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Dreaming of summer in the backyard or patio? Create an oasis

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

A relaxing retreat just steps from the back door? Count us all in.Outdoor home spaces serve a lot of functions, but Soothing Refuge is one that designers say is in high demand. Aromatic plantings. Romantic arbors. A meandering path. A yoga platform. Pergola daybeds. Prefab saunas. Plunge Pools. An outdoor shower. And comfortable furniture that can stand up to the weather.“The outdoor living trend has been building for the last decade, but it got a major bump during the pandemic, ” said Dan DiClerico, home improvement and outdoor director for the Good Housekeeping Institute.In response, manufacturers have made “huge investments in products and materials geared towards outdoor living” year-round, he said.SEAMLESS TRANSITIONThere can be comfort and ease in keeping a flow between indoors and outdoors. DiClerico calls spaces that straddle that line “transition rooms.”He spent much of the pandemic renovating his back terrace in Brooklyn, New York. Deck tiles laid on the diagon...

DC region on alert for severe storms, possible hail Thursday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

After a record warm weather on Wednesday, the D.C. area is on alert for the potential for strong to severe storms Thursday afternoon and evening. Here’s what you need to know to prepare.Heavy rain is expected to fall at some point during the afternoon and into the evening, 7News First Alert meteorologist Veronica Johnson said.Listen to WTOP online and on the radio at 103.5 FM or 107.7 FM.Current traffic conditionsWeather forecastClosings and DelaysSign up for WTOP alerts“Storms could pack a punch with some high winds, even some hail. And well, we’re certainly going to get some brief heavy rain,” Johnson said.There will be a wide range of rainfall totals from 0.10 inches to over 0.50 inches expected in some neighborhoods, 7News First Alert meteorologist Eileen Whelan said. Also, temperatures will rise into the low 80s in the early afternoon.Friday will feel noticeably different, with lower humidity and cooler temperatures in the 60s.The upcoming weekend is for...

Live Updates| Masters gets under way at Augusta National

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — The Latest from the first round of the Masters (all times local):8 a.m. LIV golfer Kevin Na and 2003 champion Mike Weir launched their drives down the first fairway at Augusta National, signaling the official start of the 87th Masters.Na is one of 18 players from the polarizing Saudi Arabia-backed golf league participating in the event, which is almost certain to make this “a tournament unlike any other.”The start of the four-day event came after honorary starters and longtime fan favorites Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson thrilled the crowd with their traditional tee shots on hole No. 1.Player was greeted on the tee with a smile by Masters Chairman Fred Ridley a week after the tournament’s first international champion told the Times of London he did not feel welcome at Augusta National. Player said he had to “beg a member to play with us” when he wanted to play a round with family members,” and that “if it wasn’t for the players, it would be just anothe...

Levi Strauss: Fiscal Q1 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Levi Strauss & Co. (LEVI) on Thursday reported fiscal first-quarter net income of $114.7 million.The San Francisco-based company said it had profit of 29 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to 34 cents per share.The results surpassed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 32 cents per share.The jeans maker posted revenue of $1.69 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Four analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.58 billion.Levi Strauss expects full-year earnings in the range of $1.30 to $1.40 per share, with revenue in the range of $6.3 billion to $6.4 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on LEVI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/LEVISource

Constellation Brands: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

VICTOR, N.Y. (AP) — VICTOR, N.Y. (AP) — Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) on Thursday reported fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of $223 million.On a per-share basis, the Victor, New York-based company said it had profit of $1.21. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, were $1.98 per share.The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of nine analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $1.86 per share.The wine, liquor and beer company posted revenue of $2.15 billion in the period. Its adjusted revenue was $2 billion, falling short of Street forecasts. Eight analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $2.03 billion.For the year, the company reported a loss of $71 million, or 11 cents per share. Revenue was reported as $10.18 billion.Constellation Brands expects full-year earnings to be $11.60 to $11.90 per share._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access...

Wall Street bets on better days ahead for US homebuilders

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Homebuilder stocks are on a tear as investors bet that a dearth of previously occupied homes on the market and moderating mortgage rates will boost builders’ prospects in the spring homebuying season. KB Home, PulteGroup and Tri Pointe Homes are among more than a dozen U.S. homebuilders whose stock price is up by more than 20% this year. One prominent exchange traded fund, the SPDR S&P Homebuilders ETF, is up nearly 10%. Meanwhile, the benchmark S&P 500 index is up about 7%.“We think homebuilding stocks may be looking ahead, perhaps crossing the valley from recession to potential recovery in (the second half of) 2023,” CFRA analyst Kenneth Leon wrote in a recent research note.Builders are coming off a lousy 2022 as mortgage rates skyrocketed to a two-decade high, sidelining many would-be homebuyers. The surge in borrowing costs after years of soaring home prices pulled the housing market into a deep slump. Sales of new U.S. homes fell about 17% last ...

Looking for last-minute Rockies home opener tickets? Here's how much it'll cost

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Are you considering heading downtown and attending the Colorado Rockies 2023 home opener but don't have tickets? Well, you are in luck, tickets are still available but they will cost you a pretty penny. The Rox kick off baseball season in the Mile High City against the Washington Nationals at 2:10 p.m. Thursday. Considering it is April in Colorado, the weather for the game will be chilly but mild. The Pinpoint Weather team is forecasting sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s.If you are ready to celebrate the return of America's favorite pastime, Ticketmaster still has tickets available, but they might be more than you're expecting. Everything you need to know for the Rockies home opener As of 7 a.m. Thursday, tickets behind home plate in sections 135 through 125 will cost you between $160-$200 each. If you want to be a little closer to the concessions like the rooftop bar, tickets are going for $90 in section 208. Now, if you want the cheapest seats available, T...

Changes on the Way Starting this Weekend

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

Enjoy the sunshine and warm weather while you can the rest of this work week because changes to our weather pattern arrive this weekend and especially next week as a front stalls near South Florida while meeting with deeper moisture levels and as weak storm systems ride these fronts.This Thursday, we’ll continue to see the sunshine along with fair weather clouds and some filtered sunshine due to upper clouds streaming in overhead. High temperatures will remain consistent and a few degrees above average, reaching the mid 80s at most locations. It will also stay breezy with sustained winds generally up to 10-20 mph out of the east.Friday will also be another nice day, featuring mostly sunny skies, a slightly lighter breeze and high temperatures once again into the mid 80s following wake-up temperatures quite warm and well above normal into the mid to upper 70s.Now by the weekend rain chances will begin to increase from the low, 10% chance that remains on Thursday and Friday. Exp...

Ukraine gives Russia two options: Leave Crimea peacefully or be ready for battle

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

KYIV — Ukraine has not changed its plans for the return of territory occupied by Russia, including Crimea.“Ukraine will choose the way to bring Crimea back, using political and military means,” Tamila Tasheva, the Ukrainian president’s envoy on Crimea, told POLITICO.“To minimize Ukrainian military losses, minimize threats to civilians who live in occupied territories, as well as the destruction of civilian infrastructure, Ukraine plans to give Russia a choice on how to leave Crimea. If they don’t agree to leave voluntarily, Ukraine will continue to liberate its land by military means,” Tasheva added.Her comments come after Andriy Sybiha, deputy head of the president’s office, gave an interview to the Financial Times in which he said Ukraine might be ready to discuss the future of Crimea with Moscow if Kyiv succeeds in achieving its strategic goals on the battlefield.“We are ready to open [a] diplomatic page to discuss this issue,” Sybiha said in the ...

Bizarre Wars: German army goes full Darth Vader at space command launch

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 12:15:49 GMT

BERLIN — Well thought out, this was not.Germany’s army has embraced the dark side with the launch of its military space command, featuring characters straight out of the evil Galactic Empire seen in the iconic Star Wars film series.Rather than swashbuckling Jedi knights wielding plastic lightsabers, the German army this week opened its new space command headquarters with military top brass surrounded by Darth Vader and a cast of cosplay stormtroopers. The Star Wars franchise partly based its evil, authoritarian Galactic Empire, presided over by Darth Vader, on aspects of the ideology underpinning the Nazi party in 1930s and 40s Germany.The €40 million space command building — which does not resemble the spherical Death Star of the films — includes 122 offices, with two rooms allowing constant space surveillance monitoring systems and a backup power and air conditioning unit, the German army said.The command will share the drab office complex with Germany’s aerospace resea...