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Satisfying your sweet tooth is about to get more expensive

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

New York (CNN) — If you have a sweet tooth, take note: Cocoa prices have been soaring — and that could drive chocolate prices higher.Higher prices can be helpful for struggling cocoa farmers. But those prices, along with high prices of other key chocolate ingredients, might not be great news for sweets shoppers watching their budgets.So far this year, cocoa futures have risen about 21%. As is often the case, higher prices are being driven by demand exceeding supply.This season, cocoa yields are underwhelming, likely due to crop disease and heavy rains. And next season, forecasters are expecting another deficit because of El Niño, a naturally occurring phenomenon in the tropical Pacific Ocean, which usually brings warmer global temperatures — poor conditions for growing cocoa.Meanwhile, demand has stayed strong, particularly in Europe and Asia, noted Paul Joules, a commodity analyst for Rabobank who focuses on cocoa and dairy markets.Supply falls shortInitially, forecasters anticipat...

Residents in Ocala neighborhood evacuate after 30-foot hole opens up near homes

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

OCALA, Fla. (WSVN) – People in an Ocala neighborhood were forced to evacuate after a 30-foot hole opened a few feet away from their home.The sinkhole opened up Wednesday morning.No injuries were reported. Homes near the hole have been deemed unsafe.

Seven Persian cats from Tampa find new home where former owners’ estate will compensate new owners

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WSVN) – Seven Persian cats in Tampa have finally found their “fur”-ever homes after months of living in poor conditions. These feline companions were left behind when their 84-year-old owner passed away in November. However, after intervention from the Humane Society, a deal was struck to ensure the well-being of these cats.The seven Persian cats originally resided in a grand mansion with their elderly owner, who passed away, leaving her beloved pets behind. For months, they endured substandard living conditions.The former cat owner’s dying wish was for her cherished pets to find happy, healthy homes where they would receive the care they deserved. That’s when the Humane Society intervened to rescue these feline companions. “We met a couple of times and told him we could certainly if they would like us to, find them all great homes from our shelter and get them out of those dog crates,” said CEO of the Humane Society of Tampa Ba...

Europe’s digital ‘enforcer’ takes EU tech rulebook to Silicon Valley

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

The European Union is firing a last warning shot at Silicon Valley titans ahead of the incoming rules to police social media platforms.Europe’s digital Commissioner Thierry Breton is set to give Meta and Twitter’s top management an in-person reminder that the clock is ticking to comply with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The law starts applying in late August and will oblige major tech platforms to fight back against online hate speech, illegal content and disinformation. While Twitter’s Elon Musk and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg square off on social media over a prospective cage fight, Breton, who as the internal market commissioner oversees EU services regulating Big Tech, is starting a two-day trip to California to push the EU’s new rules. Breton is meeting Musk and Twitter’s new Chief Executive Officer Linda Yaccarino on Thursday, and Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg as well as artificial intelligence chiefs Sam Altman, chief ...

Social media execs face UK criminal liability over data of deceased children

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

LONDON — Social media executives could face criminal liability if they refuse to share information about deceased children’s online activity with authorities, according to changes to the U.K.’s Online Safety Bill announced by the government today. The changes would empower Ofcom to demand relevant data from social media companies, including information about how a child interacted with content online and how that content was promoted by the company’s algorithms, in instances where online harms are suspected to have played a part in a child’s death.They follow a long-running campaign by bereaved families and the crossbench peer Beeban Kidron to allow greater scrutiny of the role social media can play in bringing children to harm.If companies fail to provide a valid excuse, they could face enforcement action, including fines and the sanctioning of senior managers, said DCMS Lords Minister Stephen Parkinson.“Our changes to the bill will seek to ensure that Ofcom has the powers it needs...

Coyote found with jar stuck on its head rescued, released back into the wild

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

A coyote that was found with a jar stuck on its head has been released back into the wild.The coyote spent some time at the Newhouse Wildlife Rescue, where it recovered after spending two days with the jar on its head.Video shows the coyote being released back into the woods.

Healey proposes new health, physical education framework for local schools

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

The Healey administration announced Wednesday the first proposed update to the state’s health and physical education framework in 25 years, arguing their new guidelines for local education officials are “grounded in science” and offer medically accurate, age-appropriate materials.The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Comprehensive Health Curriculum Framework offers guidance to municipal school officials, who take the broad learning objectives established by the Healey administration and implement them as they see fit.The document was last revised in 1999, and Gov. Maura Healey said the new draft under consideration by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is inclusive of “gay, queer, and trans students’ identities and needs.”“That’s important and it’s not something that we’re going to shy away from. Our LGBTQ+ students face higher risks of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality,” Healey said at the State Hous...

Non-roster invitees Jake Bauers, Billy McKinney fuel Yankees’ win over Mariners; Anthony Volpe hits 10th homer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

With some of the Yankees’ highest-paid hitters continuing to struggle or on the bench Wednesday, a pair of non-roster invitees carried the offense against Mariners ace Luis Castillo.Jake Bauers struck first in the Yankees’ 4-2 win, planting a Castillo fastball into Yankee Stadium’s right field seats with a two-run homer. With Anthony Volpe on first, Bauers watched as his sixth home run of the year towered over the porch.“Jake’s done a really good job of impacting the ball, and especially in the leadoff spot lately,” Aaron Boone said afterward. “I feel like he’s had really competitive at-bats.”Bauers, who played for the Mariners in 2021 before spending all of 2022 in the minors, now has eight doubles, four home runs and 12 RBI since the Yankees began a series in Seattle on May 29. The April 29 call-up has also hit .274 over that span.“I’m just in a place where I don’t have to worry about my swing,” Bauers s...

3 teams that could make a run at Nets’ restricted free agent Cam Johnson

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

It ain’t no fun when the rabbit’s got the gun.For years, the Sean Marks-led Nets were a thorn in the side of rival organizations attempting to retain their own restricted free agents. It happened twice in the summer of 2016 — with Allen Crabbe and Tyler Johnson. The Nets were forced to tender exorbitant offer sheets to restricted free agents solely in an attempt to get B-list talent to come to Brooklyn.This time, it’s the Nets whose sole priority remains retaining restricted free agent Cam Johnson, who will be eligible to sign an offer sheet with the highest bidder this summer.Johnson, who arrived in Brooklyn alongside Mikal Bridges as part of the Kevin Durant trade to the Phoenix Suns, will enter restricted free agency on July 1. That means while other teams reserve the right to sign Johnson to an offer sheet, the Nets have the first right of refusal and can match any team’s offer to keep the shooting forward in town.Only if, that is, they’re wil...

Ex-Texas congressman Will Hurd calls Trump a ‘failed politician’ as he launches GOP presidential run

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Texas congressman Will Hurd, a onetime CIA officer and fierce critic of Donald Trump, announced Thursday that he’s running for president, hoping to build momentum as a more moderate alternative to the Republican front-runner.Hurd, 45, served three terms in the House through January 2021, becoming the chamber’s only Black Republican during his final two years in office. “We need common sense,” said Hurd, who made the announcement on “CBS Mornings,” adding, “I believe the Republican Party can be the party of the future, not the past.” In a campaign video, the former congressman said that the “soul of our country is under attack,” reminiscent of Democrat Joe Biden’s slogan about the 2020 race being a “battle for the soul of the nation.”“Our enemies plot, create chaos, and threaten the American Dream. At home, illegal immigration and fentanyl stream into our country. Inflation, still out of control. Crime and homelessness growing in...