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What are junk fees, and how do you avoid them?

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — “Junk fees” are just what they sound like: hidden or misleading charges that increase the total cost of concert tickets, hotel rooms, utility bills and other goods and services.The Biden administration has proposed a new Federal Trade Commission rule that would require more transparency from companies when it comes to these fees, as well as regulation from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and the Department of Labor. You can also avoid the fees by staying vigilant, challenging late-breaking add-ons, and comparison shopping.Here's what to know:WHAT QUALIFIES AS A JUNK FEE?Often junk fees don’t appear until the final pages of a checkout process, such as when buying concert tickets, airline tickets, hotel stays, or other products with “processing charges.”These fees may also appear late in the payment process when it comes to housing, such as when acquiring a rental, as well as when purchasing services for incarcerated people (such as phone calls, emails, or money...

ERCOT raises emergency alert thresholds

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said Wednesday it increased the threshold it uses to initiate energy emergency alerts.ERCOT triggers these alerts when the megawatt amount in operating reserves drop below certain levels.According to ERCOT, it increased the minimum operating reserves requirements for emergency operations for each of its three Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) levels.“The generation resource mix that powers the grid has changed, and how we operate the grid has evolved with it,” said ERCOT Senior VP and COO Woody Rickerson in a statement to KXAN. “By increasing the minimum reserve levels for the different EEA levels, we are better representing system requirements during emergency conditions.”ERCOT said it made the change as it studied what it needs to keep to “maintain system reliability” even during emergency conditions. It said that level of reserves has increased as more wind, solar, and battery storage resources have supplied power durin...

5 things to know this Thursday, November 2

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Happy almost Friday! According to Meteorologists Jill Szwed and Matt Mackie, we can expect seasonably chilly temperatures with more sun than clouds after a cold morning. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! In August, a New York Supreme Court judge’s order blocked the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) from issuing more recreational dispensary licenses. Next week, a decision in that case is expected. Also, new details are available on the arrests made recently in connection to the death of a special-needs elderly woman. NEWS10 took a look at felony complaints that said the defendants failed to properly monitor the victim, 73-year-old Patricia Nicholls, as they had been trained to do. They’re also charged with covering up their actions. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Thursday morning. 1. Cannabis licenses on hold may get the green light MondayIn August, a New York Supr...

Arrests made in Ladue carjacking

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

LADUE, Mo. -  A carjacking in Ladue ends hours later with a police chase and people arrested.Officers were actively searching for the suspects and the vehicle involved in the attempted carjacking Wednesday afternoon. That vehicle was eventually spotted, and the suspects were arrested after the chase. The suspect vehicle is the minivan with what looks like a towel over the rear window. At least one of the tires is also blown out.It's understood that the St. Louis County Police apparently chased the minivan for more than 20 minutes. When it was over, three suspects were taken into custody. Florida kidnapping victims rescued from downtown St. Louis hotel Police told FOX 2 that this all started with an attempted carjacking on Wednesday afternoon, just after 4:00 p.m., in front of a woman's home on Oladue Ridge Road. Police released images of the suspect minivan and two of the suspects running after the initial incident during the search for the vehicle and the suspects.Authorities sh...

Local Jewish officials call for apology from Rep. Cori Bush

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST.LOUIS – Some members of the St. Louis Jewish community are expressing outrage over Congresswoman Cori Bush’s response to the attack on Israel and Israel’s efforts to destroy Hamas.In a recent social media post, Rep. Bush referred to Israel’s response as an ethnic cleansing campaign. “What Israel is doing at this time is an appropriate and proportionate response in war to eliminating terrorists that exist on its border,” said Brian Herstig, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis.He said Bush’s words fan the flames of antisemitism and come at a time when some members of the Jewish community are already living in fear.A letter signed by several members of the Jewish community calls on Rep. Bush to apologize. They feel the congresswoman has been too silent about Hamas’s terrorism. Statement From the Jewish Community of St. Louis by KevinSeanHeld on Scribd(function() { var scribd = document.createElement("script"); scribd.type = "text/javascript"; scribd.async = tru...

Crews clearing scene of rollover crash, police investigating

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Crews are working to clear a rollover crash early Thursday morning. Our Nissan Rogue Runner reporter, Nic Lopez, captured footage of the scene located on Kingsland Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, where both northbound and southbound directions have been blocked. What is No-Shave November, and where did it come from? The car was once completely flipped over but has since been put on its side. The cause of the cause is still unknown, and so far, no injuries have been reported. FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Senior tax relief becomes law in St. Louis County

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Seniors are getting a tax break in St. Louis County. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page signed the bill allowing the county to join the state tax program.It freezes property for those 67 and up. Only seniors whose property is valued below $550,000 qualify for the freeze. The program goes into effect on January 1. Florida kidnapping victims rescued from downtown St. Louis hotel St. Charles County is also offering the tax freeze. St. Louis City is still considering it.

Court date today for driver charged in fatal hit-in-run near Ted Drewes

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The man charged in a deadly hit-and-run crash near Ted Drewes last year has another court date Thursday.25-year-old Jacob Adler of St. Louis is charged with two felonies: leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with physical evidence. 17-year-old Matthew Nikolai was hit and killed in July last year while walking across Chippewa. What is No-Shave November, and where did it come from? The judge could set a trial date at Thursday's hearing, but this same hearing has been postponed four times since June.

World Series storylines give fans something to root far

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS – This year’s Fall Classic is full of storylines."I think it's pretty exciting,” baseball fan Kirk Iversen said.From the National League, it’s the underdog Arizona Diamondbacks."The Diamondbacks are just the biggest surprise Cinderella team to be in there,” Cubs fan Ty Knox told FOX 2.From the American League, it’s the titleless Texas Rangers."It's nice to see two new teams in it," Knox said.St. Louis baseball fans are still finding a team to root for."I picked the Diamondbacks only because I have family on my wife’s side that live in Arizona," baseball fan A.J. said Wednesday. What is No-Shave November, and where did it come from? Knox said he’d be rooting for the Diamondbacks because “they are the National League team.”While the Diamondbacks are the underdogs, they already won the World Series back in 2001. The Rangers are one of six teams, along with the Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays, to never raise the Com...

St. Louis real estate agency hosts event examining housing inequity

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 06:00:46 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Last September, Katie Berry, then president of St. Louis Realtors, delivered a powerful apology during an event detailing St. Louis’ history of residential racial segregation. The group’s apology came with a course of action.The Reimagining St. Louis plan includes 22 different initiatives the association says it’s using to educate, promote, and support African Americans and other minorities interested in all aspects of the real estate industry.A year after the Reimagining St. Louis announcement, one real estate agency is doing its part to shine a light on local housing inequity.“I’m so proud of RedKey Realty Leaders. Jill Butler’s an amazing leader, and she’s really worked to make diversity, equity and inclusion a priority within the company,” Nate Johnson, a broker associated with RedKey Realty. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News ...