The tri-state area was pummeled with a massive blizzard the likes of which we haven’t seen in years!
The total snowfall as of 1 p.m. Monday for Central Park is 19.7 inches — which puts the Blizzard of 2026 at 9th place among the biggest snowstorms in Central Park history!
And, it is not out of the realm of possibility, as data continues to come in, that this storm cracks the top 5!
The National Weather Service compiled the biggest snowstorms — which it describes as being 1 foot or more — registered in Central Park.
The data was compiled from 1869 up to Jan. 1 of this year — with the exception of the data from the Blizzard of 2026.
Among the biggest snowstorms registered is the Blizzard of 96, 30 years ago. That snowstorm, which took place Jan. 7 and 8 in 1996, wreaked havoc across the tri-state when it dumped more than 20 inches of snow, paralyzing transit systems and closing down schools for days.
While the National Weather Service’s list includes the top 28 biggest snowstorms, here are the top 10 as of this afternoon.
Amount (in inches)
Date(s)
1.
27.5
Jan. 22-24, 2016
2.
26.9
Feb.11-12, 2006
3
26.4
Dec.26-27, 1947
4
21.0
March 12-14, 1888
5
20.9
Feb. 25-26, 2010
6
20.2
Jan. 7-8, 1996
7
20.0
Dec. 26-27, 2010
8
19.8
Feb. 16-17, 2003
9
19.7
Feb. 22-23, 2026
10
19.0
Jan. 26-27, 2011
The last spot on the National Weather Service list is No. 28 — a tie between a snowstorm that fell Dec. 30, 2000 and one that took place on Feb. 9-10, 1926.
So, will Blizzard of 2026 crack the top 5? Stay tuned for an updated list as the snow totals come in!
For the complete list of biggest snowstorms registered in Central Park, click here.
The legendary musician Willie Colón, one of the most iconic figures in salsa and the Nuyorican salsa movement, died Saturday at the age of 75, his family confirmed in a message posted on his social media accounts.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and renowned musician, Willie Colón. He departed peacefully this morning, surrounded by his loving family,” the statement posted on Facebook reads.
“Although we mourn his absence, we also rejoice in the eternal gift of his music and the cherished memories it created, which will live on forever,” his family added.
The Puerto Rican artistic community had been asking for prayers for the singer-songwriter on Friday, as he was receiving medical attention for reported respiratory complications.
A LIFE FILLED WITH ART AND MUSIC
William Anthony Colón Román, a musician of Puerto Rican descent, was born on April 28, 1950, in the South Bronx of New York City. He was a poet, composer, arranger, performer, folklorist, trombonist, producer, and musical director.
It was his grandmother Antonia (“Toña”) who instilled in him the seed of Puerto Rican identity and taught him to speak Spanish, a language that Willie’s own parents had lost on the streets of New York at a time when bilingualism wasn’t even a concept.
At 16, he recorded his first album (“El Malo”) with Héctor Lavoe in 1967. Together, they formed one of the most important salsa duos on the Fania record label.
Lavoe, in particular, provided him with the daring themes of the streets and gave him his first music lessons, as well as the irreverent attitude necessary to experiment with instrumentation and structure. His genius prevailed.
Formal musical education began with the elementary school flute, which he secretly took home. Later, he discovered the bugle, an instrument he began to master as a hearing child at age 11. When he encountered the trumpet at 13, he began taking lessons, and his career began to take shape, as did the distinctive style and sound with which he would forge his path to history.
In 1969, his “Che ché colé” was a pivotal moment in the Afro-Caribbean conquest of popular music in Latin America. Although some resisted accepting it, his famous Ghanaian song with a Puerto Rican bomba rhythm became a salsa classic.
With Lavoe, Willie Colón’s orchestra popularized songs such as “Calle Luna, calle Sol”, “Abuelita”, “Ah, ah, oh, no”, “Ghana’e”, “El día de mi suerte”, “La murga” and “Juana Peña”, among others.
In 1976, he challenged the established norms with his production of a ballet, “El baquiné de los angelitos negros,” which ushered in his symphonic salsa era. After his recording period with Lavoe, Willie decided to launch his own career as a singer, releasing albums such as “The Good, Bad and The Ugly” (1976) and “Solo” (1988).
In 1977, he introduced Rubén Blades to the recording industry with the album “Metiendo mano” and collaborated together in the years to come.
Willie Colón boasts an impressive discography with over 40 albums, earning him nine Gold Records and five Platinum Records. He sold more than eight million records worldwide, with 16 LPs to his credit, including collaborations with Lavoe, six with Blades, and four with Celia Cruz.
In 1979, he launched his solo career. He was nominated eight times for Grammy Awards in the tropical music category. He also acted in film and television productions such as “Vigilante,” “The Last Fight,” “Salsa,” “Miami Vice,” and the telenovela “La Intrusa.”
His record as an activist is equally impressive. Willie Colón is recognized for his sociopolitical activism as readily as his musical genius. His endorsement is coveted among New York politicians. His words on stages in the city’s Latino neighborhoods are as powerful as his music.
He loved aviation, boxing, horseback riding, and computer programming. He was a fiercely self-taught man who, in addition to music, studied everything from physics to business administration on his own. Together with Julia Colón Craig, he fathered three of his four children.
Willie Colón’s last performance in Puerto Rico was on August 9, 2025, in a sold-out concert in San Juan, with the Puerto Rico Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Ángel ‘Cucco’ Peña.
*Editor’s Note: The National Foundation for Popular Culture of Puerto Rico (FNCP) collaborated on this publication. The FNCP is a non-profit organization that promotes the development of Puerto Rican popular culture through the study, promotion, and sponsorship of cultural events and the artists who present them.
POLK COUNTY, Fla. — New changes are coming to Polk County commission meetings.
What You Need To Know
Polk County commissioners voted unanimously to limit general public comment on non-agenda items to 15 speakers per meeting
Animal welfare advocates argue the change is an attempt to silence community voices, especially after public comment was previously moved to the end of meetings
A law professor says municipalities are legally allowed to limit speakers, but residents could challenge the Florida statute
Commissioners recently voted to limit the number of people who can speak during public comment for non-agenda items. The resolution passed unanimously on a consent agenda, without public input.
Being a voice for change has become Angie Lorio and Shannon Medina’s life’s work. The two first started the Polk County Bully Project in 2019 to help improve adoption rates for pit bulls. Since then, they’ve advocated for animal welfare across Polk County, often joining other groups to speak at county commission meetings.
“They tell us you’re wasting your time,” Lorio said. “’You need to talk to the sheriff. This has nothing to do with us.’ And when some stand up to speak about the animals, they’re looking down, they’re looking around. One gets up to leave the room.”
Lorio said it became even more clear when county commissioners moved general public comment to the end of meetings. Now, they’re limiting the number of speakers on non-agenda items to 15 people, which Medina believes is another attempt to censor the community.
“The community still needs their county commissioners to listen to what they have to say, whether or not they agree with it. They still need to listen,” Medina said.
Spectrum Bay News 9 reached out to the county several times about the change, but commissioners were unavailable for comment. While it may be controversial, Cooley Law School professor Jeffrey Swartz said that as of 2024, municipalities are allowed to limit the number of speakers at meetings.
“The problem with this statute is that it allows a commission to basically limit debate and limit dissent, depending upon who the first 15 people are that have signed up to speak to the commission,” Swartz said.
Swartz said residents have the option to challenge the Florida statute if they feel it denies them their First Amendment rights. As for Lorio and Medina, they’re unsure if that’s a route they’ll take. But they said what they know for sure is that they won’t be silent.
“Whether we’re number 15 walking in or 16, we deserve the right to have our voices heard,” Medina said.
Moving forward, people will be required to submit speaker cards and will be called in the order they are received. Anyone not heard will get the chance to speak at the next meeting.
After a frigid and snowy weekend, the temperatures turn even more bitterly cold for the start of the week.
Drier air is moving in as the departing coastal low pulls away, so while a few flurries may linger, the accumulating snow is done for the day. But, be careful! The low temperatures that stick around will result in some black ice and general icy patches.
The big story now is the cold: several rounds of fronts will keep temperatures well below normal this week, with teens and single‑digit lows, highs only in the 20s, and wind chills dipping below zero at times.
There is a cold weather advisory up for parts of New Jersey for late Monday night into Tuesday morning with below zero wind chills expected.
The tri-state area will get a brief mid‑week bump into the 30s and lower 40s on Thursday before another push of arctic air arrives for the weekend, sending highs back into the teens and lows into the single digits.
And looking ahead, there is the potential for a snowfall event next weekend.
MEXICO CITY — Adrián Ramírez hadn’t been to his hometown in western Mexico for more than two decades. When he finally returned there early last year after being deported from the United States, he found the place transformed.
Ramírez remembered the town as vibrant. But the discotheque where he used to dance through the night in his 20s was gone. The bustling evening market, where locals gather for tacos, now empties out early. After 10 p.m., cartel members wielding military-grade weapons take control of the streets.
“It is no longer the same Mexico of my childhood,” said Ramírez, 45, who asked to be identified by his middle and last name for security reasons. “There was more joy, more freedom. But that’s not the case anymore.”
Anyone returning to their hometown after decades away will note changes — old businesses close and new ones open, some people move away and others die. Adjusting to such shifts has long been part of the Mexican migrant experience.
But many of the tens of thousands of people who have been deported to Mexico by the Trump administration have spent decades in the U.S. and are discovering that their country has also changed in more profound ways.
Criminal groups, better armed and better organized than in the past, now control about a third of Mexican territory, according to an analysis by the U.S. military. Gangs have branched out beyond drug trafficking to extort money from small businesses and dominate entire industries, such as the avocado and lime trade. In some regions, criminals charge taxes on just about anything — tortillas and chicken, cigarettes and beer.
Military forces provide security during a meeting about the Michoacan Plan for Peace and Justice, at the facilities of the Morelos barracks in the XXI Military Zone in Morelia, Micoacan, Mexico, in November.
(Enrique Castro / AFP via Getty Images)
Parts of Michoacán, the state where Ramírez is from, now resemble an actual battlefield, with criminal groups fighting each other with grenade launchers, drones rigged with explosives and improvised land mines.
Returning migrants are vulnerable to violence because they stand out. Many speak Spanglish. Their stylish haircuts, often with fades on the sides, set them apart in rural communities. So does their gringo-style attire, like baggy pants and T-shirts touting their favorite sports teams — Dodgers, Raiders, Dallas Cowboys. Ramírez said that even his mannerisms, which had changed from years up north, quickly identified him as an outsider.
Cartels single out returning migrants for kidnapping or extortion because they are perceived to have money, said Israel Concha, who runs Nuevo Comienzos, or New Beginnings, a nonprofit with offices in Las Vegas and Mexico City that supports deportees. Returnees often don’t know how to navigate cartel-run checkpoints or local rules set by criminal groups.
“We’re an easy target,” Concha said.
Concha said he was abducted and tortured by cartel members in 2014 after he was deported to Mexico. He said 16 migrants from his organization’s support group have been assassinated or disappeared since he founded his organization.
Ten of those cases happened in the last year.
In May, a recently returned man vanished after leaving his job at a hotel in the central state of Querétaro, Concha said. His parents, giving up hope of finding him alive, held a funeral and a Mass for him in October.
Ramírez left his town in Michoacán state for the United States when he was 21, hoping to save money so he could come back home and build a house of his own.
But life happened — Ramírez got married and had three children — and he stayed. He was washing cars and driving for Uber in Nashville before he was deported.
Returning to Michoacán was bittersweet. He cried with happiness as he hugged his mother and siblings for the first time in years. But shortly after, he was interrogated by a cartel member on the street who wanted to know his name and what he did for a living. Another cartel member photographed him while he strolled the town plaza.
His town had once been famous for its cheese production. Now its most dominant industry is fuel theft, a booming multimillion-dollar enterprise in Mexico. Criminals with the Jalisco New Generation cartel recently burned down the town’s two gas stations and killed the owner to assert their control over the pueblo, Ramírez said. They then set up their own illegal stations, leaving locals no choice but to buy from them.
The authorities were no help.
Ramírez learned from his family that the mayor had been handpicked by the cartel. The police are also in cahoots with criminals. After a relative suffered an accident, the cops who responded ended up extorting money from him, Ramírez said.
Ramírez began to fear for his life. He wondered whether it might be time to leave, and if so, where he would go.
A growing number of Mexicans are being forced to flee their communities because of violence, data show. The conflict-ridden states of Michoacán, Chiapas and Zacatecas have seen particularly high levels of displacement.
Israel Ibarra, a migration expert at the College of the Northern Border, said migrants returning to war-torn communities often end up having to leave again.
“They are not only becoming deported people,” he said. “They will experience double-forced displacement.”
That is what happened to a man who returned to a town few hours away from where Ramírez grew up, in the mountains of Michoacán. A local rancher hired the migrant to manage his herd of cattle.
Contracting outsiders requires vetting and approval by the regional faction of the cartel, which the rancher had not done. No locals had dared help the rancher repair his fence and care for his herd because of the cartel requisites, leaving the rancher with a limited employment pool.
The migrant, who declined to provide his name because he feared for his life, didn’t fully recognize the power wielded by cartels and took the job. The rancher also paid better than others, to the consternation of the Jalisco cartel, which controls wages in the area.
One morning, sicarios arrived at the migrant’s home and fired round after round of bullets into the building. The worker fled out the back door as gunmen stormed in.
“They left me in ruin,” he said. “They took everything.” He went into hiding in Michoacán’s capital.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum touts data showing that homicides fell during her first year in office. But the number of people being disappeared has surged across the country, particularly in cartel-controlled regions. And shocking acts of violence continue to make headlines.
“For people who left a long time ago, many of them are coming back to communities that are much more violent than they were when they left,” said Andrew Selee of the Washington, D.C.-based Migration Policy Institute.
In Michocán in the fall, the Jalisco cartel is accused of assassinating a prominent mayor who had vowed to hold criminals accountable. In December the group detonated a car bomb in a municipality located along a top cocaine-trafficking route, killing four police officers.
Deportations to Mexico were fewer last year than either of the two previous years, according to data from the country’s National Migration Institute. But President Trump’s hard-line deportation campaign means fewer migrants who were returned to Mexico are attempting to cross back into the the U.S., experts said.
Sheinbaum’s government launched a reintegration program called México te Abraza, or Mexico welcomes you with open arms, that has provided limited support to those returning, according to migrant advocates.
Under the program, migrants are supposed to be given around $100 and a bus ticket to their hometown. But Concha said that some don’t receive the money and that migrants need much more help. “The program doesn’t work,” Concha said. “We need something more comprehensive that also supports emotional and mental health.”
Ramírez wants to return to the U.S. to be with his family but is afraid of ending up in detention there.
He misses his children, and dreams of buying them plane tickets so they can visit. But he is afraid of exposing them to Mexico’s violence. “It’s a very different kind of life here,” he said. “It hurts me what’s happening.”
He decided to leave his pueblo a few months ago. The town where he is now living seems more tranquil, although it is also controlled by the Jalisco cartel. After he got a job at a tortilleria, his new employer warned him: Cartel members may stop by to ask him where he’s from.
This article was co-published with Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom that covers stories from Mexico and the U.S.-Mexico border.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Both Ohio gubernatorial candidates announced their running mates, providing insight into each campaign’s political strategy and priorities ahead of the 2026 election.
What You Need To Know
Ohio gubernatorial candidates announced their running mates, providing early insight into their campaign strategies
Democrat Amy Acton selected former state senator David Pepper and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy chose Ohio Senate President Rob McColley as their running mates
Political experts said lieutenant governor selections rarely determine election outcomes but indicate how candidates intend to govern
Democrat Amy Acton picked David Pepper, and Republican Vivek Ramaswamy picked Rob McColley, signaling the qualities they value in potential governing partners.
Political science professor David Niven of the University of Cincinnati said the choice of a lieutenant governor typically has little effect on the outcome of a statewide race.
“It really doesn’t matter who you put on the ticket as lieutenant governor. People are paying attention to the name on the top of the ticket, and the lieutenant governor is almost like the assistant candidate,” Niven said.
Niven added that while lieutenant governor selections may not sway many voters, they are carefully chosen to complement the candidate’s message and experience.
“The very first rule of lieutenant governor choice is, do no harm, you know, the very first rule. Pick folks who aren’t going to cause scandals and stories that distract from the ticket,” he said.
Former state senator Lou Gentile said Acton’s selection of Pepper brings statewide connections and experience navigating difficult periods, a combination he said could help Democrats make their case for change.
“He also brings to the ticket, I think, the ability to raise money, to reach out to voters across Ohio. He’s been traveling across the state, and I think it’s really important when you’re selecting somebody, the two candidates really have to be comfortable with each other,” Gentile said.
Republican strategist Amy Natoce said Ramaswamy’s selection of McColley strengthens his campaign by combining private-sector and government experience.
“He’s really bringing in somebody who has extensive experience working with the legislature, passing a state budget, working with the governor’s office. So he really brings in that knowledge of how to navigate government relationships,” Natoce said.
Gentile said Acton’s decision reflects her focus on leadership and governing experience.
“You have somebody who has local government experience, particularly in a really difficult time during the 2008 financial crisis. David was in public office in Hamilton County and helped steer them out of that. He’s done a lot as it relates to property tax reform, affordability, public safety as a public official,” Gentile said.
Natoce said the combination appeals to voters concerned with everyday issues.
“He’s really appealing to the Republican base and also swing voters who are looking for some new leadership and people who have done the hard work of passing a budget, passing tax cuts, those things that really matter to Ohio families,” she said.
Political experts said a candidate’s choice of lieutenant governor reflects their priorities, their goals for office, and what voters can expect if they are elected. In Ohio, they said selecting the right balance helps candidates connect with a wide range of voters.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Activists gathered in Columbus on Saturday to protest recent immigration enforcement actions in Ohio and U.S. foreign policy decisions involving Venezuela, arguing that both contribute to fear and instability in immigrant communities.
What You Need To Know
According to the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, Operation Buckeye has led to more than 200 arrests in Ohio, approximately 80% Latino and roughly 93% men
Protesters said recent ICE activity and U.S. foreign policy decisions are increasing fear in local immigrant communities
Organizers are encouraging residents to report ICE activity to immigrant support networks rather than intervene directly
The protest, organized by the Party of Socialism and Liberation, followed a recent enforcement effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement known as Operation Buckeye. The Ohio Immigrant Alliance reported that more than 200 people were arrested during the operation. Approximately 80% were Latino, and roughly 93% were men.
“What we’re seeing right now is a war on immigrants here at home, and a war on Latin America abroad,” said Shenby G, a staff member with the Columbus Liberation Center. “And we understand the root cause of migration across Latin America has been U.S. imperialism and the looting of countries.”
Some families said they are avoiding public places out of concern that any interaction could lead to separation of their loved ones.
“Any country has to take care of the borders to a certain extent,” said Rick Wilhelm, a member of the Veterans For Peace. “But the way this is done is just inhuman. I mean, separating little kids from their parents.”
Organizers said the effects of immigration enforcement, combined with foreign policy decisions, are fueling fear, but many are ready to stand up.
“It’s basically the standard playbook of make people afraid. Keep them nervous, keep them unwilling or unconfident, not wanting to go out,” said Carter Mason, a protester at the event.
Organizers said U.S. actions in Venezuela add another layer to the crisis facing immigrant communities in the United States.
“We know that the Venezuelan people will continue to resist… just as immigrants here at home will resist the terror that ICE has launched on us and our communities,” said Shenby G.
ICE has said it is focused on arresting individuals with serious criminal records, referring to them as “the worst of the worst.”
Organizers said the protest is part of ongoing efforts to connect local immigration concerns with global conflicts they believe are affecting communities in Central Ohio.
They said community members should only document and report ICE activity — including times, dates and locations — to immigrant support organizations rather than intervene directly.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is collecting real Christmas trees for its lions and tigers. “This time of year is really fun because Christmas trees are great enrichment for the big cats,” Laurie Vanderwal, a zoologist and co-curator at Turpentine Creek said. “They do like the smell of cedar and fir trees. It’s also something different and novel that they don’t get all the time.”Vanderwal said the refuge receives trees from locals and tree farms. They take trees with the decorations removed.Turpentine Creek has 123 animals, from big cats to grizzly bears, and even a hyena. Some of their animals are from the park in the popular show “Tiger King.””It was just such a relief because we knew those animals had not been getting proper care for many years,” Vanderwal said. The animals at the sanctuary were neglected by their past owners. She said caring for the animals goes beyond providing food and water. These animals cannot return to the wild because they were born and bred in captivity.”They don’t know how to hunt. They wouldn’t know how to survive,” Vanderwal said. “Because they’re coming from captive situations and abusive situations and neglect, they tend to come with veterinary issues.” Vanderwal said she’s in a profession she hopes doesn’t have to exist in the future. “Hopefully, that, you know, eventually people will not own these cats as pets anymore,” Vanderwal said. “People will not try to keep them in horrific conditions anymore. And the rescue part will not have to exist.”Vanderwal said they provide scent enrichment year-round. In spring and summer, they grow a garden of various spices like catnip, basil and oregano for the animals. Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas.
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is collecting real Christmas trees for its lions and tigers.
“This time of year is really fun because Christmas trees are great enrichment for the big cats,” Laurie Vanderwal, a zoologist and co-curator at Turpentine Creek said. “They do like the smell of cedar and fir trees. It’s also something different and novel that they don’t get all the time.”
Vanderwal said the refuge receives trees from locals and tree farms. They take trees with the decorations removed.
Turpentine Creek has 123 animals, from big cats to grizzly bears, and even a hyena. Some of their animals are from the park in the popular show “Tiger King.”
“It was just such a relief because we knew those animals had not been getting proper care for many years,” Vanderwal said.
The animals at the sanctuary were neglected by their past owners. She said caring for the animals goes beyond providing food and water. These animals cannot return to the wild because they were born and bred in captivity.
“They don’t know how to hunt. They wouldn’t know how to survive,” Vanderwal said. “Because they’re coming from captive situations and abusive situations and neglect, they tend to come with veterinary issues.”
Vanderwal said she’s in a profession she hopes doesn’t have to exist in the future.
“Hopefully, that, you know, eventually people will not own these cats as pets anymore,” Vanderwal said. “People will not try to keep them in horrific conditions anymore. And the rescue part will not have to exist.”
Vanderwal said they provide scent enrichment year-round. In spring and summer, they grow a garden of various spices like catnip, basil and oregano for the animals.
Eureka Springs is located in the Ozark Mountains in Northwest Arkansas.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — As holiday shopping season peaks, new numbers show more Americans are choosing to shop online rather than in stores. Some warehouses in North Carolina are feeling that surge.
What You Need To Know
New data shows online shopping is now the most popular way to shop during the holidays and some warehouses in the state are feeling that surge
Projections from Appalachian State University’s Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis and the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association estimate total holiday sales in the state will reach $43.97 billion in 2025, between November and December sales
Those numbers are reflected inside local warehouses like Replacements Limited, where employees work year-round to ship tableware and collectibles across the globe
Nationwide, the National Retail Federation projects total retail sales for November and December will grow between 3.7% and 4.2% compared with 2024, signaling continued strength in consumer spending
The state is seeing a significant boost in holiday spending.
Projections from Appalachian State University’s Center for Economic Research and Policy Analysis and the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association estimate total holiday sales in the state will reach $43.97 billion in 2025, between November and December sales.
Those numbers are reflected inside local warehouses like Replacements Limited, where employees work year-round to ship tableware and collectibles across the globe.
“During this time of the year, it’s very busy,” said Cassandra Goins, a trainer and shipper who has worked at the company for more than 25 years.
She says many shoppers are going online to find holiday gifts, including herself.
“I think that a lot of people nowadays are enjoying shopping online,” Goins said. “It’s a convenience and they love it just as well as I do.”
Company officials say more than 90% of their sales now happen online, with daily shipments doubling during the holiday season.
“We’re just getting our orders out the door as fast as we can,” Goins said.
The National Retail Federation’s 2025 October Holiday Consumer Survey found 55% of shoppers plan to make purchases online this season, outpacing every other shopping option.
Grocery stores followed at 46%, with department stores at 44% and discount stores at 42%.
Clothing and accessories stores came in at 30%, while small businesses accounted for 21%.
Nationwide, the National Retail Federation projects total retail sales for November and December will grow between 3.7% and 4.2% compared with 2024, signaling continued strength in consumer spending.
As shoppers continue to prioritize convenience, businesses and workers are adapting to meet demand, ensuring holiday gifts arrive on time, whether they’re traveling across town or across the world.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When shopping this holiday season, consider shopping small.
Ari Green, founder of D’ara Cosmetics, said she’s spent over a decade perfecting her makeup products.
“I’ve always struggled with super, super sensitive skin,” Green said. “Everything that’s safe for sensitive skin stills has preservatives, chemicals. So, I figured I could make it myself. If I make it, I know what’s in it.”
What You Need To Know
Through Ari Green’s own skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics was born
She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all natural ingredients
Green said she started doing it after seeing all the preservatives in makeup
She makes all the products in her apartment
Through her personal skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics emerged, offering solutions she was looking for that no one else offered on the marketplace.
“It was just trial and error and figuring out what worked for my skin. And it just turned into a business that has helped so many people,” Green said.
She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all-natural ingredients.
As a black female entrepreneur, she believes representation for all types of skin, matters.
“Especially for more melanite’d skin, there’s not a whole lot on the market for us. We have to be very careful about what we use. So it’s something i wanted to create, something that’s safe for all,” Green said.
Green added this holiday season, consider shopping small.
The priceless value of each batch reflects the time, and effort invested.
“Big corporations, you’re one of thousands of their customers, whereas small businesses, it means so much. You’re supporting your community, you’re supporting somebody’s life, somebody’s family, somebody’s dream,” Green said.
If you want to shop D’ara Cosmetics, you can find the link here.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
HIGH POINT, N.C. — Children are again getting to experience the joy of choosing their own gifts this holiday season. As shopping carts roll through Target aisles, for these kids, this isn’t just another trip to the store.
What You Need To Know
The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids picked out gifts
The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids spent around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas
This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations
In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty
The Kiwanis Club of High Point carries on its mission this holiday season, hosting shopping sprees at Target where kids could pick out their own gifts.
The organization’s leaders say roughly 260 kids from various community groups were able to spend around $150 to get any toys, clothes or shoes, just in time for Christmas.
This is Jeff Bullock’s first year volunteering at the Christmas Cheer Event. Bullock is a pastor at a High Point church.
“It’s amazing what they do investing in these kids,” Bullock said.
His church partners with one of those local nonprofits called Growing the Distance, providing the space for the group’s after-school program.
“They’ve been in our facility for about four, five years and 30 or 40 kids, and they just help assist kids with after-school programing and pick them up, and they’re amazing,” Bullock said.
This Christmas Cheer Event is funded by community donations.
In 2024, a report from the American Community Survey found that in North Carolina, 16% of children were experiencing poverty.
Bryson holds the toy at the top of his Christmas wishlist that he was able to receive at this year’s Christmas Cheer Event by the Kiwanis Club of High Point. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)
For 8-year-old, Bryson, there’s one toy that he’s been wanting for a while now, he says. It’s called a Tonies box, and it’s a music player he was able to receive at this year’s event.
He also received two Tonie audio characters, slime and a fidget toy.
Bullock says its events like this, that are so important to kids during the holiday season.
“Who knows what the insecurities or the difficulties in life that they’re having or their families and all that, and so it’s great to give back,” Bullock said.
Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.
CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County has received $4,332,577 from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Springs Restoration Grant Program.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the award during a recent press conference in Tampa, where he awarded more than $112 million in grants to improve water quality and supply across the state.
With the $16.4 million awarded from the state on Nov. 21 to improve wastewater infrastructure damaged by storms, the county has received over $20.7 million in grant money in recent weeks.
The Springs Restoration Grant will support the construction of a regional wastewater collection system in the east downtown area of Old Homosassa.
Citrus County has prioritized replacing commercial and residential onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems with central sewer connections to reduce nutrient pollution in the Homosassa spring shed.
Septic tanks in this area have contributed to high nutrient loadings to the nearby surface and groundwaters. This grant will allow for the connection of up to 200 residences with existing septic tanks, along with 226 vacant lots along the Homosassa River, to Citrus County’s wastewater system.
Wastewater will be routed away from environmentally sensitive areas to the county’s Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility for advanced treatment and beneficial reuse.
“Grant funding to support the project will help to minimize financial impacts to homeowners within the project area and help to realize the goal of preserving the Homosassa River and its spring system for all our citizens,” said Citrus County Water Resources Director Ken Cheek.
County Administrator Steve Howard added, “Both the State of Florida and Citrus County recognize the need to preserve and protect our waterways, and I am grateful we are able to work together to accomplish this project to protect our natural resources.”
We choose this year’s winner of Houston’s Best Pizza.
Best Pizza: Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana
Pizaro’s has been firing up some of Houston’s best pies since 2011, with two locations and three killer styles — authentic Napoletana blistered at 900 degrees, foldable New York, and cheesy, twice-baked Detroit. Each pie proves why this spot’s a certified Houston classic, but the team still keeps things fresh with inventive specials like the Mortadella & Stracciatella sandwich and the Oh My Goud pie, loaded with butternut squash and crispy prosciutto. Regulars swear by the Sweet Pea and the fiery Vesuvius, a ghost pepper-laced masterpiece tamed by housemade ricotta.
We choose this year’s winner of Houston’s Best Burger.
Best Burger: The Toasted Coconut
Burger fanatic? This Montrose tiki bar and kitchen is your next stop. An industry favorite, the totally messy, totally worth it flavor bomb features a duo of juice-dripping patties, melty American cheese, fiery chili aioli, housemade pickles and a buttery soft Hawaiian bun. Go wild with add-ons from avocado and yolky farm egg to salty-sweet bacon jam, and don’t skip the Sichuan-spiced tater tots or cheeky umbrella cocktails.
We choose this year’s winner of the Best Chicken Fried Steak.
Best Chicken Fried Steak: Killen’s
Bib Gourmand–awarded chef Ronnie Killen’s Southern comfort spot offers a chicken fried steak that’s as refined as it is nostalgic. Made with ribeye, it’s got that gorgeously golden, craggly crust, creamy mashed potatoes and a pour of velvety gravy that hits just right. With chef Ryan Hildebrand (FM Kitchen & Bar) recently joining as culinary director, this legacy only getting stronger.
Since opening late last year, this stylish bar and kitchen has been drawing a mix of neighbors and in-the-know Houstonians to the fully reimagined La Grange off Lower Westheimer. James Beard-nominated and Michelin-starred chef Emmanuel Chavez crafted a menu of standout bar snacks to match its drinks program — kampachi tiradito with shiso and charred oranges, spicy tuna rice crisps, smoked pigs in a blanket, two-day brined chicken tenders, and a house burger made with 44 Farms beef.
Since opening two years back in Uptown’s Post Oak Place, Rumi’s Kitchen has brought Houston some of the city’s most exciting Persian flavors. Chef Ali Mesghali showcases dishes like charred saffron-orange shrimp kabob, grape-molasses glazed lamb ribs, roasted corn ribs with black seed dukkah and three-bone pomegranate short rib. Flawlessly spiced and artfully presented, the dishes pair gorgeously with inventive cocktails and a world-class wine list; while weekend brunch service brings delights from Iranish coffee to shakshuka.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A brief pause in federal funding left early learning centers across Ohio scrambling to maintain operations, prompting school leaders in Columbus to call for more stable childcare funding to prevent future disruptions.
What You Need To Know
A federal funding pause caused closures and uncertainty at early learning centers across Ohio
School leaders said childcare should be funded like infrastructure to withstand federal disruptions
Economic losses tied to childcare shortages in Ohio are estimated at $5.4 billion annually, according to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce
During the freeze, some early childcare programs closed while others struggled to stay open. Staff at the Columbus Early Learning Center said families and educators felt the effects immediately.
Antywanna Williams, a teacher’s aide whose son attends the center, said the uncertainty would deeply affect young children if access to schools were suddenly cut off.
“How do you explain to your four-year-old that there is no school?” Williams said. “You have to wait until you’re five years old to go to kindergarten.”
Williams said the situation also raised concerns about her own job security and what a shutdown would mean for her family. She said her work is rooted in close relationships with the children in her classroom and their families, and losing that stability would affect them as much as it would affect her.
Columbus Early Learning Centers CEO Gina Ginn said the funding pause highlighted how dependent early learning providers are on federal dollars and how vulnerable families become when that support stalls. She said the instability also carries a broader economic cost.
“We are missing out in the state of Ohio on $5.4 billion a year in our economy because families can’t go to work because they can’t find affordable, high-quality childcare,” Ginn said.
Ginn said the disruption underscored the need to treat childcare as core infrastructure—similar to roads, water systems and K–12 schools—so centers can withstand fluctuations in federal support. Without stable options, she said, families face long-term barriers.
“It really is the foundation and the backbone of families being able to work. And then also create pathways out of poverty,” she said.
School leaders said they are now evaluating how local funding structures could be modernized to prevent future shocks to early learning programs.
The Pappas family brings its big, bold Greek flavor back to Houston with this lively new spot inspired by the family’s beloved matriarch, Yiayia Mary. Come for meze-style plates like dolmades stuffed with beef, lamb and pistachios, sizzling saganaki with pear and date preserves, wood-grilled ribeye souvlaki with pickled fennel and tzatziki, harissa-kissed grilled octopus and house-baked Kalamata olive bread that’s pure heaven; and toast to good times ouzo and cocktails like the Frozen Athenian Spritz or Yiayia’s Tonic.
Two women were injured in a Manhattan parking garage explosion late night Thursday, police said.
According to the NYPD, an emergency diesel generator exploded shortly after 9 p.m. at 153 E 53rd St. That explosion prompted a steel exhaust vent to rocket across the street and hit two 25-year-old women who were walking by, causing serious injuries to one and minor injuries to the other. Although both are expected to recover.
“When they got here they found that there were two civilians that were injured across the street and there was some sort of backdraft or a back puff of the generator that caused the vent assembly to explode and come off of the building, propel across the street into the two individuals,” FDNY Deputy Chief Joseph Abbamonte.
Video from the scene shows a large FDNY and NYPD presence with debris scattered across the Midtown street.
The structural integrity of the building is fine and there is only minor damage around the vent, according to the Department of Buildings — reason why the building is not roped off.
Although no criminality is suspected at this time, police said that the investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing.