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Kimberly Palmer: More retailers are charging return fees. Here’s how to pay less

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

If you’re someone who likes to return and exchange gifts after the holidays, prepare yourself: Making returns could feel a little different this year.“It’s going to be hard for consumers to navigate,” says shopping expert Trae Bodge. “The return policies are all over the place.” The biggest change, she adds, is that more retailers are charging fees for returned merchandise.About 40% of online and brick-and-mortar retailers are charging fees for returns this year compared with 31% last year, according to David Morin, vice president of customer strategy at Narvar, which handles shipping, tracking and returns information post-purchase for online retailers. Those return shipping or restocking fees are generally $3.99 to $9.99, he says.The good news is there are ways to minimize return fees and in some cases avoid them altogether. Here’s what experts recommend.REVIEW RETURN POLICIES IN ADVANCEBecause retailer return policies vary so much and many have recently changed, Morin recommends c...

Monday Forecast: Windy and cold with temps in upper 20s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

CHICAGO — Mostly cloudy Monday with temperatures falling. A few snow showers/flurries and windy conditions. Winds: NW 15-25 G40. High: 29. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly clear tonight. Winds: NW 5-10 G30. Low: 20.Tuesday Forecast: Partly cloudy, SSW 5-15 G20. High: 32.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Wet weather returns by holiday weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A mild and bright start to the work week... but we'll finish it with a stretch of daily rain chances.Despite a chilly start to the day, we're in for a pleasant Monday afternoon with high temperatures returning to the mid- to upper 60s under a clear, sunny sky. Dry skies and a noticeable north wind (10-15 mph) can be expected areawide, courtesy of a fairly benign cold front slipping across our area today.Monday's school day forecastSeasonable to warmer than average through the weekRain chances increase later this weekA strong Pacific storm will bring low rain chances our way starting Thursday, but we're in for a much better chance of rain Friday through Sunday morning. It's a little too early to say if all of the rain will be gone for Christmas Day, but it doesn't look AS wet. BLOG: How often does Austin typically freeze Winter Weather Outlook: What a strong El Niño could mean for rainfall and ice risk Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEA...

Police cruiser crashes into south St. Louis City bar overnight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis police cruiser crashed into a south St. Louis bar overnight, and that's just the beginning of the story.The damage to the 'Bar: PM' building from the police cruiser crashing into it can still be seen. This was in the Cardondelet neighborhood of south city. This all happened at about 12:30 a.m.Police told FOX 2 that the officer driving the cruiser somehow lost control and crashed into the bar. Authorities shared that they believe the two officers were in the cruiser, but they aren't completely certain of that. Officials also revealed that no officers were hurt in the crash.It's also understood that the bar was closed at the time and nobody was inside it, so there were no injuries to anyone else either. The owners of the bar live upstairs. They came down after the crash to try and find out what happened. Is ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ a Christmas movie? Depends who you ask One of the owners, James Pence, said that police told him that the officers were trying to ...

Metro Transit holding MetroLink expansion virtual meeting today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Metro Transit requests your opinions about MetroLink expansion plans.They're hosting a virtual information session Monday on the northside-southside Jefferson alignment design. The new tracks would run along Jefferson Avenue from Chippewa to Grand, then west onto Natural Bridge. Submerged vehicle tied to 2013 missing person’s case found in Missouri pond Officials say the project would bring new investment to historically underserved neighborhoods. Monday's meeting is at 10:30 a.m. on the Bi-State Development website.

Mayor Tishaura Jones signing senior tax freeze bill today

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Mayor Tishaura Jones will sign the legislation Monday granting seniors in St. Louis City a property tax freeze.The bill will freeze property taxes for seniors eligible for social security. The signing ceremony is at 11:00 a.m. at the Five Star Senior Center on Arsenal Street in south St. Louis. Is ‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ a Christmas movie? Depends who you ask St. Louis County and St. Charles County have already approved the tax freeze.

Police chief recovering after DUI collision in Foley, Missouri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

FOLEY, Mo. - Following a collision with a speeding car on Monday morning, a police chief in Foley, Missouri, is recovering.Chief Charles Hobby says the crash happened last Thursday at the four-way stop on Highway 79. The other driver was going 60 miles an hour when his car hit him, flipped and hit another car. Submerged vehicle tied to 2013 missing person’s case found in Missouri pond No one was seriously injured. The driver was arrested for DUI.

Liverpool continuously beating the odds: a triumph of perseverance and sporting excellence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

One of the crowning moments in the rich history of Liverpool FC was their 2020 Premier League title. This was a momentous breakthrough for the club. It broke a run of three decades since the club had last been crowned champions, way back in the old English First Division.Bringing the Premier League title to Merseyside for the first time in the new era of the English top flight was the culmination of the Reds overcoming some major challenges. They had to go a long way to climb to the summit and had to defy some big odds along the way.The road to the top is rarely a smooth one. Liverpool faced struggles both on and off the pitch in between their domestic league titles, and very nearly didn’t survive at all.Identity fadesLiverpool were arguably the crowning jewel of English football before the 1990s. Through the 1970s and 1980s, they were a juggernaut. From 1980 to 1990, Liverpool won the First Division title seven times, such was their dominance.On the continent, they also brought hom...

Sale closed in Los Gatos: $2.9 million for a three-bedroom home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

188 Westhill Drive – Google Street ViewA 2,416-square-foot house built in 1970 has changed hands. The spacious property located in the 100 block of Westhill Drive in Los Gatos was sold on Nov. 20, 2023. The $2,880,000 purchase price works out to $1,192 per square foot. This single-story house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Additionally, the house includes a two-car garage, ensuring ample room for parking and storage.These nearby houses have also recently changed hands:In May 2023, a 2,151-square-foot home on Belblossom Way in Los Gatos sold for $2,250,000, a price per square foot of $1,046. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.On Belblossom Way, Los Gatos, in June 2023, a 2,094-square-foot home was sold for $2,720,000, a price per square foot of $1,299. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,756-square-foot home on the 300 block of Belblossom Way in Los Gatos sold in October 2022, for $2,696,500, a price per square foot of $978. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms...

Tips and tricks for finding birds you’ve never seen before

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:45 GMT

I often talk about the most common birds that anyone can see around the neighborhood on any day of the week. Many serious birders, in contrast, live for the rarities, the uncommon and exciting. But there is also an intermediate category of birds that is easily overlooked: the birds that are not “everyday” birds, but that are easy enough to find with just a little focused looking. There are many such birds that are attention-grabbing and that you’ve probably never seen, but that you can decide to see right here in Marin this week.Related ArticlesLifestyle | Restoring San Francisco Bay wetlands, one industrial salt pond at a time Lifestyle | Big Basin: Redwood trees’ recovery is ‘remarkable’ three years after huge fire, while some species are still struggling Take the raptors, for instance, a group that often sparks excitement from even the most casually bird-interested people. When was the last time you saw a bald eagle? This national...