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Mental health crisis costing Northern Virginia over $8 billion a year

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

The mental health crisis is costing the Northern Virginia region $8 billion a year in unrealized economic output, according to a  new report from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.The report from the foundation’s research arm, Insight Region, found that the economic loss caused by mental health has quadrupled since 2019, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020.In 2019, worker mental health issues cost the region about 1% in productivity – the equivalent of $2.1 billion – in potential gross regional product (GRP). About 11% of working adults were experiencing mild anxiety or depression in that timeframe.However, during the pandemic, more than half of all workers reported levels of anxiety or depression. As of May 2023, that statistic held with 53% of the workforce struggling.The elevated levels of mental health needs caused productivity losses to increase by 2.1 percentage points – or over $8 billion in potential GRP each year, according to the repo...

Can the new film ‘Uncharitable’ change people’s minds about overhead at nonprofits?

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — All Hands and Hearts makes a promise in big letters on the front page of its website: “95 cents of every dollar is spent on our programs.”The Massachusetts-based disaster relief nonprofit, like so many charitable organizations have for decades, feels the pressure to operate as leanly as possible. Izzy Smith, chief information officer for All Hands and Hearts, which mobilizes volunteers to respond to natural disasters, called it an “enduring challenge for nonprofits” to explain to donors and the public about the need to invest in operations and shared services. “Financial instability as a nonprofit actually reduces our effectiveness and efficiency,” Smith said.A new documentary “Uncharitable,” from “Paris Trout” and “Losing Isaiah” director Stephen Gyllenhaal, wants to change that. It tells the story of longtime advocate Dan Pallotta, who pioneered the idea of fundraising through bike rides and road races initially to raise money for AIDS and cancer research and...

Hurricane Norma heads for Mexico’s Los Cabos resorts, as Tammy becomes hurricane in the Atlantic

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Norma weakened slightly but remained a major storm Friday as it took aim at the twin resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula in the Pacific.In the Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said another tropical storm, Tammy, had grown into a hurricane, with winds of 75 mph (120 kph). Hurricane watches were in effect for the islands of Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Maarten, St. Martin and St. Barthelemy. The center said Norma had 110 mph (185 kph) maximum sustained winds and was located about 245 miles (395 kilometers) south of Cabo San Lucas. The Category 2 storm was moving north-northwest at 8 mph (13 kph).Hotels in Los Cabos, which are largely frequented by foreign tourists, remained about three-quarters full and there has been no major move by visitors to leave, Baja California Sur state tourism secretary Maribel Collins said.The government posted 500 Marines ...

Jury selection begins in the first trial in the Georgia election case against Trump and others

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

FILE - Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, appears before Judge Scott MacAfee during a motions hearing on Oct. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. Jury selection is set to begin for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via AP, File)(AP/Alyssa Pointer) FILE - Lawyer Kenneth Chesebro, appears before Judge Scott MacAfee during a motions hearing on Oct. 10, 2023, in Atlanta. Jury selection is set to begin for Chesebro, the first defendant to go to trial in the Georgia case that accuses former President Donald Trump and others of illegally scheming to overturn the 2020 election in the state. (Alyssa Pointer/Pool Photo via...

Wembanyama already setting a tone for his rookie NBA season with the Spurs

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama’s first win of his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs came with no fans present, no referees around and didn’t even require the use of a basketball.It was, of all things, an art contest. The Spurs gave their players a few minutes to sketch The Coyote, the team mascot. Wembanyama thought for a few seconds and went to work. The teenager makes no secret that he loves art and studies it by visiting museums and exhibits. So it should have been no surprise that his drawing topped all others.“Since it’s a contest, I gave 100%,” Wembanyama said. “I wanted to win.”Get used to that, San Antonio. You too, NBA. The league’s newest phenom — a long-hyped French teen who stands 7 feet, 3 ½ inches tall and doesn’t turn 20 until Jan. 4 — is finally here, after being taken No. 1 by the Spurs in this year’s draft.And he wants to win. Everything.“I mean, it’s incredible to watch,” Spurs forward Doug McDermott said. “He just does some things that you can’t real...

This DIA restaurant ranked as one of best in nation

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Travelers who showed up early at Denver International Airport to beat the security check line, are waiting for a delayed flight or just have a long layover will want to try out this highly-rated spot.DIA made the Food and Wine list as one of the top airports with the best provisions. Not only was it honored with making the list, but it was also picked as the Editor’s Choice. What to know before you get to the Denver airport While there are plenty of highly recommended spots around the airport, Root Down is nationally rated as the best sit-down spot, convenience food and bar.USA Today 10Best polled its viewers on the best airport food counter spots in the nation and Root Down was voted at No. 8 for the best grab-and-go spots in the nation. Root Down has food you can order and sit down, but it also has an option where you can grab premade meals. Either option is equally as good, as the restaurant also ranked as the best place to eat in general.FOX31 looked into DIA...

Israel says it doesn’t plan long-term control of the Gaza Strip after its war with Hamas

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Friday it does not plan to take long-term control over the Gaza Strip after an expected ground offensive to root out Hamas militants that rule the territory. The Israeli military punished Gaza with airstrikes, authorities inched closer to bringing aid to desperate families and hospitals, and Muslims around the world protested in solidarity with Palestinians.Israel bombed areas in southern Gaza where Palestinians had been told to seek safety while it tries to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its brutal rampage in Israel two weeks ago. Fighting between Israel and militants in neighboring Lebanon also raged, prompting evacuations of Lebanese and Israeli border towns as fears of a widening conflict grew.Speaking to lawmakers about Israel’s long-term plans for Gaza, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant laid out a three-stage plan that seemed to suggest that Israel did not intend to reoccupy the territory it left in 2005.First, Israeli airstrikes and “m...

Rescuers descended into a deep cave to rescue a trapped dog – then they found a bear

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

(CNN) — Firefighters encountered an unexpected challenge while rescuing a dog trapped in a Tennessee cave: A black bear was also there.The dog, Charlie, spent three days trapped nearly 40 feet deep in an “extremely narrow cave shaft” on English Mountain in eastern Tennessee, according to a Facebook post from the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department.A rescue team consisting of “rope rescue technicians” from several fire departments set off on the mission to free Charlie on Tuesday, the Facebook post says. The team hiked to the mouth of the cave, where firefighter Tori Downing and captain Jon Lanier descended into the cave.“Things took a turn when Firefighter Downing rounded a corner and found a bear sleeping five feet below her and the trapped hunting dog farther in the cave system,” reads the Facebook post.Charlie’s unwitting companion was a 2-year-old black bear weighing an estimated 200 pounds, according to the Waldens Creek Volunteer Fire Department.The rescue team l...

Kenneth Chesebro: Pro-Trump attorney who helped craft fake elector plot pleads guilty in Georgia election subversion case

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

(CNN) — Kenneth Chesebro, a Donald Trump-aligned attorney who helped craft the 2020 fake elector plot, is pleading guilty in the Georgia election subversion case.The plea deal is another major victory for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who charged Trump and 18 others in the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Thursday, former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell also pleaded guilty.Chesebro is pleading guilty to one felony – conspiracy to commit filing false documents. Fulton County prosecutors are recommending that Chesebro serve 5 years of probation and pay $5,000 in restitution. He agreed to testify at any future trials in the sprawling election subversion case and write an apology letter.The plea came shortly after jury selection began Friday. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee had met with the pool of prospective jurors Friday and told them the trial could last four to five months.A source familiar with the discussions said the l...

GEM provides aid to civilians in Israel and Gaza as war continues

Published Sat, 28 Dec 2024 18:19:50 GMT

A South Florida-based organization is supporting civilians caught in the war in the Middle East.The Global Empowerment Mission, originally from Doral, was one of the first to provide aid to Gaza.The organization currently has a team that has mobilized close to the Rafah border on the Egyptian side with trucks loaded with humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians once the border opens.The organization has also been in Israel and currently has more than 400 pallets of aid in transit to the country.They are also in partnership with others that are providing supplies at a base outside of Tel Aviv.