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There’s too much guesswork in renting an Airbnb. The short-term rental giant is trying to fix that

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

Airbnb will highlight rental listings that have received top scores from guests, information that the company’s CEO says will help bring hotel-like reliability to booking a house or room on the site.Airbnb said that it will roll out what it calls “Guest Favorites” this week. About 2 million of the site’s 7 million listings will get the label.It is unclear how hosts who don’t get the favored badge will react — they could lose bookings, or they might have to cut prices to compete. CEO Brian Chesky said he expects favorites to charge more than other listings.Chesky acknowledges that the variety of properties on Airbnb creates uncertainty among renters. He said the unpredictability of listings is the biggest reason why someone would choose a hotel room over Airbnb.“A lot of guests have described booking Airbnb, once they check in, it’s a moment of truth. Is the house exactly what they expected?” he said in an interview. “We don’t want this to be a moment of truth. We w...

15-year-old critical after South Side drive-by shooting

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

CHICAGO — A 15-year-old boy was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting Tuesday afternoon on the South Side.Just before 3:40 p.m., CPD said the boy was near a sidewalk in the 8600 block of South Racine when an unknown vehicle approached. A gunman within fired shots and the boy was struck multiple times to the body.He was transported to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition.No one is in custody. Anyone with information can leave an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.

Israel pressured by allies over plight of civilians in Gaza as thousands flee enclave's north

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel faced mounting pressure from some of its closest allies Wednesday over the plight of civilians in Gaza, where thousands streamed on foot out of the enclave’s north because of dwindling food and water and fear of approaching Israeli forces.Over 70% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million have already left their homes, but the number making their way south has quickened recently as Israeli troops battle Hamas militants inside Gaza City and the humanitarian situation grows increasingly dire.The Group of Seven wealthy nations called Wednesday for the “unimpeded” delivery of food, water, medicine and fuel, and for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has left open the possibility of small pauses to deliver humanitarian aid, but has ruled out a broader cease-fire unless all hostages are freed.There is no end in sight to the war triggered by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 assault inside Israel.Israel has said the battle to...

Lockport freshmen to be bused to another high school due to campus repairs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

LOCKPORT, Ill. -- Freshmen at Lockport High School will be bused to a different building days after an old, plaster ceiling collapsed at the schools Central Campus.Students from Lockport Central have attended classes online for the past several days, which some students and administrators said is not sustainable. But repairs to the current building are expected to take longer than originally thought.The Lockport Township High School Board of Education held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the decisions made surrounding the challenges posed by facility usage at Central Campus and how it will impact school operations.On Friday, Superintendent Robert McBride issued a letter to parents updating parents that the Central Campus will remain closed following a plaster ceiling collapsing on the third floor. The historic Lockport Central High School was built in 1909. ORIGINAL: Students evacuated after partial ceiling collapse at Lockport Township HS The temporary option discussed...

APD investigating deadly Nov. 2 hit-and-run crash

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said one person died in a crash between a vehicle and a pedestrian in North Austin in early November. According to police, the crash happened just before 7 a.m. on Nov. 2 at the intersection of East Powell Lane and Sam Rayburn Drive. That is just northwest of the Highway 183 and Interstate 35 interchange. Police said the driver left the scene, but was later identified by detectives. Police did not identify the driver or the pedestrian, who died at the scene. APD said the incident is being investigated as Austin's 76th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 79 fatalities for the year.Anyone with information should contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111, APD said. People can submit anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

Go Verde: Q2 Stadium commits to 'zero waste' initiative

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- At Q2 stadium, the grass is green, but more and more... so is the stadium."We have two live intertwined oaks on our badge, tree symbols for our badge... we need to be good stewards of our community," Senior Vice President of Stadium Operations at Q2 Jordan Enke said.Just recently his team announced their intention to achieve 'TRUE Certification' from the U.S. Green Building Council by reaching the industry standard for "zero waste."According to Susie Vincent, from the U.S. Green Building Council, "TRUE is the first 'zero waste' certification program that's dedicated to measuring, improving, and then recognizing 'zero waste' performance by encouraging the adoption of sustainable waste management and waste reduction practices."The goal is 10% or less contamination meaning 90% or more of the waste coming into Q2 Stadium gets diverted to either recycling or composting.Already, Q2 stadium has made big improvements in waste diversion since Austin FC started playing in 202...

WWAARC scarecrow contest empowering people of all abilities

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

SLINGERLANDS, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Putting the "scare" in scarecrow! Warren, Washington, & Albany Counties ARC is behind the 2nd annual scarecrow competition. The not-for-profit organization supports people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Here are the 2023 winners!In Albany:A12 Janitorial2nd – A8 Krumkill CaféA11 Community Pre-Voc (last year's winners)In Queensbury:WW20  Wing HouseWW12 GentryWW21 Quaker & Krumkill Crows WWAARC hosts first annual scarecrow contest More than 40 scarecrows are on display between the agency’s two main offices:Krumkill Road, 334 Krumkill Rd. Slingerlands, NY 12159Quaker Road, 436 Quaker Rd. Queensbury, NY 12804

Aldermen voting to support lower for MSD sewer rate hike today

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Another committee considers a resolution opposing a large MSD sewer rate hike.MSD wants to raise rates by 32% over the next four years, but a minority report from its own rate commission suggested only a 24% increase. Iced tea DNA unmasks alleged ‘thirsty burglar’ in O’Fallon The resolution before aldermen would support the 24% hike.

Five takeaways from Colorado’s election as voters reject Prop HH, oust DPS board members and more

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

Voters across Colorado delivered decisive results Tuesday night on key ballot questions and in hard-fought municipal and school board races, at least most of the time.With vote-counting still underway in some places, turnout appeared roughly in line with past odd-year elections — which is to say much lower than in years with races for president or state offices on the ballot. Exact turnout wasn’t yet available.Here are five takeaways from the emerging results:Voters defended TABOR — againColorado may have a Democratic trifecta in state government, but state leaders’ Proposition HH went down in flames — and it wasn’t even close. Perhaps the complexity of the measure doomed it, with Democrats throwing in a significant increase in education funding alongside the measure’s headline goal of delivering property tax relief, all of it paid for by diverting portions of future tax refunds.Or perhaps the rejection was the latest message from voters tha...

New outdoor festival coming to Denver this spring to help fill void left by Outdoor Retailer

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:58:41 GMT

Plans for a new outdoor industry gathering in Denver, which organizers hope will have a national impact in the future, have progressed to the point where the concept will debut with a “soft opening” this coming spring at Civic Center Park.The Outside Festival, which could help fill the void left when the Outdoor Retailer left Colorado for Utah, will be a joint effort involving Boulder-based Outside Interactive Inc., a prominent outdoor media company that includes Outside magazine, along with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, which is part of the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade. It will be held in conjunction with The Big Gear Show, which will give outdoors vendors a setting to showcase their brands. The event will be held May 31-June 2.“We have made tremendous progress,” said Conor Hall, director of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Office. “We’ve got the perfect lead partner with Outside and their massive med...