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As Airbnb falters, hostels seek to compete

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

Once a niche market for frugal, globetrotting young people, hostels are becoming a popular form of alternative lodging. No longer just rows of bunk beds, some hostels now offer private rooms and amenities like rooftop pools and spas.Take the Selina Boquete hostel in Panama. Guests are served an evening welcome drink. While there’s a shared option called a community room, the hostel offers hotel-style private rooms and the unique option of a pod-style room made from an “upcycled” concrete cylinder. Some nights, guests are treated to live music.“It honestly felt like a resort and was a better experience than an Airbnb,” says Melissa Middlestadt, a Canadian travel blogger who runs the website My Beautiful Passport, about her stay at Selina Boquete. “It was quiet, which is what I look for in an Airbnb, but it had more amenities and was in a better location.”The private room she booked at the hostel was $50 to $100 cheaper per night than what she would have paid for an Airbnb nearby, she...

World economy will slow next year because of inflation, high rates and war: OECD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

The global economy, which has proved surprisingly resilient this year, is expected to falter next year under the strain of wars, still-elevated inflation and continued high interest rates.The Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated Wednesday that international growth would slow to 2.7 per cent in 2024 from an expected 2.9 per cent pace this year. That would amount to the slowest calendar-year growth since the pandemic year of 2020.Despite the gloomier outlook, the organization is “projecting that recessions will be avoided almost everywhere,” OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said at a news conference.However, he added, there are risks that inflation will stay persistently high and that the Israel-Hamas conflict and Russia’s war in Ukraine could affect prices for commodities, such as oil or grain.A key factor in the slowdown is that the OECD expects the world’s two biggest economies, the United States and China, to decelerate next year....

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 40s with mainly sunny conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

CHICAGO — Warmer with mainly sunny conditions Wednesday. Winds: WSW 10-15. High: 40. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly cloudy tonight. Winds: SSW 5-10. Low: 29.Thursday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, night rain. Winds: W 10-15 G25. High: 44.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Beyoncé's mom slams 'stupid narrative' that singer lightened her skin: 'I'm sick of you losers'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

(KTLA) - Beyoncé credits her fierceness as a trait she inherited from her mother, Tina Knowles.That was put on display when Tina Knowles did not hold back on slamming claims that her oldest daughter had lightened her skin for the Los Angeles premiere of her film "Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé."On Saturday, the "Savage" singer, whose self-proclaimed alter ego is Sasha Fierce, debuted an icy silvery blonde hair color along with a long silver Versace gown. The combination went along with the silver and chrome theme of her Renaissance World Tour. While many praised the look, some claimed the singer's skin tone appeared lighter. Some even went as far as to accuse the 32-time Grammy award winner of lightening her skin. Video of Bruce Willis grasping daughter’s hand draws mixed reactions On Tuesday, Beyoncé's mom hit back full force in a lengthy post on Instagram, which was the caption to a video montage of her daughter over her famous song "Brown Skin Girl.""Came across this today a...

Round Rock looks at future of housing as city expects continued growth

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of Round Rock says it has enough space to build somewhere between 25,000 and 143,000 new housing units in the future to accommodate the expected population growth. That's according to a study conducted by the city's Planning and Development services department. Round Rock's population grew by almost 5,200 people in 2023 and is expected to add another 65,000 people by 2040. It's that kind of growth that spurred the density study to see where the city could continue to build and grow. DATA: Here’s where Texas’ population increased the most in the past decade, according to the 2020 Census 2023 Density Study The study split the greater Round Rock area into 10 different study areas. The resulting map is attached below. It found that the greatest portion of vacant parcels of land, shaded in gray on the map, are located in the northeast. Areas of empty land shaded in gray (Photo Courtesy City of Round Rock).The team then calculated how many resident...

Sentencing hearing Wednesday for man in Austin synagogue arson case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The man who pled guilty in the 2021 arson of an Austin synagogue will face a sentencing hearing Wednesday. Franklin Barrett Sechriest pleaded guilty in April to arson and hate crime damage to a religious property. Man accused of Austin synagogue arson pleads guilty to 2 charges In October 2021, arson investigators responded to a fire that started on the ground outside of Congregation Beth Israel in central Austin.According to the government's sentencing memorandum filed on Nov. 20, normal sentencing guidelines call for a prison term of 60-63 months or 5 years. However, prosecutors asked Judge David Ezra to sentence Sechriest to 120 months or 10 years in prison due to the "tremendous damage" they say Sechriest did and what they call "his deep-seated hatred of persons of the Jewish faith." ‘I set a synagogue on fire’: Man accused in Austin arson faces federal charge On Monday, Judge Ezra told the lawyers on both sides he "intends to seriously consider an upward va...

Revival Smoked Meats, Mr. Paul’s Po Boys coming to Malcolm Yards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

The Market at Malcolm Yards is getting two exciting new vendors after a few stalls closed late this summer.The vendors are Revival Smoked Meats, which had a short run at the troubled Keg and Case West 7th Market, and Mr. Paul’s Po’ Boys and Jams from the owners of Mr. Paul’s Supper Club in Edina.Revival Smoked Meats, from the owners of Revival fried chicken restaurants in Minneapolis and St. Paul, will offer barbecue such as southern-style brisket, smoked ribs, slow-smoked pork shoulder and smoked chicken wings. We can only hope the house-smoked ham sandwich that we loved from Keg and Case will make a comeback, too.Malcolm Yards will be the second location for Mr. Paul’s Po’ Boys, a New Orleans-inspired sandwich shop. The first is behind Mr. Paul’s Supper Club in Edina. Look for crawfish, fried shrimp and other iterations of the famous sandwiches along with gumbo, boudin balls, slushies and mini dough-nets (think mini doughnuts meet beignets).Late this summer, the market added Marte...

Other voices: Universities have an important role in convening open debate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

At moments like this, when violence in the Middle East has reached a fever pitch that has left the world horrified, universities have an important role to play in convening open debate. Or at least they used to.The past weeks could have been the perfect time for relevant learning on the Israel-Hamas conflict, an antidote to the extraordinary campus strife we are seeing at the University of California and elsewhere across the nation. Instead of painting others as the enemy, people might have searched for common ground, or at least deeper understanding.Institutions of higher education could have called on their experts, such as those in history, geography, international relations and religion to hold seminars and teach-ins for students and community members. They could have organized talks and speaker panels in which people listened to each other instead of belittling and insulting those with different backgrounds and views. How many people, after all, truly know the history and under...

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest for Albany man

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An Albany man was arrested on Tuesday following a traffic stop near Clinton Avenue and Lark Street in Albany. Manuel Bickley, 28, faces several charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Tuesday, around 6:23 p.m., deputies on patrol pulled over a car for a traffic violation. Deputies identified the driver as Bickley and said he was driving with a suspended New York State driver's license. Deputies say a further investigation found he had a quantity of oxycodone pills that weren't prescribed to him. He was taken into custody. Albany man arrested on warrants after traffic stop Charges:Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceFourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substanceSecond-degree aggravated unlicensed operationBickley was taken to the Albany County Correctional Facility. He's to be arraigned in Albany City Court on Wednesday.

Wintertime Wonderland opens at Viaport Rotterdam

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:59 GMT

ROTTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) - If you think you’ve been to Wintertime Wonderland, think again. The 65,000 square foot holiday attraction recently opened for its fourth season in its new home at the Viaport Rotterdam. Visitors ca except new rides, new characters and new festive surprises.Wintertime Wonderland was previously located in Latham. The holiday experience moved to Viaport Rotterdam to expand in size, and to have more space for rides. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We have over 15 amusement park style rides which are great for people to enjoy and some for the big kids, some for the little kids,” said Krest Winchester, the general manager.Wintertime Wonderland will be open until December 23 and is open Thursday to Sunday. For ticketing information, visit their website.