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This Week: Construction spending, trade balance, nonfarm payrolls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week:CONSTRUCTION BELLWETHERThe Commerce Department reports its monthly tally of U.S. construction spending Monday.Construction spending has been mostly rising on a monthly basis this year after mostly declining in the back half of 2022. Spending rose 0.7% in July from the previous month, thanks in part to increased spending on single-family homes. Economists predict construction spending rose 0.5% in August.Construction spending, monthly percent change, seasonally adjusted:March 0.6 April 0.3May 2.0June 0.6July 0.7Aug. (est.) 0.5Source: FactSetOUT OF BALANCEThe Commerce Department delivers its monthly snapshot of the nation’s trade gap Thursday.The gap between the value of goods and services the U.S. sells abroad and what it buys widened in July to $65 billion from $63.7 billion the previous month. Demand for cell phones and other items helped lift imports 1.7%, while exports rose 1.6%, amid demand for ...

One dead in 6th and Elm traffic crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Late Monday evening, the Denver Police Department was on the scene at 6th and Elm Street for a single motorist traffic crash.Denver PD posted on X at 10:55 p.m. on Oct. 1 that one person was transported to a local hospital. Man killed by officer during struggle at apartment complex At 6:51 a.m. on Oct. 2, Denver PD tweeted on X that the victim was pronounced deceased.The Office of the Medical Examiner will release the identification and cause of death. FOX31 will update this post when more information becomes available.

Butterfly Pavilion opens limited-time Spiders Around the World

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Halloween creeps by opening a limited-time exhibit featuring spiders from all around the world. These are the most dangerous spiders in Colorado The exhibit, Spiders Around the World, opened Sunday and is only available through the end of October. It showcases more than 20 different species of tarantulas from across the globe.With the new exhibit, the Butterfly Pavilion is also welcoming some new spiders to the Spider Zone, where guests can be immersed in an enclosure with hundreds of free-roaming exotic spiders.The Butterfly Pavilion kicked off the Halloween creeps by opening a limited-time exhibit featuring spiders from all around the world, including this baby tarantula. (Butterfly Pavilion)Plus, the famed tarantula Rosie's offspring will be on display this month. The spiderlings were born in the Butterfly Pavillion's laboratory as part of a breeding program. There will be several baby tarantulas in the new Itsy-Bitsy Spide...

The Miami Marlins have spent decades as an afterthought. Now they’re heading to the playoffs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kim Ng was well aware of the stakes when she became the Miami Marlins’ general manager in November 2020, stakes that extended well beyond whether she could resuscitate a franchise that’s spent most of its existence fighting for relevance within its own city.The first female GM of a major North American sports franchise understood she was a pioneer. A symbol, too. She embraced the daunting task of taking a franchise with limited support and turning it into a contender while being careful to avoid setting a timetable for success.Timetables invite judgment. Ng simply doesn’t see the world that way.“You’re never sure when it’s all going to come together,” Ng said.So rather than create some arbitrary deadline, Ng focused on the process of drafting and developing talent and sifting through rosters elsewhere in search of pieces she felt might fit.The process gained traction last winter with the hiring of relentlessly upbeat first-year Skip Schumaker, who...

DJ Irie talks annual fundraiser, new additions, and star-studded lineup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

South Florida, get ready for another sensational Irie Weekend as DJ Irie gears up for the 17th annual fundraiser event. In an exclusive interview with 7News’ Mike DiPasquale, DJ Irie shared insights about this year’s Irie Weekend, the event’s evolution, and what to expect.DJ Irie, the man behind the magic, expressed his excitement for this year’s Irie Weekend, highlighting the addition of a tennis tournament alongside the beloved golf event. “It’s like my only chance of the year to get on the greens and hit the balls,” he shared, emphasizing his passion for golf.But this year, the tennis bug has bitten DJ Irie hard. He revealed his newfound love for tennis and his desire to involve the community in this sport. “So, the big, new thing this year is I’m doing a bog tennis tournament, man,” said DJ Irie. “So, I caught the tennis bug. It bit me and it bit me good. I picked up a racket April of last year and haven’t b...

Donald Trump arrives in court for a New York trial scrutinizing his business practices

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump showed up on Monday for a trial in a lawsuit that could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties, after vowing to defend his reputation in a case he calls “a sham.”Trump, who built his political career on his fame as a billionaire real estate ace and master of “The Art of the Deal,” appeared voluntarily for a trial that has high stakes for him.New York Attorney General Letitia James’ suit accuses Trump and his company of deceiving banks, insurers and others by habitually lying about his wealth in financial statements.Judge Arthur Engoron already has ruled that Trump committed fraud in his business dealings. It is a non-jury trial, so Engoron will decide on six other claims in the lawsuit.James, a Democrat, is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York. The judge’s ruling last week, if upheld on appeal, could force Trump to give up New York properties including Trump T...

$1.04 billion Powerball jackpot tempts players to brave long odds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An estimated $1.04 billion Powerball jackpot will be up for grabs Monday night, tempting players to spend a couple dollars on a longshot chance at instant riches.The prize is the world’s ninth-largest lottery prize behind earlier drawings of Powerball and Mega Millions, the other nearly nationwide lottery game. The jackpot is the fourth-largest in the history of Powerball.The prize has grown so massive because there have been 32 consecutive drawings since someone matched all five white balls and the Powerball to win the jackpot, dating back to July 19.That losing streak reflects the stunningly long odds of winning the jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million.The $1.04 billion jackpot is for a sole winner who chooses to receive the winnings through an annuity, paid annually over 30 years. Winners nearly always pick the cash option, which for Monday night’s drawing would be an estimated $478.2 million.A Powerball ticket cost...

US expands probe into Ford engine failures to include two motors and nearly 709,000 vehicles

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety investigators have expanded a probe into Ford Motor Co. engine failures to include nearly 709,000 vehicles.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also said in documents posted Monday on its website that it upgraded the investigation to an engineering analysis, a step closer to a recall.The investigation now covers Ford’s F-150 pickup truck, as well as Explorer, Bronco and Edge SUVs and Lincoln Nautilus and Aviator SUVs. All are from the 2021 and 2022 model years and are equipped with 2.7-liter or 3.0-liter V6 turbocharged engines.The agency says that under normal driving conditions the engines can lose power due to catastrophic engine failure related to allegedly faulty valves.The agency opened its initial investigation in May of last year after getting three letters from owners. Initially the probe was looking at failure of the 2.7-liter engine on Broncos.Since then, Ford reported 861 customer complaints, warranty claims a...

Serbia says it has reduced army presence near Kosovo after US expressed concern over troop buildup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — The Serbian army has cut the number of troops stationed on the border with Kosovo by nearly half, top Serbian military officials said on Monday, denying U.S. and other reports of a mass military buildup in the wake of a shooting over a week ago that killed four people and raised fears of instability in the volatile region.Troop numbers are now at their “regular” level of some 4,500 soldiers, reduced from 8,350 in the wake of violence on Sept. 24 in northern Kosovo between heavily armed Serb gunmen and Kosovo police, the Serbian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Milan Mojsilovic said at a press conference. He said troop numbers in the past had reached 14,000 soldiers and that unlike several times in the recent past, the army had not raised its combat readiness, so “from the military point of view I see no reason for such (critical) comments” by both U.S. and European Union officials.Mojsilovic and Serbia’s Defense Minister Milos Vucevic also denied reports ...

Spain’s women’s team players Putellas, Rodríguez and Paredes appear before a judge in Rubiales probe

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:27 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas and two of her teammates on Spain’s women’s national team appeared before a judge Monday as witnesses in the investigation of former soccer federation president Luis Rubiales for kissing a player on the lips.Putellas, Irene Paredes and Misa Rodríguez all answered questions from the judge in Madrid. Rodríguez appeared in court in the Spanish capital, while Putellas and Paredes testified via video from Barcelona.Spanish state prosecutors have accused Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips without her consent during the awards ceremony after the Women’s World Cup final in August.Spanish media, citing court sources, said the three players told the judge that Rubiales and other federation members tried to convince players to downplay the kiss. The court has not officially released details of the testimony.Some federation officials and former national team coach Jorge Vilda, who was replaced n...