Believe_In_Me/iStock(SAN FRANCISCO) — A mother who spent more than a year fighting for a visa to be with her terminally ill child is on her way to the U.S. after being granted a visa waiver from the Trump administration’s travel ban. Shaima Swileh was denied the right to travel to the U.S. because she is …
Dec 19
Fed raises short-term interest rates
amedved/iStock(WASHINGTON) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised short-term interest rates by a quarter percentage point to a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent. The move was widely expected by economists. The central bank has raised rates nine times since December 2015. The Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement that “indicators of …
Dec 19
Party in the Crescent City: Florida Georgia Line and Maren Morris are ready to ring in 2019 in New Orleans
ABC/Image Group LAIf you’re lucky enough to be in New Orleans this year for the Sugar Bowl, you can also take in a free concert by Florida Georgia Line and Maren Morris. And even if you can’t make it to the Crescent City, you’ll be able to watch part of the performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve on ABC. …
Dec 19
Watch now: George Strait shows off his “Honky Tonk Time Machine” in Las Vegas
MCA NashvilleKing George wants to take you for a ride in his Honky Tonk Time Machine in 2019. That’s the title of George Strait’s next album, the Country Music Hall of Famer revealed earlier this month during his concerts at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Strait also played some of his new music for fans, including his new …
Dec 19
Facebook gave Netflix, Spotify, Amazon access to user messages, friends’ data: Report
coffeekai/iStock(NEW YORK) — Facebook gave about a dozen companies wide access to its 2.2 billion users’ personal data without consent, including private messages, names and contact info for friends, according to a report in The New York Times. The revelations contradict the social media giant’s claims that it no longer allowed third party apps to …
Dec 19
Mild weather continues across the Heartland
Across the Corn Belt, any remaining snow cover has been significantly reduced by mild weather. Early Wednesday, snow depths include 2 inches in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and an inch in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The December mild spell has left muddy conditions in some fields and feedlots that had been previously frozen. On the Plains, …
Dec 19
A moisture-laden pattern for the Heartland
A complex storm system developing across the nation’s mid-section will become a more cohesive low pressure system on Thursday over the Southeast. From there, the storm will move almost due northward into eastern Canada by Saturday. Storm-total precipitation—mostly rain—could reach 1 to 3 inches or more across the eastern U.S. Late in the week, rain …
Dec 19
Managing nitrogen for the 2019 growing season
The wet weather throughout parts of the Corn Belt in 2018 caused nitrogen loss and deficiencies. In this Managing for Profit, Dekalb Asgrow technical agronomist Jim McDermott says now is a good time for farmers to evaluate their current nitrogen programs and see if any changes need to be made for the 2019 growing season. …
Dec 19
Morgan Wallen steps into the ring for WWE’s holiday “Tribute to the Troops”
ABC/Image Group LAMorgan Wallen is teaming up with World Wrestling Entertainment this holiday season to honor America’s servicemen and women. The newcomer from East Tennessee will perform on the 16th Annual WWE Tribute to the Troops Thursday at 9 p.m. ET on USA Network. Look for comedian Jon Stewart on the two-hour special, recorded earlier this month in Fort Hood, …
Dec 19
Trump to announce US will withdraw troops from Syria: Official
Mark Wilson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump will announce that the U.S. will withdraw troops from Syria, a U.S. official confirms. There is no timeline yet for the pace of the withdrawal, the official said. There are about 2,000 U.S. troops in eastern Syria advising and assisting the Kurdish led Syrian Democratic Forces in the …