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Google’s persistent ad slump weighs on Alphabet’s 1Q results

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google’s advertising malaise persisted during the first quarter while the internet company also grapples with advancements in artificial intelligence technology that threaten to undercut its dominant search engine.An unprecedented downturn in Google’s digital ad revenue – the company’s main moneymaker for more than 20 years – came into sharper focus Tuesday with the release of the January-March results for owner Alphabet Inc. Although Alphabet’s total revenue for the period rose from a year earlier, Google’s first-quarter ad sales of $54.5 billion marked a slight decrease from a year ago. That dip followed a nearly 4% decline during the final three months of last year, making this the first time Google has sustained back-to-back drops in year-over-year ad revenue since becoming a publicly traded company in 2004.Google’s YouTube video site, a marketing magnet in recent years, saw its ad sales decrease 2.5% from last year, marking its second consecutive quarter of...

Want lower RTD fares? Here's how to make your voice heard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — RTD is considering lower fares as soon as next year, and the public has a chance to share their opinion on the plan.RTD's proposal would eliminate fare zones in favor of a single fare schedule, and it would lower the price of rides across the board. The move comes after an RTD fare and equity analysis, which found that customers think "fares are expensive and difficult to understand." 3 Colorado cities among 25 worst for ozone pollution If approved, RTD riders could see big savings. Read the proposed changes below and get a list of where you can join the public feedback process.RTD bus, train fare could drop next yearUnder the current proposal, the three-hour pass would be lowered to $2.75 and the day pass to $5.50. The fare to Denver International Airport would reduce to $10. And the monthly pass — now at $114 for local zones and $200 for regional — would drop to $88.Discount fares would also lower, with a monthly pass dropping from $57 to $27 and expanding access...

BSO deputy saves a cat that was trapped in Mercedes-Benz

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

A cat was pulled to safety by a Broward County Sheriff’s deputy after spending days trapped in a hot car. “I’ve always been one to do everything to the best that I could do it. Cat, person, you know whatever it is. In our job, we just do what we do because it’s our job,” said Broward County Sheriff Anthony Galizia.The rescue was finalized Tuesday but the rescue mission began Monday morning. Sounds of distress could be heard coming from an abandoned Mercedes Benz near Morrow Elementary in North Lauderdale. Teachers filming and asking for help on social media.“There’s a cat stuck inside the car,” said Emanise Mirthil as the cat is heard in the background. “You could hear the crying it was just so… It was heartbreaking,” said Mirthi, a Morrow Elementary teacher. “And then we started making our calls from there. We called the sheriff’s office, fire rescue and the city of North Lauderdale,” said Officer Richard...

Worcester City Council considering proposed stipend for police officers wearing body cameras

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

The Worcester City Council is considering a proposal that could increase police officer paychecks with a new incentive based on officers wearing body cameras. The council met Tuesday night, where they were scheduled to discuss the proposed $1,300 annual stipend to each officer using the new cameras. “I think it’s important that people realize there is extra work here and it’s a change,” said Worcester City Councilor and Public Safety Chair Kate Toomey.Toomey said several towns and cities have offered similar compensation to police who agree to wear the cameras. “These men and women are putting their lives on the line everyday when they leave their home out on the street,” she said. “With an average pay of $77,000 for a patrolman, I don’t think that an extra $1,300 a year is outrageous for the added work they have to do. It benefits everyone.”The Worcester Police Department rolled out its body camera program on Feb. 27 after the Department of Justice previously announced it...

ISIS-K leader behind deadly 2021 suicide bombing at Kabul airport killed by Taliban, White House says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

 (CNN) — The ISIS-K leader who planned the deadly 2021 suicide bombing at the Kabul international airport’s Abbey Gate was killed by the Taliban, according to the National Security Council.The administration didn’t name the ISIS-K leader, but John Kirby, the National Security Council’s coordinator for strategic communications, called him “the mastermind of the horrific attack,” which was carried out in the final days of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Kirby did not specify when the Taliban killed the ISIS-K leader, but called it one in a “series of high-profile leadership losses” that ISIS-K has suffered this year.The terrorist who carried out the suicide bombing, Abdul Rehman Al-Loghri, had been released from prison only days earlier when the Taliban took control of the area. The attack left 13 US service members and more than 170 Afghans dead.ISIS-K stands for ISIS-Khorasan, the terror organization’...

Poll: BPS parents remain concerned about school safety, show support for police, metal detectors in schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

BPS parents have remained concerned about their children’s safety in schools, a new MassINC poll detailed, and expressed majority support for metal detectors and police in schools.In the latest iteration of the MassINC poll, about two-thirds of parents surveyed expressed at least some concern for their children’s safety, while around three-quarters supported the use of metal detectors and the return of a police presence in the school.The poll, which has been conducted regularly by the nonprofit group since 2021, surveyed over 800 BPS parents between March 22 and April 10.The findings follow a number of violent altercations in BPS schools throughout the past school year, including a Boston Latin Academy fight that sent a middle schooler to the hospital and a Young Achievers attack that injured both a teacher and student in January.“We continue to work in close collaboration with the Boston Police Department on violence prevention efforts, including community engagem...

Tokyo company: ‘High probability’ spacecraft crashed on moon

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

By MARCIA DUNN (AP Aerospace Writer)A Japanese company’s spacecraft apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon Wednesday, losing contact moments before touchdown and sending flight controllers scrambling to figure out what happened.More than six hours after communication ceased, the Tokyo company ispace finally confirmed what everyone had suspected, saying there was “a high probability” that the lander had slammed into the moon.It was a disappointing setback for ispace, which after a 4 1/2-month mission had been on the verge of doing what only three countries have done: successfully land a spacecraft on the moon.Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace, held out hope even after contact was lost as the lander descended the final 33 feet (10 meters), traveling around 16 mph (25 kph.) Flight controllers peered at their screens in Tokyo as minutes went by with only silence from the moon.A grim-faced team surrounded Hakamada as he announced, “We ha...

Celtics react to Ime Udoka reportedly taking Rockets job: ‘Happy for him’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

While the transgressions committed by Ime Udoka led to severe consequences with his ultimate dismissal from the Celtics, his former players have continued to hope for the best for their former coach.Jaylen Brown has expressed all season he hoped Udoka would land on his feet. Some thought Udoka would even be back with the Celtics after he served a season-long suspension for violations of team policy, reportedly for an improper intimate relationship with a female in the organization.On Monday, Udoka – who was officially dismissed by the Celtics in February when they promoted Joe Mazzulla from interim to full-time head coach – reportedly found a new job as the head coach of the Houston Rockets. In Boston, the news was received well from members of the Celtics. It prompted Mazzulla, who worked under Udoka for one season, to reach out to him. He thinks it’s meaningful that Udoka is back in the league.“I’m happy for him in the sense that I think it’s important,” Mazzulla said. “Second cha...

Level 3 sex offender accused of sexually assaulting MIT student at sorority

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

A Level 3 predator accused of sexually assaulting an MIT student in the Back Bay was busted along the city’s drug-plagued Methadone Mile.Nahom Getaneh, 33, was tracked down by police in the area of Atkinson and Southampton streets — the epicenter of the opioid-crazed zone — after a fuzzy photo was posted of a suspected night stalker.Getaneh faces arraignment in Boston Municipal Court on charges of assault with intent to rape and indecent assault and battery, police said. He is accused of attacking an MIT student Saturday night in the area of Beacon Street just before midnight.The alleged victim was entering her Delta Phi Epsilon sorority at 515 Beacon St. Further details, police said, will come out at the arraignment, but the charges and other reports indicate the attack could have been much worse.Getaneh also has two outstanding warrants against him for failure to register as a sex offender and possession of class B drugs.He is listed as being 6 feet tall and weig...

Paolo Banchero becomes 3rd Magic player to win Rookie of the Year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:58:21 GMT

Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero’s reasoning for why he believed he should’ve been named the league’s 2022-23 Rookie of the Year was simple.“I just think,” Banchero said during his exit interview earlier in the month, “I’ve been the best rookie.”The league’s panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters who voted for the award agreed, with Banchero receiving the top rookie award Tuesday night.Banchero, the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft, is the third player in Magic history to win Rookie of the Year, joining Shaquille O’Neal (1993) and Mike Miller (2001).“It’d mean everything,” Banchero responded when asked during his exit interview about possibly winning the award. “It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a while. Worked really hard for. Just wanted to come out this year and be the best rookie but also help my team win and have a good effect on my teams in terms of wins and ov...