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Why Europe needs a travel dispersal strategy to manage overtourism

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

Europe is at a crossroads in its relationship with tourism. Summer is on the horizon, international travel is back, and people are returning to their favorite destinations. As post-pandemic travel confidence booms, so are concerns about the negative impacts of overtourism.Overtourism — where too many guests visit too few locations, typically at the same time — is an inherently European challenge. But while images of tourists packed into Las Ramblas and Saint Mark’s Square have sadly become synonymous with summer travel here, there is little consensus on what is driving the overtourism phenomenon, or how best to fix it.As more guests prepare to head to Europe, the region needs a tourism strategy that embraces dispersal and helps cities combat the over-intensification of tourism in historic hotspots, while spreading the benefits of tourism to places and neighborhoods that have not previously benefitted.In recent weeks, two reports have been shared that shed new light on the impact of ...

Northwest Indiana police and fire departments flooded with calls over 'gas or oily odor'

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

Fire and police departments across Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties in Northwest Indiana were flooded with calls about a strong gas-like odor outdoors Sunday evening.According to the Chesterton Police Department, they believe the smell originated in the area of the oil refinery and steel mills found in Lake County, and there is no current threat to public safety in the area.According to the Ogden Dunes Fire Department, at least 17 fire crews have been searching the area for the source of the smell, but they have yet to fin any anomalies in local gas lines.Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) substations in the area have all been checked, firefighters said, and they have not found any excess flows coming from their gas lines. 15-year-old boy dead after Little Village shooting First responders have asked Northwest Indiana residents to refrain from calling 911 centers about the odor since they have already received a high volume of calls concerned over the odor.

East 6th Street reopens after APD bomb squad investigation

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Police Department's bomb squad has cleared the scene of a concerning item in downtown Austin on Sunday.APD officers initially blocked off San Jacinto Boulevard and Brazos Street between East Sixth and Seventh streets in order to investigate, "something that caused concern," APD Watch Command said.APD's bomb squad responded to East Sixth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard on Sunday. (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)APD's bomb squad responded to East Sixth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard on Sunday. (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)APD's bomb squad responded to East Sixth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard on Sunday. (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)APD's bomb squad responded to East Sixth Street and San Jacinto Boulevard on Sunday. (KXAN photo/Frank Martinez)Those roads have been reopened.APD told KXAN that they were alerted to a suspicious item in a backpack that was in an alley between San Jacinto Blvd. and Brazos St. The bomb squad determined that the item was not an explosiv...

Texas Longhorns land 4-star offensive lineman Nate Kibble

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just two days after an official visit to the 40 Acres, a 4-star lineman said he wants to be a Longhorn.Nate Kibble, a 6-foot-2, 315-pound offensive lineman from Humble Atascocita, verbally committed to the Longhorns on Sunday. He made the announcement on social media.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersKibble chose Texas over Texas A&M, Oregon, Louisiana State, Nebraska and other schools. According to the recruiting timeline for Kibble on 247Sports.com, Texas offered him in 2021.On 247Sports' composition rating scale, Kibble is a 4-star recruit and is considered the 26th-highest recruit at his position. He ranks as the No. 73 recruit in Texas in the Class of 2024.Kibble's commitment is the third for the Longhorns in the past week with the first two coming from running backs Christian Clark and Jerrick Gibson.

Fans share memorable run-in with Taylor Swift’s mom at Minneapolis concert 

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

Kathleen Wrigley is a writer, public speaker, health/child advocate, counselor, professor, parent and the former second lady of North Dakota, but this weekend she was the latest gal pal of Taylor Swift’s mom.Okay, “gal pal,” might be too strong a moniker, but the two women definitely did a little mom-bonding at Andrea Swift’s daughter’s concert in Minneapolis Friday — capped off with Swift sharing a meal of concession stand hot dogs with Kathleen and her entire crew from Bismarck, N.D.“It was kind of surreal. I’m not gonna lie,” said Wrigley.‘A girls’ weekend’Wrigley’s “surreal’ night began as it did for the 120,000 or so other fans who eventually made their way to Swift’s concerts at U.S. Bank Stadium on Friday and Saturday: with the decision to try to get tickets to see one of music’s biggest superstars.Kathleen Wrigley, right, gets a hug from Taylor Swift’s mother, Andrea after telling her how proud she must be of Taylor. (Courtesy of Quinn Wrigley)Wrigley...

Gent's Barber Co. Lucky Puppy fundraiser results

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

ARGYLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Gent’s Barber Company has donated a large load of supplies to the Lucky Puppy Rescue over in Argyle that really got those dogs barking. From food and leashes to treats and soap, Barber, Anthony Weils, brought a lot of love thanks to a lot of haircuts. “We were able to raise $1,760. We got roughly 685 pounds of food," stated Weils.These hardworking barbers from Cohoes unloading the fruits of their charitable labor Sunday. Owner of Gent’s, Sean Quell, says he's proud to take the community's support for his shop and pay it forward. Gent’s Barber Co. fundraising for Lucky Puppy Rescue “Ever since I started the business, I’ve always wanted to give back. People have been good to me, so I want to be good to the community," explained Quell.As a non-profit, Lucky Puppy relies mostly on a team of volunteers and donations. Director of the rescue, Tabitha Toledo, says all the supplies will keep their dogs happy and fed that much longer. “We can hold about 50 dogs here....

Authorities seek public's help locating teen girl missing out of East Los Angeles

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

Authorities with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating a 13-year-old girl missing out of East Los Angeles.  Savannah Angel Alaniz, who authorities say is a "critical missing juvenile," was last seen on June 24 in the 3600 block of Ramboz Drive in East L.A. The 13-year-old is described as 5 foot 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 100 pounds, with brown hair and eyes. She was last seen wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt.  Authorities said the teen has no prior history of running away. Savannah Angel Alaniz, 13, was last seen on June 24, 2023. (LASD)“Her family is worried for her well-being and is asking for the public’s help,” the LASD missing person’s bulletin stated.  Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact LASD’s East Los Angeles Station at 323-264-4151. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or online at L.A. Crime Stoppers.  An at-risk ...

New details revealed in Walnut Creek racist fliers

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KRON) -- Last week, the Walnut Creek Police Department began an investigation on a number of racist fliers going around in the city. New details have emerged on what the fliers' messages were and who they were targeting. Last Friday, police say they had reports of anti-Juneteenth flyers circulating. KRON4 spoke to someone who found those fliers in their neighborhood. VIDEO: Cashier held at gunpoint during robbery at Oakland donut shop The people I spoke to about the flyers say they are horrified and disgusted by the message. They say they don't want to see this in their community, and that's why they reported it to police.The fliers were found on a Walnut Creek street near Ygnacio Valley Road and Homestead Avenue. Racist flyers have been found on people's property"Why put your energy into hate when you could put your energy into love and make the world a better place? It doesn't make sense to me," one Walnut Creek resident said. Max Kessler says he found one ...

Thousands pack SF streets for Pride Parade

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Pride weekend is in full swing. The streets were packed Sunday -- filled with color and music for the annual San Francisco Pride Parade.All the fun kicked off around 10:30 a.m. with more than 200 groups marching along Market Street. The parade ended around 4 p.m. A number of roads were closed for the parade, causing heavy traffic in the downtown area.San Francisco Mayor London Breed made an appearance and gave a speech. Watch a snippet of it in the video player above.

Controversial retiro del mercado: Ford es investigada por el Departamento de Transporte

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:31:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO— La Administración Nacional de Seguridad del Tráfico en las Carreteras está investigando el retiro del mercado de más de un cuarto de millón de SUV Explorer de Ford Motor Co. en los Estados Unidos después de recibir quejas sobre reparaciones destinadas a evitar que los vehículos se desplacen inesperadamente incluso estando estacionados.El problema, atribuido a fracturas de un perno de montaje del eje trasero que podría hacer que el eje de transmisión se desconectara, fue abordado por una actualización de software de Ford diseñada para aplicar el freno de estacionamiento electrónico si falla el eje de transmisión, dijo la agencia. Pero según dos quejas de propietarios de vehículos, sus SUV se comportaron de forma errática después de la reparación.En uno de esos casos, según los informes, el Explorer se detendría por completo a velocidades de hasta 30 o 40 millas por hora. En el otro, según los informes, se pondría en movimiento mientras el conductor intentaba desactivar...