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No Social Security checks, job cuts: How consumers could be hurt if the government defaults

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — All the hand-wringing in Washington over raising the debt limit can seem far removed from the lives of everyday Americans, but they could end up facing huge consequences.Millions of people in the U.S. rely on benefits that could go unpaid and services that could be disrupted, or halted altogether, if the government can't pay its bills for an extended period.If the economy tanked due to default, more than 8 million people could lose their jobs, government officials estimate. Millions of Social Security beneficiaries, veterans and military families could lose their monthly payments. Vital federal services including border and air traffic control could be disrupted if workers can't get their government paychecks. GOP, Democrats ready blame game for debt ceiling failure The economy could nosedive into a recession.President Joe Biden and the top congressional leaders from both parties met at the White House on Tuesday to try to resolve it all, their second s...

Warming trend leading up to late week severe risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After dodging downpours the last several days, drier skies and sunshine will take over the next couple of afternoons.Mainly sunny skies will stretch areawide today with rain chances less than 10%. Afternoon highs will warm near to above average today and tomorrow, with most areas in the upper 80s to low 90s.Wednesday afternoon forecast high temperaturesFriday looks to be the hottest day of the week ahead our next cold front. This front will spark scattered storms and showers, some of which could be severe late Friday afternoon through evening. Primary threats look to be large hail and damaging winds.Slight risk (2 out of 5) for severe storms late FridayThe front passes out of the area Saturday morning leaving a breezy north wind and keeping weekend temperatures cooler and more comfortable. A few showers and thunderstorms will remain possible this weekend into early next week. ‘Potentially significant’ El Niño to begin by summer FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to da...

Austin falls in ranking of best places to live

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The City of Austin found itself in the unusual spot of being outside of the top ten in a national ranking this week. The U.S. News and World Report 2023-24 survey of Best Places To Live ranks Austin as No. 40 in the nation. The survey ranked Austin No. 13 in 2022, no. 5 in 2021, no. 3 in 2020.According to Austin Business Journal, U.S. News ranked Austin No. 1 in the nation 2017, 2018 and 2019 and No. 2 in the nation in 2016. The good news for Austin is that the city still ranked No. 1 in terms of cities in Texas. U.S. News and World Report said on its website, "to make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and a high quality of life."Top 10 places to live in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report 2023 surveyGreen Bay, Wis.Huntsville, Ala.Raleigh & Durham, N.C.Boulder, Colo.Sarasota, Fla.Naples, Fla.Portland, MaineCharlotte, N.C.Colorado Springs, ColoFayetteville, Ark.Top 10 places to...

Final Dell Match Play in Austin raises $1.1 million

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

Editor's note: The video above originally aired on Mar. 25, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) – Officials with World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play tournament said Tuesday the tournament's final play at Austin Country Club in March raised more than $1.1 million. As KXAN reported in March, the tournament has benefitted First Tee, a golf-based leadership program for kids, for the last eight years and Dell Children’s HERE Campaign, which helps families pay for treatments at Dell Children’s Medical Center, since 2020.According to Tuesday's announcement, the 2023 contributions bring the all-time charitable giving total to more than $7 million since the event moved to Austin Country Club in 2016, which includes a $400,000 donation from the 2020 event that was canceled due to COVID-19. Tournament officials said money was directed to special programming for students of First Tee and the creation of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Signature Room at the Blood and Cancer Center at Dell ...

Meet the 2023 Miss Vermont's Teen

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

MANCHESTER, Vt. (NEWS10) - The 2023 Miss Vermont’s Teen was crowned in April, beginning her year of service and leadership. Ginger Ragaishis, who lives in Manchester, will dedicate her next year to raising awareness about hidden disabilities. Miss Vermont’s Teen 2023 hails from Bennington County Ginger will use her platform to continue advocating for those with hidden disabilities, like herself. She is the founder and spokesperson of a nonprofit organization called “Defying Limits.”"I have a learning disability, and I think that it’s really important to share that message. I’m currently working on a documentary called "Hidden Disabilities." One in 10 people have them, I don’t really think its really talked about enough,” she said. Off the Beaten Path: Robert Frost Stone House Museum The high school junior is already counting down the days until she represents the Green Mountain State in Miss America’s Teen 2024. Her goal is to make "Top 11," which she says would be a first for V...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Is It Okay to Ask About Someone's Finances on First Date?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Sean, and it's about dating again. Here's his email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I'm a divorced 48 year old man. I am ready to get back out there so to speak, but I have a real question about dating these days. I've worked hard in my life and am doing fine when it comes to finances. I'm not rich by any means, but I'm comfortable and I know how to save. All that being said, I was wondering what you thought about asking someone about their financial situation on a first date. The truth is, I don't want to date someone who isn't as financially stable as I am. The person doesn't have to have as much money as I do but they do have to have their own money, and a savings account. Bottom line, I don't want to date someone who is deeply in debt. Is it okay for me to ask on a first date what someone's financial situation is? I wouldn't mind someone askin...

Woman pleads guilty to driving drunk with kids in car

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

HALFMOON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Clifton Park woman has pleaded guilty to aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child after being arrested in January following a crash with two children in the car, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney's Office. Jennifer Havalchak, 36, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 at 9:30 a.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On January 11, police say Havalchak crashed her car into a business sign off Route 9 in Halfmoon. Police also say she had two children in the car when she wrecked. The children were uninjured.

Malta woman pleads guilty to reckless endangerment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Malta woman has pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment, according to the Saratoga County District Attorney's Office, after being arrested in January and being accused of setting fire to her home. Sarah Woody, 42, will be sentenced on June 19 at 10:30 a.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! At the time of her arrest, Woody was accused of setting fire to her home, a duplex, on Thimbleberry Road in Malta. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office said the residents on the other side of the duplex were home at the time.

Ask Amy: Sociable children tax mom’s hosting talents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

Dear Amy: I’m a mother of two children, ages 7 and 10.My kids enjoy playing with their friends outside of school, and I mostly don’t mind hosting playdates.We do way more than our share of hosting, however.One of my son’s best friends is frequently invited to our house, but rarely reciprocates.The mom even acknowledges that they “need to have him (my son) over,” but the invite never seems to arrive.This mom is busy (she has three kids) and rarely turns down our invitations, but rarely invites my son over.Short of inviting ourselves to their house, is there a way to politely ask them to play there more often?I get tired of having the same kids over and rarely getting invited back, but I don’t want my son to never get to play with his bestie, either.Should I just suck it up?— Tired of HostingDear Tired: Children, like adults, vary in terms of their friendship and companionship wants and needs.Related ArticlesAsk Amy | Ask Amy: Elderly mot...

Top Chinese envoy to visit Ukraine, Russia on 'peace' mission

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:36:39 GMT

A Chinese envoy, who is a top official in the country, will start a tour to Ukraine, Russia, and other European cities. Beijing claims that this trip is aimed at discussing a 'political solution' to the Ukraine Crisis.Li Hui will visit Poland, France and Germany during the multi-day tour, announced the Foreign Ministry on Friday, without giving a schedule.At a daily press briefing, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the foreign ministry said: "The visit... is a testimony to China's effort towards promoting peace discussions and fully demonstrates China’s firm commitment toward peace."His visit could coincide with the start of the long-anticipated counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in order to reclaim territory that was seized by Russia.According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, Li is expected to make his first stop in Ukraine on his journey.China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a question about the order in which Li will be visiting the various countrie...