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15 of America’s best small towns and cities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

By Joe Yogerst | CNNThe vast majority of Americans may live in big cities (more than 70%, according to the 2020 census), but there’s an enduring affection for small towns and cities.A lot of that nostalgia is stoked by popular culture. From fictional cinematic stars like Amity Island (“Jaws”) and Bedford Falls (“It’s a Wonderful Life”) to TV towns like Hawkins (“Stranger Things”) and Twin Peaks, small-town life looms large on the small and silver screens.American literature is spangled with small towns from Alabama (“To Kill a Mockingbird”) to the state of Washington (“Twilight”).Many well-known Americans are proud of their small-town roots. Taylor Swift spent part of her childhood in the Borough of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania (pop. 11,000). Stephen King spent his formative years in Durham, Maine (pop. 4,100). Brad Pitt is from Shawnee, Oklahoma (pop. 31,000). Model Chrissy Teigen was born in Delta, Utah (pop. 3,600), and baseball great Jackie Robinson in Cairo, Georgia (pop. 10,000).T...

Missed out on the $1 billion Powerball jackpot? $720 million is up for grabs in tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot drawing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

Your dream of buying 654 castles or maybe 171 private islands could become reality after tonight’s $720 million Mega Millions jackpot drawing.The six coveted numbers will be plucked at 8 p.m. PT Friday. If you hit the jackpot but don’t want to wait 29 years to collect all your millions, the cash value option is $369.6 million.The $720 million jackpot is among the biggest in Mega Millions history. The jackpot has jumped past the $700 million mark only four previous times, the lottery said.But don’t start shopping for new houses yet. The odds of hitting the Mega Millions jackpot has gotten worse in recent years – from about 1 in 258 million to about 1 in about 302 million.Related ArticlesBusiness | California man declared winner of November $2 billion Powerball Jackpot wins round in court Business | California scores another winning ticket to a huge jackpot Business | $1 billion Powerball jackpot winning ticket sold in California; three Bay A...

A’s shut down by Astros rookie pitcher France in 3-1 loss

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

By JANIE McCAULEY | AP Baseball WriterOAKLAND — J.P. France knew he had been more reliable on the road than in Houston so far this season — and showed it again, even after getting in an early hole.Relying on his nasty change-up, the rookie struck out five while pitching into the eighth inning for the first time to win his third straight decision, Kyle Tucker hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth, and the Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 3-1 on Thursday night.The right-hander owns a 2.05 ERA over the first eight road starts of his career, which is lowest in the majors by a starting pitcher with a minimum of 40 innings.“You’ve got to go out there and just take every game as it is. It’s not the same as the one that’s coming up, it’s not the same as the one that just happened,” France said. “I didn’t know that at all. I knew on the road I was pitching a little better, but that’s awesome.”Alex Bregman homered in the ninth to help secure the win for France (5-3). France, a 28-year-o...

Correction: Extreme Weather story

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In a story published July 19, 2023, about a North Carolina Pfizer plant that was struck by a tornado, The Associated Press, relying on information provided by Pfizer on its website, erroneously reported that the facility produced nearly 25% of all sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals. The company has since updated its website to reflect that the plant produced nearly 25% of Pfizer’s sterile injectable medications used in U.S. hospitals.Source

Sports on TV for July 22 – 23

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsSaturday, July 22AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL5:30 a.m.FS2 — AFL: Collingwood at Port AdelaideAUTO RACING6:25 a.m.ESPN2 — Formula 1: Practice, Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary9:55 a.m.ESPN — Formula 1: Qualifying, Hungaroring, Mogyoród, Hungary12 p.m.FS1 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: The CRC Brakleen 150, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.USA — IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The FCP EURO Northeast Grand Prix, Salisbury, Conn.2 p.m.CBSSN — Fanatec GT: World Challenge Asia, Motegi, JapanFS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, Pacific Raceways, Kent, Wash.3 p.m.NBC — NTT IndyCar Series: The Hy-Vee INDYCAR 250, Newton, IowaUSA — NASCAR Cup Series: Practice and Qualifying, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.5:30 p.m.USA — NASCAR Xfinity Series: The Pocono 225, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.BOXING10 p.m.ESPN — Top Rank Main Card: George Kambosos Jr. vs. Maxi Hughes (Lightweights), Shawnee, Okla.CFL FOOTBALL7 p.m.CBSSN — Saskatchewan at B.C.CYCLI...

Stock market today: Wall Street heads for another winning week as stocks steady

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is steadying Friday and clawing back some of its tech-driven losses from a day before, keeping it on track for another winning week.The S&P 500 was 0.2% higher in early trading and on pace for its eighth winning week in the last 10. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 17 points, or less than 0.1%, at 35,207, as of 9:50 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.3% higher a day after tumbling to its worst loss in more than four months.Roper Technologies rallied 4% for one of the larger gains in the S&P 500 after it reported better profit and revenue for the spring than analysts expected. The company, which looks to dominate niche tech markets, also raised its financial forecasts for the full year.On the losing side of Wall Street was American Express, which fell 4.9%. It reported stronger profit for the spring than expected, but its revenue fell short of forecasts.Railroad operator CSX was also a heavy weight on the market and fell 4.8...

Beetlejuice II filming set in Vermont is haunted by souvenir seekers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

EAST CORINTH, Vt. (AP) — Souvenir hunters are haunting the Beetlejuice II movie set in Vermont.State police are investigating two thefts, one of a large lamppost topped with a distinctive pumpkin decoration and the other a 150-pound abstract art piece taken from the vicinity of a cemetery.Someone bundled up the lamppost, covered it with tarp and fled at a high rate of speed in a pickup truck on July 14, while the theft near the cemetery took place several days later, state police said Thursday.The sequel to the 1988 movie is filming in East Corinth, near the New Hampshire border. The original Tim Burton horror comedy about a home haunted by ghosts played by Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, and also starring Winona Ryder, also was filmed in East Corinth. For the new movie, Michael Keaton is reprising his role as the “bio-exorcist” Beetlejuice. The sequel also features “Wednesday” star Jenna Ortega and others. The movie is due to be released next year.Source

Lakeland Financial: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

WARSAW, Ind. (AP) — WARSAW, Ind. (AP) — Lakeland Financial Corp. (LKFN) on Friday reported net income of $14.6 million in its second quarter.The bank, based in Warsaw, Indiana, said it had earnings of 57 cents per share.The holding company for Lake City Bank posted revenue of $96 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $60 million, beating Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LKFN at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LKFNSource

MetroCity: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

DORAVILLE, Ga. (AP) — DORAVILLE, Ga. (AP) — MetroCity Bankshares, Inc. (MCBS) on Friday reported net income of $13.1 million in its second quarter.The bank, based in Doraville, Georgia, said it had earnings of 51 cents per share.The company posted revenue of $52.2 million in the period. Its revenue net of interest expense was $29.7 million, surpassing Street forecasts._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on MCBS at https://www.zacks.com/ap/MCBSSource

Deputy kills dog that attacked, seriously injured man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:59 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A Larimer County deputy shot and killed a dog that was attacking a man and left him with serious injuries. On Thursday, a Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputy was driving near Lincoln Avenue and 1st Street in Fort Collins when he said he noticed a man struggling with a large dog near Buckingham Park.As the deputy got closer to the scene, he saw that the dog was actively biting the man who was unable to get away. Coroner: Altitude contributed to hiker’s death in RMNP LCSO said the deputy physically intervened in the dog attack, with several other bystanders attempting to help as well.The dog was briefly separated from the man, but quickly re-engaged and attacked once again. Off-duty Adams County deputy arrested for assault after fight outside of a Walmart The sheriff's office said the deputy then fired his weapon, striking and killing the dog. He applied a tourniquet to the man before he was taken to a local hospital and treated for serious injuries. “Given the ...