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Editorial: Hunter Biden plea deal takes a bizarre twist

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Hunter Biden’s plea deal on tax and weapons charges is on life support. Even if it makes a comeback in the coming days, this fiasco remains a stain on the president and the White House.On Wednesday, a federal judge refused to accept the agreement reached in June, under which President Joe Biden’s son would plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges while escaping prosecution on a gun charge. At issue is the scope of the immunity Hunter Biden would receive.According to news reports, Hunter Biden’s attorneys believed the deal would give their client protection from other charges that might arise in the government’s investigation. Prosecutors, on the other hand, insisted the agreement was confined to the tax and gun charges.It’s odd that the defendant and the government would be at odds over such a basic element of any plea bargain. Perhaps the events of the past few weeks — when more damaging information about Hunter Biden has emerged — led prosecutors to back off the broader immunit...

Provincetown takes Pride in 45th anniversary of Carnival Week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Provincetown has a long and rich history, as the first landing spot for the Mayflower, a robust tradition of fishing, an artists’ colony and as an LGBTQ haven.That last one took some effort, starting in the 1970s.“This was at a time when Provincetown’s leadership didn’t necessarily understand why it was important to promote the town as a destination for queer travelers, and there were many in town trying to downplay the town’s creative community in an effort to promote it as one of the more well-known ‘straight’ destinations on the Cape,” Provincetown Business Guild Executive Director Stephan Hengst said.This was born Carnival Week, a way to show town leadership that diversity and inclusion are fun, vibrant and just plain good for business.“Carnival was the result of the community showing its love and appreciation for the community that called the tip of Cape Cod home,” said Hengst.This year Ptown is celebrating the 45th anniversary of Carnival We...

Vaccinated dog still got viral cough

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Dear Dr. John,About two weeks ago, my 14-year-old Retriever X developed a persistent hacking cough. I took him in to see my local vet and they ran bloodwork and took chest x-rays. They determined he had a type of kennel cough and gave me some antibiotics and a cough medication. With things not improving that much, I then took him to a specialty hospital.. The diagnosis was pretty much the same and no additional medications were given. His energy level seems a little off. Can kennel cough last this long and do I need to keep him away from my sister’s dog or other dogs since my dog and my sister’s dog have been together this entire time. Why did my dog get kennel cough if he is vaccinated for it and why has her dog not developed the same cough? V.H.Dear V.H.,Kennel cough is a broadly used term that describes a contagious viral cough in dogs caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica as well as other strains of various coughs. It seems as if your veterinarian did the proper workup. If they fe...

How to navigate a remote job interview

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Not so long ago, job interviews were conducted almost exclusively in person. Hiring managers were able to assess candidates during these interviews, getting an idea about everything from the applicant’s skill set to how he or she affected the energy in the room to body language and the confidence of a handshake.Today a growing number of interviews are virtual. Many are conducted via popular video conferencing apps like Zoom. In a recent survey of talent leaders and recruiters conducted by the tech firm Talview, 80% of respondents said their hiring process is now fully remote. There are many advantages to remote/virtual interviews. They tend to be more convenient for screening applicants for remote positions because the applicant pool may be coming from anywhere around the world. Remote interviews also can be less time-consuming.As useful as they can be, remote interviews are not foolproof. Technical snarls or uncooperative conditions at home can affect remote interviews. Virtu...

He’s paying for his kids and ex’s boyfriend

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Q. My soon-to-be ex has been dragging out our divorce for over a year.  She has it made right now because I am paying child support and all of the house expenses – mortgage, utilities, insurance, etc.  I have been living in my mom’s finished attic for a year because I don’t make enough to rent a place for myself.Our pre-trial conference just got continued again – this time because her lawyer is going on vacation.  Our next date is November.  They still won’t answer my discovery requests (I’ve responded to all of their requests and supplemented my responses).  And they keep scheduling and then canceling our settlement meetings.I still have access to our Ring doorbell camera.  Yesterday I saw her boyfriend moving into our home.  My lawyer says he can’t ask the judge to order the house sold at this stage because where will our kids live. Why does her boyfriend get to move into our home where our kids live and why do I have to pay his housing expenses?  Is there anything I can do?A. You...

Active Skylher loves sports, music, crafts

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Skylher is a chill and laid back teen with many interests, which she does independently or with peers. Skylher is a very animated and active, and  enjoys outdoor activities and playing at the gym daily. Sklyer enjoys reading, listening to music, doing crafts, playing board and card games, and socializing with peers. She participates in group activities, such as weekly basketball and volleyball games, demonstrating great athleticism. Skylher also enjoys community-based events such as trips to the mall, library, and movies.Skylher is enrolled in school and receives extra support. She completes assigned work independently and attends all scheduled classes. She has made many new friends. Skylher has goals of being successful in whatever she chooses to do and wants to attend college.Skylher’s social worker is looking for a caring family who will provide direction and support. Her social worker is open to a two-parent family with a mom and dad or two moms, with or without other children. ...

Dear Abby: Pal’s teasing hubby now AWOL in visits

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Dear Abby: About 10 years ago, I visited my oldest and dearest friend, who I see a few times a year. The last time, her husband, who I’ve also known for years and who I thought was a friend, started teasing me. I can take a joke, but the teasing got mean. Eventually he stopped, and I continued my visit.I was really angry at him, but because I didn’t want to involve my friend, I sent him an email. I told him I thought his teasing went too far and to please not do it again. He never replied. Now when I visit my friend, her husband is never there. He stays away. I haven’t seen him in years.My friend makes silly excuses why he isn’t at home when I visit. In fact, the last time I went I saw him driving away when I drove up! I don’t hold a grudge against the guy. I think it’s sad that he has to run away. Should I say something? — Perplexed in CaliforniaDear Perplexed: No. You dealt with your friend’s husband appropriately without involving h...

Morocco’s Benzina becomes the first senior-level Women’s World Cup player to compete in hijab

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Adelaide, Australia (AP) — Stepping onto the field against South Korea in Morocco’s second Women’s World Cup match, defender Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a senior-level global tournament.A FIFA ban on playing in religious head coverings in its sanctioned games for “health and safety reasons” was overturned in 2014 after advocacy from activists, athletes and government and soccer officials.“I have no doubt that more and more women and Muslim girls will look at Benzina and just really be inspired – not just the players, but I think decision makers, coaches, other sports as well,” said Assmaah Helal, a co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network.Benzina plays professional club soccer for the Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal – the eight-time defending champion in Morocco’s top women’s league. She did not play in Morocco’s opening 6-0 loss to Germany in Melbourne, and had to wait six days to finally get her start in t...

RCMP in British Columbia lifts amber albert after two children located

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

Mounties in British Columbia say the two children who were subjects of an amber alert issued about 10 days ago have been located safely.RCMP say the children were located safe Saturday evening and are being reunited with their family after they were allegedly abducted by their mother earlier this month.Surrey RCMP Media Relations Officer Cpl. Vanessa Munn said in a statement Saturday night that investigators appreciate the assistance from the public, media, and policing partners, who played an important role in helping to safely locate the children.Police issued an amber alert on July 19 for an eight-year-old and her 10-year-old brother after last being seen in Kelowna, B.C.Mounties said their mother was believed to be living off-grid in a rural area with her boyfriend.Earlier in the investigation, police had said they were looking for their mother’s father, who was driving a distinctive van that has its steering wheel on the right-hand side.This report by The Canadian Press w...

Anchorage homeless face cold and bears. A plan to offer one-way airfare out reveals a bigger crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:16 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Shawn Steik and his wife were forced from a long-term motel room onto the streets of Anchorage after their rent shot up to $800 a month. Now they live in a tent encampment by a train depot, and as an Alaska winter looms they are growing desperate and fearful of what lies ahead.A proposal last week by Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson to buy one-way plane tickets out of Alaska’s biggest city for its homeless residents gave Steik a much-needed glimmer of hope. He would move to the relative warmth of Seattle.“I heard it’s probably warmer than this place,” said Steik, who is Aleut.But the mayor’s unfunded idea also came under immediate attack as a Band-Aid solution glossing over the tremendous, and still unaddressed, crisis facing Anchorage as a swelling homeless population struggles to survive in a unique and extreme environment. Frigid temperatures stalk the homeless in the winter and bears infiltrate homeless encampments in the summer. A record eight people ...