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Is it cheaper to be a renter or a homeowner near you?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

(NEXSTAR) -- Mortgage rates have more than doubled over the last year in the U.S., and following the latest interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve, it doesn't appear as though buying a home will get any easier anytime soon. Despite the seemingly alarming costs of homebuying right now, in some cities, renting may not be much cheaper. After analyzing nearly 600 cities in the U.S. and reviewing the average mortgage and rent payments outlined in a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, SmartAsset found that in six cities -- all in Florida or Arizona -- buying a home may be cheaper than renting. Can I negotiate a rent increase with a landlord? The city with the largest difference between mortgage and rent payments was Surprise, Arizona. SmartAsset found the city, located northwest of Phoenix, had a surprising $192 difference between the average rent payment, $1,692, and the average mortgage, $1,500. In another Arizona city, Avondale, the average rent is $93 more expensive than the...

Skittles ditches rainbow packaging to highlight LGBTQ+ artists for Pride Month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

(KTLA) – Skittles is celebrating Pride Month by dropping its signature rainbow design and using its packaging to celebrate the work of artists within the LGBTQ+ community.The candy's annual Pride packs will go on sale ahead of June, which is designated as Pride Month in the U.S. and other countries. For each package of the specially designed Skittles Pride Pack sold, Skittles' parent company Mars will donate $1 (up to $100,000 total) to GLAAD, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.In honor of Pride month, Skittles is swapping out its traditional rainbow packaging for original designs crafted by five LGBTQ+ artists. (Mars)Skittles partnered with five prominent artists who designed the special packaging in honor of Pride Month. The company said each artist's package tells "a visual story of Pride."The chosen artists, as described by Skittles, are:Zipeng Zhu (he/him): A Chinese-born artist who "wants to make every day a razzle-dazzle musical"Symone Salib (she/her)...

Cedar Park Police: Suspect in custody after refusing to leave apartment for hours

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) – A person is in police custody after refusing to come out of an apartment in Cedar Park for hours. The Cedar Park Police Department alerted people on social media Friday morning to stay clear of the area near the 1400 block of Main Street due to police activity. That's close to Costco and just west of 183A and Whitestone Boulevard. Police posted at 5:51 a.m. that they were responding to a call about a "barricaded suspect." Police said in an update at 7:02 a.m. the suspect was in custody.In a press release, CPPD said the incident started around 12:25 a.m. at an apartment complex on Main Street when a call came in about domestic violence. Police said a woman called and said she had been physically assaulted and threatened with a firearm. According to CPPD, the suspect had left before officers arrived, then after police evacuated the victim to safety, the suspect returned and threatened officers, then shut himself in the apartment and kept making threats towar...

Family therapist gives advice on talking to kids about social media, body image

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With proposed legislation at the Texas Capitol targeting teen use on social media, a family therapist advises parents to have a vulnerable conversation with their children about body image.“I really encourage parents and families, instead of trying to shut down the conversation and being afraid of it, instead, let's talk about it and bring that conversation into our homes,” said Dr. Erika Bocknek. Texas House takes up bill to ramp up social media protections for teens It is uncertain if any of the Texas proposed legislation will pass, but earlier this year, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said he believes 13 is too young for children to be on social media platforms, because kids are still “developing their identity.”“I have parents telling me that their kids are raising these issues younger and younger that preschoolers are noticing that some dolls appear more beautiful to them than others, or they're pinching their own bodies,” said Dr. Bocknek about filtered and...

St. Paul’s Grand Old Day returns June 4 with The Current/MPR curating main stage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

Grand Old Day, the largest single-day festival in the Upper Midwest and an unofficial kick-off to summer, returns to Grand Avenue on June 4 with a parade led by restaurateur Justin Sutherland, a mainstage curated by the radio station The Current and Minnesota Public Radio, car show, family zone, pickleball area and two-mile fun run.Organizers on Friday said advance and same-day wristband sales for a beer garden will be critical to the event’s success following a three-year hiatus. Longstanding summer gatherings like the Basilica Block Party, Rock the Garden and the Ramsey County Fair have been canceled amidst rising expenses and other complications, and Grand Avenue hasn’t hosted a Grand Old Day since before the pandemic.Coordinated by the Grand Avenue Business Association and stretching 2.5 miles, or 30 blocks, the 2019 Grand Old Day drew an estimated 200,000 participants despite near-cancellation due to cost concerns. It was canceled in 2020 and 2021 during the social ...

Five players Wild might have to move on from this offseason

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

Wild general manager Bill Guerin talked to reporters earlier this week and expressed disappointment about the 2022-23 season. While he wouldn’t go as far as calling it a failure, Guerin clearly felt this group of players was good enough to make a run.Now the Wild are left to pick up the pieces heading into a summer that could spell a lot of change for the NHL franchise.It’s common knowledge at this point that the Wild have minimal cap space to work with in the coming months. After signing veteran winger Marcus Johansson to a 2-year, $ 4 million contract last week, the Wild have about $8 million at their disposal.Here are five players the Wild might have to move on from because of the cap crunch:Matt DumbaIt’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that star defenseman Matt Dumba has played his last game with the Wild. As much as Dumba wants to stay in Minnesota, he is an unrestricted free agent, and this could be the last big contract he signs in his career. Unless he t...

Safety equipment distributed around Montgomery County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

FONDA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Schools districts and government buildings around Montgomery County will receive equipment to assist in high-threat incidents. Supplies including trauma packs and tourniquets, were made possible by funding secured through a Homeland Security Grant. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “I am extremely proud of the collaboration and partnership of law enforcement, school districts, public health, and county government in Montgomery County," said Sheriff Jeffery T. Smith. "For years we have partnered, communicated, trained, shared, and prepared. The issuance of approximately $36,000 worth of safety equipment to our schools, law enforcement agencies, and county buildings will certainly increase our preparedness."

Lake George bike path segment to close for repairs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A section of the Warren County Bikeway is set to close for repairs next week. On Monday, May 8, the bike path stretch between Route 9 in Lake George and the 149 intersection in Queensbury will be closed for repairs. The closed section begins near Lyn Aire Motel on Route 9. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Warren County Public Affairs Director Don Lehman said the stretch is being closed for routine maintenance regarding a shoulder along the path. The bikeway runs from the village of Lake George to the city of Glens Falls.

BREAKING: Jordan Young accepts plea deal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Jordan Young, 34, who was shot by police in January 2022, pleaded guilty in court in Albany on Friday morning to one count of felony menacing. He accepted a plea deal, an admission to the charge, which would get him two years in prison. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Sentencing is scheduled for August 18, at 9:30 a.m. Until then, he will stay on probation. Young was previously indicted on charges of attempted aggravated assault on a police officer and menacing a police officer.He had more than 20 surgeries and spent months hospitalized after the officer-involved shooting on New Scotland Avenue. Last summer, Young rejected a plea deal worth up to five years in state prison.When police reported the shooting, they said he sprinted toward them to attack with a knife. This after they told him to drop the knife. Supporters for Young, including Dr. Alice Green, were out in force Friday morning to hold a v...

Pink Floyd tribute band to perform at SPAC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:34:58 GMT

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Brit Floyd, a Pink Floyd tribute Band, is coming to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) this summer. The band is set to perform on August 22 at 7:30 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Brit Floyd, formed in 2011, is celebrating 50 years of Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon" album. The band will be performing alongside a curated state of the art production, including soundscapes and visuals associated with Pink Floyd.Tickets go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, May 10 at 10 a.m. You can buy tickets on the Live Nation website.