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What sparks US wildfires: Power lines, burning trash and lightning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

By Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg NewsThe fast-moving fire that ripped through Maui’s historic town of Lahaina killed more than 90 people, making it the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation, but power equipment in the area is coming under increasing scrutiny.Charred remains of a burned neighbourhood is seen in the aftermath of a wildfire, in Lahaina, western Maui, Hawaii on August 14, 2023. The death toll in Hawaii’s wildfires rose to 99 and could double over the next 10 days, the state’s governor said August 14, as emergency personnel painstakingly scoured the incinerated landscape for more human remains. Last week’s inferno on the island of Maui is already the deadliest US wildfire in a century, with only a quarter of the ruins of the devastated town of Lahaina searched for victims so far. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)Across the nation, wildfires are growing in intensity and frequency as climate c...

Portion of Mass Pike in Framingham reopens after jackknifed truck caused lengthy backups

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

A portion of the Mass Pike in Framingham that closed down for more than an hour and half Tuesday has reopened to all traffic.A tractor trailer that became jackknifed in the area of mile-marker 112 closed down all eastbound lanes on the busy thoroughfare around 11 a.m., according to the state Department of Transportation. But the road reopened just before 12:45 p.m.Officials did not say whether the incident, which is under investigation, caused any injuries. The crash led to lengthy backups on both sides of the road.

What is crypto lending and how does it work?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

By Hanneh Bareham, Bankrate.comCrypto lending is similar to a traditional lending model in that users can borrow and lend cryptocurrencies in exchange for a fee or interest. However, these loans use digital currency as collateral, similar to a securities-based loan.The basic principle works like a mortgage loan or auto loan — you pledge your crypto assets to obtain the loan and pay it off over time. You can get this type of loan through a crypto exchange or crypto lending platform. While it’s seen a huge spike in interest in recent years, crypto lending comes with its own set of risks and is highly volatile, especially in the short term.How crypto lending worksCrypto lending allows you to borrow money — either cash or cryptocurrency — for a fee, typically between 5 percent to 10 percent. It’s essentially a secured personal loan.While you retain ownership of the crypto you’ve used as collateral, you lose some rights, such as the ability to trade it or use it to make transactions. Als...

Students blocked from campus when COVID hit want money back. Some are getting refunds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline.orgThousands of college students will get hundreds of dollars in compensation as colleges and universities move this summer to settle multimillion-dollar lawsuits stemming from canceled classes and activities during COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.While some of the class-action suits against the colleges and universities are still in litigation, and still others dismissed, several major cases have been settled in recent weeks.The settlements mean students who were charged tuition and fees but weren’t able to use in-person services during the pandemic shutdowns will receive some compensation, though they won’t be refunded for all the on-campus amenities they lost.The amounts depend on the total settlement figure, minus legal fees and other court expenses. Each case has a different timeline.Most recently, the University of Delaware agreed in June to set up a $6.3 million fund to partially reimburse tuition and fees that the students paid for classes, housing...

Hawaiian electric’s future in doubt after $1 billion meltdown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

By Mark Chediak, Bloomberg NewsHawaiian Electric Industries Co., which supplies roughly 95% of the state’s residents with power, traces its roots back to 1891, just a decade after King Kalakaua met Thomas Edison to see the incandescent light bulb. Now, the utility is facing what’s shaping up to be the biggest-ever test over its future.In just one day, relentless selling wiped more than a $1 billion from the company’s value as the stock plunged by a third in its biggest loss on record. Investors are dumping shares amid increasing scrutiny over power equipment as the possible source of the deadly Maui wildfire.Analysts are starting to raise questions over whether Hawaiian Electric, one of the smallest publicly traded U.S. utilities, will be able to withstand the pressure if it does end up being at fault.In an aerial view, homes and businesses are seen that were destroyed by a wildfire on August 11, 2023 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)To be clear: no official cause o...

Massachusetts medical school latest to fall victim to MOVEit hack, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

More than 134,000 people previously or currently enrolled in at least four state programs may have had personal information leaked as part of a security breach involving third-party software used by a medical school in Worcester.Officials at the UMass Chan Medical School learned about the “security incident” on June 1, making them the latest government-related institution to confirm it had fallen victim to a hack that has affected millions of people and scores of agencies around the world.School officials “immediately fixed the vulnerability” and said the breach involved a file-transfer software program called MOVEit.“No UMass Chan or state systems were compromised in this incident. Impacted individuals have been sent notice by mail and will be contacted by phone, text, and e-mail where possible,” the Executive Office of Health and Human Services said in a statement.The Healey administration said it started sending letters to affected individuals on Monday and encouraged those who r...

California's heat wave could trigger a Flex Alert: Here's what to know

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

SAN DIEGO (KSWB) -- As another anticipated heat wave is expected to set in across the west, California's grid operator could issue its first Flex Alert of the year this week, calling on residents to voluntarily reduce electricity use during certain hours.In a bulletin released Sunday, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) indicated that they could trigger the alert, which is the entity's lowest level emergency warning, in anticipation of high temperatures to prevent additional stress on energy supplies."Widespread heat waves can cause energy supply shortages, as resources arestretched thin across multiple states," the bulletin read. "As part of an interconnected Western grid, (CAISO) is preparing for tight conditions and taking coordinated steps with its neighbors to ensure adequate power supply during this week’s hot weather." Researchers have identified a new pack of endangered gray wolves in California Resources are currently expected to be sufficient to meet the C...

Girl, 9, attacked by group of dogs in Newmarket, owner charged

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

A nine-year-old girl was treated for serious injuries after she was attacked by several dogs in Newmarket, resulting in an owner facing charges.York Regional Police said they responded to a call for an animal complaint at an address on Jackson Court around 6 p.m. on July 27.Investigators said a man and his 9-year-old daughter had attended a residence to view puppies for sale when three dogs rushed out of the house and attacked the girl, who was mauled and severely injured.She was rushed to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The young girl has since been released and continues her recovery at home, police said.Newmarket animal services attended the residence, and the three dogs were euthanized, police said.On Tuesday, 68-year-old Leslie Theodore Kovacs of Newmarket was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm. Police said he was also charged with three counts of dog bite a person under the Ontario dog owners’ liability act.The accused was relea...

Grocery price increases continue to outpace overall inflation

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

OTTAWA — Grocery prices are still rising at a far higher pace than overall inflation, despite moderating somewhat in July. The price of groceries grew 8.5 per cent in July compared with last year, down from a 9.1 per cent year-over-year gain in June, as prices for fresh fruit and bakery products rose at a slower pace.However, 8.5 per cent is still a far cry from the headline inflation reading of 3.3 per cent, which has significantly fallen from a high of more than eight per cent last year. Food price inflation is expected to continue easing in the coming months as lower commodity prices and easing supply chain pressures pass through to retail products, said RBC economist Claire Fan in a note.  Some forecasters are saying the latest inflation report has raised the odds of an interest rate hike next month from the Bank of Canada. A hike isn’t entirely out of the question, but there’s more economic data to come before the central bank makes its decision, Marwa Abdou, senior...

Death toll rises to 10 in powerful explosion near capital of Dominican Republic; 11 others missing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:26 GMT

SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic (AP) — The death toll from a powerful explosion near the capital of the Dominican Republic rose to 10 on Tuesday as firefighters searched through smoldering rubble, authorities said.More than 50 people also were injured in Monday’s explosion at a bustling commercial center in the city of San Cristobal, said Joel Santos, minister of the presidency. At least 36 of the injured remained hospitalized, Santos said.President Luis Abinader visited San Cristobal, located just west of Sango Domingo, on Tuesday and said an additional 11 people were missing, adding that authorities were still trying to extinguish the fire amid collapsed buildings and charred vehicles.“We’re doing everything humanly possible … to investigate the situation of the 11 missing,” he said. “The search for survivors has been very difficult.”Health Minister Daniel Rivera said authorities have still not been able to access “ground zero” where the explosion occurred because it...