Pandas could return to US, according to China's president

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Pandas could return to US, according to China's president WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Chinese President Xi Jinping says China will send new pandas to the United States. President Xi made the announcement during a speech with business leaders on Wednesday night following his face-to-face meeting with President Joe Biden in California.“We are ready to continue our cooperation with the United States on panda conservation and do our best to meet the wishes of the Californians so as to deepen the friendly ties between our two peoples,” Xi said.President Xi did not say exactly when or where in the U.S. pandas would be sent, but appeared to hint that the next pair of pandas could come to California.The announcement comes just over a week after three giant pandas were sent from Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo back to China. Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji were loaded onto a Boeing 777, dubbed the FedEx “Panda Express,” at Dulles International Airport on November 8.Iconic giant pandas have been living at the National Zoo for more than 50 y...

Sound of GAF Energy's $100M factory operating north of Austin like 'music,' exec says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Sound of GAF Energy's $100M factory operating north of Austin like 'music,' exec says GEORGETOWN, Texas (Austin Business Journal) -- When Ralph Robinett stands inside the new 450,000-square-foot GAF Energy LLC manufacturing site in Georgetown, the sound of humans and machinery making parts for the solar roofing industry is "music to his ears."About 15 months ago, the site was a greenfield. But last month, GAF obtained a certificate of occupancy for what is now a $100 million facility at 110 SE Inner Loop. About 75 employees have been coming to work seven days a week, 12 hours a day as they prepare to start shipping the first solar shingles produced at the site by the end of the year."Every factory has a heartbeat. It has a little bit of an arrhythmia the first few days. But after a couple of weeks, you can start to feel it and see it," said Robinett, who is the company's senior vice president of manufacturing and supply chain. "It's feeling very real now, which is great to see after coming together over the last 14, 15 months."More than a year after federal...

'Blessing Box' helping the homeless in Glens Falls

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

'Blessing Box' helping the homeless in Glens Falls GLENS FALLS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Near Glens Falls High School, a box stands on Sherman Avenue. Inside, visitors will find cans of soup, packs of tissues, and even some books - all to go to whoever needs them. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The Blessing Box at the Cavalry's Family Life Center church has been in place since early September. It was put there by Navaeh Howe, a Lake George High School student who put the box together as a Silver Award Girl Scouts project."I chose to do the Blessing Box to help the community, because the Silver Award is based on helping the community without getting money," said Howe. "I asked Hannaford and Home Depot and Lowe's, and they donated all of the wood. I just thought of the idea to help the homeless and those in poverty."Howe cited research showing that homelessness in the Glens Falls area has risen as much as 35% since the COVID-19 pandemic - making a resource for the unhoused an obvious cho...

Saratoga firefighters and police to play charity hockey game

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Saratoga firefighters and police to play charity hockey game SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The annual holiday hockey classic is back! On Saturday, the Saratoga Springs firefighters will take on the police in a charity hockey game at the Weibel Ice Rink. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The game is scheduled to begin around 7 p.m. Admission to the game is free with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Donations will support the Franklin Community Center's Holiday Assistance Program and help provide children in Saratoga Springs with presents on Christmas morning. There will be an in-game raffle to raise additional funds for the community center.Last year, over $1,000 was raised, and more than 700 toys were collected. Toys can also be donated at collection boxes at the Saratoga Springs firehouses, the police department, and Kings Tavern on Union Ave. MACSC hosts 17th Annual Thanksgiving Distribution This weekend marks the fifth time the two teams have faced off. The event is hosted ...

Outdoor retailer REI Co-op to open in Crossgates Mall

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Outdoor retailer REI Co-op to open in Crossgates Mall GUILDERLAND, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Specialty outdoor retailer REI Co-op is set to open a new location in Crossgates Mall. According to the company, the store is set to open in the fall of 2024. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! REI Co-op sells apparel, gear and accessories for camping, cycling, running, fitness, hiking, paddling, climbing, snow sports, and more. You can check out their products on the REI website.In Crossgates, the store will be about 25,000-square-feet and feature a full-service bike, ski, and snowboard shop, as well as online pick-up in-store and curbside pick-up. REI expects to hire 50 employees for the Crossgates store. If interested, you can apply on the REI website. Superior Merchandise Company reopening in Troy “We’ve long recognized the opportunity to serve REI members and the broader outdoor community in the Capital Region,” said Sonny Russell, REI regional director. “We’re grateful for the loyalty of our m...

Jury convicts man for illegally photographing a woman in the shower

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Jury convicts man for illegally photographing a woman in the shower LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Loudonville man was convicted for illegally photographing a woman in a shower at the Warrensburg Travel Park and Riverfront Campground. A Warren County Jury found Mark L. Siciliano, 46, guilty of three counts of unlawful surveillance in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! The incident occurred on August 6, 2022. The victim's boyfriend reportedly discovered and confronted Siciliano and forced him to delete the picture. Siciliano was arrested by New York State Police shortly afterward.Sentencing is scheduled for January 3, 2024. Siciliano was remanded to the Warren County Jail.

300 new jobs are heading to Maryland Heights

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

300 new jobs are heading to Maryland Heights MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — Hoffmann Brothers, a heating and cooling company, is set to bring 300 new jobs to the St. Louis metro area with its expansion in Maryland Heights.With over 40 years of service in the St. Louis metro area, Hoffmann Brothers is a company that supplies service to residential and commercial customers for heating, air conditioning, and more. The company's latest expansion in Maryland Heights, involving an investment of nearly $6 million, has been completed. The expanded 20,000-square-foot location now accommodates the company's marketing, finance, accounting, customer experience, information technology, and inside sales teams.These teams will support Hoffmann Brothers' operations in both St. Louis and Nashville, where the company established its first location in 2020. The newly created jobs as part of this expansion will offer wages well above the county and city averages.In addition to its growth initiatives, Hoffmann Brothers has actively engaged with the St. L...

Amazon reveals the 10 best books of 2023

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Amazon reveals the 10 best books of 2023 BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.The best books of 2023, as chosen by Amazon editors If you love books, Amazon’s editors have the list for you. Every year, they read over 1,000 books to help customers find the best titles to add to their “to read” piles and then compile their annual list. It’s finally out, so here they are: Amazon’s Best Books of 2023. This year’s picks include some formidable female protagonists and several books with a common theme: found family and community.If you prefer to listen to your books rather than read them, Audible has an amazing Black Friday deal going on now — 60% off for your first four months. You can listen to these titles and more for just $5.95 a month until March, but act fast because this is a limited-time offer.Shop this article: “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride, “The Art Thief: A True Story of Love, Crime, and a Dangerous Ob...

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, CU Boulder research finds

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

Cat-borne parasite may cause people to become more frail, CU Boulder research finds A cat-borne parasite that infects about 40 million people in the United States may cause adults to be more frail as they age, according to a new University of Colorado Boulder study.The parasite is already associated with risk-taking behavior and mental illness, according to a release, and the CU Boulder study found it may also contribute to signs of frailty including exhaustion and loss of muscle mass.The parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, affects about 11% of people in the United States, or roughly 40 million people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates tend to be higher in older people, and in some countries, more than 60% of people have been infected, according to the CDC.“We often think of T. gondii infection as relatively asymptomatic, but this study highlights that for some people it may have significant health consequences later on,” Christopher Lowry, CU Boulder professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology, said in a release.For the s...

CU Boulder to host Taylor Swift laser shows

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:39:55 GMT

CU Boulder to host Taylor Swift laser shows The University of Colorado Boulder will hold Taylor Swift laser shows in November and December that will bring some of her biggest hits to life with laser lights.A cutting-edge projection system will mesmerize with vibrant colors and a 360-degree wrap around screen.The show begins at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 25, Dec. 9 and Dec. 21 at Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Drive. For tickets, details on the playlist and more event information, visit tinyurl.com/k8cyy95a.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, In The Know, to get entertainment news sent straight to your inbox.