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10 Florida summertime destinations for a relaxing getaway

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

It’s the sweltering summertime in the Sunshine State and many resident Floridians are turning their vacations northward in search of cooler temperatures.But even within a few hours of Orlando, there are pristine beaches to behold, shimmering springs to swim and quirky attractions to explore. Some destinations have history abound, while others have modern local eats and amenities for a comfortable stay.Here are ideas for summer getaways fit for a quick weekend away or a weeklong vacation.Rainbow Springs State Park provides visitors with three manmade waterfalls, a remnant of the park’s private attraction days, near Dunnellon. (Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel)Rainbow Springs/DunnellonNothing helps beat the summer heat quite like taking a dip in crystal-clear 72-degree waters. Visit Rainbow Springs State Park to take a plunge into sapphire-blue springs, which together pump out more than 400 million gallons of water per day. Tubing, snorkeling and paddling are popular activities in th...

How much did Titan search cost? US Coast Guard’s bill alone will be in the millions, experts say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

By DAVID SHARP (Associated Press)PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The cost of the unprecedented search for the missing Titan submersible will easily stretch into the millions of dollars, experts said Friday.The massive international effort by aircraft, surface ships and deep-sea robots began Sunday when the Titan was reported missing. Searchers raced against a 96-hour clock in the desperate hope to find and rescue the vessel’s occupants before their oxygen supply ran out.But all hope was extinguished Thursday when officials announced the submersible had suffered a catastrophic implosion, killing all five aboard.A scaled-back search remained in place Friday as the robots — remotely operated vehicles, known as ROVs — continued to scan the sea floor for evidence that might shed light on what occurred in the deep waters of the North Atlantic.The search area spanned thousands of miles — twice the size of Connecticut and in waters 2 1/2 miles (4 kilometers) deep —...

Live updates | Unconventional design subjected Titan submersible to more water pressure, experts say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

By The Associated PressFollow along for live updates on the submersible that imploded deep in the Atlantic Ocean, killing all five people aboard during a voyage down to the Titanic shipwreck.___TITAN’S UNCONVENTIONAL DESIGN SUBJECTED CRAFT TO MORE WATER PRESSUREThe deadly implosion of the Titan submersible raises questions about whether the vessel exploring the Titanic wreckage was destined for disaster because of its unconventional design and its creator’s refusal to submit to safety checks that are standard in the industry.The Titan, owned and operated by OceanGate Expeditions, first began taking people to the Titanic in 2021. It was touted for a design that included a carbon fiber composite hull and an elongated chamber for crew and passengers — a departure from more traditional spherical cabin areas and all-titanium construction.Experts say the cabin where people sit in most submersibles is spherical because water pressure is exerted equally on all areas. By co...

Crisp, bright rosés to try this summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

The summer solstice — the official first day of summer — is here and the warm days call for a glass of crisp, refreshing rosé.Wineries across the Southern Hemisphere are releasing their latest rosé vintages so local wine shops and restaurants are brimming with a diverse range of pink-hued bottles to elevate your sipping game.With nearly 30 bottles on my tasting table, I asked my tasting group — two wine professionals, a few casual enthusiasts and neighbors — to join me in selecting recommendations.We tasted newly-released rosés from a dozen countries across a range of price points, grape varieties and styles.The following were our favorites:___King Family Vineyards Crose Rosé 2022 — VirginiaA perennial local favorite from Crozet-based King Family Vineyards, Crose Rosé is made from merlot with a splash of cabernet franc and malbec. A beautiful pink hue, it’s lively and juicy with vibrant acidity that carries flavors of sweet stone fruit, watermelon water and strawberry. It’s even bet...

Cape Cod military base to house homeless families in apartments

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

The Healey administration planned to activate up to 50 members of the National Guard to support new “townhouse-style” housing options at Joint Base Cape Cod for families experiencing homelessness, officials said Friday afternoon.The new housing options — which can immediately accommodate 16 families and up to 60 if needed — come as Gov. Maura Healey said the state is experiencing a “steady rise” in shelter demand due to the rising cost of housing in Massachusetts, more people arriving from other countries, and delayed federal work authorizations.The administration also said it planned to open a “Family Welcome Center” in Allston as a central entry point for families struggling to access basic necessities. It will connect them with essential supplies, services, and transportation to a safe place to stay like the units at Joint Base Cape Cod, the administration said in a statement.“Our administration has been working hard to meet this unprecedented need and use every resource at our d...

Union official says safety of railroads has been compromised by job cuts and time constraints

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Freight railcar inspections are happening less often and are not as thorough as in years past due to staff cuts, time constraints and regulatory loopholes, a union official testified Friday during a federal hearing to examine the reasons behind a fiery train derailment in Ohio.The National Transportation Safety Board said in its preliminary report that an overheating wheel bearing likely caused the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern derailment that sent a plume of toxic black smoke into the sky near East Palestine, Ohio. Several tank cars were damaged in the crash, and officials decided that five of them containing vinyl chloride needed to be blown open to release the chemical and prevent an explosion. It’s not clear whether an inspector would have been able to catch that the bearing was failing because it is sealed within the railcar’s axle. No inspector was even given a chance. Jason Cox with the Transportation Communications Union testified Friday during the s...

British Museum apologizes for using Canadian translator’s work without permission

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

The British Museum says it has removed a Canadian translator’s work from its exhibition after using the translations without permission, attribution or compensation. The museum says Yilin Wang’s translations of poems by 19th century revolutionary Qiu Jin were displayed in the “China’s hidden century” exhibition, as well as its brochures, though it says the catalogue acknowledges her work. The institution says it has apologized and offered to pay Yilin Wang for the time her translations were displayed.The British Museum says “unintentional human error” led to the slight. On Twitter, Wang says her translations are labour intensive pursuits, and her work should be properly acknowledged.The British Columbia-based writer says she’s still in communication with the museum. “This has been an incredibly and needlessly frustrating experience after experiencing copyright infringement,” Wang tweeted. “I urge the British Museum to...

Toronto-based food pickup service Ritual lays off 40% of staff

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

TORONTO — Ritual says it has laid off about 40 per cent of its company.The cut carried out by the Toronto-based food pickup service amounts to about 38 workers.The company did not say what promoted the layoff but described it as a difficult decision in a statement.Ritual says it believes the move will strengthen the company, position it for success and better help it service restaurants as they grow their businesses.The cut comes after Ritual said in May that it would begin charging consumers a fee for every order they place on its platform.The charges amount to between 15 and 99 cents for orders under $30 and $1.99 for orders above $30.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2023.The Canadian Press

Stock market today: Wall Street sinks toward first losing week in last six

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Another drop for stocks on Friday has Wall Street on track to close out its first losing week in the last six.The S&P 500 was 0.7% lower in late trading, pulling back further from last week when it reached its highest level in more than a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 209 points, or 0.6%, at 33,737 with less than an hour remaining in trading. The Nasdaq composite was 1% lower.Overseas markets also fell, while crude oil prices slipped amid worries that a stressed global economy may burn less fuel.Europe’s economy appears to be weaker than expected, according to a preliminary report measuring manufacturing and services businesses. That’s adding to this week’s hesitance in markets, caused by a crank higher in interest rates by central banks around the world as they try to get high inflation under control. High rates drive down inflation by slowing the economy, which raises the risk of a recession.High interest rates in the United States have alread...

Judge stays medical marijuana licenses as companies argue selection process was flawed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:59:42 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A judge on Friday ordered Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to temporarily halt the issuance of licenses to growers and distributers as two companies argue the state used a flawed and secretive process to selectin winners for the potentially lucrative licenses. The order re-enforces a decision already made last week by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to pull back the licenses awarded on June 12 after the chairman said they discovered “potential inconsistency in the tabulation of scoring data.” Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson on Friday issued a temporary restraining order on top of that, staying the licenses until the issue regarding the scoring data is resolved. The state and companies agreed to the stay. Anderson scheduled a July hearing on the companies’ request for a preliminary injunction as the companies argue the entire selection process was flawed. Alabama Always and Hornet Medicinals, two companies that applied for the five int...