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'Tis the season: Holiday shoppers warned of porch pirates

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

ARVADA, Colo. (KDVR) — Law enforcement across the Denver metro area is warning homeowners to watch out for porch pirates.With two of the most infamous shopping holidays, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, now in the past, there are a ton of packages out for delivery. Water bead ban introduced in Congress: Colorful toys called 'deadly' Lijuan Wang lives in Arvada and told FOX31 she had several packages stolen from her front porch early Sunday morning."It was Black Friday shopping, so I made a lot of purchases,” Wang said. “It’s worth over $1,000.”Wang said she thinks the thief caught on her Ring video could be part of the same group that came to her home a year ago and tried to break into her garage.  "On one side I’m upset because they stole my package, but on the other hand I’m really worried in the future, they will come back again,” Wang said.How to prevent package theftThe Arvada Police Department told the FOX31 Problem Solvers they see a rise in package theft during the holi...

Apartment security issues worry Centennial renters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (KDVR) — The holiday season brings excitement and cheer, but along with that comes an increase in theft. Some 83,000 burglaries occurred during the 2022 holiday season, which is more than 8% of all thefts, according to a Porch.com study. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox This is the time to make sure your home is secure. But some concerned residents in Centennial told FOX31 they are worried about access to their apartment building.A spokesperson for a small group of residents at the Portola at South Glenn apartments said she wants to remain anonymous but has concerns after seeing a car broken into in the parking garage. The resident also said non-residents have gotten onto the roof.“Definitely it’s scary. I am grateful that I don’t live alone,” she said.Apartment management respondsThe Problem Solvers talked to the on-site management and reached out to the property’s corporate office. A spokesperson issued the following statement,...

Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’ movie set to stream Dec. 13

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Taylor Swift will be celebrating her birthday by letting you stream her “Eras Tour” concert movie from home.But it isn’t free — and it’s not on Netflix, either.The film will be available to rent, on demand, starting Dec. 13, the world’s most famous Sagittarius said on Instagram, set to a clip of her performing “Wildest Dreams.” The release will be an extended version that includes performances of “Wildest Dreams,” “The Archer” and “Long Live,” the 33-year-old added.“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” is already a record-breaking phenomenon. The film has raked in more than $175 million domestically and nearly $250 million globally, making it the highest-grossing concert film in North America ever. The global title still belongs to Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” from 2009.The film was shot in August during Swift’s sold-out six-night stand at Inglewood’s SoFi Stadium, during the first leg of her Eras tour. The movie has served as an extension of the global dominance of her tour, which has se...

Meehan sisters strengthen bond through UNC field hockey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Every year, the Massachusetts State Field Hockey Coaches Association follows up the day of state championships with the Best of 60 Senior All-Star Games; awarding one final hoorah to the state’s top graduating players.But this year, one of the very best couldn’t make it.A different field hockey tradition unfolded the same weekend down in Chapel Hill, N.C., and Bishop Feehan North Carolina-commit Ava Meehan was absorbing it all in.“I didn’t want to miss (the Best of 60), but … ” Ava said, before her mother, Kim Meehan, interrupted. “She was planning on flying home, but then UNC won the semifinal game.”The same day of the all-star games on Nov. 19, the Tar Heels thrillingly outlasted Northwestern to win their 11th NCAA Div. I national championship. Ava, alongside the other commits to the program, was at Karen Shelton Stadium to celebrate with future teammates she’s excited to play with – none of whom she’s ever played with before.Most of them are from Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New...

Gaskin: Education needs to be part of prison reform

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

The American criminal justice system has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years, particularly considering its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities. The mass incarceration era — fueled by the war on drugs, the 1984 crime control act, and other public safety policies — has led to disparities from policing through parole.The cumulative impact of these policies has left a devastating trail of destruction, particularly within Black and brown communities. Civil rights lawyer and author Michelle Alexander aptly termed this phenomenon the “new Jim Crow,” highlighting its stark resemblance to the racially discriminatory laws and practices of the past. Boston had its own version of aggressive policing designed to suppress crime by so-called super predators, which led to the wholesale arrest of a generation of Black men. From stop and frisk to doctored drug tests in the state lab to civil rights violations such as those documented in the investigation of Carol DiM...

OBF: These Patriots among worst 5 units

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Bill Belichick is having the worst year of his life – at least an NFL head coach.Once revered like Paul Revere, the irascible Hoodie has morphed into a crotchety Bond villain.Move over “Goldfinger.” Meet “Middle Finger.”We can’t take full credit for that one. Belichick apologist Mike Florio posted on X during the Patriots game on Sunday that continued presence of Mac Jones could be Belichick delivering “a middle finger both to Jones and to ownership.”The House of Belichick has fallen. Largely due to the terrible play of Jones. Now Belichick State Run Media is in full “CYA Legacy” mode.We’re being asked to believe that Jones was the only grocery item Belichick did not purchase since Y2K. Thus, this fanciful narrative that Robert and Jonathan Kraft walked into the Patriots War Room on Draft Night in 2021 and told Belichick that either his brains, or Jones’ name, will be on the Patriots pick sheet.This biggest of Big Lies underpins the historic nature of this Patriots season. A catastr...

Chase away the chill with hearty soups

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Cold weather is here, and one of the fastest ways to warm up when chilly temperatures set in is by enjoying hearty, hot soups at mealtime. People may have their preferred go-to soups to warm up. Split Pea Soup can be included in anyone’s recipe collection. Soup lovers who want to do just that can try this recipe for “Puree of Split Pea Soup” courtesy of “The Culinary Institute of America Book of Soups” (Lebhar-Friedman Books) by The Culinary Institute of America.TAG GOES HEREPuree of Split Pea SoupINGREDIENTS4 strips bacon, minced1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/4 cups)1 carrot, diced (about 1/3 cup)1 celery stalk, diced (about 1/2 cup)1 leek, white and light green part, diced (about 1 1/4 cups)6 cups chicken broth2 yellow or white potatoes, peeled and diced (about 2 cups)1/2 pound split green or yellow peas, or lentils1 smoked ham hockSachet: 1 bay leaf, 1 whole clove, 1 garlic clove, and 4 to 5 peppercorns, enclosed in a large teaball or tied in a che...

Editorial: Basic income’s basic question – who will pay?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Boston leaders are hashing over a universal basic income for needy Hub residents, and thankfully Mayor Michelle Wu is looking before she leaps.Cities around the country have rolled out guaranteed income pilot programs, in New York, Texas, Michigan and California for example. Cambridge is also a participant, providing direct cash payments to families with children under the age of 21, and who earn at or below 250% of the federal poverty level.Like most municipalities experimenting with the program, funding in part comes from the American Rescue Plan Act. That COVID-era windfall allowed a plethora of cities to ease a life of poverty for many residents.But the $1.9 trillion ARPA fund is finite, and the spigot will eventually turn off.This leaves Boston with the inevitable question: how will we pay for such a program?A proposal for implementing a “temporary guaranteed income program” put forward for discussion by outgoing Councilor Kendra Lara couldn’t come at a worse time, as the...

Devil’s Chicken with Sauteed Garlic Potatoes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

Two types of strong, flavorful mustards give the sauce for this sautéed chicken its character. It’s a version of a typical French bistro dish.Potatoes cooked with garlic add another French-inspired touch.Helpful Hints:Trimmed green beans can be found in the produce section of the market.Use a skillet just large enough to hold the chicken. If it is too large the sauce will evaporate.The potatoes are cooked in the same skillet used for the chicken.TAG GOES HEREDevil’s ChickenINGREDIENTS2 tablespoons flourSalt and freshly ground black pepper3/4 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast2 teaspoons canola oil1/4 cup dry vermouth1 tablespoon Dijon mustard1 tablespoon coarse-grain mustard1/4 cup water1/2 pound green beans, cut into 2-inch pieces1 tablespoon light creamDIRECTIONSPlace flour on a plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Add chicken and roll in the flour making sure both sides are covered. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Brown chicken 3 minutes, t...

Williams: Postal Service should steer clear of electric trucks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:11:21 GMT

The Postal Service is sputtering out of control. On Nov. 14, the Board of Governors announced that America’s mail carrier lost $6.5 billion in fiscal year 2023. That’s just a drop compared to more than $100 billion in net losses over the past 15 years.Yet, the agency has not learned its lesson, pushing profligacy to ever-higher gears.The service is mulling replacing more than 60% of its fleet with electric vehicles, up from the originally proposed 10%. This foolish move will result in higher taxpayer expenses, less reliable vehicles, and even slower mail delivery times. The agency must reverse course and reject wasteful fleet procurement policies.The fleet of more than 200,000 has seen better days. The average mail truck is more than 20 years old, and spontaneous combustion poses a real safety issue for thousands of agency employees. America’s mail carrier finally decided in the past decade to buy 160,000 replacement vehicles.The challenge has been to purchase these trucks in a cost...