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Federal Reserve minutes: Some officials wanted to raise interest rates last month

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some Federal Reserve officials pushed to raise the Fed’s key interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point at their meeting last month to fight high inflation, though the central bank ultimately decided to forgo a rate hike.In a sign of growing division among the policymakers, some officials favored a quarter-point increase or said they “could have supported such a proposal,” according to the minutes of the June 13-14 meeting released Wednesday. In the end, the 11 voting members of the Fed’s interest-rate setting committee agreed unanimously to skip a hike after 10 straight increases. But they signaled that they may raise rates twice more this year, beginning as soon as this month.In Fed parlance, “some” is less than “most” or “many,” evidence that the support for another rate hike was a minority view. And some who held that view were likely unable to vote at the meeting; the 18 members of the Fed’s policymaking committee vote on a rotating basis.Though the vo...

A Chinese mining company has opened a giant lithium processing plant in Zimbabwe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A Chinese mining company formally opened a $300 million lithium processing plant Wednesday in Zimbabwe, which has one of the world’s largest reserves of the metal as demand surges globally because of its use in electric car batteries.Zimbabwe has the largest lithium reserves in Africa and has in recent years drawn investors in battery minerals from Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia, although China is the dominant player.The plant opened by Prospect Lithium Zimbabwe, an arm of Chinese company Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, has a capacity to process 4.5 million metric tons of hard rock lithium into concentrate for export per year, Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa said. Mnangagwa was present for the official opening of the sprawling plant in Goromonzi, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) southeast of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.“Lithium is the mineral of the present and the future … and value addition will position our country as an emerging and compe...

Neuma and SLC launch psychedelic foundations course

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

St. Lawrence College is partnering with local health and wellness startup Neuma to deliver the country’s first course focused on foundations of psychedelics and psychedelic therapy.As the medicinal potential of psychedelics like psilocybin continues to be explored, the Neuma Centre believes there’s value to people gaining an understanding of the history, science, principles, and philosophy of psychedelics and bringing those things into real practice.Neuma hosted a launch event last Thursday at the college to talk about why they think starting the “Foundations for Psychedelic Exploration” course is important, and as an opportunity for people to ask questions about and provide feedback on what Neuma is doing and the new course they’ll be delivering.Nearing a year old, Neuma’s goal is to provide more tools for mental health and wellness that people can use on their own. The Wellness Centre’s Co-Founder Cory Firth says that Neuma thinks it’...

Wilton Wings Bar and Kitchen in Fort Lauderdale catches on fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

A South Florida restaurant went up in flames Wednesday morning.Wilton Wings Bar and Kitchen, located at 1818 E. Sunrise Blvd, burned for nearly an hour in Fort Lauderdale.Firefighters at the scene were having a hard time getting to the fire. When it was all over, there was major damage left behind. Even the theater next door was left with minor smoke damage.“I mean, the restaurant had just been remodeled,” said Armand Daiguillom, theater manager and owner. “Re-did everything, and doing really well, so it’s a shame this is happening now.”The fire is under investigation. There were no injuries reported.

Ex-Florida QB Jalen Kitna agrees to plea deal that drops 5 felony child porn charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Ex-Florida quarterback Jalen Kitna, the son of retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna, accepted a plea deal Wednesday that dismissed five felony child pornography charges stemming from his arrest last November.Kitna instead pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct, second-degree misdemeanors.Eighth Judicial Circuit Judge Susan Miller-Jones placed Kitna on six months’ probation for each count but did not levy a fine or require the 20-year-old to register as a sex offender.Kitna, with his mother and father sitting behind him, read a statement of contrition.“I want to start off by apologizing to my family, my friends and those that care about me,” Kitna said. “Their support through this whole ordeal has meant a lot to me. The hardest thing about this whole process has been seeing how it’s affected them.“The valuable lessons that I’ve learned through this whole deal have been very helpful. I’m looking forward to applying those things and moving forwar...

Police investigate fatal three-vehicle crash in Southwest Miami-Dade

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

A fatal traffic crash involving three vehicles occurred in Southwest Miami-Dade, shutting down a street for hours. The incident occurred at approximately 10:37 a.m. near SW 147th Avenue and 288th Street. According to authorities, the passenger of one of the vehicles involved died at the scene as a result of their injuries. The driver of the same vehicle was transported to Jackson South Medical Center, where they are currently reported to be in stable condition.The drivers of the remaining two vehicles, who were the sole occupants, sustained injuries and received on-site treatment. Their injuries were not severe, and they were subsequently released.Details regarding the cause of the crash and the identities of those involved have not yet been disclosed. The Miami-Dade Police Department is actively investigating the incident to gather further information and determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.As of 3:30 p.m., the surrounding area remains closed. Drivers are urged to avo...

Police arrest 3 people after shooting at Fourth of July party leaves 5 injured in Mattapan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

Three people have now been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting in Mattapan that sent five people to local hospitals early Wednesday morning, police said. Boston police said officers first responded around 2 a.m. following a report of multiple people shot in the area of Edgewater Drive and River Street. Police said three people were later taken to hospitals by ambulance while two others took themselves to hospitals. Each of the victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, police said officers “observed a motor vehicle attempting to leave the scene and spoke with the occupants to ensure there were no injured victims in the motor vehicle.”While speaking with the vehicle’s occupants, police said officers found and recovered a loaded gun. Police said officers also arrested a suspect after they saw the suspect discard a gun in the area.Police identified those arrested in this case as Hakeem Rame...

One person killed, two others wounded after shooting at large gathering in Brockton overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

Authorities say one person was killed and at least two others were wounded after an overnight shooting in Brockton.The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said shots were fired in the area of 46 Tremont Street Wednesday morning, where a large group of people had gathered and were lighting off fireworks. Three shooting victims, a man and two women, were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital where the male, identified as Thomas Andrade Jr., 31, was pronounced dead, according to a spokesperson for the DA’s office. The two other shooting victims were treated for non-life-threatening injuries, The DA’s office noted that preliminary evidence found the shooting did “not appear to be a random act of violence.” As state and local police continue to investigate, authorities ask that anyone with information call either Brockton Police Detectives or the Massachusetts State Police Unit at 508-941-0200.

Beacon Hill punts Boston’s rent regulation bill until fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

When it comes to rent control, the Massachusetts Legislature is testing Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s patience.It’s been nearly four months since the Boston City Council approved Wu’s proposal to revive local rent control, and it’ll be several more months before lawmakers even begin their formal review of the idea that Wu made a hallmark of her 2021 campaign.The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Housing is in no rush to consider Boston’s plan, which aims to tackle a housing affordability crisis that is afflicting cities and towns throughout the state.House and Senate Democrats did not include the measure (H 3744) on the docket of a June 26 hearing that featured several other home rule petitions. They also left it and several broader rent control bills off the agenda for a July 11 hearing focused on legislation about housing “affordability.”“Although there are a few exceptions, the vast majority of home rule petitions are sl...

How married actors Jazmyn Simon and Dulé Hill were inspired to write a children’s book

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:31:10 GMT

When her daughter Kennedy was young, Jazmyn Simon would say affirmations with the child each day in hopes it would help develop her confidence and self-esteem.“I thought, ‘Well, this seems like it would be great for a young woman to know all the wonderful things about herself,” Simon says. “So let’s start now. And so every single day, before she got out of my car at school, we would do this set of affirmations.”A decade later in the tumultuous summer of 2020, the pandemic and protests for racial justice were inescapable. Simon was now married to fellow actor Dulé Hill, who had adopted Kennedy, 15 at that time, and together they had 1-year-old son Levi.Actors Dulé Hill and Jazmyn Simon recently published a children’s picture book inspired by affirmations they used with their children Kennedy and Levi Hill. Seen here, left to right, are Hill, Simon, Kennedy Hill, and Levi Dulé Hill at Disney On Ice at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Dec. 18, 2021. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty I...