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Recipe: Kick off the new year right by cooking up Hoppin’ John

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

In my childhood, New Year’s Day meant a lunch that showcased black-eyed peas. The annual event was based on my father’s belief that the consumption of those pale-colored legumes, each with a prominent black spot, were the source of good luck in the new year.Often my dad made a simple soup that also featured those tasty peas. But more often, they were shown off in Hoppin’ John, a delicious concoction made with a mix of bacon and boneless ham, as well as white long-grained rice, herbs, and yes, black-eyed peas. It’s a slow-cooked wonder, and some may question my featuring it in a quick-cook column. But we all could use a potential good fortune charm.Wishing you good luck in 2024.Hoppin’ JohnYield: 8 servingsINGREDIENTS6 slices bacon, chopped1 (1- to 1 1/2 pound) boneless ham, cut into 3/4-inch planks1 onion, finely chopped2 celery stalks, minced4 garlic cloves, minced1/2 teaspoon dried thyme4 cups chicken broth2 pounds frozen black-eyes peas; see cook’s notes2 bay leaves1 1/2 cups lon...

Rift over when to use N95s puts health workers at risk again

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

By Amy Maxmen, KFF Health NewsThree years after more than 3,600 health workers died of COVID-19, occupational safety experts warn that those on the front lines may once again be at risk if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention takes its committee’s advice on infection control guidelines in health care settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and jails. In early November, the committee released a controversial set of recommendations the CDC is considering, which would update those established some 16 years ago.The pandemic illustrated how a rift between the CDC and workplace safety officials can have serious repercussions. Most recently, the giant hospital system Sutter Health in California appealed a citation from the state’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, known as Cal/OSHA, by pointing to the CDC’s shifting advice on when and whether N95 masks were needed at the start of the pandemic. By contrast, Cal/OSHA requires employers in high-risk settings like hos...

Patriots offense gets mixed news at Thursday practice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

FOXBORO — Patriots left tackle Trent Brown returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with an illness, while veteran receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was newly absent.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Callahan: The overlooked, underrated Patriot tying Bill Belichick’s secondary together New England Patriots | When Bailey Zappe started getting more comfortable in Patriots’ new offense New England Patriots | Patriots claim cornerback, place Rhamondre Stevenson on IR New England Patriots | Patriots-Bills injury report: Trent Brown among 3 absent, new Pats veteran has concussion New England Patriots | Patriots down 3 starters at Wednesday practice before Bills game Smith-Schuster was one of four missing players, along with safeties Jabrill Peppers (hamstring) and Jalen Mills (concussion) and rookie receiver Kayshon Boutte. It’s unknown why Boutte was absent. Smith-Schu...

San Ysidro couple found dead at casino identified; woman died of strangulation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A married couple found dead in a vehicle in Campo Tuesday, days after they had been reported missing by family members, have been identified by authorities.On Thursday, Lt. Steve Shebloski with the San Diego Police Department confirmed 52-year-old Johnny Soto and 45-year-old Melissa Soto, both residents of San Ysidro, were the deceased individuals in this incident. 25 Southern California restaurants added to Michelin Guide in 2023 The pair was found in the Golden Acorn Casino parking lot at 1800 Golden Acorn Way. Detectives from the SDPD’s Southern Division and the Homicide Unit responded to the scene to investigate.The exact nature of what occurred and why they were missing is still under investigation. Based on preliminary evidence, authorities say the man was killed from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.At this time, it has been determined the woman died from strangulation. Her death has been confirmed as a homicide with her hu...

Dominican baseball player Wander Franco fails to appear at prosecutor’s office amid investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco failed to show up Thursday for a meeting with a prosecutor who is investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor.Prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías said the investigation will continue regardless of Franco’s no-show. She waited for the All-Star player and his lawyers at her office, but they didn’t appear.Dominican prosecutors and police showed up on Tuesday at a Franco property in Baní, his hometown about 60 kilometers (37 miles) southwest of Santo Domingo. They did not find the 22-year-old player to request he appear for testimony.The Dominican Republic’s prosecutors’ office said on Aug. 14 that Franco was under investigation because of postings on his social media channels suggesting he had a relationship with a minor. The Associated Press has not been able to verify the reported posts.Franco’s no-show could be because his current lawyers may not have bee...

World population grew by 75 million in past year and will be more than 8 billion people on Jan. 1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

The world population grew by 75 million people over the past year and on New Year’s Day it will stand at more than 8 billion people, according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday.The worldwide growth rate in the past year was just under 1%. At the start of 2024, 4.3 births and two deaths are expected worldwide every second, according to the Census Bureau figures.The growth rate for the United States in the past year was 0.53%, about half the worldwide figure. The U.S. added 1.7 million people and will have a population on New Year’s Day of 335.8 million people. If the current pace continues through the end of the decade, the 2020s could be the slowest-growing decade in U.S. history, yielding a growth rate of less than 4% over the 10-year-period from 2020 to 2030, said William Frey, a demographer at The Brookings Institution.The slowest-growing decade currently was in the aftermath of the Great Depression in the 1930s, when the growth rate was 7.3%.“...

CP NewsAlert: Tentative deal on salaries with 420,000 Quebec public sector workers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

MONTREAL — An alliance of Quebec unions representing 420,000 public sector workers says it has reached a deal on salaries with the provincial government.The deal, which has to be approved by members, paves the way to ending the labour conflict with the province’s largest union group, called the common front.More coming.The Canadian Press

Huge surf pounds beaches on West Coast and in Hawaii with some low-lying coastal areas flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Powerful surf rolled onto beaches on the West Coast and Hawaii on Thursday as a big swell generated by the stormy Pacific Ocean pushed toward shorelines, causing localized flooding.Forecasters urged people to stay off rocks and jetties, and to not turn their backs to the ocean because of the danger of “sneaker waves” — occasional much bigger waves that can run far up the sand and wash someone off a beach.A high surf warning for parts of Northern California said waves would range from 28 to 33 feet (8.5 to 10 meters) and up to 40 feet (12 meters) at some locations, the National Weather Service said, adding that there were reports of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.In Aptos on the north end of Monterey Bay, surf overran the beach and swept into a parking lot, leaving the area strewn with debris. Santa Cruz County issued warnings for people in several coastal areas to be ready to evacuate.“Mother Nature’s angry,” said Eve Krammer, an Aptos resident for several ye...

Man arrested in Richmond Hill alleged axe attack

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

York police have arrested for a man wanted in connection with an attack involving an axe among other incidents. Authorities said at approximately 7 p.m. on Dec. 13, the male suspect was at a residence on Highland Park Boulevard, where he became involved in an altercation with another man.Armed with an axe, the suspect then allegedly assaulted the victim, who was able to fend him off and call 911. It’s unclear how serious the victim’s injuries were.The suspect was also wanted in connection to a robbery that occurred at a Richmond Hill commercial business in which a hammer was allegedly used on Nov. 23.They were able to identify the suspect as Alexander Gordon Dykes, 59, of no fixed address, but he remained outstanding.On Dec. 26, after receiving a call from a citizen who had spotted the suspect in the area of Major Mackenzie Drive and Old Markham Road, police were able to locate and arrest Dykes. He is facing several charges, including assault with a weapon, aggravated assault and ro...

Alleged thief arrested with 34 winter coats on SkyTrain in Vancouver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 11:14:04 GMT

VANCOUVER — Police say a 35-year-old man has been arrested after being found riding the SkyTrain in Vancouver on Christmas Day with a rack of 34 allegedly stolen winter coats. A video posted on social media shows Metro Vancouver Transit Police removing the rolling rack of coats from a carriage and escorting a man off the train at Waterfront Station. Const. Amanda Steed, media relations officer with the Transit Police, says an attendant at Joyce-Collingwood Station first alerted police about the passenger around 5 p.m. Steed says the investigation is now in the hands of Burnaby RCMP, who believe the coats were stolen from a business in Metrotown mall on Monday afternoon.She says the 34 coats on the rack were worth an estimated $6,100 and the man believed to have stolen them is known to police. Steed says although the TikTok video of the incident was set to Christmas music and likely meant to be lighthearted, the alleged theft was “unfortunately” tied to a deeper and ̶...