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Other voices: Welcome to today’s housing bubble

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

“Oops! … I did it again” is a Britney Spears song, but it could also double as the federal government’s motto for housing policy.Starting in late March, the Federal Housing Administration will reduce mortgage-insurance payments on loans that it backs. The agency insures mortgages for borrowers with suboptimal — not good — credit. Some mortgages require as little as 3.5% down. Borrowers have to pay an extra 1.75% fee, which can be rolled into the mortgage. Borrowers also have to pay for mortgage insurance, which is an annual premium of 0.85% in many cases. The Biden administration will now drop that to 0.55%. On a $400,000 home, the average annual savings is $1,200.The appeal of this move is obvious. A rapid increase in mortgage rates has dramatically reduced the pool of available buyers — at least at these prices. The White House is looking to juice the market.On the surface, this looks as if the government is lowering costs in response to a...

Spring forward into daylight saving time on March 12

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

Get ready to spring forward on March 12, at least one more time.Most of the U.S. will move the clocks forward by one hour on Sunday at 2 a.m. for daylight saving time, which will end on Nov. 5 of this year.The question is: Will this be the final time most Americans feel aggrieved over losing an hour of sleep?Daylight saving time is the result of a federal law applying to most of the United States; Hawaii, most of Arizona and U.S. territories in the Pacific and Caribbean do not follow daylight saving time. In March 2022, the Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, removing the need to change clocks twice per year. The bill stalled in the House of Representatives but remains alive.With permanent daylight saving time, there is more sun in the evening hours. The trade-off is less daylight in the mornings, especially in the winter months.I wish the daylight saving time was permanent, I hate when it gets dark super early&mdas...

MN GOP lawmakers push for higher fentanyl penalties, new offense for carjacking as part of public safety proposal

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

Minority Republicans in the Minnesota Senate and House are pushing for a package of public safety legislation they say will fight crime by stiffening criminal penalties and strengthening police forces.Creating a new carjacking offense, boosting penalties for illicit fentanyl, and a new system tracking judges’ sentencing decisions are just a few proposals included in what GOP lawmakers are calling the “Safe and Sound Minnesota” public safety plan. But with Democrats in control of state government, little of their agenda has gained traction so far, save a few bipartisan items.Addressing reporters on the bill at a Capitol news conference Thursday, House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, criticized Democrats’ approach to public safety as failing to hold wrongdoers accountable. One example, she said, was the DFL push this week to penalize car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai for design flaws that make their vehicles easier to steal, rather than doing more to go after thieves.“We w...

Class 2A boys hockey state quarterfinal: Edina 7, Moorhead 6, 2OT

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

With two of the top goalies in the state between the pipes for Moorhead and No. 3 Edina in Thursday’s Class AA boys hockey quarterfinal, some expected a defensive battle.Not quite.Despite Kai Weigel in net for the Spuds, and Robbie Clarkowski between the pipes for the Hornets, the teams combined for 13 goals, and the Spuds erased a three-goal, third-period deficit in the final minute of regulation before Edina’s Charlie Sandven scored 2 minutes, 2 seconds into double overtime to seal a 7-6 Hornets win.“(Weigel) is really good, and Clarkowski has played really well, too,” Edina coach Curt Giles said. “And we go out there and it’s a 7-6 game. You see that coming?”Sandven’s shot, a long wrister from the right point, floated through traffic before finding the top right corner of the net.Edina’s top line of Bobby Cowan, Jackson Nevers and Ryan Flaherty combined for five goals and 11 points.“I love playing with Jackson, and Flahe...

Cut Social Security taxes? Here’s what MN lawmakers are considering.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

Eliminating or reducing state taxes on Social Security and the best way to do it is a key issue under debate at the Minnesota Legislature that will undoubtedly be part of negotiations for the next state budget.Lawmakers, as well as the state’s seniors, are divided on what to do about the 348,700 households currently paying taxes ion benefits. Especially with the state projecting a $17.5 billion budget surplus.The House taxes committee heard testimony Thursday from residents on two proposals — to eliminate or modify taxes on benefits.Bill Raker, a volunteer with AARP Minnesota, testified in support of complete elimination of state taxes on benefits.“Social Security is an earned benefit. Historically, Social Security was designed as an antipoverty program, not a way to fund government,” Raker said.Bill Raker speaks in favor of a bill exempting Social Security income from taxes. Lawmakers heard testimony Thursday from residents on proposals to eliminate or modif...

Waste Management acquires Dakota County compost businesses

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

Waste Management of Minnesota has entered the world of composting with recent acquisitions.Specialized Environmental Technologies (SET) and The Mulch Store, an organics composting company, were acquired this week by Waste Management to offer sustainability solutions for its customers, according to a company news release.Included in the acquisition are SET’s compost sites in Empire, Burnsville, Shakopee and Minnetrista.“[Waste Management] will be contributing to a circular economy by managing food waste and other organic material in an environmentally responsible manner that seeks to maximize its resource value,” said Frank Fello, vice president for Waste Management’s upper Midwest area.Related ArticlesBusiness | Inver Grove Heights firefighters battle blaze at Mississippi River marina Business | Farmington driver, 17, dies after being rear-ended, pushed into oncoming traffic, officials say Business | Obituary: As Sister Arnelda, she taught ...

Multiple COVID variants found in New York rats: study

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

Three different coronavirus variants were discovered in New York City’s rat population, according to a new study. A release from EurekAlert on Thursday states that rats were found to be infected with the alpha, delta and omicron COVID-19 variants. Henry Wan, the principal investigator for the study and the director of the Center for Influenza and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the University of Missouri, said in the statement that the finds demonstrate why additional monitoring of COVID-19 in rat populations is necessary to keep track of a possible secondary spreading of the virus from animals to humans. “Overall, our work in this space shows that animals can play a role in pandemics that impact humans, and it’s important that we continue to increase our understanding so we can protect both human and animal health,” Wan said. The release states New York City has about 8 million rats, which also widespread across other urban areas in the United States. It notes that two previou...

Man sentenced in I-170 gun battle that claimed Bridgeton woman's life

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. - A Ferguson man was sentenced Thursday for his role in a rolling gun battle on Interstate 170 that claimed the life of an innocent woman caught in the crossfire.The shooting happened around 3 p.m. on Nov. 30, 2020, in the southbound lanes of I-170 near the Olive Boulevard exit. Police: Accused Schnucks shooter has medical condition, may be with girlfriend Kristen Whitted was on her way to meet up with friends for a walk in Forest Park when she found herself in the middle of a road rage incident she had nothing to do with. Police responded to the shooting on the interstate and found that Whitted had suffered a gunshot wound to her upper torso. Whitted was rushed to a local hospital, but could not be saved. She was 46.Days later, detectives with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis arrested Calvin Pittman for firing the shots that struck Whitted. Pittman had claimed that he was returning fire at another vehicle that shot at him first, and that he didn't intend to...

Washington University School of Medicine helps set new global policy on malnutrition

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Malnourished children in Africa and across the globe are being saved thanks to St. Louis doctors and critical research conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine. The research has changed the global guidelines for nutrition and brain health in malnourished children.Nearly two decades ago, Dr. Mark Manary, a professor of pediatrics at the med school, founded Project Peanut Butter.Packets of ready-to-use therapeutic food that look and taste like peanut butter are widely used to treat malnourished children. Since then, Manary and his team discovered adding DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and reducing omega-6 fatty acids, does more than just save these children. Police: Accused Schnucks shooter has medical condition, may be with girlfriend Manary says when you put these fats into this peanut butter food, you get better brain recovery. Manary and his team did numerous clinical trials in Africa. They found improved brain function of malnourished children who ate t...

Some dead in shooting at Jehovah’s Witness hall in Germany

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:58:47 GMT

By GEIR MOULSON (Associated Press)BERLIN (AP) — Shots were fired inside a building used by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the northern German city of Hamburg on Thursday evening, and several people were killed or wounded, police said.The shooting took place in the Gross Borstel district, a few kilometers (miles) north of the downtown area of Germany’s second-biggest city.“We only know that several people died here; several people are wounded, they were taken to hospitals,” police spokesman Holger Vehren said. He said he had no information on the severity of the injuries suffered by the wounded. Police did not confirm German media reports, which named no sources, of six or seven dead.The scene of the shooting was the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Kingdom Hall, a modern and boxy three-story building next door to an auto repair shop. Vehren said police were alerted to the shooting about 9:15 p.m. and were on the scene quickly. He said that after officers arrive...