Latest news with #JohnJ
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How prepared do you feel for a major power outage? Yahoo readers have their say
Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After the poll closes, we'll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers. Britain's electricity system is 'highly resilient', the government insisted this week following Spain and Portugal's widespread blackouts. Power has been restored across the Iberian Peninsula, but not before the outage grounded flights, paralysed train systems and disrupted mobile communication. The incident sparked questions over whether such a failure could occur in the UK, with the government trying to reassure the public this week that the country's energy infrastructure is set up to prevent such an outcome. Energy minister Michael Shanks told the House of Commons 'an event similar in impact to this incident in Great Britain would be the equivalent of a national power outage, which is the total loss of power across the whole of GB. This risk is listed on the national risk register as a high-impact but low-likelihood event.' He said the government is prepared 'for all eventualities no matter how unlikely'. But is the public also prepared? In our poll earlier this week, Yahoo News UK asked our readers: "How prepared do you feel for a major power outage?" It received 712 votes and showed more than half of Yahoo readers feel unprepared. In the poll's Have Your Say feature, John J, from London, said: "I am very worried about blackouts, we should keep Grangemouth open until renewables are up and running." Similarly David R, from Billericay, Essex, said: "I am concerned that the entire grid is a security risk from cyberattacks and offshore powerline disruption. We need to be self-sufficient even if this means fossil fuels." On the other hand, Mel B, from Woodchurch, Kent, said: "After a major power outage at Christmas a few years ago, following local overhead line failure due to tree branches, I bought a small petrol generator. This will power up the gas central heating control, run lights etc. Gas hob covers most cooking requirements. Therefore I'm in a generally self-sustainable position." And David A, from Hull, said: "Power outages can happen anywhere, but it's up to everyone to have preparations ready. Power banks are easily available and most big ones include built-in invertors which can be solar-powered. Do I worry? No. I will be honest, I have only ever had two power cuts in 20-plus years. I have power banks, more for camping trips etc, but they can always be used in emergencies too." Yahoo News UK readers were also asked: "How concerned are you about the UK suffering major power outages?" This poll received 376 votes with the most common being 10 and an average strength-of-feeling score of 6.65, showing many readers fear blackouts like those in Spain and Portugal are a possibility. On a similar theme, YouGov asked 2,375 Britons in December 2023 if they have anything at home that would help in case of a power outage. It found more than half - 52% - do. Read more of Yahoo UK's Poll of the Week articles
New York Times
18-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
John J. LaFalce, Congressman Who Fought Financial Fraud, Dies at 85
John J. LaFalce, a 14-term former congressman from Western New York who mentored the state's first female governor and sponsored sweeping legislation to mitigate the Love Canal toxic waste disaster and to protect consumers from financial fraud, died on April 11 in Lockport, N.Y., near Niagara Falls. He was 85. His death, in a hospice facility, was from kidney failure, his son, Martin J. LaFalce, said. First elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 as part of a nationwide post-Watergate rebuff to Republican incumbents, Mr. LaFalce (pronounced la-FALSE) was the first Democrat to win his district's seat since 1912. During his 28 years on Capitol Hill, he was chairman of the Small Business Committee, from 1987 to 1995, and the ranking Democrat on the Committee on Banking (now the Financial Services Committee). He played pivotal roles in the bipartisan passage of two far-reaching bills: the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (officially known as the Financial Services Act), which eliminated legal boundaries between investment banking and commercial banking, and, in 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which targeted corporate financial fraud. Before the collapse of the savings and loan industry in the late 1980s, Mr. LaFalce was a fierce critic of so-called subprime homeowner loans and payday loans by companies that preyed on consumers. One of his most effective actions as a House member was his response to the environmental calamity at Love Canal, a neighborhood of Niagara Falls, N.Y. By the late 1970s, a chemical dump there was contaminating ground water that was leaching into backyards, swimming pools and school playgrounds, causing severe health effects among residents there. Mr. LaFalce and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat of New York, devised the legal basis for the federal government to clean up the site. Love Canal was the first site to be designated an environmental hazard under the legislation, which created the federal Superfund to mitigate such threats. Lois Gibbs, a homeowner and civic leader in Love Canal, was quoted in 1991 as saying that Mr. LaFalce 'was one of the front-runners in getting things done' there. Mr. LaFalce was regarded as a progressive in Congress (getting an F rating from the National Rifle Association). He voted against American participation in both the Persian Gulf war and the Iraq war and dissented from President Bill Clinton's welfare reforms because, he said, they would punish the poor. As a practicing Roman Catholic, however, he opposed any extension of abortion rights. In the early 1970s, as a member of the New York State Legislature, Mr. LaFalce bucked popular sentiment by objecting to the harsh penalties imposed by what became known as the Rockefeller drug laws, signed by Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. And he objected to casino gambling in New York State on the grounds that it would exploit lower-income people. Kathy Hochul, who as lieutenant governor became the state's governor in 2021 when Andrew M. Cuomo resigned, was Mr. LaFalce's legislative counsel in Washington in the 1980s. With his support, eight years after he left the House, she won a special election in 2011 to become the first Democrat to represent her Western New York district in four decades. Mr. LaFalce 'had a profound influence on my early career,' Governor Hochul said in a statement this week, 'recruiting me from a large D.C. firm' and 'putting me on the path to a lifetime of public service.' 'I always credited him with getting me the recognition I needed,' she said. Under her direction, flags at state buildings were flown at half-staff on Monday in his honor. John Joseph LaFalce was born in Buffalo on Oct. 6, 1939. His father, Dominic, worked in a grain mill and was a union steward. His mother, Katherine (Stasio) LaFalce, worked in a bakery. He was the first member of his family to graduate from high school. Mr. LaFalce received a bachelor's degree in history from Canisius College (now Canisius University) in Buffalo in 1961 and a law degree from Villanova University in 1964. He served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1967, leaving with the rank of captain. In addition to his son, Martin, a professor at St. John's University School of Law in Queens, Mr. LaFalce is survived by his wife, Patricia (Fisher) LaFalce; and a sister, Lorraine Kenny. He and his wife had lived in Latham, N.Y., north of Albany. Mr. LaFalce served in the State Senate from 1971 to 1972 and in the Assembly from 1973 to 1974, when he ran for Congress, to succeed Henry P. Smith III, who had announced his retirement. His congressional district encompassed Niagara Falls and northern Buffalo and stretched east to the western suburbs of Rochester. As a result of the 2000 census, the district was merged with a neighboring one represented by a fellow Democrat, Louise M. Slaughter. Rather than engage in a hotly-contested primary in the newly created district, he decided not to seek a 15th term in 2002. Ms. Slaughter was re-elected. After leaving office, Mr. LaFalce practiced law and was a director of State Bancorp (now National Valley Bancorp), a member of the New York State Banking Board and chairman of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency. In Congress, he was one of the dwindling exponents of bipartisanship. In 1983, he cited Senator Edward M. Kennedy's appearance at Liberty Baptist College (now Liberty University), a private evangelical Christian institution, as an example of 'how important tolerance is when diverse and opposing world views compete in the free marketplace of ideas which is America.'
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rain or shine? What the long-range weather forecast says about the Boston Marathon
Rain or shine? What the long-range weather forecast says about the Boston Marathon Weather conditions in April around New England brings plenty of uncertainity to many, including those running in the annual Boston Marathon. The oldest marathon race in the world — the 129th running — is set to take place on Patriots' Day, April 21. The 26.2-mile course begins a little after 9 a.m. in Hopkinton and ends at Boylston Street. The first marathon took place in 1897 when the course was just held 24.5 miles. John J. McDermott captured the first men's title out of 15 participants. Advertisement Throughout its history, runners have endured inclement weather from snow flakes, winds, downpours to extreme heat. So what will the runners encounter this time around? According to The Weather Channel's long range forecast for Marathon Monday, temperature will range in the upper 50s under mostly cloudy skies with a slight chance of raindrops. That fits in with the recent history of the race. During the last four years, the temperature in the annual event ranged between 54 degrees to 69 degrees. Pete Thibeault and Matt Tobin of Pioneer Turf Surfaces paint the start line for the 128th running of the Boston Marathon, which is celebrating its 100th start from Hopkinton, April 9, 2024. Warmest Boston Marathon temperature The warmest day recorded in the Boston Marathon occurred in 1905 when temps hit 100 degrees. There were 10 other marathons that toppled the 80-degree mark, including a 96-degree scorcher in 1976. In 2004 and 2012, record numbers of heat-related illnesses took place at the finish line. Coldest Boston Marathon day Snowflakes descended on athletes at least five times in the history of the race — 1907, 1908, 1925, 1961 and 1967. The lowest-recorded temperature at the start of a Boston Marathon was 34 degrees. A cold wind and occasional snow showers were reported in 1925. There were snow squalls in 1961 and in 1967. In 2018, the race began with temperatures at 40 degrees and a wind chill of 29 degrees with rainy conditions. Runners also dealt with heavy rains and cold temps in 1970, 2007 and 2015. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Boston Marathon weather forecast, plus the warmest and coldest temps
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
HACC increasing tuition to offset deficit
HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) – HACC says it plans to increase tuition after adopting its budget on Tuesday. The 2025-26 budget includes a $6.4 million overall increase in tuition and fees starting this fall to offset a projected $275,000 deficit. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Sponsored tuition will increase to $189.75 per credit, non-sponsored tuition will increase to $288.50 per credit, and out-of-state tuition will increase to $398.00 per credit. Dual enrollment and College in the High School tuition will remain at $175 and $83.50 per credit, respectively. Central Dauphin teacher resigns, accused of pushing, stomping on special needs student Students in the fall 2025 semester can expect to see the following tuition changes: Tuition for sponsored students will increase by $2.25 per credit. Tuition for non-sponsored students will increase by $22 per credit. Tuition for out-of-state students will increase by $37.25 per credit. Tuition for College in the High School students will not change. Tuition for dual-enrolled students will not change. 'HACC's Board of Trustees expects the College to present a fiscally responsible budget each year. The 2025-26 budget reflects a long-standing practice of accountable budget stewardship as well as our ongoing commitment to serving students first,' said HACC President and CEO John J. 'Ski' Sygielski, MBA, Ed.D. 'We do everything we can to ensure that HACC continues to be an affordable option. This budget helps ensure that critical services and resources continue to be available to all students.' HACC says they will also consolidate real estate and leases, monitor new hires for critically needed positions, and reduce deby service on the 2016A refunding bond. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Journalists Share Short Sketches of ‘S.N.L.' Memories
John J. O'Connor, a television critic for The New York Times, missed the first half-hour of 'Saturday Night' when it premiered live on NBC at 11:30 on Oct. 11, 1975. 'An unusually good dinner on Long Island and a steady rain during the 100-mile drive back to the city thwarted thoroughly noble intentions,' he wrote in the newspaper that month. But 'Saturday Night,' a late-night sketch comedy series that changed its name to 'Saturday Night Live' in 1977, had his attention. And quickly, 'S.N.L.' became a fixture of The Times's media and cultural coverage. Half a century later, 'S.N.L.' is still going strong, and The Times publishes a recap of each episode, reviewing the host's monologue and noteworthy sketches. In the lead-up to the 50th anniversary of 'S.N.L.,' which NBC is honoring with a special broadcast on Sunday, The Times's Culture desk has published a deeper look into the history and influence of the show. Articles in a series, 'S.N.L.' at 50, have appeared in newspapers since last fall, exploring topics such as popular political sketches, five decades of musical guests and the subjective eye its viewers tend to develop. Times Insider asked four Culture journalists to explain their own personal histories with the show. Read their accounts below. TERENCE McGINLEY Up Late, Exposed to Sketch Comedy For better or for worse, I was given carte blanche access to TV at a pretty young age (I was allowed to stay up late, too). What could have been more exciting for a kid than watching 'Saturday Night Live' during its 1990s heyday? My favorite sketches from those years involved Sprockets, the Spartan cheerleaders and Mary Katherine Gallagher, as well as any time Chris Farley or Will Ferrell was onscreen. More than anything, 'S.N.L.,' along with two of my favorite series of that era, 'The Tracey Ullman Show' and 'Mr. Show,' gave me a foundational appreciation for sketch comedy in general and may have shaped my sense of humor more than might have been advisable. — Maya Salam, Culture editor A 'Mirror for the Nation's History' to Share 'S.N.L.' is a fascinating subject because it's been at the heart of American culture for so long that it has become a kind of mirror for the nation's history and your own. I started watching as a kid during the Dana Carvey years, which is still my favorite era. (This made it extra fun when I talked to Carvey for our catchphrases package and listened to him do George Bush, Ross Perot and all the other impressions I used to copy at school.) Now I watch the show with my daughter. If she's lucky, she may one day talk to Bowen Yang about why his George Santos sketches were so hysterical. (And I'm sure Santos would be thrilled to be remembered.) — Jeremy Egner, television editor This TV Critic Doesn't Watch I don't watch 'Saturday Night Live.' That may surprise you, since I am a professional TV critic. It certainly has surprised various editors. I know, of course, that 'S.N.L.' is a cultural institution. But institutions, by nature, are usually not where the most exciting action is in any art form, TV included. And honestly? I haven't stayed up until 1 a.m. since high school. When I say I don't watch 'S.N.L.,' though, I don't mean that I never see it. For me, the most significant development in the history of 'S.N.L.' was not a particular cast change but the invention of YouTube. That's how I, and many others, now experience the show. Sketch comedy is hit-or-miss by definition, but when it hits — a banger Lonely Island short, say — I'm glad to watch it the next day, after social media tells me about it. If you love your routine of staying up to watch 'S.N.L.' — live, from New York — I'm happy for you. I'm also grateful: You and your night-owl companions are essentially the screeners for the rest of us morning-after clip-watchers. I, and my relatively well-rested eyeballs, thank you for your service. — James Poniewozik, television critic Monday Morning, Favorite Lines Ranked Even when I was a kid and I first started watching 'S.N.L.,' I could tell that Weekend Update was the centerpiece of the show. That didn't mean I understood much of what Dennis Miller was talking about, but he seemed amused by himself. I was a little older when Kevin Nealon took over and he seemed funny enough, even if he mostly gave 'a friend's kind of goofy dad' vibes. But when Norm Macdonald took over, it was a revelation. This one still gets me every time: 'In music news, No. 1 on the college charts this summer was Better Than Ezra. And at No. 2: Ezra.' My friends and I would set our VHS every Saturday night and come to school Monday ready with our best lines, ranked. — David Malitz, deputy culture editor
