[Fox News] Florida, Oklahoma instruct schools to ignore Biden’s Title IX changes, pending legal challenges
The state governments in Oklahoma and Florida are telling schools not to conform to President Biden's changes to Title IX policies. Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan...
[Fox News] Is the East Coast on the brink of a major earthquake — and are we prepared?
The earthquake that struck the East Coast earlier this month was felt by an estimated 42 million people and luckily caused little damage, but what are the chances of a bigger, more powerful quake striking the area? And if it does, what could it look like — and are we prepared?
The April 5 phenomenon was a 4.8 magnitude earthquake centered near Whitehouse Station in New Jersey, which is about 40 miles west of New York City.
Shaking was felt from Washington D.C. to Maine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and it followed a much smaller, 1.7 magnitude earthquake in New York City on Jan. 2.
Earthquakes are rare along the East Coast, with the most powerful one in the last 100 years hitting in August 2011, clocking 5.8 on the Richter scale. It was centered in Virginia and felt from Washington, D.C. to Boston.
4.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES NEW JERSEY, SHAKING BUILDINGS IN SURROUNDING STATES
Before that, an earthquake in South Carolina in 1886 is understood to have measured between 6.6 and 7.3 on the Richter scale. There is no definitive measurement of that quake since the Richter scale has only been around since the mid-1930s, but the tectonic shift still killed 60 people.
Professor John Ebel, a seismologist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College, tells Fox News Digital that when quakes start breaking 5.0 on the Richter scale, damage begins to occur.
For instance, the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria last year measured 7.8 and resulted in the death of nearly 62,000 people as tens of thousands of buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged.
California’s Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, meanwhile, measured 6.9 and caused 69 deaths, and the 1994 Northridge earthquake in the Golden State clocked 6.7, killing 57 people. Thousands more were injured.
“As you go above magnitude five, the shaking becomes stronger and the area over which the strong shaking is experienced becomes wider,” Ebel says. “So if you get a magnitude six, the shaking is ten times stronger than a magnitude five. So had this month’s earthquake been a 5.8, rather than a 4.8, then we would be looking at damage to unreinforced structures in the greater New York City area.”
“Now I have to qualify this and say that in the past few decades, New York City has had an earthquake provision in its building code while New Jersey, New York and Connecticut have all adopted some version of earthquake provisions in their building codes,” Ebel explained. “So modern buildings that are put up today will actually do quite well, even in strong earthquake shaking… If you have a magnitude 6 or even a magnitude seven.”
In terms of the Tri-state area, Ebel says that the region has had smaller earthquakes, but it’s been spared anything that’s been significantly damaging.
An 1884 quake in Brooklyn did cause limited damage and injuries. Seismologists estimated it would have measured in the region of 5.0 and 5.2, while a quake jolted Massachusetts in 1775 in the region of 6.0 and 6.3.
WHAT TO DO DURING AN EARTHQUAKE AND HOW TO PREPARE
“In 1884 there were things knocked from shelves, some cracks in walls that were reported, particularly plaster walls, which crack very easily if a building is shaken,” Ebel said. “There were some brick walls that had some cracks and people panicked because of the very strong shaking.”
A magnitude five earthquake hits the tri-state area once every 120 years, says Ebel, who penned the book “New England Earthquakes: The Surprising History of Seismic Activity in the Northeast.”
“The question is, can we have something bigger? And in my opinion, yes we can,” he said. “We can’t predict earthquakes, and we don’t know when the next one is going to occur, but we do have a low, not insignificant probability of a damaging earthquake at some point.”
Ebel said that the April 5 earthquake has left seismologists baffled since it didn’t occur on the Ramapo Fault zone, highlighting just how hard it is to predict the phenomenon from occurring. The Ramapo Fault zone is a series of small fault lines that runs through New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Spanning more than 185 miles, it was formed about 200 million years ago.
“Right now it’s a seismological mystery,” Ebel said. “We have some earthquakes in our region where we don’t have faults mapped. But that’s even true in California. Not every earthquake occurs on a known or mapped fault in California, so there are still a lot of seismologists have to learn about the exact relationship between old faults and modern earthquakes.”
Ebel noted that buildings aren’t the only thing to consider when earthquakes strike. In the California quakes, overpasses crumbled while the electrical grid can go down too, causing electrical surges and fires.
Toxic chemicals were knocked off of the shelves of a chemistry building in 1989 and the building had to be evacuated, Ebel said.
“And you think about hospitals and some industrial facilities having that situation,” he explained. “So you have these things that are not catastrophic necessarily, but are going to be a real problem.”
And an earthquake doesn’t necessarily have to rattle land in order to cause destruction.
A jolt out at sea could trigger a dangerous tsunami, like the one on the edge of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in Canada in 1929. It was felt as far away as New York City.
Waves as high as 23 feet crashed on the shore, according to the International Tsunami Information Center, with up to 28 people losing their lives.
“A tsunami is not necessarily a very high probability event, but it’s one that we have to think about also,” Ebel says in relation to the East Coast.
The Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011 was triggered by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
Ebel says a tsunami similar to 1929 could cause a storm surge along the lines of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, where 43 people died in New York City.
“The threat of an earthquake is not as great as in California, but it’s something that we have to take into account and have emergency plans for and have building codes for,” Ebel says. “Our state and local emergency management agencies in all the northeastern states do earthquake planning — what we call tabletop exercises — where they pretend an earthquake occurs.”
“So those kinds of preparations are made on a regular basis,” he concludes. “Building codes are constantly being reevaluated and approved, not just for earthquakes, but for fires and chemical spills and all kinds of things. So we’re getting more prepared all the time.”
[Fox News] Get a handle on your time: Google Calendar tips and tricks
Before we get into it, I’ll acknowledge what you may be thinking: Using Calendar means handing over even more info to Google.
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SEE WHAT THE HOME YOU GREW UP IN LOOKS LIKE NOW AND OTHER MAPS TRICKS
Sure, but here’s my take: For the sake of convenience, most of us choose a Big Tech company or two that we’re OK sharing a lot with. If you use Gmail and Google Maps, adding Calendar to the mix won’t make much difference in terms of privacy.
Here are some ideas to get the most out of it
Spoiler: A lot more than just meetings and dentist appointments. And yes, you can definitely use you preferred calendar app for all these things too, if Google isn’t your thing.
Let’s get to the tricks
FIX AUTOCORRECT IF IT’S DRIVING YOU DUCKING CRAZY
A little know-how goes a long way in getting more out of your everyday software.
Know when people are free: I use this daily at work. Put your cursor in the box labeled Search for people under the Meet with heading. Everybody in your organization should be searchable here, so no more setting meetings no one can attend. You can also create a new meeting, add guests and click Find a time under the date to see the attendees’ availability side by side!
WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW ‘GHOST HACKERS’
Automatically share meeting minutes: In your meeting details, click Create meeting notes under the event description to generate a Google Doc that automatically gets shared with attendees. It includes a built-in outline with the meeting date, attendees, notes and action items. Pro tip: Attach additional notes, docs, slides or whatever else to the meeting so no one’s looking around for them later!
Never miss a beat: When setting an appointment, simply click Add Notification. Choose how long before the event you’d like to be reminded. Boom! Whether it’s 10 minutes or a day in advance, Google Calendar’s got your back. No more oops moments.
You know I have more amazing tips up my sleeve. Get more Google Cal secrets.
Get tech-smarter on your schedule
Award-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.
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[Fox News] Biden tells Howard Stern he’s ‘happy’ to debate Trump
President Biden said he would be "happy" to debate former President Trump on Friday during an interview with radio host Howard Stern. "I am, somewhere,...
[Fox Business] Calling all book lovers: Here are the top 10 cities for those who love to read
Reading has always been a favorite hobby for many — but within the last few years, with the rise of the social media trend #BookTok, many newbies have joined the reading community.
Lawn Love has announced its list of the best cities for book lovers — and some may seem unusual.
The lawn care service company created the list by looking at four categories: access to bookstores, libraries, book clubs, and rare and antique bookstores.
Within each category, sub metrics were evaluated.
Those included bookstores per square mile, number of public libraries, number of antique and rare bookstores and number of book clubs.
Counting down from 10 to 1, see if your favorite U.S. city made this top group for book lovers.
BEST US CITIES TO LIVE: REPORT
TOP 10 BEST CITIES FOR FOODIES ANNOUNCED IN RECENT STUDY
New York City ranked first in the best cities for book lovers.
HERE’S WHICH US CITIES ARE THE BEST FOR SINGLES TO MINGLE AHEAD OF VALENTINE’S DAY
That’s thanks to its high number of bookstores (571), independent bookstores, public libraries (225), antique and rare bookstores, and publishing houses (134).
Chicago, Illinois, ranked second on the list due in part to its 187 bookstores and 80 public libraries — among other high numbers for book accessibility.
Coming in third place overall for the best town for book lovers was San Francisco, California.
The city has 146 bookstores and 22 independent bookstores — along with 20 publishing houses.
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Lawn Love noted that while large cities dominate the top 25 spots of the ranking, college towns such as New Haven, Connecticut — home to Yale University — ranked No. 41.
Cambridge, Massachusetts — home to Harvard University — ranked No. 51 as well.
Of the 500 cities ranked, Rancho Cordova, California, ranked last — following four cities in Utah.
Fox News Digital reached out to Lawn Love for additional comment.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
[Fox Business] Drop in fuel demand and oil prices sends gas prices lower: AAA
Gas prices dipped this week as demand for fuel and oil prices dropped, according to the latest AAA report.
The national average cost for a gallon of gas declined to $3.65, a slight two-cent decrease from the previous week. Gas demand fell from 8.66 to 8.42 million barrels per day last week and oil prices decreased by 55 cents to settle at $82.81 per barrel of oil, according to data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Lower demand for gas and a continued drop in oil prices could suppress pump prices even more as drivers head toward the Memorial Day holiday.
“Domestic gas demand is pretty pokey at the moment, which is often the case in the runup to Memorial Day and the traditional start of summer driving season,” AAA Spokesperson Andrew Gross said. “The recent national average price of $3.67 could be the peak until hurricane season is well underway. But as always, the wildcard will be the cost of oil, so stay tuned.”
If you’re trying to lower your overall auto costs, you could consider switching auto insurance providers. You can visit Credible to compare quotes from different companies without affecting your credit score.
MIDDLE-INCOME AMERICANS FEEL MORE OPTIMISM ABOUT FINANCES AND ECONOMY’S DIRECTION: SURVEY
Gas costs for motorists nationwide fluctuated, with some states tallying higher averages than others. These 10 states have the least expensive prices:
The most expensive markets for gas in the country include the following 10 states:
Shopping for cheaper auto insurance is another way drivers can lower the cost of owning a car. You could consider changing your auto insurance provider if you want to save money on your auto costs. Visit Credible to find your personalized premium without affecting your credit score.
High borrowing costs have made consumers think twice about making large ticket purchases like cars, as evidenced in the lag in auto sales, according to the first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) reading released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on Thursday.
Consumers paid an average annual percentage rate (APR) of 7.1% for new vehicles and 11.7% for used car financing in the first quarter of 2024, according to a recent Edmunds report. Moreover, the share of consumers with new-vehicle monthly payments of $1,000 or more remained above the 17% mark for the fourth straight quarter.
“Compelling new product launches combined with the reintroduction of incentives and rebounding inventory in the new vehicle market are all positive signs for shoppers, but elevated interest rates have dampened any positive market momentum,” Edmunds’ Head of Insights Jessica Caldwell said.
One way to lower your overall cost of car ownership is to shop for cheaper auto insurance, which can help reduce your monthly premiums. Visit Credible to compare your options without affecting your credit score.
REPUBLICAN STATES FILE SUIT TO STOP BIDEN’S SAVE STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PLAN
Have a finance-related question, but don’t know who to ask? Email The Credible Money Expert at [email protected] and your question might be answered by Credible in our Money Expert column.
[Fox Business] Google releases AI skills course in education push
Google rolled out a new course on Friday teaching people how to use artificial intelligence tools and announced its philanthropy arm is dedicating $75 million for 1 million Americans to take it for free as part of an initiative to make AI training more accessible.
The Alphabet-owned tech giant said its Google AI Essentials course, developed and taught by its own AI experts, teaches workers basic skills for using generative AI tools – such as Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT – and is product agnostic.
The roughly 10-hour course is available online on Coursera for $49, and it comes with a certificate of completion that can be shared with prospective employers. It does not require a degree or any experience.
Google said the new AI course will also be available through nonprofits, companies and schools, noting that Miami Dade College will provide the course to all students enrolled in its AI college degree program.
GOOGLE AI VENTURE TO HELP MILITARY WITH DISASTER RESPONSE
Google’s non-profit, Google.org, has also set up a $75 million AI Opportunity Fund that will provide grants to workforce development and education organizations to offer the AI training for no charge to more than 1 million people in rural and underserved communities, educators and students, public sector, nonprofit leaders and small businesses.
Google said one of the first grant recipients from the AI Opportunity Fund will be Goodwill, which has offered Google’s digital skills programs since 2017, resulting in some 400,000 Americans landing well-paying jobs.
GOOGLE CONSOLIDATES AI-FOCUSED DEEPMIND, RESEARCH TEAMS
“AI offers significant opportunities to accelerate economic growth, particularly if people have access to the right resources and training,” James Manyika, senior vice president for Research, Technology & Society at Google, said in a statement.
“Google.org’s new AI Opportunity Fund and Google’s AI Essentials Course are important next steps in our commitment to ensure everyone, everywhere can access AI training,” Manyika continued.
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“No single employer or policymaker will be able to modernize workforce programs on their own – we are committed to collaborating across industry, civil society and government to ensure the opportunities created by new technologies are available to everyone.”
[Fox Business] NY union members say Trump support is ‘through the roof’ after site visit: ‘He takes care of the country’
After getting to personally meet former President Donald Trump at their construction site, two Steamfitters Local 638 members said support for the 45th president is now “through the roof.”
“We all love him,” Gary Zuto said on “The Bottom Line” Thursday after meeting Trump that morning. “He takes care of the country, the country that we live in, and that’s what we love.”
“I see it on the job. Everybody’s got Trump stickers on their hard hats,” Zuto’s colleague Ronald Dioguard added. “They just see him as a passionate president for their country. It’s undeniable how much he cares about the country. It’s not even a question.”
Crowds chanted “four more years” as Trump stopped by the New York City construction site to thank them for their support amid his ongoing trial.
U.A.W. EYEING FURTHER SOUTHERN EXPANSION AFTER WIN AT VOLKSWAGEN’S TENNESSEE PLANT
The former president’s caravan pulled up to meet the hundreds of fans and union workers seeking autographs and selfies – including Zuto and Dioguard.
Trump told reporters on the scene that he appreciated the “amazing show of affection” ahead of his appearance in Manhattan court and a key U.S. Supreme Court hearing on presidential immunity in Washington, D.C.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Dioguard said. “I was thrilled, couldn’t even sleep last night knowing that he was coming.”
“I thought it was a good look for him,” Dioguard continued, “because I know Joe Biden can’t do that, just show up to a job site.”
“There’s no ice cream store near us,” said Zuto.
Both union workers voiced support for Trump’s economic and energy policies. Most pressing for them, however, is the surge of illegal immigrants being housed in the Big Apple.
“These are the guys that are taking our jobs for $10 an hour cash. They’re not putting [anything] back into the system,” Zuto said.
“People are tired of paying for high gas prices. The food’s out the roof. The interest rates are so high people can’t afford to buy a house,” he added. “People are sick of it and it’s going all across the board.”
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The union members estimated that two-thirds of their fellow workers plan to vote for Trump this November, noting they align with the former president’s “put America first” message.
“Mr. Trump actually asked me, he said, ‘Do you think I got a shot in New York?’” Dioguard recalled. “I said, ‘Absolutely.’”
Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report.
[NewYorkPost] JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon reveals he has ‘PTSD’ from ‘near death’ heart surgery: ‘I knew it was 50/50’
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon admitted that he has “PTSD” from a “near death” heart surgery, which he revealed was much more serious than the...
[Fox News] British man linked to Russian mercenary group charged with plotting arson attack on London business
A British man accused of plotting to torch a London business connected to Ukraine has been charged with conducting hostile activity to benefit Russia, prosecutors...