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Hajj pilgrimage starts in Saudi Arabia with 2 millions expected after lifting COVID measures

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Some 2 million Muslim pilgrims officially began the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Monday, making their way out of Mecca after circling Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba, and converging on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert for a day and night of prayer.One of the largest religious gatherings in the world has returned to full capacity this year for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago.The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to make the five-day Hajj at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do it.For pilgrims, it is a deeply moving spiritual experience that absolves sins, brings them closer to God and unites the world's more than 1.8 billion Muslims. Some spend years saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the journey.The rituals during Hajj largely commemorate the Quran's accounts of Ibrahim, his son Ismail and Ismail's mothe...

9 cities where buying a home is still cheaper than renting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

(The Hill) -- Owning a home beats renting one in several important ways, common wisdom dictates, starting with the fact that homeowners pay down their own mortgage, rather than someone else’s. But homeownership feels out of reach to many Americans in 2023, thanks to a historic alignment of high mortgage rates and high sales prices.  Surprisingly, real estate analysts can still point to a few large cities where owning a home remains cheaper than renting.  We’re not talking about San Francisco or New York, where home ownership comes at a hefty premium. These are cities with home prices low enough, even now, that the average monthly mortgage payment is lower than the typical monthly rent in the same city.  Boomers and millennials fight for homes as housing market cools In a recent report that analyzed the 50 largest metropolitan areas, Redfin identified only four where it’s still cheaper to buy than rent.  Economists at Realtor.com did their own analysis an...

One year into pilot program, how $1K monthly checks are helping low-income Austinites

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's been more than a year since the City of Austin approved a pilot program providing $1,000 checks every month to low-income families.Since September, 135 households have been receiving this money.The guaranteed income pilot is put on by UpTogether, a national nonprofit that worked with 10 community-based partners to raise more than $500,000 of additional funds for the program.Originally, the City of Austin allocated $1.1 million of taxpayer dollars to support 85 individuals facing extreme financial hardship. The extra allocation of philanthropic funds allowed for 50 more participants.Stephanie Hendon is a mother of four and lives at an affordable housing complex in North Austin. She says her life — and luck — have been completely flipped around since her selection to participate in the guaranteed income pilot program.Prior to the program, Hendon was living paycheck to paycheck."We ran out of money," she said. "We were homeless or half homeless, half living in a sh...

Space 'port' could soon be a reality, may help address space debris problem

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

SPACE (KXAN) — We could soon see the construction of more permanent structures in space. Aerospace company Arkisys is hoping to build what they're calling 'The Port.'"It is a satellite by definition, but it is really a long duration platform, much akin to say the International Space Station but much smaller," said Dan Lopez, chief business officer for Arkisys.The satellite works much like a Lego brick. Each brick, which is about six feet across, can attach to another brick. On top of that, tiny satellites and devices can be attached. "It's very similar to what you see on Earth — sea port, where commodities come and go, they get onboard and offloaded to vessels," Lopez said. "Those vessels themselves can be refueled. They can be modified. They can be augmented."Instead of launching new satellites, companies could lease real estate on The Port and attach their equipment to it. "We can utilize that real estate and resources to do things like building the next highway and put in space b...

PFD: Church steeple fire started due to lightning strike

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (NEWS10) -- The Pittsfield Fire Department responded to a steeple fire at 163 Linden Street, the Price Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, on Sunday evening. Firefighters say it was the second fire they responded to within 12 hours. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Firefighters responded around 7:49 Sunday evening. Upon arrival, they saw fire showing from the church steeple and upgraded the response to a working structure fire. Firefighters say the fire was extinguished within 45 minutes, with the top part of the steeple sustaining heavy fire damage. The damaged portion of the steeple was removed to ensure full extinguishment. 5 things to know this Monday, June 26 Eyewitnesses verify the fire was caused due to a lightning strike.Earlier that day, Pittsfield Firefighters responded to Patrick's Restaurant at 27 Bank Row for a fire alarm activation. Upon arrival, firefighters found a light smoke condition with wat...

Crash on US 9 in Queensbury cleared

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to 511 NY, a crash on US 9 on Glen Lake Road to NY 149 which originally closed all lanes of traffic has been cleared. Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!Drivers in the area can expect a normal commute at this time.

Affton High Schhol hosting active shooter training today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUTY, Mo. - More first responders are training Monday in case of another school shooting.This comes after the deadly shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis last October. The St. Louis County Police Affton - southwest precinct will have an intruder training exercise Monday at Affton High School. Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois Last week, Chesterfield Police and The Monarch Fire Protection District held a drill at Parkway Central Middle School. Their training sessions will continue through the summer.

Inner tuba performances taking place in O'Fallon and St. Charles this week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - The tuba takes over the St. Charles Municipal Band later this week featuring guest tuba soloist Jon Hodkin.The Scottish musician has two loves, playing tuba and cycling. He's doing both this summer for his 'Mississippi River' tour. He's cycling from New Orleans to Rochester, Minnesota. Crews repair St. Charles water main break, historic Main Street closed His goal is to do 3,000 miles in 150 days, but he takes breaks to perform his tuba skills at schools, senior centers, libraries, and special needs children's events along the way.He'll be performing at multiple senior centers in O'Fallon Monday through Wednesday and on Thursday, he'll perform with the st. Charles Municipal Band. That concert is from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Frontier Park.

Wildlife Rescue Center hosting fundraiser tonight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

BALLWIN, Mo. - Cool off and support a good cause at Ballwin Sno-cone.They're hosting a fundraiser to help the Wildlife Rescue Center, which cares for local wild animals. Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois They'll offer both kid and adult sno-cones, s'mores, and pulled pork nachos. It's from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

“The history of Denver’s northside”: Why La Raza Park will be the city’s next historic cultural district

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:27:55 GMT

La Raza Park isn’t very big as Denver parks go. Occupying one city block between Osage and Navajo streets, it’s easy enough for drivers on West 38th Avenue to zoom by without thinking about the pyramid-shaped kiosko structure at the center of its grassy lawns.But the little park has made an outsized imprint on Denver especially when it came to Chicano culture in the city. And now it is set to become a permanently protected part of history by being named the city’s third historic cultural district. It’s a designation that will qualify the park for state funding that could be used to preserve it and its legacy.The story of the park dates back to 1906 when the city bought it and opened one of the first playgrounds in Denver there, according to Denver landmark preservation staff research. It carries on through the 1930s and 40s when it was named Columbus Park in recognition of the Italian immigrants and their children who settled in north Denver and a public pool...