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United Methodists lose one-fifth of US churches in schism driven by growing defiance of LGBTQ bans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

More than 6,000 United Methodist congregations — a fifth of the U.S. total — have now received permission to leave the denomination amid a schism over theology and the role of LGBTQ people in the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination.Those figures emerge following the close of regular meetings in June for the denomination’s regional bodies, known as annual conferences. The departures began with a trickle in 2019 — when the church created a four-year window of opportunity for U.S. congregations to depart over LGBTQ-related issues — and cascaded to its highest level this year.Church law forbids the marriage or ordination of “self-avowed, practicing homosexuals,” but many conservatives have chosen to leave amid a growing defiance of those bans in many U.S. churches and conferences.Many of the departing congregations are joining the Global Methodist Church, a denomination created last year by conservatives breaking from the UMC, while others are going independent o...

Statistics Canada reports $3.4B merchandise trade deficit for May

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says the country posted a merchandise trade deficit of $3.4 billion in May, the largest deficit since October 2020.The result compared with a revised surplus of $894 million in April.Exports fell 3.8 per cent to $61.5 billion in May as exports of energy products fell 7.3 per cent, in large part due to lower prices.Exports of farm, fishing and intermediate food products also dropped 13.4 per cent for the month.Meanwhile, imports rose 3.0 per cent in May to $65 billion as imports of metal and non-metallic mineral products rose 12.3 per cent, helped higher by shipments of unwrought silver from the United Kingdom. In volume terms, overall exports fell 2.5 per cent in May, while imports rose 3.5 per cent.This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2023.The Canadian Press

Unofficial record high temperature hits Earth this week — more than once

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

Earth’s average temperature on Wednesday remained at an unofficial record high set the day before, the latest grim milestone in a week that has seen series of climate-change-driven extremes.The average global temperature was 17.18 Celsius (62.9 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer, a tool that uses satellite data and computer simulations to measure the world’s condition. That matched a record set Tuesday and came after a previous record of 17.01 Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit) was set Monday.While the figures are not an official government record, “this is showing us an indication of where we are right now,” said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief scientist Sarah Kapnick. And NOAA indicated it will take the figures into consideration for its official record calculations.Scientists generally use much longer measurements — months, years, decades — to track the Earth’s warming, but the daily highs are an indication tha...

Eagles announce final tour, bidding a 'long goodbye' to fans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (WANE) -- Get ready to say goodbye to the Eagles.The beloved rock band announced Thursday morning that they are embarking on the "Eagles: The Long Goodbye Final Tour" after what the band called "a miraculous 52-year odyssey, performing for people all over the globe."The tour is "in the planning stages," the announcement said, and it's expected to last until sometime in 2025. So far, 13 dates have been announced, starting in New York on Sept. 7."Our long run has lasted far longer than any of us ever dreamed," the band said in the announcement. "But, everything has its time, and the time has come for us to close the circle... This is our swan song, but the music goes on and on."Find tour details and get tickets on the band's website.

Granville man arrested after stolen pipe investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

GRANVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Granville man was arrested following a stolen pipe investigation in Whitehall. Matthew Austin, 25, is charged with second-degree burglary. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday, around 9:35 a.m., troopers responded to a home in Whitehall for reports of copper pipes being stolen from the plumbing of the home. On arrival, troopers say they found Austin hiding inside the home. Police say an investigation determined Austin was in the unoccupied house without permission and is responsible for reported damages. The missing copper pipes were found nearby, along with his personal belongings. Corinth man arrested in home burglary investigation Austin was arrested and taken to Greenwich State Police for processing. He was turned over to the Washington County Correctional Facility to await arraignment.

Activewear, outdoor gear store to open in Colonie Center

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Sierra, an activewear and outdoor gear store, is set to open in Colonie Center. The store will be in the former Sears space next to Whole Foods and the future Floor & Decor store. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! According to conceptual site plans on the Seritage Growth Properties website, that section of property is leased to Sierra. The space is 19,100 square feet and will be on the lower level of the mall.Although Colonie Center is mainly owned by Pacific Retail Capital Partners, Seritage owns a part of the mall, including the former Sears space. Seritage did not immediately respond to NEWS10 for comment on the project. After 13 years, Colonie pizzeria changes owners Originally named Sierra Trading Post, Sierra was acquired by TJX in 2012 and rebranded to Sierra in 2018. TJX also owns TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls. Sierra sells athletic clothing, shoes, and accessories for all ages, and...

St. Louis girl's quest to see Taylor Swift reminiscent of another Missouri girl

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

HARRISONVILLE, Mo. -- Alma Lacoste and Jordan Overcast were born seven years apart on opposite sides of Missouri. Alma, 7, has spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and epilepsy. Jordan, who FOX4 also met at age 7, had brain cancer. But one singer helped them through those difficult times. Missouri farm’s crop art welcomes Taylor Swift to Kansas City area "During that entire time she was just constantly listening to Taylor Swift in the hospital room," Alma's mother, Kayla Buckowitz said."She makes my heart happy," Jordan said of her idol in a 2018 interview showing off photos of the moment in 2015 her family will never forget."We get to meet Taylor," her grandmother Donna Overcast shouted as she received a phone call on the set of FOX4 with the news."It gave that little girl a sense of belonging to a lonely world and life of pain that she dealt with graciously," Donna Overcast said in an interview Wednesday. The #TaylorMeetJordan social media campaign that led to a kiss from the pop star f...

Singer Mya performing at 2023 'Frizz Fest' Saturday, September 16

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

ST. LOUIS - For the first time ever, 'Frizz Fest,' an event promoting self-love, confidence, and celebrating your natural self, will have a national artist to headline the festival and bring the vibes. Singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer Mya, spoke with FOX 2's Blair Ledet about what to expect from her performance as well as the 25th anniversary of her self-titled album. When Missouri drivers can expect construction on I-70 to start For more information about the event, click here.

Westbound Colfax Avenue in Lakewood reopened after police shooting near homeless camp

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

Lakewood police investigating an officer-involved shooting along West Colfax Avenue early Thursday have reopened the westbound lanes that were closed at Pierce Street.For several hours, police had closed the westbound lanes, advising drivers to detour north on Pierce to West 20th Avenue. Police also had closed Teller Street two blocks away near the intersection with Colfax, according to police postings on Twitter.Traffic Alert Update Colfax is now open in both directions. No other traffic impacts are expected.— Lakewood Police Dept. (@LakewoodPDCO) July 6, 2023The shooting happened around 1 a.m. after a passenger in a vehicle apparently shot fireworks at an encampment in the area, according to early reports of the incident.  When a Lakewood police officer responded to the reported fireworks incident, a man in the encampment apparently threw a rock through a car window.The officer was confronting the man who threw the rock when the car turned back toward the officer, who fire...

Crash closes lanes on 5 Freeway through Newhall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:56:48 GMT

Lanes on the southbound 5 Freeway were closed for several hours Thursday morning when a pickup truck crashed into the center divider in the Newhall area.The incident was reported around 3:45 a.m. near the 14 Freeway interchange and just past Calgrove Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol's traffic incident log. The pickup truck was blocking two freeway lanes before the incident turned into a multi-vehicle crash when two other cars became involved. A truck is towed following a multi-vehicle crash on the 5 Freeway in Newhall on July 6, 2023. (KTLA)A disabled big rig also blocked the slow lane after hitting some debris, according to the CHP. 68 people killed in crashes on California highways over Fourth of July weekend It was unclear if anyone was injured in the incident, which prompted officials to issue a SigAlert on the southbound side of the freeway. Two lanes remained blocked on the freeway as of 6 a.m.Video showed a tow truck taking away the last of the vehicles...