ocean magic mini mal The deployment of smart fire protection and monitoring devices in Beijing schools reflects the city's commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of its educational community. By leveraging innovative technology and proactive safety measures, Beijing aims to create a secure and resilient learning environment that fosters academic excellence and empowers students to thrive.BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor,” Miller said. Wildfires and extreme drought Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula’s predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country’s environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024’s figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River’s main tributaries Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon’s fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole.” But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don’t how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. Indigenous voices and rights made headway in 2024 The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people’s role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support,” Ebus said. ___ The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .

Happy holidays everyone! The has kicked off, with a ton of top-end prospects taking part. Here's our third 2025 NFL mock draft to unwrap as a present, stuff your stocking, or do whatever else you want. Ward seeks explosive plays and will bring a calmness to the QB position, both traits that have been desperately missing in recent years in New York. Ward has things to clean up, namely his heat check moments that can get him in trouble, but pairing Ward with the electric Malik Nabers would bring explosive plays in bunches even as Ward continues to refine his game. Travis Hunter might be the best overall player in the class, and the Patriots need help at skill positions on offense and defense. Hunter would make a lot of sense as a shutdown cornerback across from Christian Gonzalez and can step in on offense here and there as needed. — Campbell plays like a veteran even at just 20 years old. He can consistently bend and move defenders in the run game and has the footwork, awareness and hand technique to consistently win in pass protection, even without ideal arm length. Whether he stays out at OT (I think he can) or has to move inside, I think Campbell is the best overall offensive lineman in this class and a winning player who would boost a Jags line with his maturity no matter where he ends up starting. The Titans need a quarterback desperately, but they could also use a topflight cornerback to pair with some of the front seven talent that they already have accumulated. Will Johnson, step on down. Here's the pass rusher with the most upside in this draft. Carter is twitchy and can bend around the corner. He still has to work on his overall consistency, especially against the run, where he can take himself out of too many plays. The at QB and even the future of their OL beyond 2025, but the thought of pairing Carter with Myles Garrett is exciting. And terrifying for offenses. Another team with a dire quarterback situation, the Raiders opt to take Sanders to shore up that position for them. They can’t walk into another season with Aidan O’Connell as their best option, even though he’s a good backup option to have moving forward. After battling an ankle injury at the beginning of the year, Williams has started to ramp up his play — and the production has followed. Williams has an excellent combination of length, strength and explosiveness. With the added bonus of being able to affect the game from multiple spots along the line. His best ball is ahead of him and would be a fun fit next to Derrick Brown for a Panthers defense needing needle-movers. Gang Green’s defense still has some of the top players in the NFL, but their depth was lacking this season as their defensive performance took a nosedive following the firing of Robert Saleh. Graham is a solid reinforcement for Quinnen Williams on interior defensive line. Banks is explosive, plays balanced and can have impact snaps in the run and pass games. He’d be best at guard as a pro, which would be a great fit for the Bears who desperately need a boost on the inside and at right guard. The Bears targeting positional versatility doesn’t hurt at all, though. The Saints can’t be picky at this point in their roster building journey. They’ll need help just about everywhere as they try to rebuild while staying cap compliant. Starks is a strong player to add on the backend of their defense who can play any safety position. Conerly has light feet and can get to the second level in a hurry. His strength was a big question mark heading into this season and even over the first month. But he has really put it together over the second half of the season, showing off the ability to anchor and sustain blocks with much more consistency and playing with much better awareness for post-snap movement. Conerly is athletic enough to stay on the outside, but I could see his skill set translating across the offensive line. Perfect for a 49ers offense that needs to inject talent up front, and possibly start thinking about a Trent Williams succession plan. Miami found a hit last year when they picked Chop Robinson out of Penn State to bolster their pass rush, and they dip in the well again here. Walker can be an all-around weapon for the Dolphins' front seven, but he’s at his best when he’s moving forward and wreaking havoc against opposing offensive lines. The Colts' defense has actually stepped up in recent weeks. They could still use a player at outside cornerback to pair with JuJu Brents when he returns from injury. Enter Revel, a cornerback with a prototypical build and the easy movement ability to develop into a true outside one-on-one defender. Revel suffered a season-ending ACL injury in September, but his aggressive play when he was on the field should keep him high on boards. Plus he has the length and other traits that make sense for what general manager Chris Ballard and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley prefer at the position. Cincinnati needs to get more stout and physical up front to get back to being a real contender in the AFC — there might not be a better player to do that than the 330-pound Grant. He might not be a stat-stuffer in the NFL, but he can plug holes and has some real upside. This would be a huge get for the Cowboys. McMillan is my easy WR1 in this class and offers true X-receiver upside at the next level. His size (6-foot-5, 212 pounds), catching range, and surprisingly easy bend for such a big receiver gives him matchup-wrecking potential. Pairing McMillan’s ability to win outside with CeeDee Lamb operating from the slot and Dallas would have ideal synergy between two pass-catchers. Ashton Jeanty is exciting, but McMillan would supercharge this offense and passing attack and has the added boost of fitting their personnel, even down to what Dak Prescott likes. Arizona needs to shore up its defensive line if it wants to get serious about winning the NFC West. Harmon from Oregon is a talented player who can help the Cardinals get better up front immediately. It makes sense that Stewart was a former big-time recruit with how easy of a mover he is. Stewart can line up across the defensive line and his size, athleticism and do-everything style fits with what head coach Todd Bowles likes to do up front that changes based on the situation. It might be a bit of a hat-on-a-hat situation with what the Buccaneers have currently on their roster, but the other position that I looked at, inside linebacker, might be a reach here. No team has a need for offensive line help more than the Seahawks. Booker is a stout interior player who will be able to get them moving in the right direction again — and could be one of the missing pieces they need to beat some of the tougher teams in the NFL. Even with the Falcons starting to pick up some sacks in recent weeks, injecting their defensive front with more talent seems like their obvious near-term plan (I feel like I could have written this every year for the past decade). I actually like where the Falcons sit with their offensive personnel, but adding a talented player like Nolen, a more dynamic interior player than what Atlanta currently has, would give head coach Raheem Morris and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake a fun player to work with and move around on their front. And his physicality would help the Falcons out on all downs. The Chargers' offense clearly has a vision and a plan, but they need more talented (and physical) players to make that happen. Warren might be one of the best players in the class, but falls to this pick due to that pesky positional value argument. Texans. Offensive line. Texans. Offensive line. We will see this pairing for the next hundred-plus days and thousand-plus mock drafts that happen. Justifiably so! C.J. Stroud is constantly under duress and the Texans' run game is one of the least efficient in the league, despite Joe Mixon’s best efforts. Mbow is a very good athlete who springs out of his stance. He could look to add some lower body strength, but he plays tough and is able to bend and stay balanced in space, while also already showing off the ability to cut off defenders on the backside. He would boost the Texans' offensive line no matter what spot he’d end up at. The quest to continue building around Bo Nix continues for the Broncos. The cupboard might not be as empty as previously thought on offense for the Broncos, but if they’re going to make this Nix thing work, they’ll need a few more wide receivers. The Rams' ever-revolving offensive line actually gets a first-round pick to plop in. Alaric Jackson is a free agent after this season and Rob Havenstein is another year older. Ersery would give the Rams a player with dozens of college starts under his belt, with still more to tap into and develop. Ersery has a large frame and plays with some pop on contact, while also being a solid mover in such a big frame and flashing improving hand placement (something that he could still clean up). Ersery would fit the Rams' preference and give them the best of both worlds of having the experience to potentially play early and a player who could have more to develop for the future. Campbell is the first true linebacker off the board, and he goes to a team that could stand to get a smidge faster on the second level of the defense. In a world where college football isn’t producing many true first-round talents at the position, the Crimson Tide product could be one of them. I know the Steelers don’t typically (or mostly ever) draft wide receivers in the first round. But this Steelers offense has been lethargic when George Pickens isn’t on the field. And while players at other positions could be intriguing here for the Steelers — another cornerback opposite Joey Porter Jr., swapping out Najee Harris for Ashton Jeanty, possibly even a tight end like Colston Loveland — I went with the dynamic Burden, whose production was up and down in 2024 but his explosiveness was still apparent. Burden lined up mostly in the slot during college as Missouri liked to move him around the formation, but he showed off the ability to win from the outside and has the YAC and big-play potential to add to any offense. He fits perfectly opposite Pickens and in Arthur Smith’s offense. A big, heavy-handed pass rusher for a team that loves big, heavy-handed pass rushers, Jackson had a solid year for Arkansas off the edge and projects well to the next level for defenses that like their pass rushers to be well-rounded players. The FBS leader in sacks, Green is a riser among prospects. Green plays hard every snap and will even be disruptive against double teams. He's only a redshirt sophomore but has already flashed secondary pass rush moves. It’s not all perfect and Green can get washed out when he doesn’t connect. Green’s athleticism, hard playing style, and flashes of advanced play remains an intriguing profile for the Packers to include. The Eagles always love drafting ahead for future needs on the offensive line, and Simmons could fill that role as an eventual replacement for Lane Johnson. Simmons has the talent to be a starting offensive tackle in the NFL, but needs some refinement. The Bills look to constantly add to their defensive line and do so again with Pearce. While Pearce can be up and down against the run, he has upside as an impactful pass rusher. Pearce is long and can be a handful for offensive tackles right at the snap of the ball. He can be easily taken out of the play a bit too often, especially against the run. Pearce could continue to develop his consistency for a Bills franchise that prefers to have a deep rotational line under head coach Sean McDermott. A dynamic interior presence would really take the Vikings' defense to the next level. Williams could be that guy for the Vikings as he’s shown some real penetrative ability at Ohio State. A team built through the trenches is exactly where my eyes went to to keep the good times rolling in Detroit. The Lions have remained one of the best offenses in the NFL despite signing new guards this offseason. The Lions keep the assembly line going with Savaiinaea, a guard who has a good thick build and plays consistently balanced. Savaiinaea is smart and knows how to use his hands. He plays right tackle for Arizona, but I like him best on the inside at the next level. A steal! Ashton Jeanty is one of the two or three best players in the class but winds up in the hands of the Chiefs, who should be thrilled about being able to add him to the offense. Jeanty has a rare combination of strength, balance and speed that will make him a nightmare for NFL defenses.iCAD ( NASDAQ:ICAD – Get Free Report ) was upgraded by analysts at StockNews.com from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Thursday. iCAD Price Performance Shares of ICAD opened at $1.54 on Thursday. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $1.72 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.54. iCAD has a 1-year low of $1.18 and a 1-year high of $2.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.87 million, a PE ratio of -11.85 and a beta of 1.47. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ICAD. Virtu Financial LLC boosted its position in iCAD by 55.6% in the first quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 21,286 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 7,604 shares during the last quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in iCAD by 14.2% during the 2nd quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc now owns 159,900 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $208,000 after acquiring an additional 19,917 shares during the period. Essex LLC purchased a new stake in shares of iCAD in the 3rd quarter valued at $216,000. Finally, Perritt Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of iCAD by 7.5% in the first quarter. Perritt Capital Management Inc. now owns 139,983 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $225,000 after acquiring an additional 9,717 shares during the period. 24.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. iCAD Company Profile iCAD, Inc engages in the provision of cancer detection and therapy solutions in the United States. It operates through two segments, Detection and Therapy. The company provides ProFound AI for digital breast tomosynthesis and 2D mammography; PowerLook, a density assessment solution; and ProFound Risk, a breast cancer risk analysis. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iCAD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iCAD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

CLEVELAND — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is no longer expected to play Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful Saturday as the Dolphins (7-8) traveled to Cleveland as he deals with his hip injury. Tagovailoa was already deemed questionable for Sunday’s 4:05 p.m. kickoff on Miami’s Friday injury report, but his hip injury was not largely considered concerning after he was also on the injury report for it last week and made it through the win over the San Francisco 49ers. He downplayed the significance of the ailing hip, which he first banged up in the Dec. 15 loss to the Texans in Houston, when he spoke to reporters Wednesday. “It’s good,” Tagovailoa said then. “It’s just like anyone else on the team and anyone else around the league. You get banged up little bit towards the ending of the year so just got to take care of that.” Tagovailoa also famously had his college career at Alabama cut short due to a hip injury. He recovered from it during his draft process in 2020, the Dolphins selected him with the No. 5 pick. Without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins likely start backup quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley against the Browns. Third-stringer Skylar Thompson was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday’s game. The Dolphins, on Saturday, also placed cornerback Kendall Fuller on injured reserve. He was already ruled out for Sunday’s game with his knee injury and considered week to week with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. With the roster spot, Miami signed wide receiver Erik Ezukanma from the practice squad to the active roster, as Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle (knee) are questionable for Sunday. Along with Thompson, the Dolphins elevated cornerback Nik Needham from the practice squad for depth at cornerback with Fuller out and Storm Duck likely to play in nickel packages. Tagovailoa, this season, is vying for Drew Brees’ single-season completion percentage record. With Miami set to go with Huntley and the Browns in line to start Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the NFL is fortunate to have flexed out of airing Sunday’s Dolphins-Browns game out of prime time on the penultimate week of the regular season. Barrett to Bucs Unretired NFL edge rusher Shaquil Barrett is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After Barrett, whom the Dolphins waived from the reserve/retired list Thursday, cleared waivers Friday, he agreed to sign with the Buccaneers, according to multiple reports. Barrett signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in March, retired in July before training camp and wished to come out of retirement in late November. Miami, caught off guard by the request on a short week before playing the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving night, did not activate him before its deadline, nor did the team immediately release him so he could join another team. The Dolphins reversed course on that decision this past week, with coach Mike McDaniel citing the organization did not believe waiving him would create a competitive disadvantage at this point. The Bucs (8-7) are tied with the Atlanta Falcons atop the NFC South, with the Falcons holding the tiebreaker. Tampa Bay can still win the division with two weeks remaining. Barrett never played a down for the Dolphins. He had 45 sacks, made two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl in his previous five seasons with the Bucs. ©2024 South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Biden welcomed 2,500 guests to the South Lawn under sunny skies as he cracked jokes about the fates of “Peach” and “Blossom” and sounded wistful tones about the last weeks of his presidency after a half-century in Washington power circles. “It’s been the honor of my life. I’m forever grateful,” Biden said, taking note of his impending departure on Jan. 20, 2025. That's when power will transfer to Republican President-elect Donald Trump, the man Biden defeated four years ago and was battling again until he was pressured to bow out of the race amid concerns about his age and viability. Biden is 82. Until Inauguration Day, the president and first lady Jill Biden will continue a busy run of festivities that will double as their long goodbye. The White House schedule in December is replete with holiday parties for various constituencies, from West Wing staff to members of Congress and the White House press corps. Biden relished the brief ceremony with the pardoned turkeys, named for the official flower of the president's home state of Delaware. “The peach pie in my state is one of my favorites,” he said during remarks that were occasionally interrupted by Peach gobbling atop the table to Biden's right. “Peach is making a last-minute plea,” Biden said at one point, drawing laughter from an overflow crowd that included Cabinet members, White House staff and their families, and students from 4H programs and Future Farmers of America chapters. Biden introduced Peach as a bird who “lives by the motto, ‘Keep calm and gobble on.’” Blossom, the president said, has a different motto: “No fowl play. Just Minnesota nice.” Peach and Blossom came from the farm of John Zimmerman, near the southern Minnesota city of Northfield. Zimmerman, who has raised about 4 million turkeys, is president of the National Turkey Federation, the group that has gifted U.S. presidents Thanksgiving turkeys since the Truman administration after World War II. President Harry Truman, however, preferred to eat the birds. Official pardon ceremonies did not become an annual White House tradition until the administration of President George H.W. Bush in 1989. With their presidential reprieve, Peach and Blossom will live out their days at Farmamerica, an agriculture interpretative center near Waseca in southern Minnesota. The center's aim is to promote agriculture and educate future farmers and others about agriculture in America. Separately Monday, first lady Jill Biden received the official White House Christmas tree that will be decorated and put on display in the Blue Room. The 18.5 foot (5.64 meters) Fraser fir came from a farm in an area of western North Carolina that recently was devastated by Hurricane Helene . Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm lost thousands of trees in the storm “but this one remained standing and they named it ‘Tremendous’ for the extraordinary hope that it represents,” Jill Biden said at the event. The Bidens were also traveling to New York City on Monday for an evening “Friendsgiving” event at a Coast Guard station on Staten Island. Biden began his valedictory calendar Friday night with a gala for hundreds of his friends, supporters and staff members who gathered in a pavilion erected on the South Lawn, with a view out to the Lincoln Memorial. Cabinet secretaries, Democratic donors and his longest-serving staff members came together to hear from the president and pay tribute, with no evidence that Biden was effectively forced from the Democratic ticket this summer and watched Vice President Kamala Harris suffer defeat on Nov. 5. “I’m so proud that we’ve done all of this with a deep belief in the core values of America,” said Biden, sporting a tuxedo for the black-tie event. Setting aside his criticisms of Trump as a fundamental threat to democracy, Biden added his characteristic national cheerleading: “I fully believe that America is better positioned to lead the world today than at any point in my 50 years of public service.” The first lady toasted her husband with a nod to his 2020 campaign promise to “restore the soul of the nation,” in Trump’s aftermath. With the results on Election Day, however, Biden’s four years now become sandwiched in the middle of an era dominated by Trump's presence on the national stage and in the White House. Even as the first couple avoided the context surrounding the president's coming exit, those political realities were nonetheless apparent, as younger Democrats like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore , Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Biden's Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg not only raised their glasses to the president but held forth with many attendees who could remain in the party's power circles in the 2028 election cycle and beyond. ___ Associated Press writer Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.Renovating Old Down Jackets: A Trendy New Way for Young People to Save Thousands

Growing up, Pete Bissonette always wanted to live in a bus or a cave. The latter dream came true, at least in a sense. Bissonette has one of the about 650 homes Mankato, Minnesota-based Earth Sheltered Technology has built since it began in 1981. The company, which has houses in the Twin Cities and Wisconsin as well as in California and Alaska, specializes in partly underground structures, basically man-made caves. Underground homes, also known as earth-sheltered homes, have been around for nearly as long as humans have, though the modern incarnation seemed to gain traction in the 1970s after the 1973 oil embargo and ensuing energy crisis, according to an article in magazine Mother Earth News. At the time, people were looking to reduce energy usage, especially when it came to heating and cooling their homes. Underground homes have other benefits, too, including durability — particularly in the face of natural disasters like tornadoes — and low-maintenance needs (no need to paint when dirt and grass cover the whole house). Perhaps that’s why Earth Sheltered Technology has produced the bulk of its homes, about 450, in the past 17 years, said owner Jeff Hickok. Besides achieving his childhood dream, Bissonette’s other inspiration for building his underground home was the book “Earth Sheltered Housing Design,” published in the late 1970s by the University of Minnesota’s Underground Space Center. John Carmody, one of the leaders of the underground-home movement at the time as a systems designer and environmentalist, oversaw the center and the book, which sold 250,000 copies, according the to university’s website. “I loved every bit of building it,” Bissonette said of his house. “I’m glad I made the decision to build it. I have no intention of ever selling it and made it wheelchair accessible so I can get around in case I need one.” Bissonette said he has long worried about tornadoes. An underground home, he thought, would protect against that. Underground homes are known for their durability, Hickok said. He said at least two tornadoes have gone over his Mankato underground home. It’s a reason his company has been building so many underground houses in Oklahoma and Texas. Texas averages about 140 tornadoes each year, the most of any state, while Oklahoma ranks in the top five, per CNN. Other clients have reported the structures being able to withstand earthquakes, Hickok said. The U.S. Department of Energy’s website said earth-sheltered homes can cost less to insure, as they naturally can withstand high winds, hailstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. The Australian Broadcasting Co. even published a story last year about such homes gaining popularity because of their ability to withstand high temperatures and bush fires. “The earth is a very good protector for tornadoes,” Hickok said. “A tornado can’t damage a home unless it can completely surround it, and with most underground homes, they only have south-facing windows.” In addition to saving money on a homeowner’s insurance policy, an underground home could also save on claims. Hail, for example, does minimal damage to the roof, with only some of the piping up top suffering damage. Earth Sheltered Technology was a retirement job for Jeff Hickok’s father, Jerry Hickok. Jeff Hickok said his dad had a fascination with living in a cellar as a child and created the company after finishing at his corporate job. As a kid, Hickok dreaded going to home shows with his father and didn’t pursue the business until later in his life, taking it on around 2007. “I didn’t realize how forward-thinking dad really was with energy-saving and safety of these things,” he said. “I’m so proud to be running the company that my father pioneered.” Another big selling point: An underground home uses about 80% less energy than a traditional home of its size. That’s because the ground insulates it to keep it at a stable 50- to 60-degree internal temperature. South-facing windows warm it during the day, Hickok said. Dick and Jeanne Newport of Berlin, Wisconsin, remember the ’70s energy crisis and how people wanted to be energy independent. They visited a friend’s underground home back then and left inspired to have their own one day, which eventually happened in 2016. About 980,000 pounds of solid concrete surrounds their two-bedroom, two-bathroom underground home, and most winters, only a single wood-burning stove heats the 2,000-square-foot property, Dick Newport said. On the roof, the two have planted native grasses. “People thought our house was a septic mound because they didn’t know what it was,” Jeanne Newport said. “Until you get to the front, you can’t tell it’s a house. There’s tall prairie grass all around it, and it’s really hard to see the whole rounded shape.” They estimate they pay about $115 in utilities for their highest-usage month. The average Minnesotan pays more than $151 a month for electric and gas utilities, according to Kris Lindahl Real Estate. The Newports estimated it cost about $350,000 to build their house including all the interior design, electrical and plumbing. When adjusting for inflation, that comes out to $465,799 in 2024. Earth Sheltered Technology builds several concrete dome structures with steel beams as support, insulating and waterproofing them for the price of about $150 per square foot, according to Hickok. But the rest is up to the homeowners to DIY or hire contractors. Having to do extra work didn’t bug the Newports, and the lower energy bills every month make up for the cost of building the home. “There’s not a lot of maintenance because most of the house is covered in dirt, and it’s quiet if the windows are closed,” Dick Newport said. “We have peace of mind living here.” This past summer, a “hobbit house” in Pine Lake Township, Minnesota, listed for about $180,000, drawing attention for its unique underground design. Being different is yet another perk of having an earth-sheltered home for Bissonette, who is working on an art piece made of 5,000 empty wine bottles. Outside of his two-bedroom, two-bathroom, 4,000-square-foot home, there’s a large labyrinth in his yard filled with statues from Bali, including one that can identify evil, Bissonette said. There are also tall native grasses growing on the roof among a smattering of solar tubes and ventilation pipes. His home blends into the surrounding vegetation and looks like several hills with trees and shrubs growing on them. It’s not until visitors turn a corner that they’re able to see two garage doors poking out, alongside a front door, wide driveway and windows. When he built his house in 2001, many of his neighbors thought it looked like a military base because of how hidden it was from the main road. But the rooftop patio makes it perfect for hosting, Bissonette said of the views of rolling farmland and acres of wildlife. Bissonette taught himself and installed much of the electrical work, also repurposing salvaged wood for the interior walls, making it uniquely his own. “What surprises people the most is how light it is in the house,” he said. “They expect it to be dark because it is underground, but the curved interior surface of the domes reflect light throughout the space, bouncing it across the inner surfaces, making it bright and light-filled.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!NFL on Netflix: Christmas Day games are a 1st for streaming giantASHBURN, Va.— Former Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn has the Washington Commanders rolling. The Falcons (8-7) are set to face the Commanders (10-5), one of the hotter teams in the NFL, at 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., with NFC playoff implications on the line. The Commanders, who are led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, are coming off a 36-33 victory Sunday over the Eagles, which snapped their 10-game win streak. The Commanders still are in the hunt for the NFC East title, two games behind the Eagles (12-3) with two games to play. The Falcons are tied for the lead with the Bucs (8-7) in the NFC South. The Falcons hold the tiebreaker over the Bucs with two head-to-head wins. The Falcons need to beat Washington and then the Panthers in the regular-season finale to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2017 season. Quinn, who was the Falcons coach from 2015-20, is one of two coaches to take the franchise to the Super Bowl. After he was fired five games into the 2020 season, Quinn was hired as Dallas’ defensive coordinator the next year. Quinn took over in Washington this season and is benefiting from the spectacular play of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, a former Arizona State and LSU standout who was taken with the second overall pick in the NFL draft. “It’s been awesome,” Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, a former Falcon, said to The Atlanta Journal Constitution recently about playing for Quinn. “He is, honestly one of my favorites that I’ve ever played for. The energy and the culture he builds here is just very fun to be a part of. I’m really enjoying myself.” Daniels has completed 301 of 432 passes (69.7%) for 3,303 yards, 22 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has a passer rating of 101.3. A crafty runner, Daniels also has rushed 128 times for 737 yards and six touchdowns. He’s a near lock for the Associated Press rookie-of-the-year award. “He’s done a great job,” Mariota said. “He’s deserves a lot of credit for how he’s come in. His demeanor and the way he works. I think that there are no surprises as to why he’s good.” Former Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus caught five passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. He also is a big supporter of Daniels. “It’s been great,” Zaccheaus told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think he’s handled a lot of things very, very well. ... It’s been cool to see. It’s great to play alongside of him. He’s just going to continue to grow as he gets more games under his belt.” Cornerback Marshon Lattimore, who was acquired in a trade with the Saints in early November, played in his second game for the Commanders in the win Sunday. He covered A.J. Brown and was called for three defensive pass-interference penalties. Quinn was fine with how Lattimore competed. “He has a real edge about him, a strength about him, and he really fits in well to how we want to play,” Quinn told Washington media members Monday. “So, I was pretty pumped to see him.” Lattimore likely will cover Falcons wide receiver Drake London, who’s 22 yards from his first 1,000-yard receiving season. Quinn has won over his locker room. “I’m grateful for DQ reaching out to me and bringing me in,” Zaccheaus said. “I know what he wants things to look like. I’m helping him build a culture here. We want to win. We are just building that culture day in and day out. I know what that should look like. I know what he wants it to look like. So, I’m just helping him do that.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris was on Quinn’s staff with the Falcons and took over as the interim head coach in 2020. He then went to the Rams and helped them win a Super Bowl as their defensive coordinator. He was hired in January to replace Arthur Smith. Morris and Quinn, while with the Rams and Cowboys, have faced each other before. “We played the Cowboys, I want to say twice,” Morris said. “It could be just once, but for sure once. They kicked our butts a bit last year.” The Cowboys won 43-20 on Oct. 29, 2023 at home. Both made their return to the head-coaching ranks this season from previous head coaching jobs. “Man, it’s always fun to play against your friends, your confidants, your mentors — whatever you want to look at it as — that we’ve been able to grow up with throughout this whole process,” Morris said. “You know, Dan coaching me in college (at Hofstra) and then having a chance to work together, then having a chance to really follow the same path to the National Football League.” ©2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Mercedes Mone on online criticism: I don’t let words affect me

Jimmy Carter's legacy remembered in Central Illinois and beyondEarth’s Old Trees Keep A Record of Powerful Solar Storms

AmaZulu traditional prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi says he knows nothing about being removed from his position by King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. This comes after media reports on Friday that the Zulu king had removed him as prime minister. In a statement on Saturday, Buthelezi, said he found out about his supposed axing on social media and had not received any formal communication. “His majesty has not informed me of his decision to release me from my duties as his prime minister. I only learnt about this decision through social media and thereafter through a WhatsApp message from Prince Simphiwe of KwaMinya yesterday [Friday].” According to reports by News24 , the king's reasons for removing Buthelezi were unhappiness with his actions and how he had deviated from what was expected of him by the monarch. Letters purported to be from the Zulu king about the firing of Buthelezi are circulating on various social media platforms. The traditional prime minister criticised the monarch, saying an important decision like removing him from his position should not be handled in such a manner. “One of documents which is circulating is a notice addressed to amakhosi of the kingdom signed by Prince Simphiwe himself, which is astonishing that an announcement of such magnitude should be conveyed to amakhosi in a such an informal manner.” Buthelezi added he always obeys summons by the king and will continue to should he be called to present himself before him. He also stated that he served at the behest of King Misuzulu and would relinquish his traditional prime ministerial duties should the king inform him to, saying he would continue to serve the Zulu monarch as an ordinary person. “I have served the king from the first day that he assumed his position as king of the Zulu nation and will continue to serve his majesty as an ordinary subject of the monarch.” Buthelezi also expressed concern about the king's decision to appoint Mpumalanga businessman Jacob Mnisi and a woman known as the king's “gogo”, Rejoice Tembe, to control the Ingonyama Trust Board. “The presence of Jacob Mnisi and these lawyers from Mpumalanga in the affairs of the Zulu kingdom does not augur well for the wellbeing and future of Ingonyama Trust.” He ended the statement by thanking the king for appointing him and promising to continue to serve the Zulu nation. Buthelezi was appointed to his position earlier in January after the death of IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi , who died last September after having occupied the position for almost seven decades. He will remain KwaZulu-Natal's co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC. TimesLIVE

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hope Adebayo rushed for 123 yards and two scores, Tak Tateoka threw a touchdown pass and St. Thomas-Minnesota rolled to a 32-9 victory over Dayton on Saturday in a season finale. Dayton scored first on a 24-yard field goal by Danny Baker, but the Tommies (6-6, 5-3 Pioneer Football League) responded with 25 unanswered points on its way to a 22-point advantage at halftime. Adebayo gave the Tommies the lead with an 11-yard touchdown run. Tateoka connected with Colin Chase for a 42-yard score and a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter. Ryan Calcagno returned a fumble 34 yards for a touchdown and senior defensive back Grif Wurtz ran it in for the two-point conversion. Ben Holland kicked a 31-yard field goal with 68 seconds left before intermission. Adebayo bulled his way into the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter to up the Tommies' lead to 32-3. Drew VanVleet threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jake Coleman late to complete the scoring for the Flyers (6-5, 4-4). Tateoka completed 12 of 21 passes for 136 yards with one interception for St. Thomas-Minnesota. Adebayo did his damage on 22 carries. Chase finished with seven receptions for 101 yards. VanVleet totaled 198 yards on 23-for-43 passing with three interceptions. Coleman caught 10 passes for 107 yards. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and The Associated PressThe Tampa Bay Rays have had six of their 2025 regular-season games shifted to the early season due to weather issues from playing outside, Major League Baseball announced Monday. The Rays' usual home, domed Tropicana Field, was damaged by Hurricane Milton last month with almost all of its roof shredded and no possibility of playing there next year. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.In the emotional embrace of reunion, words were exchanged, tears were shed, and hearts were filled with a profound sense of gratitude and belonging. The years of separation melted away, replaced by a renewed sense of unity, forgiveness, and hope for the future. Together, the family embarked on a journey of reconciliation and healing, cherishing the precious moments they had lost and savoring the newfound joy of being together once again.

Are international thieves exploiting tourist visas to target pro-athletes' homes?Oral Resin Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030