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Texas' Christmas tree industry generated $714M in 2022

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

TEXAS (KXAN) — Texas' Christmas tree industry contributed more than $700 million to the state's economy in 2022, according to a Tuesday Texas A&M Forest Service release.The Texas A&M Forest Service found more than four million real Christmas trees are sold each year statewide. Last year, the real Christmas tree industry had an overall impact of $714 million on the state economy — when accounting for direct, indirect and induced impacts — and helped assist almost 6,000 jobs statewide.When broken down into direct economic impacts, the Texas Christmas tree industry generated $397 million and employed just shy of 4,000 people, the Texas A&M Forest Service said.“It’s a tradition in many households to have a real Christmas tree,” said Dr. Aaron Stottlemyer, Texas A&M Forest Service Forest Analytics Department head, in the release. “The process of going as a family to pick out a tree is a fun activity that supports rural economies across the state.” RELATED: Will Texas Ch...

A Hudson grocer’s death left a hole in the community. A budding co-op hopes to help fill it.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

HUDSON, Wis. — When Fresh and Natural Foods owner Kerry Larson passed away this summer, residents here mourned the loss of their friend and the way he held court at the town’s close-knit grocery store.Fresh and Natural customers didn’t look for items, they looked for people. When a customer needed a specific cut in the meat department, they went and found Bill. When they had a question about produce, they looked for Brittany. Kerry even met his wife, Kris, at the store.Larson’s death at 64 left the future of the store uncertain, but Hudson Grocery Cooperative announced this week that they plan to purchase Fresh and Natural Foods, aiming to carry on that legacy, and also build their own as a community-based, locally sourced grocery store.The sale is expected to be finalized Thursday.“I have very fond feelings for the store and how it all happened,” Fresh and Natural Foods President Kris Larson said. “It’s going to be hard, but at the same time, with him gone, it is for the best. And ...

Bagel company opens for business in North Bennington

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

NORTH BENNINGTON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Bennington Bagel Company has its operations up and running, getting ready to make bagels for the people of North Bennington and beyond. On Monday, its first day open, the business closed its online ordering after just four hours before reaching max capacity. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Bennington Bagel Company is owned by Lauren Carifio, the head chef, and Steven DeTeso, who focuses on operations. As of now, Bennington Bagel Company is a licensed home bakery that sells sourdough bagels.When orders are open, customers can order their bagels online for pickup on either Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday. The bagels will be made fresh on that scheduled morning to be picked up at a home on Dunham Avenue in North Bennington."We're pleased with the response so far and we're really open to feedback," DeTeso told NEWS10. Hattie’s in Albany expected to open in first few months of 2024 The Bennington ...

Construction for affordable housing development in Schenectady begins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The construction of Mosaic Apartments, a two-building development with 60 units in Schenectady's Mont Pleasant Neighborhood has been announced. The apartments will have one four-story building with 46 units and a three-story building with 14 units. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! All apartments will be affordable to homes earning just at or below 60% of the area median income. The development will be all-electric and energy-efficient, including 30 units with onsite support services for seniors and those with disabilities. “Today’s investment in Schenectady will create dozens of much-needed affordable, energy-efficient apartments in the heart of one of the city’s most vibrant communities,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis by creating affordable and supportive housing opportunities that enhance neighborhoods for existing residents and futur...

Pedestrian killed in crash on I-255 near Dupo, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

DUPO, Ill. - A pedestrian was killed in a crash Wednesday morning near Dupo, Illinois, according to Illinois State Police. The crash happened just after 10 a.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 255. It happened around milepost 6 in Monroe County. U.S. Steel idles steelmaking at Granite City Works ‘indefinitely’ Illinois State Police and other first responders arrived at the scene within minutes. It's unclear what led up to the crash. Crews are working to collect more information and clear the scene of the crash. Southbound traffic in the area has been shut down. Crews are working to reroute traffic onto Illinois Route 3. If possible, drivers are encouraged to avoid the area. This is a developing story. Illinois State Police are handling the investigation. FOX 2 will update as more information becomes available.

Blues see mixed results at season's quarter point, power play among NHL's worst

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - If the NHL playoffs started today, the St. Louis Blues would hold the first Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. That said, the notes are only one-quarter through the season, and it's been a bit of a rollercoaster. The Blues will bring an 11-9-1 record into their final November contest Thursday. The path to this point has been a bit inconsistent: No losing streaks past two games, but no winning streaks past three games.After a rare playoff miss last season, there have been some encouraging signs the Blues could be close to finding a groove and proving last year was a fluke. Blowout wins against recent Stanley Cup champions in the Colorado Avalanche (8-2) and Tampa Bay Lightning (5-0) show what the Blues are capable of in top form. Mizzou Football poised for New Year’s Six bid: Which bowl game might they play? The goaltending tandem of Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer, minus a few starts, has stood tall, combining for a .946 save percentage and 1.63 goals against ...

Customers may love Walmart's newest feature even if they can't see it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Walmart is a major player in online shopping and shipping speed is a large factor in making any purchase. Amazon is perhaps best known for its Prime service, which offers free delivery and expedited shipping. Now Walmart is expanding its parcel network, which is expected to increase shipping speed.Customers may not notice it in stores, but the parcel stations will help Walmart customers get their online orders sooner. They plan to have over 40 parcel stations in stores by the end of the year, with many already operating for the busy holiday season. The goal is to expand the feature to more locations in 2024.Walmart is using its 4,700 stores strategically. These stores, situated within 10 miles of 90% of the U.S. population, have transformed into more than just places to shop. They now serve as online fulfillment centers and delivery hubs, supported by a vast transportation and last-mile delivery network. How time-of-use pricing plan is impacting electric bills Current...

Foot-long cookies are coming to Subway restaurants in 2024

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS -- Subway will be offering foot-long chocolate chip cookies, and you can get your hands on it this National Cookie Day. If you're in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, or New York, select Subway restaurants will turn into Cookieway, where you can try the foot-long cookie for free with the purchase of any foot-long sub.On Monday, December 4th, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, head to these Subway locations for your free foot-long cookie:Chicago: 604 S Wabash Ave., Suite D, Chicago, IL 60605Dallas: 1222 Commerce Street, Suite 150, Dallas, TX 75202Miami: 2795 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, FL 33140New York City: 545 8 Ave., New York, NY 10018Subway, has been selling freshly baked cookies for years. Now the foot-long cookie will be available in restaurants nationwide in 2024. The chain says that last year's limited run of foot-long cookies at a Cookieway pop-up in Miami received an overwhelming response. Now they're making it a permanent addition to the menu.Subway is offering a sneak peek ...

Nuggets to face Clippers, Rockets again in newly scheduled games for teams eliminated from in-season tournament

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

The Nuggets will repeat the last week of November in the first week of December.In two new regular-season games not originally scheduled but now assigned to NBA teams eliminated from the in-season tournament, the Nuggets will visit the Clippers on Dec. 6 (8 p.m. MT, ESPN) and host the Rockets on Dec. 8 (7 p.m., Altitude TV). It’s an exact replica of Denver’s schedule this week, which started with a 113-104 win at the Clippers on Monday followed by Houston visiting Ball Arena on Wednesday.The Clippers and Rockets were also eliminated in Group West B of the tournament. The Pelicans won the group and advanced to the knockout stage.This will be the Nuggets’ fourth time facing the Rockets in their first 23 games of the season, and their third time facing the Clippers. They will not play against Houston the rest of the regular season, and they will have one remaining matchup with the Clippers, also in Los Angeles on April 4, 2024. On Monday, ex-Clippers Reggie Jackson an...

LIVE: Police standoff underway with Uber passenger armed with a gun

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:37 GMT

Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department are in a standoff with an armed passenger in an Uber in L.A.’s Mount Washington neighborhood. According to LAPD officials, the original call came out around 7:35 a.m. in the 4500 block of Marmion Way near Museum Drive.An Uber driver contacted LAPD to report a passenger in the vehicle with a gun, police said. LAPD in a standoff with an armed Uber passenger on Nov. 29, 2023. (Sky5)LAPD in a standoff with an armed Uber passenger on Nov. 29, 2023. (Sky5)LAPD in a standoff with an armed Uber passenger on Nov. 29, 2023. (Sky5)LAPD in a standoff with an armed Uber passenger on Nov. 29, 2023. (Sky5)A train was being held at the station, and an LAPD officer was seen speaking with the train's conductor. (Sky5)The driver made it out of the vehicle safely, telling authorities that the armed passenger was refusing to exit.Officers were seen with their guns drawn at 9:30 a.m. as a train arrived at the adjacent Museum Station.The train was ...