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How did Saint Nicholas inspire the Santa Claus legend?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The white-bearded Christian saint whose acts of generosity inspired America’s secular Santa Claus figure is known worldwide — but Saint Nicholas' origin story is not.The legends surrounding jolly old St. Nicholas go way beyond delivering candy and toys to children.WHO WAS ST. NICHOLAS?St. Nicholas was a fourth-century Christian bishop from the Mediterranean port city of Myra (in modern-day Turkey).“Much of the rest is legend. There’s not really a lot of hard historical evidence about St. Nicholas,” said the Rev. Nicholas Ayo, author of “Saint Nicholas in America: Christmas Holy Day and Holiday.”But whether the stories are true is not so much the point, said Ayo, an 89-year-old retired Notre Dame University professor named after St. Nicholas.“There’s no Santa Claus that lands on the roof, but there’s a desire in people’s heart for an unconditional love that doesn’t depend on your behavior, but the fact that you’re somebody’s child.” Will holiday travel be chaotic a...

WilCo constable announces campaign for Sheriff as the Republican nominee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) – A Williamson County constable who has been working in law enforcement for nearly four decades announced he is running for Williamson County Sheriff as the Republican nominee. Precinct Three Constable Matthew Lindemann started his career in the 1980s as a corrections officer before joining the Texas Department of Public Safety as a state trooper in 1990. Nearly 30 years later, Lindemann retired as a Lieutenant in the Texas Ranger Division and then worked as an investigator with the Williamson County District Attorney’s Office, according to the campaign announcement“Williamson County has been my home my entire life. My wife and I have raised our two children in this community, and now, my grandchildren are growing up here. Keeping our county a safe place to live, work, and raise a family is personal to me,” Lindemann said. “For 38 years, I have dedicated myself to protecting and serving Williamson County, and I hope to continue that service as yo...

Lake Elmo Airport’s new runway gets more use — and more complaints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

The Lake Elmo Airport has drawn a few noise complaints since the completion of last year’s runway relocation and expansion project.During a three-month period this summer and fall, the Metropolitan Airports Commission received 4,291 noise complaints from 16 locations near the airport. During that same period in 2022, MAC received six complaints from four locations.“It was unbearable from April through the beginning of November, and we absolutely cannot tolerate another spring and summer like that,” said Mary Vierling, who lives near the airport. “We experience constant noise and buzzing. Residents cannot work from home, cannot sleep, and our pets are afraid to go outside.”On Wednesday, she reported that six airplanes were doing touch-and-goes at the airport, departing over Neal Avenue at 30-second to one-minute intervals. Those touch-and-goes — when an aircraft lands on a runway, then immediately takes off again, often as part of flight training — and an increased number of flyovers...

Your Money: Two last-minute tax moves for your stock portfolio

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

Bruce Helmer and Peg WebbThere’s still time to take advantage of tax rules affecting stocks in your taxable portfolio or brokerage account that could help you save on taxes next April. But remember that the end of the year is fast approaching, and it takes time for stock transactions to settle.Make sure you leave about 10 days or more to make sure all of your tax-driven sales or purchases are recorded in 2023.First, let’s review the rules around capital gains and taxes on dividend or interest income.• On short-term capital gains (that is, investments that are sold within 12 months of purchase) and ordinary income, you’ll pay federal income taxes at rates up to 40.8%. This rate combines the top income tax rate of 37% plus the 3.8% Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax on net investment income (the so-called “NIIT rule”).• Long-term capital gains taxes are levied at rates from 0% to 23.8%, depending on your income.• You’ll also pay taxes on stock dividends at rates from 0% to 23.8%, depending...

Ulster County teacher arrested on misconduct charge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

ESOPUS, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A teacher in Esopus was arrested following a misconduct investigation involving a student, according to police. Ronnie Green, 70, of Ellenville, has been charged with official misconduct. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! On October 25, the Ulster County Sheriff's Office began an investigation into a reported inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student at the Ulster Boces Career and Technical Center in Esopus. The initial investigation identified Green as the teacher involved, and the victim as being a 17-year-old student of Green. Police say further investigation determined that Green reportedly provided the student with a cell phone secretly in order to communicate with Green in private. Green then allegedly engaged in inappropriate sexual conversations with the 17-year-old. Jury convicts Schenectady man in fatal 2022 stabbing On December 7, Green surrendered himself to police and he was taken...

Many hit the slopes for winter fun at Catamount Mountain Resort

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

HILLSDALE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — As the temperatures drop, many winter sports enthusiasts are ready to hit the slopes. Even with the mild weather this weekend, that still didn’t stop one family from driving from New Jersey to Catamount Mountain Resort for their first day of skiing this season. Get the latest news, weather, sports and more delivered right to your inbox! “It’s great to be back on the snow again,” George Ebel said. “I really miss it.”Zack Sempier says he loves to ski and hopes today will be the first of many.“The dream is 20 times,” Sempier said. “But if we get 10, then I’ll consider that a win.”Many were out with their skis and snowboards, enjoying as much of the season as possible.Ian Tomasch is the Marketing Director at Catamount Mountain Resort, and he says the resort was very excited to open up earlier than expected—the earliest in the last 15 years.“Normally, we don’t open until early to mid-December. We opened November 30th this year, which is great,” We’ve had real...

Denver weather: Snow moves out Saturday after dropping over 7 inches in some western suburbs, foothills

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

Denver’s latest snowstorm moved out of the area early Saturday morning, leaving in its wake over seven inches of snowfall in some western suburbs and foothills.Denver received right around the forecast two to three inches of snow with 2.8 inches by Saturday morning.Slick, snow-covered roads will stick around most of the Denver metro area and western foothills as temperatures will stay chilly Saturday. Forecasters at the National Weather Service in Boulder advised drivers to be cautious west of Interstate 25 and into the mountains.Areas with the most snow in the Denver metro area were suburbs like Ken Caryl with 9.7 inches, Golden with 7.8 inches and Lakewood with 7.3 inches.The Boulder area also received a lot of snow, with the city getting 8.3 inches and Nederland getting 10 inches.Crescent Village in southern Boulder County received the most snow, according to the National Weather Service, with 14 inches falling by 8:45 a.m.The mountains are still likely to get a little more...

2 winning Mega Millions tickets sold at the same SoCal gas station share jackpot win 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

Southern California may have a new lucky spot when it comes to buying lottery tickets. A Chevron station in Encino, located at 18081 Ventura Boulevard, sold not one, but two winning tickets that matched all six numbers in Friday night’s drawing plus the gold Mega Ball, according to a press release from lottery officials. The prize had grown to $394 million – which equates to about $188.6 million in cash – since it was last won in Texas by a South Dakota-based trust on Oct. 6, Mega Millions said.  Strong winds trigger Red Flag Warning for parts of SoCal In addition to the two grand prize winners in Encino, there were 715,952 winning tickets across all other prize tiers for Dec. 8’s drawing. “Across all prize tiers, there were almost $10.5 million winning tickets during this 18-drawing jackpot run,” lottery officials said. 2023 has been considered “highly unusual” for Mega Millions, as it is the first time in a decade that ten jackpots have been one in the same calend...

Prep roundup: Clayton Valley Charter and De La Salle basketball among Friday’s winners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

Boys basketballClayton Valley Charter 70, San Ramon Valley 60Clayton Valley Charter’s explosive backcourt was too much for San Ramon Valley to handle at the Gridley Invitational. James Moore scored 20 points for the Ugly Eagles, and teammate Elijah Perryman had 15 points and 11 assists.Matthew Diekmann led SRV with 17 points, and Seamus Deeley had 15 points and nine rebounds. Elliott Conley also scored eight points for the Wolves. St Joseph-Santa Maria 82, St Francis 56Five-star junior wing Tounde Yessoufou entered Friday averaging 37 points-per game for St. Joseph, and raised his scoring average with a 42-point night against St. Francis in Mountain View. Teammate Julius Price scored 16 points as the visitors ran past the home team. Salesian 82, Clovis North 56Alvin Loving IV scored a team-high 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists in another dominant victory at the Gridley Invitational. Deundrae Perteet scored 15 and had eight rebounds too.Salesian also got nine po...

Update: Barricaded police detective arrested after second Pleasant Hill standoff in three days

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:24:54 GMT

PLEASANT HILL — The retired detective who barricaded himself inside his Pleasant Hill home after allegedly shooting and injuring his wife was taken into custody Saturday morning, authorities said — concluding a confusing police response that included two standoffs over three days.The arrest came shortly before 9 a.m., about four hours after he allegedly opened fire at police stationed outside his home. No injuries were reported.Few details on the arrest were available Saturday morning.A shelter-in-place order was lifted for the Sherman Acres neighborhood, which had been locked down since Thursday evening.The Central County SWAT team and crisis negotiators attempted to speak with Chunliam Saechao, a 40-year-old retired detective from the Pittsburg Police Department, throughout the night, according to a Pleasant Hill press release.Rather than surrender, police said around 5 a.m. that Saechao fired numerous shots from a rifle and shotgun at nearby armored police vehicles from ins...