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Get ready for school with tax-free weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

MANCHESTER -- The new school year is just around the corner, and it's time to get ready for some back-to-school shopping. The tax-free holiday has arrived, starting today and running through Sunday. Here’s a look at what’s tax-exempt: -Clothing with a taxable value of $100 or less-School supplies below $50 per purchase -Computer software valued at $350 or less-Personal computers priced at $1,500 or less.-Computer accessories such as a mouse, keyboards, and external hard drives, each priced at $1,500 or less.-Graphic calculators costing $150 or less Missouri is one of only 16 states in the country offering tax-free back-to-school shopping. Illinois is not this year. Malls are open from 10 in the morning to 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Walmart is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. Missouri cities and counties can no longer "opt out" of the tax holiday weekend that they could do that in years past.  Illinois had a ta...

Rain and storm chances roll on into the weekend, some dry time early next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- This Friday morning, St. Louis experiences rain, thunderstorms, and some fog. Flash flooding remains a significant concern as the heaviest rainfall targets areas already soaked from the past two mornings. Precipitation may accumulate one to three inches. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch until 9 am for counties in the southwest, south, and southeast of St. Louis.The rain and storms are expected to clear out by later in the morning, and temperatures will reach the mid to upper 80s with some afternoon sunshine. High humidity levels are also anticipated.After a dry early evening, heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to return after 8 pm, persisting into Saturday morning. Unlike the morning storms, this evening's storms are likely to develop farther north and then move southeast.Throughout the weekend, there will be intermittent waves of storms. However, a cold front is forecasted to sweep through the area on Sunday, bringing potential relief with d...

Ask Amy: Wedding exclusion is a matter of family values

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Dear Amy: I never thought I would be coping with some silly wedding drama, but our daughter (out of state) is planning her wedding.She would like to exclude one uncle (my sister’s husband) from attending.(My sister and her husband are the only relatives that have actually visited with my daughter and her fiancé in their local city.)As per my daughter, this uncle has not offended them personally, however, they fear that he has strong views, and that if he drinks he may say something upsetting to their guests.I know this will cause a lot of confusion and pain. My daughter will invite other aunts and uncles as couples.Although my husband and I are giving a substantial gift which will likely cover the wedding costs, we are not directly paying for the wedding, so this is not our decision.I am open to your advice.— Sad MomDear Sad Mom: Your daughter need only read through any one of a thousand wedding advice sites, peruse her local bookstore’s wedding section, or — bette...

Beer production back to pre-pandemic level

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

In 2022, EU countries produced almost 34.3 billion (bn) litres of beer containing alcohol and 1.6 bn litres of beer which contained less than 0.5% alcohol or had no alcohol content at all.Compared with 2021, the production of beer with alcohol in the EU increased by 7%, returning to levels closer to the pre-pandemic year of 2019, when production was at 34.7 bn litters. When it comes to beer without alcohol, there was no change compared with 2021. The EU’s total beer (with and without alcohol) production in 2022 was equivalent to almost 80 litres per inhabitant.Germany continues to be the top beer producerAmong the EU countries with data available, in 2022 Germany continued to be the top producer with 7.6 bn litres (more than 22% of the total EU production). This means that about one in every four beers containing alcohol produced in the EU originated in Germany.Germany was followed by Spain, with 3.9 bn litres produced (more than 11% of total EU production), Poland with 3.7 bn ...

Riveting new Claremont Hills contemporary home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Enjoy panoramic views of San Francisco, the Golden Gate and beyond at this newly constructed four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom home in Claremont Hills.This 3,000-square-foot new home showcases an open concept and offers an indulgent primary suite. Enter through a glass pivot door to soaring ceilings, natural light and sophisticated style. Entertaining is a must with the open concept kitchen, dining and family room with floor-to-ceiling windows, state-of-the-art appliances and a walk-in pantry.Outside are multiple locations to lounge, garden and play.The beauty continues on the second floor with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, including the indulgent primary suite with stunning viewsUpstairs, an en suite bedroom is a flexible space that opens to a large roof deck.Open: Sunday, Aug. 6,  2 to 4:30 p.m.Address: 90 Vicente Road, Berkeley, 94705Offered at: $2,985,000Visit: 90Vicente.comPresented by: Heidi Marchesotti (01308798) HomesByHeidi.com (510) 387-7865 Heidi@Homes...

Swifties react to Kobe Bryant’s daughter receiving a gift from Taylor Swift during the Eras Tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Taylor Swift surprised Kobe and Vanessa Bryant’s daughter Bianka with what fans have deemed the “22 hat” during night one of the Eras Tour in LA.awwww the 22 hat #LATSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/S6CVlstVbf— ben TODAY (@benstafford100) August 4, 2023Vanessa shared the sweet reaction on her Instagram story.Kobe Bryant’s daughter getting the 22 hat is so wholesome and special dare i say one of the best one so far pic.twitter.com/X6hrgtuD6T— nick (@nickputation) August 4, 2023 Swift wears the hat while she performs “22” in a similar outfit to what she wore during the music video for the “Red” single. Its become a tradition at concerts for one member of the audience to receive the hat from Taylor during the performance.Related: 11 Taylor Swift Eras Tour Themed Experiences for Southern California SwiftiesWhile often times its a fan picked at random from the stadium, sometimes Taylor picks someone special in advance. For instance when Selena Gomez watched the Arlington, T...

Swifties react to Taylor Swift’s surprise songs for Night One of the Eras Tour in Los Angeles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

Every night of the Eras Tour Swifties come together on social media for one common purpose, to mourn the loss of which surprise songs Taylor Swift played that night.While Swift has a packed setlist for the Eras Tour, unfortunately, she cannot play her entire catalog in one night. To make up for this she has opted to surprise fans with acoustic versions of two of her songs that are not on the setlist each evening, playing one on guitar and the other on piano.Those who attended night one of the Eras Tour in Los Angeles were in for a treat as Swift performed “I Can See You” live for the first time. The song was a vault track off of her re-recording of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”Swift had previously debuted the music video for fans during her tour on July 7 show in Kansas City. She also brought out the stars of the video, Joey King and Presley Cash who had both starred in the “Mean” music video, as well as Taylor Lautner who did a flip as he joined Swift on stage in Missouri. @sofia...

Single family residence sells for $1.5 million in Oakland

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

48 Lodge Court – Google Street ViewThe property located in the first block of Lodge Court in Oakland was sold on June 16, 2023 for $1,500,000, or $1,594 per square foot. The house, built in 1940, has an interior space of 941 square feet. The layout of this single-story house includes two bedrooms and one bath. Additionally, the home provides a garage. The property sits on a 5,150-square-foot lot.Additional houses have recently been sold nearby:A 2,023-square-foot home on the 6900 block of Ridgewood Drive in Oakland sold in June 2022, for $1,800,000, a price per square foot of $890. The home has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.On Snake Road, Oakland, in September 2022, a 2,266-square-foot home was sold for $2,100,000, a price per square foot of $927. The home has 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In May 2023, a 1,772-square-foot home on Arrowhead Drive in Oakland sold for $1,075,000, a price per square foot of $607. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. 

Bridge: Aug. 4, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

This week’s deals have treated declarer’s trump management: handling the trump suit astutely so he can (for example) keep control. Cover today’s East-West cards. At four spades, you win the first club with dummy’s ace.How will you handle the trumps?In real life, South led a trump to his ace, went back to a high diamond and led a second trump to his jack. The finesse won, but West discarded. South then took the king of trumps and started the diamonds. East ruffed the third diamond and led the queen of hearts, and the defense took three hearts. Down one.AVOIDANCESouth has an “avoidance” issue. He doesn’t want East to get in for a heart shift. Dummy leads a trump at Trick Two, but when East follows with the three, South should play his four.West takes the nine and leads another club, but South wins and leads a trump to his ace. He goes to the ace of diamonds, picks up East’s remaining trumps and runs the diamonds for a heart discard. He l...

Word Game: Aug. 4, 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:10 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — CATAPULTS (CATAPULTS: CAT-uh-pults: Mechanisms for launching aircraft, as from a carrier deck.)Average mark 30 wordsTime limit 45 minutesCan you find 41 or more words in CATAPULTS? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — DEDICATE date dead decade deceit decide deed deet deice dice died diet edict edit iced idea ideate caddie cadet cede cite aced acid acted addict aide aided teed tide tiedTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathle...