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The secret life of gift cards: Here’s what happens to the billions that go unspent each year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don’t stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays.Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the most popular, making up one-third of those sales.Most of those gift cards will be redeemed. Paytronix, which tracks restaurant gift card sales, says around 70% of gift cards are used within six months.But many cards — tens of billions of dollars’ worth — wind up forgotten or otherwise unused. That’s when the life of a gift card gets more complicated, with expiration dates or inactivity fees that can vary by state.Here’s what to know about the gift cards you’re giving — or getting:LOVED, BUT LOSTAfter clothing, gift cards will be the most popular present this holiday season. Nearly half of Americans plan to give them, according to the National Retail Federation. But many will remain unspent...

A plane stuck for days in France for a human trafficking investigation is leaving for India

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

VATRY, France (AP) — A charter plane grounded in France for a human trafficking investigation is scheduled to leave Monday for India, after an exceptional holiday ordeal that left some 300 Indians en route for Central America blocked inside a rural French airport for four days. A lawyer for the airline says most of the passengers will be aboard.French authorities are still investigating the aim of the original flight, en route from the United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua, and two passengers have been detained. Prosecutors wouldn’t comment on what kind of human trafficking was alleged, or whether the passengers’ ultimate destination could have been the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.French authorities worked through Christmas Eve and Christmas morning on formalities to allow passengers to leave the Vatry airfield in Champagne country, regional prosecutor Annick Browne told The Associated Press. The passengers include a 21-month-old chi...

Horoscopes Dec. 25, 2023: CCH Pounder, you have plenty to gain

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Justin Trudeau, 52; Annie Lennox, 69; CCH Pounder, 71; Sissy Spacek, 74.Happy Birthday: Fact-checking first will keep you out of trouble. Opportunities are available, and wise decisions can help bring about your desired lifestyle changes. Crunch numbers and be honest with yourself and your loved ones regarding the possibilities. You have plenty to gain if you think matters through and act instinctually when the time is right. Solid relationships and unity are worth working for, and romance is favored. Your numbers are 9, 15, 22, 27, 31, 38, 46.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Learn all you can. Being informed will spare you from getting involved in something costly or emotionally taxing. Make decisions that can help you achieve your objective, which will give you a sense of pride. Follow the facts, not your emotions. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Listen, but don’t buy into something you don’t need. Giving everyone the chance to do things their ...

Bridge: Dec. 25, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

In my club’s penny game, South was the notorious Joe Overberry, whose obsession with overtricks costs him tons of points and puts gray hairs on his partners’ heads.Against four hearts, East took the ace of clubs and returned a club. Joe won, drew trumps and led a diamond. West rose with the ace(!) and led the ten of spades.Joe, who thinks it nobler to go down in pursuit of an overtrick than make his bid, saw a chance here. He was sure West had the queen of diamonds; why else would West grab the ace instead of sparing declarer a guess?DOWN ONESo Joe took the ace of spades, led a trump to his hand and returned a second diamond to dummy’s jack. East produced the queen and led a spade to West’s king for down one, and North sobbed like the Mock Turtle.Joe might have gotten his treasured overtrick on a lucky day, but for the contract, he should play the queen of spades at Trick Six. If East had the king, Joe would still get home if West had the queen of diamonds.DA...

Word Game: Dec. 25, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — ADVISING (ADVISING: ad-VIZE-ing: Giving someone advice or a recommendation.)Average mark 16 wordsTime limit 25 minutesCan you find 20 or more words in ADVISING? The list will be published tomorrow.SATURDAY’S WORD — SEMIPRO semi simper sire some sore sperm spire spore emir epos mire miser miso moire mope moper mopier more mores impose isomer perm peso pier poem poise pome pore pose poser pries prim prime primo prism proem prom promise prose repo rime ripe rise romp rope roseTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or ...

Sale closed in San Ramon: $1.5 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

2000 Wineberry Drive – Google Street ViewA 1,675-square-foot house built in 1998 has changed hands. The property located in the 2000 block of Wineberry Drive in San Ramon was sold on Dec. 4, 2023, for $1,515,000, or $904 per square foot. The layout of this single-story house consists of three bedrooms and two baths. In addition, the home is equipped with an attached two-car garage, accommodating vehicles and storage needs efficiently.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Wineberry Drive, San Ramon, in March 2023, a 1,675-square-foot home was sold for $1,600,000, a price per square foot of $955. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.In August 2023, a 2,740-square-foot home on Sorrelwood Court in San Ramon sold for $2,250,000, a price per square foot of $821. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,969-square-foot home on the 100 block of Black Calla Court in San Ramon sold in August 2023, for $1,835,000, a price per square foot of $618. The home has 4 bedroom...

Ask Amy: Who knew toy kitchens would prompt so many stories?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

Dear Readers: A recent question from “Wondering Parents” raised the topic of giving “gender stereotypical” toys to children. (Wondering Parents were admonished for wanting to give a toy kitchen set to their daughter for Christmas.)Related ArticlesAdvice | Ask Amy: My husband won’t tell me where my money went Advice | Ask Amy: Would it be odd for her to give the bride a present? Advice | Ask Amy: I went behind my wife’s back to deal with her high-strung friend. Was I wrong? Advice | Ask Amy: She was such a fun friend, and I’m stunned she turned on me like this Advice | Ask Amy: I’m annoyed when people give gifts to children for no occasion This question – and my response – brought on a huge response from readers reminiscing about and praising the qualities of toy kitchens. (Who knew?)On this day when so many children are exploring the outer limits of their own capacities for joyful...

Harriette Cole: A guide to making the most of the season, Christian or not

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

DEAR READERS: Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Joy to you! I want to be as inclusive as I can in my greeting, because I truly do want to welcome each and every one of you into the biggest hug of the year.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: My girlfriend cries easily, and I’m wondering if it’s a tactic to shut me down Advice | Harriette Cole: The problem started when my daughter switched to public school Advice | Harriette Cole: The 3 lists and one calendar you need for your 2024 life strategy Advice | Harriette Cole: There’s only so much I can do for this Plain Jane Advice | Harriette Cole: I don’t want to offend my friend but I can’t stay in this house We deserve to feel unconditional love right now. After a year filled with innumerable twists and turns and ups and downs, this time of year we reserve to pause, be with loved ones and celebrate.I recently asked a friend ...

“Es mucho… Estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra”, dice el sheriff del condado de Maverick a CNN

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

(CNN)  — Al discutir el impacto en las fuerzas del orden locales mientras Estados Unidos lucha con un aumento de inmigrantes sin precedentes, el sheriff del condado de Maverick, Tom Schmerber, le dice a Rafael Romo de CNN: “Estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra”.“Es mucho”, dijo Schmerber. “En lo que respecta a las fuerzas del orden, estamos sufriendo porque no tenemos la mano de obra para ocuparnos de lo que llamamos ‘el negocio local’, los elementos criminales y luego el problema de la inmigración; por lo tanto, nos está costando mucho mano de obra.”Las autoridades federales informaron de un promedio de siete días de más de 9.600 encuentros de migrantes a lo largo de la frontera sur de Estados Unidos en diciembre, según un funcionario de Seguridad Nacional, una de las cantidades más altas jamás registradas, informó CNN anteriormente. Durante el mes de noviembre, la Patrulla Fronteriza encontró a casi un cuarto de ...

Mostly cloudy, but merry and mild Christmas

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:22:51 GMT

Good morning and Merry Christmas! We’re waking up to areas of fog and drizzle. We’ll continue to see a lot of clouds today, but it’s mild with highs in the upper 40s/low 50s.Temperatures are mild start to finish today. With all the cloud cover overnight, our temperatures held in the upper 30s/low 40s. We’ll reach the upper 40s/low 50s. The fog should lift by mid-morning, then we’ll still see a lot of clouds today. There could be some breaks of sun later today, but clouds win it. Low clouds fill in again tonight. We’ll have areas of fog. Tomorrow more of the same! Highs will be in the upper 40s/near 50, and we’ll see a lot of clouds.