been my intention to seek re-election, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as president for the remainder of my term.” The news comes amid concerns over the 81-year-old Biden's health, which were loudly …

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate
Former Trump Hater J.D. Vance Selected As Donald Trump's VP Candidate Former President Donald Trump unveiled his vice presidential running mate late Monday afternoon, July 15.  US Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, age 39, was announced as the pick by Trump on Truth Social just ahead of his appearance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The post reads as follows: "After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio. J.D. honorably served our Country in the Ma…

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada
Costco Raising Membership Fees In US, Canada The Costco Wholesale Corporation has announced membership hikes in the US and Canada for the first time in seven years, according to a news release by the company issued on Wednesday, July 10.  Costco opened the release sharing a June sales growth in the US of 5.6%, which is higher than the past 44 weeks of just 4.4%, the company experienced a decrease in revenue internationally.  On the heels of sharing that news, the company made the announcement about raising the membership fees in both the US and Canada beginning Sept. 1.  Annual memberships are rising $5 making them $65…

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by Jillian Pikora
Police & Fire
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds
Parts Of Endangered Species Smuggled Into US By Mass. Man: Feds A 39-year-old Reading man is accused of helping smuggle the skulls, skins, and other parts of animals — many of them endangered — into the United States to sell on the black market, federal authorities said.  Adam Bied is charged with two counts of conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States, specifically, illegally imported wildlife parts, and three counts of violating the Lacey Act which prohibits trafficking in wildlife, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  The indictment said Bied brought in more than 100 animal parts from January 2018 through June 2021, knowin…

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by Josh Lanier
News
COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases COVID-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases
Covid-19: New Highly Contagious KP.3 'FLiRT' Variant Now Accounts For Majority Of US Cases A new highly contagious COVID-19 variant known as KP.3 now accounts for most infections in the United States. Data from the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that in a two-week period ending Saturday, June 8, the strain made up 25 percent of cases nationally, just ahead of the KP.2 variant (22.5 percent). Both KP.3 and KP.2 are offshoots of the highly contagious Omicron variant and are members of a newly identified group of variants known as  “FLiRT.”  COVID-19: New 'FLiRT' Variants Now Dominant In US Neither is expected to cause more serious symptom…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Red Lobster Files For Bankruptcy After Abruptly Closing Dozens Of Restaurants Red Lobster Files For Bankruptcy After Abruptly Closing Dozens Of Restaurants
Red Lobster Files For Bankruptcy After Abruptly Closing Dozens Of Restaurants Red Lobster has filed for bankruptcy just days after closing dozens of its restaurants. In its bankruptcy petition filed on Sunday, May 19, the company listed assets of $1 billion and liabilities of $10 billion. The filing stated that the company "intends to use the proceedings to drive operational improvements, simplify the business through a reduction in locations, and pursue a sale of substantially all of its assets as a going concern." The company said restaurants not listed as "temporarily closed" on its website will remain "open and operating as usual during the Chapter 11 process."…

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by Joe Lombardi
News
Travel Advisory For US Citizens Issued By State Department: Here's What To Know Travel Advisory For US Citizens Issued By State Department: Here's What To Know
Travel Advisory For US Citizens Issued By State Department: Here's What To Know The US State Department has just issued a worldwide travel advisory for Americans. The statement, issued Friday, May 17, warns of the “potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations, or violent actions against US citizens and interests.” The department said it is advising US citizens overseas to exercise increased caution.  "The Department of State is aware of the increased potential for foreign terrorist organization-inspired violence against LGBTQI+ persons and events," the statement noted. The department said US citizens should: Stay alert in locations frequented by tourists, in…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl
How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl Forget the apple; this distinguished Massachusetts teacher is getting a cookie party. Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Day, cookie chain Crumbl announced the winners of its “Teacher of the Year” awards, given to educators “for their extraordinary commitment to their classrooms.” In Massachusetts, the honor went to Worcester County teacher Eileen McNamara at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.  Recipients were selected from a pool of over 6,000 nominations that included testimonials from parents, students, colleagues, and friends. The…

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by Michael Mashburn
Business
Red Lobster Abruptly Closes Dozens Of Restaurants, Including Westchester Location Red Lobster Abruptly Closes Dozens Of Restaurants, Including Westchester Location
Red Lobster Abruptly Closes Dozens Of Restaurants, Including Westchester Location Fast-casual seafood restaurant Red Lobster has abruptly closed dozens of its restaurants. The company is also considering filing for bankruptcy protection, according to a CNN report. On its website, Red Lobster lists many of its restaurants as being "temporarily closed," including these New York locations: Kingston, Scarsdale, Nanuet, Poughkeepsie, Stony Brook No closures are currently listed for Connecticut or Massachusetts restaurants. Founded in 1968, Red Lobster has around 600 restaurants in the United States, Canada, and overseas. According to another CNN report, Red Lobster's prob…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years
Rare Severe Geomagnetic Storm Watch Issued For First Time In Nearly 20 Years You may soon get a view of a rare spectacle. According to the NOAA National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center, a series of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) began on Wednesday, May 8. CMEs are explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the sun’s corona. Space weather forecasters have issued a Severe (G4) Geomagnetic Storm Watch for the evening of Friday, May 10. It's the first time a G4 Watch has been issued since January 2005. The watch says CMEs may linger into Sunday, May 12. Geomagnetic storms can also trigger spectacular displays of aurora (…

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by Joe Lombardi