PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Postal workers who recall packages and letters piled up in distribution hubs a year ago are gearing up for another holiday crush. 

The Postal Service and private shippers UPS and FedEx are bolstering their hiring by bringing in about 230,000 seasonal workers to ensure they don’t become overwhelmed by packages again. 

But low product inventories and port and supply chain disruptions are creating new uncertainty about getting gifts delivered on time. 

Despite that, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said this month: “We are ready.”

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Postal workers who recall packages and letters piled up in distribution hubs a year ago are gearing up for another holiday crush. The Postal Service and private shippers UPS and FedEx are bolstering their hiring by bringing in about 230,000 seasonal workers to ensure they don’t become overwhelmed by packages again. But low product inventories and port and supply chain disruptions are creating new uncertainty about getting gifts delivered on time. Despite that, U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said this month: “We are ready.”Cover image courtesy pixabay.

Shippers prepare for another pandemic crush of holiday gifts

HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Agency is investigating after a fatal fire on Thanksgiving morning in rural eastern Nebraska. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the fire was reported just after 4:30 a.m. in Humboldt. 

The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. A body was found in the home. 

No further information was released. Humboldt is in Richardson County, 60 miles southeast of Lincoln.

HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Agency is investigating after a fatal fire on Thanksgiving morning in rural eastern Nebraska. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the fire was reported just after 4:30 a.m. in Humboldt. The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. A body was found in the home. No further information was released. Humboldt is in Richardson County, 60 miles southeast of Lincoln.

Investigators looking into cause of fatal fire in Humboldt

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than $1 million has been raised for a man who spent 43 years behind bars before a judge overturned his conviction in a triple killing. 

The GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit Kevin Strickland had raised $1.1 million by Friday afternoon, and donations kept coming. 

The Midwest Innocence Project set up the online fundraiser as they fought for his release, noting that he wouldn’t receive compensation from Missouri and needed help paying for basic living expenses. 

The state only allows wrongful imprisonment payments to people exonerated through DNA evidence, so the 62-year-old Strickland doesn’t qualify.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — More than $1 million has been raised for a man who spent 43 years behind bars before a judge overturned his conviction in a triple killing. The GoFundMe fundraiser to benefit Kevin Strickland had raised $1.1 million by Friday afternoon, and donations kept coming. The Midwest Innocence Project set up the online fundraiser as they fought for his release, noting that he wouldn’t receive compensation from Missouri and needed help paying for basic living expenses. The state only allows wrongful imprisonment payments to people exonerated through DNA evidence, so the 62-year-old Strickland doesn’t qualify.Cover image courtesy pixabay.

Donors raise more than $1M to help man freed after 43 years

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks sank Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly falling more than 1,000 points, as a new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa appeared to be spreading across the globe. 

The S&amp;P 500 index fell 2.3%, its worst day since February and the Nasdaq composite had its worst drop in two months. The Dow closed with a loss of 905 points. 

Travel and energy stocks were among the biggest losers, with Royal Caribbean dropping 13%, United Airlines falling more than 9% and Exxon losing 3.5%. The price of oil fell 13% and bond yields fell sharply.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks sank Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly falling more than 1,000 points, as a new coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa appeared to be spreading across the globe. The S&amp;P 500 index fell 2.3%, its worst day since February and the Nasdaq composite had its worst drop in two months. The Dow closed with a loss of 905 points. Travel and energy stocks were among the biggest losers, with Royal Caribbean dropping 13%, United Airlines falling more than 9% and Exxon losing 3.5%. The price of oil fell 13% and bond yields fell sharply.

Stocks sink on new COVID variant; Dow loses 905 points

The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. 

Humboldt is in Richardson County, 60 miles southeast of Lincoln.

HUMBOLDT, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Agency is investigating after a fatal fire on Thanksgiving morning in rural eastern Nebraska. The Lincoln Journal Star reports that the fire was reported just after 4:30 a.m. in Humboldt. The home was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. A body was found in the home. No further information was released. Humboldt is in Richardson County, 60 miles southeast of Lincoln.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has recommended an overhaul of the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to focus on areas that are most suitable for energy development and raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and water. 

The long-awaited report by the Interior Department on Friday stops short of recommending an end to oil and gas leasing on public lands, as many environmental groups have urged. 

But officials say the report will move toward a more responsible leasing process that provides a better to return to U.S. taxpayers for oil and gas drilling on the nation’s vast public lands and waters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has recommended an overhaul of the nation’s oil and gas leasing program to focus on areas that are most suitable for energy development and raise costs for energy companies to drill on public lands and water. The long-awaited report by the Interior Department on Friday stops short of recommending an end to oil and gas leasing on public lands, as many environmental groups have urged. But officials say the report will move toward a more responsible leasing process that provides a better to return to U.S. taxpayers for oil and gas drilling on the nation’s vast public lands and waters.

Biden sets out oil, gas leasing reform; stops short of ban

BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings. 

But the risks of the variant remained largely unknown. 

Medical experts, including the World Health Organization, warned against any overreaction before the variant was better understood. 

A jittery world feared the worst nearly two years after COVID-19 emerged and triggered a pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people around the globe. 

British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers that the new version may be more transmissible than the delta variant and render vaccines less effective.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant sent a chill through much of the world as nations raced to halt air travel, markets fell sharply and scientists held emergency meetings. But the risks of the variant remained largely unknown. Medical experts, including the World Health Organization, warned against any overreaction before the variant was better understood. A jittery world feared the worst nearly two years after COVID-19 emerged and triggered a pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people around the globe. British Health Secretary Sajid Javid told lawmakers that the new version may be more transmissible than the delta variant and render vaccines less effective.

New virus variant emerges in Africa, stokes worldwide fears

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for shooting into three homes in January. 

The Lincoln Journal Star reported Friday that Dontaiven Drappeaux had pleaded no contest to attempted unlawful discharge of a firearm. Ballistics tests tied his gun to the shootings. 

Lancaster County District Judge Kevin cManaman told Drappeaux he gave the harsh sentence because “the safety of the community couldn’t be more obvious.” 

The shootings occurred at two houses and an apartment in different parts of Lincoln in the early hours of Jan. 7. No one was hurt.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for shooting into three homes in January. The Lincoln Journal Star reported Friday that Dontaiven Drappeaux had pleaded no contest to attempted unlawful discharge of a firearm. Ballistics tests tied his gun to the shootings. Lancaster County District Judge Kevin cManaman told Drappeaux he gave the harsh sentence because “the safety of the community couldn’t be more obvious.” The shootings occurred at two houses and an apartment in different parts of Lincoln in the early hours of Jan. 7. No one was hurt.

Man sentenced for shooting into three homes in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for shooting into three homes in January.

 The Lincoln Journal Star reported Friday that Dontaiven Drappeaux had pleaded no contest to attempted unlawful discharge of a firearm. 

Ballistics tests tied his gun to the shootings. 

The shootings occurred at two houses and an apartment in different parts of Lincoln in the early hours of Jan. 7. 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Lincoln man has been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison for shooting into three homes in January. The Lincoln Journal Star reported Friday that Dontaiven Drappeaux had pleaded no contest to attempted unlawful discharge of a firearm. Ballistics tests tied his gun to the shootings. Lancaster County District Judge Kevin cManaman told Drappeaux he gave the harsh sentence because “the safety of the community couldn’t be more obvious.” The shootings occurred at two houses and an apartment in different parts of Lincoln in the early hours of Jan. 7. No one was hurt.

Collecting sports memorabilia has been an American pastime for 
nearly a century. Devoted fans seek out souvenir items such as jerseys, 
equipment, cards, or other items that have direct connections to famous 
players or historic games. Collectors’ enthusiasm and willingness to spend are higher than ever - and scammers have noticed.
 Legal cases in recent years have shed light on a widespread fraud 
problem threatening the sports memorabilia trade. Since many items are 
now sold online, it can be harder than ever to trust that a seller or 
product is genuine.

“Game-used” items are highly sought after. Buyers 
prize items that saw action on the court or field as valuable parts of 
sports history. Consumers should be aware that there is a significant 
difference between “game-used” and “game-issued.” For example, a 
game-issued jersey was designed for the player to wear, but it may not 
actually have been worn. There’s nothing wrong with selling that kind of
 game-issued item—unless the seller scuffs it up and tries to pass it 
off as game-used for a higher price.

Autographs are even trickier. With the use of 
autopen, manufacturers can reproduce ink signatures hundreds of times. 
Again, there’s nothing wrong with selling autopen-signed items as long 
as they’re not misrepresented as personally signed by the player and 
priced accordingly. Buyers also need to watch out for online listings 
that describe items as “hand-signed” without specifying whose hand 
signed it. That could be technically correct but still highly 
misleading.

Outright forgeries can be the hardest to spot, and 
this issue has plagued collectors for decades. If you don’t have time to
 become an autograph authentication expert, but still want to make 
purchases, here are some steps you can take.

While searching for an authentic jersey online that has the original 
team logo on it, a site comes up in the search promising great deals and
 fast shipping. It might be in the form of a social media ad or a quick 
web search.

The store name doesn't sound familiar; however, it has great photos 
and cheap prices, making it so believable that an order is placed. The 
credit card is account charged at check out and a confirmation is 
emailed. Everything seems normal, until weeks pass and the jersey never 
arrives. The anticipation of having a keepsake of a favorite team is 
suddenly dashed as the realization that neither the company nor the 
website exists when trying to connect with someone in customer service.

Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">BBB’s Scam Alert emails</a>&nbsp;for weekly updates on the latest scams.

Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/onlineshopping" target="_blank">online purchase scams</a> on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.

To learn more about&nbsp;scams, go to BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tips (<a href="https://send.council.bbb.org/link.cfm?r=o4rkjnbvFfHKmw8w1BSC8w~~&amp;pe=jbzCrIsjV8YYgs1yGzjKoGBSb-rj8RkEcvnC1SICvqtSZI4st5fiwo5HuHuP2nXMb0ZxRgmQZRtgVvxV5pe1ww~~" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtips</a>).To report a&nbsp;scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tracker</a>.

Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-metropolitan-new-york" target="_blank">BBB serving Metro New York</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBCollecting sports memorabilia has been an American pastime for 
nearly a century. Devoted fans seek out souvenir items such as jerseys, 
equipment, cards, or other items that have direct connections to famous 
players or historic games. Collectors’ enthusiasm and willingness to spend are higher than ever - and scammers have noticed.
 Legal cases in recent years have shed light on a widespread fraud 
problem threatening the sports memorabilia trade. Since many items are 
now sold online, it can be harder than ever to trust that a seller or 
product is genuine.“Game-used” items are highly sought after. Buyers 
prize items that saw action on the court or field as valuable parts of 
sports history. Consumers should be aware that there is a significant 
difference between “game-used” and “game-issued.” For example, a 
game-issued jersey was designed for the player to wear, but it may not 
actually have been worn. There’s nothing wrong with selling that kind of
 game-issued item—unless the seller scuffs it up and tries to pass it 
off as game-used for a higher price.Autographs are even trickier. With the use of 
autopen, manufacturers can reproduce ink signatures hundreds of times. 
Again, there’s nothing wrong with selling autopen-signed items as long 
as they’re not misrepresented as personally signed by the player and 
priced accordingly. Buyers also need to watch out for online listings 
that describe items as “hand-signed” without specifying whose hand 
signed it. That could be technically correct but still highly 
misleading.Outright forgeries can be the hardest to spot, and 
this issue has plagued collectors for decades. If you don’t have time to
 become an autograph authentication expert, but still want to make 
purchases, here are some steps you can take.<h2>How the scam works - an example</h2>While searching for an authentic jersey online that has the original 
team logo on it, a site comes up in the search promising great deals and
 fast shipping. It might be in the form of a social media ad or a quick 
web search.The store name doesn't sound familiar; however, it has great photos 
and cheap prices, making it so believable that an order is placed. The 
credit card is account charged at check out and a confirmation is 
emailed. Everything seems normal, until weeks pass and the jersey never 
arrives. The anticipation of having a keepsake of a favorite team is 
suddenly dashed as the realization that neither the company nor the 
website exists when trying to connect with someone in customer service.<h2>How to avoid sports merchandise scams:</h2><ul>
 <li>Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. If 
the price of an item, collectable or not, is significantly less than 
what it is on other well-known retailers’ sites, this is a red flag that
 it might be a scam.</li><li>Research the company before you purchase. If the company is unfamiliar, check <a href="https://www.bbb.org/search" target="_blank">BBB.org</a> to see if they have a BBB Business Profile, or <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker" target="_blank">BBB Scam Tracker</a>
 to see if anyone else has reported them as a scam. Look for contact 
information on the website such as a phone number or brick and mortar 
address as well as&nbsp; a robust social media presence to help determine if 
the company truly does exist.</li><li>Never wire money or use a prepaid debit card as payment.
 Both payment types are often requested by scammers and, once the money 
is gone, there is no way to get the money back. Instead, make online 
purchases with a credit card and only on secure (https) websites.</li><li>Double-check COAs: Certificates of authenticity 
(COAs) are the norm for memorabilia purchases, especially for costly 
items —so it’s likely that scammers will try to provide fake ones. A 
valid COA should state the qualifications and complete contact 
information of the issuer. Before you trust a COA, make sure it contains
 full and correct details on who issued it, and then make sure they’re a
 legitimate and reputable authority. If investing in a less expensive 
purchase that is not offered with a COA, the buyer should still request a
 written representation from the seller about the authenticity and 
origin of the item. It is also essential to establish and get a written 
statement about the item’s physical condition before you purchase it.</li><li>Take extra care at charity auctions:&nbsp;Some scammers 
target charities by providing “donations” of fake memorabilia. When 
considering a bid for an item at a charity auction, be extra vigilant 
and watch out for suspicious price valuations and shady authentications.
 When in doubt about an item, consider making a pure donation to the 
charity rather than an auction purchase.</li><li>Seek a money-back guarantee:&nbsp;If possible, work with
 a dealer who can guarantee a full refund of your purchase if you ever 
discover it’s a fraud. Check all terms and conditions of the sale, 
especially limitations, before buying the item.</li>
 </ul>For More InformationSubscribe to&nbsp;<a href="https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1900156/1902645/" target="_blank">BBB’s Scam Alert emails</a>&nbsp;for weekly updates on the latest scams.Read more about <a href="https://www.bbb.org/onlineshopping" target="_blank">online purchase scams</a> on BBB.org to protect yourself from fake online products and sellers.To learn more about&nbsp;scams, go to BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tips (<a href="https://send.council.bbb.org/link.cfm?r=o4rkjnbvFfHKmw8w1BSC8w~~&amp;pe=jbzCrIsjV8YYgs1yGzjKoGBSb-rj8RkEcvnC1SICvqtSZI4st5fiwo5HuHuP2nXMb0ZxRgmQZRtgVvxV5pe1ww~~" target="_blank">BBB.org/scamtips</a>).To report a&nbsp;scam, go to <a href="https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/" target="_blank">BBB&nbsp;Scam&nbsp;Tracker</a>.Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/bbb-accreditation-standards" target="_blank">BBB Accreditation Standards</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/standards-for-trust" target="_blank">BBB Standards for Trust</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/local-bbb/bbb-serving-metropolitan-new-york" target="_blank">BBB serving Metro New York</a> contributed to this article.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Tips: Shopping for sports merch, collectibles can be risky

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer

U.S. health officials say Merck's experimental COVID-19 pill is effective but they raised questions about its safety during pregnancy. 

The Food and Drug Administration posted its review Friday ahead of a public meeting next week where outside experts will debate the drug's benefits and risks. 

If FDA authorizes the drug it would be the first pill for U.S. patients infected with the virus. All FDA-authorized drugs currently used against coronavirus require an IV or injection. The FDA will ask its experts whether the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health WriterU.S. health officials say Merck's experimental COVID-19 pill is effective but they raised questions about its safety during pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration posted its review Friday ahead of a public meeting next week where outside experts will debate the drug's benefits and risks. If FDA authorizes the drug it would be the first pill for U.S. patients infected with the virus. All FDA-authorized drugs currently used against coronavirus require an IV or injection. The FDA will ask its experts whether the drug's benefits outweigh its risks.

FDA: Merck COVID pill effective, experts will review safety

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An investigation continues after three people suffered knife wounds at an apartment complex in Omaha. 

The altercation happened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday at a complex near 90th and Blondo streets. 

Police say the victims were stabbed multiple times, but all three are expected to survive. 

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. 

Those injured included two men ages 34 and 36, and a 56-year-old woman.

 Police did not release other details, including the relationships between those involved or what prompted the attack.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An investigation continues after three people suffered knife wounds at an apartment complex in Omaha. The altercation happened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday at a complex near 90th and Blondo streets. Police say the victims were stabbed multiple times, but all three are expected to survive. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. Those injured included two men ages 34 and 36, and a 56-year-old woman. Police did not release other details, including the relationships between those involved or what prompted the attack.

Three injured in stabbing at Omaha apartment complex

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they will seek charges against a driver involved in an accident that killed one woman and left two other people injured. 

The Omaha World-Herald reports that the two-vehicle crash happened Wednesday night, killing 37-year-old Candice McDowell of Omaha. 

She was driving east on Harrison Street when her car was struck by a BMW at the intersection with 144th Street. 

The 24-year-old driver of the BMW was taken into custody on suspicion of willful reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and felony motor vehicle homicide. 

That driver and a 23-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries, but police say both are expected to survive.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they will seek charges against a driver involved in an accident that killed one woman and left two other people injured. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the two-vehicle crash happened Wednesday night, killing 37-year-old Candice McDowell of Omaha. She was driving east on Harrison Street when her car was struck by a BMW at the intersection with 144th Street. The 24-year-old driver of the BMW was taken into custody on suspicion of willful reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and felony motor vehicle homicide. That driver and a 23-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries, but police say both are expected to survive.

Woman killed in Omaha wreck; driver of other car in custody

She was driving east on Harrison Street when her car was struck by a BMW at the intersection with 144th Street. The 24-year-old driver of the BMW was taken into custody on suspicion of willful reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and felony motor vehicle homicide. 

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Omaha police say they will seek charges against a driver involved in an accident that killed one woman and left two other people injured. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the two-vehicle crash happened Wednesday night, killing 37-year-old Candice McDowell of Omaha. She was driving east on Harrison Street when her car was struck by a BMW at the intersection with 144th Street. The 24-year-old driver of the BMW was taken into custody on suspicion of willful reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol and felony motor vehicle homicide. That driver and a 23-year-old passenger suffered serious injuries, but police say both are expected to survive.

Police say the victims were stabbed multiple times, but all three are expected to survive. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. 

Those injured included two men ages 34 and 36, and a 56-year-old woman. 

Police did not release other details, including the relationships between those involved or what prompted the attack.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An investigation continues after three people suffered knife wounds at an apartment complex in Omaha. The altercation happened around 3:30 a.m. Thursday at a complex near 90th and Blondo streets. Police say the victims were stabbed multiple times, but all three are expected to survive. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault. Those injured included two men ages 34 and 36, and a 56-year-old woman. Police did not release other details, including the relationships between those involved or what prompted the attack.

Acting United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Timothy E. Caruso, 45, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. after being found guilty by a jury on July 15, 2021 of charges of distributing of child pornography and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Caruso was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for the child pornography offenses and 14 months for a violation of supervised release, which will be served consecutive to his sentence for the child pornography offense. Caruso will be on supervised release for life upon his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

Caruso was on federal supervision after a prior conviction for failing to register as a sex offender. In December 2018, Caruso uploaded an image of child pornography to a private section of Pinterest. Pinterest reported the upload to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The image was traced back to a Google account used by Caruso and sent from an IP address where he was staying. Further investigation discovered Caruso’s search terms indicating an interest in young girls. His messages on Pinterest included that he had lost his child pornography collection and was seeking to trade child pornography and acquire new images.

This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

News Release US Attorney's Office-OmahaActing United States Attorney Jan Sharp announced that Timothy E. Caruso, 45, was sentenced today by Chief United States District Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. after being found guilty by a jury on July 15, 2021 of charges of distributing of child pornography and accessing with intent to view child pornography. Caruso was sentenced to 180 months’ imprisonment for the child pornography offenses and 14 months for a violation of supervised release, which will be served consecutive to his sentence for the child pornography offense. Caruso will be on supervised release for life upon his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.Caruso was on federal supervision after a prior conviction for failing to register as a sex offender. In December 2018, Caruso uploaded an image of child pornography to a private section of Pinterest. Pinterest reported the upload to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The image was traced back to a Google account used by Caruso and sent from an IP address where he was staying. Further investigation discovered Caruso’s search terms indicating an interest in young girls. His messages on Pinterest included that he had lost his child pornography collection and was seeking to trade child pornography and acquire new images.This case was investigated by&nbsp;the Omaha FBI's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force.

Nebraska man sentenced for distributing child porn on Pinterest

Scoring a great deal on Black Friday is exciting. Unfortunately, con 
artists are using that same feeling of excitement to lure shoppers into 
scams. This con uses text messages and fake Black Friday surveys to steal valuable information from unsuspecting victims.

Scammers send you a text message that appears to be from a 
well-known chain store. As part of a Black Friday deal, the “store” 
offering a free product, discount, or gift card to anyone who completes a
 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/signs-of-a-fake-survey" target="_blank">short questionnaire or survey</a>. Of course, they explain, this is a limited time offer so you’ll need to act fast if you want to receive your gift.

If you click the link, you won’t go to the store’s official website. 
Instead, it will take you to a third-party website where you’ll be asked
 to fill out a form that asks you for personal information, such as your
 full name, address, email, and more. By clicking on the link, you may 
even download malware onto your device, giving scammers access to even 
more personal information. While this scam has a Black Friday twist, 
watch out for similar survey scams this entire holiday season.&nbsp;

Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online">BBB Tip: Smart shopping online</a>&nbsp;for more ways to stay safe online and visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/scamtips">BBB.org/ScamTips</a> to familiarize yourself with common tactics.

If you’ve spotted a Black Friday scam, report it to <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579883951052.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BBBScoring a great deal on Black Friday is exciting. Unfortunately, con 
artists are using that same feeling of excitement to lure shoppers into 
scams. This con uses text messages and fake Black Friday surveys to steal valuable information from unsuspecting victims.<h2>How the scam works</h2>Scammers send you a text message that appears to be from a 
well-known chain store. As part of a Black Friday deal, the “store” 
offering a free product, discount, or gift card to anyone who completes a
 <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/signs-of-a-fake-survey" target="_blank">short questionnaire or survey</a>. Of course, they explain, this is a limited time offer so you’ll need to act fast if you want to receive your gift.If you click the link, you won’t go to the store’s official website. 
Instead, it will take you to a third-party website where you’ll be asked
 to fill out a form that asks you for personal information, such as your
 full name, address, email, and more. By clicking on the link, you may 
even download malware onto your device, giving scammers access to even 
more personal information. While this scam has a Black Friday twist, 
watch out for similar survey scams this entire holiday season.&nbsp;<h2>How to avoid fake survey scams</h2><ul>
 <li>Know the signs of a <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/spot-a-scam/how-to-spot-a-phony-text-message" target="_blank">phony text message</a>. Unsolicited
 text messages are usually not from trustworthy sources. Reputable 
businesses will get your permission to send you a text before sending 
anything to your inbox. Fake texts often contain suspicious-looking 
links and contain typos and other errors, too. </li><li>Watch out for rewards that sound too good to be true.
 Remember that legitimate businesses run surveys to understand their 
customers. They may offer a modest discount to encourage participation, 
but the reward is not the focus. If someone offers you a valuable 
product or gift card in exchange for completing a two-minute survey, 
it’s probably a scam. </li><li>Limited time offers could be a red flag. Scammers 
often use a sense of urgency to get their victims to hand over valuable 
information without thinking. If a text message says something like, “If
 you complete this survey in the next 10 minutes…,” don’t let yourself 
be pushed into action without really examining the message first. </li><li>Remember that scammers conceal their identity. Many
 scam surveys are very vague about their purpose and who is running 
them. If you can’t figure out who or where the survey is coming from, 
don’t take it. </li><li>Do some research. If you aren’t sure about a 
survey, do an internet search to find out more information. Look for 
links to the survey on a business’s official website. You can also do a 
search using the survey name and the word “scam” to see if there are any
 reports about it being a fake.</li>
 </ul><h2>For more information</h2>Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/article/tips/14040-bbb-tip-smart-shopping-online">BBB Tip: Smart shopping online</a>&nbsp;for more ways to stay safe online and visit <a href="https://www.bbb.org/all/scamtips">BBB.org/ScamTips</a> to familiarize yourself with common tactics.If you’ve spotted a Black Friday scam, report it to <a href="https://www.BBB.org/ScamTracker">BBB.org/ScamTracker</a>. Your report can help others avoid falling victim.

Alert: Survey scam gets a Black Friday twist

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska State Patrol trooper has shot a man in a struggle over a gun outside a Lincoln apartment. 

The man was rushed Wednesday afternoon to a hospital but his condition wasn’t immediately known. 

Patrol Col. John Bolduc said a narcotics task force made up of officers from the patrol, the Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office made contact with a man inside a vehicle while investigating a tip. 

He said one of the officers noticed that the man had a handgun and a struggle ensued. A trooper fired, striking the man. 

Emergency crews rushed him to a hospital.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Nebraska State Patrol trooper has shot a man in a struggle over a gun outside a Lincoln apartment. The man was rushed Wednesday afternoon to a hospital but his condition wasn’t immediately known. Patrol Col. John Bolduc said a narcotics task force made up of officers from the patrol, the Lincoln Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office made contact with a man inside a vehicle while investigating a tip. He said one of the officers noticed that the man had a handgun and a struggle ensued. A trooper fired, striking the man. Emergency crews rushed him to a hospital.

Man shot by Nebraska trooper taken to hospital

By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said it’s important to let the light shine on poinsettias, often a favorite flower for the fall and winter months.&nbsp;

“Place your poinsettias in a sunny window or brightest area of the room,” Upham said, “but don’t let it touch the cold window panes.”&nbsp;

If windows become drafty at night, it is best to remove poinsettias or draw drapes to avoid cold damage.&nbsp;

For the best bloom results, Upham suggests keeping poinsettias at temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheith – 75 F during the day, and 60-65 F at night. He said blooms won’t last as long at temperatures higher than 75 F; root rot may occur at temperatures lower than 60 F.&nbsp;

Poinsettias are also quite finicky about soil moisture conditions. Upham recommends checking soil moisture daily by sticking your finger in the soil, about one-half inch deep.&nbsp;

“If it is dry to this depth, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;

Following the temperature and soil moisture guidelines should keep poinsettias in top shape during the holiday season, he said.&nbsp;

A rumor that often surfaces around times when poinsettias are at their prime is that they are poisonous. Although their milky sap may sometimes cause a mild allergic reaction in some people, there has never been a recorded case of poisoning.&nbsp;

“This rumor has been so persistent that members of the Society of American Florists have sought to dispel it by eating poinsettia leaves for the press,” Upham said.&nbsp;

According to the American Medical Association Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, poinsettias do not contain an irritant or toxin; have not been found to produce an effect orally or topically; and have not caused cases of vomiting.&nbsp;

Although consuming them is not advised, Upham said poinsettias are otherwise completely safe.&nbsp;

If you do not already have a poinsettia but are interested in purchasing one, the Kansas State University Friends of the Garden hosts an annual poinsettia sale.&nbsp;

The in-person sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the K-State Gardens’ visitor center, 1500 Denison in Manhattan. More information and prices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/gardens/events/plant-sales.html">is available online.</a>&nbsp;

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;

Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637246402294.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension&nbsp;MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said it’s important to let the light shine on poinsettias, often a favorite flower for the fall and winter months.&nbsp;“Place your poinsettias in a sunny window or brightest area of the room,” Upham said, “but don’t let it touch the cold window panes.”&nbsp;If windows become drafty at night, it is best to remove poinsettias or draw drapes to avoid cold damage.&nbsp;For the best bloom results, Upham suggests keeping poinsettias at temperatures between 65 degrees Fahrenheith – 75 F during the day, and 60-65 F at night. He said blooms won’t last as long at temperatures higher than 75 F; root rot may occur at temperatures lower than 60 F.&nbsp;Poinsettias are also quite finicky about soil moisture conditions. Upham recommends checking soil moisture daily by sticking your finger in the soil, about one-half inch deep.&nbsp;“If it is dry to this depth, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;Following the temperature and soil moisture guidelines should keep poinsettias in top shape during the holiday season, he said.&nbsp;Are Poinsettias Poisonous?&nbsp;A rumor that often surfaces around times when poinsettias are at their prime is that they are poisonous. Although their milky sap may sometimes cause a mild allergic reaction in some people, there has never been a recorded case of poisoning.&nbsp;“This rumor has been so persistent that members of the Society of American Florists have sought to dispel it by eating poinsettia leaves for the press,” Upham said.&nbsp;According to the American Medical Association Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants, poinsettias do not contain an irritant or toxin; have not been found to produce an effect orally or topically; and have not caused cases of vomiting.&nbsp;Although consuming them is not advised, Upham said poinsettias are otherwise completely safe.&nbsp;Where to Buy Poinsettias&nbsp;If you do not already have a poinsettia but are interested in purchasing one, the Kansas State University Friends of the Garden hosts an annual poinsettia sale.&nbsp;The in-person sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 19 at the K-State Gardens’ visitor center, 1500 Denison in Manhattan. More information and prices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/gardens/events/plant-sales.html">is available online.</a>&nbsp;Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office.</a>&nbsp;

Horticulture expert shares how to care for poinsettias

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — A new government report suggests U.S. abortions may be inching up after a long decline. 

However, the report is incomplete and officials so far are cautious about calling it an upward trend. In 2017, national abortion statistics reached their lowest level since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions. 

But the government report released Wednesday shows small increases in the abortion rate and numbers in the next two years. 

The report is based on voluntary reporting from states and has several limitations. It doesn't include figures from three states, including California, the nation's most populous state.

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical WriterNEW YORK (AP) — A new government report suggests U.S. abortions may be inching up after a long decline. However, the report is incomplete and officials so far are cautious about calling it an upward trend. In 2017, national abortion statistics reached their lowest level since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions. But the government report released Wednesday shows small increases in the abortion rate and numbers in the next two years. The report is based on voluntary reporting from states and has several limitations. It doesn't include figures from three states, including California, the nation's most populous state.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

US abortions may be inching up after decades of decline

<a href="https://medium.com/zulie-writes/my-6-blog-posts-that-went-viral-on-medium-in-2020-ca4c271bea0e">Here is a list of stories</a> that went viral in 2020, courtesy opf Medium author Zulie Rane.&nbsp;

<a href="https://medium.com/zulie-writes/my-6-blog-posts-that-went-viral-on-medium-in-2020-ca4c271bea0e">Here is a list of stories</a> that went viral in 2020, courtesy opf Medium author Zulie Rane.&nbsp;Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Stories that went viral in 2020 maybe not what you'd think

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO The Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings are returning to stores and splurging on all types of items. 

But the big question is how much will supply shortages, higher prices and staffing issues dampen shoppers' mood this holiday season. Shoppers, already fatigued with pandemic-induced social distancing policies and other setbacks, may get grumpy if they can't find the help they need at the stores, or can't find their top choice item. 

They may also be disappointed by some of the skimpy holiday discounts. Still, don't write off the resilience of shoppers who have shown signs they want to celebrate the holidays after muted celebrations last year.

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO The Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers buoyed by solid hiring, healthy pay gains and substantial savings are returning to stores and splurging on all types of items. But the big question is how much will supply shortages, higher prices and staffing issues dampen shoppers' mood this holiday season. Shoppers, already fatigued with pandemic-induced social distancing policies and other setbacks, may get grumpy if they can't find the help they need at the stores, or can't find their top choice item. They may also be disappointed by some of the skimpy holiday discounts. Still, don't write off the resilience of shoppers who have shown signs they want to celebrate the holidays after muted celebrations last year.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Holiday season moves into high gear but challenges remain

“Meleagris Gallopavo Day” is a bit of a mouthful. Which may be why this Thanksgiving, most people will opt for the less ornithologically precise “Turkey Day.”

And just as turkey is a versatile meat – think of those leftover options! – so too is the word “turkey,” which can refer to everything from the bird itself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/turkey-2915">populous Eurasian country</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/">movie flops</a>.

As a&nbsp;<a href="https://sasn.rutgers.edu/about-us/faculty-staff/jack-lynch">scholar who studies word origins</a>, I love “talking turkey” – not only how the bird came to be named, but also how the word has evolved over time. But let’s start with what has become the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving Day dinners.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/mega/all.html">North American turkey</a>&nbsp;– the kind that many families will be carving up this Thanksgiving – was being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/taming-turkey">domesticated in Mexico some 2,000 years ago</a>.

Europeans glimpsed their first turkeys around 1500, when Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas and brought them back to the mother country. By the 1520s, turkeys were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/turkey-history-world-thanksgiving/417849/">being bred in Spain</a>, and soon the delicacy was appearing on rich people’s tables across Europe.

But what to call the new import? Europeans in the New World were overwhelmed by the new plants and animals they saw, and often used familiar names for unfamiliar species. The Spanish, for instance, thought turkeys looked like peacocks, so they used the Spanish word “<a href="https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pavo">pavos</a>.” The French called them “poules d’Indes,” or Indian chickens, later shortened to “<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dinde">dinde</a>.”

To the English, the newly discovered American birds looked like the guineafowl – a bird native to Africa but which was introduced into Europe by Arab and Turkish traders in the 14th and 15th centuries.

And it is this point in the story that the modern-day turkey gets its name.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml">Ottoman Empire</a>&nbsp;was then at its height. Ethnic Turks, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul), ran the empire that spanned the Near East, Middle East and North Africa. As a result, to many Europeans, anyone from “the East” was a “Turk.”

Because Ottomans dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean, a lot of produce coming to Europe was seen as “Turkish.” So a precious stone from Persia was named “Turkey stone,” and the French version of that name, “pierre turquoise,” gave us the word “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turquoise">turquoise</a>.”

In the same way, African guineafowl, introduced by Turkish traders, became a “turkey-cock” or “turkey-hen.” Over time, this was shortened to just “turkey.”

For as long as the New World turkeys have been in Europe, they’ve been featured in celebratory meals. The English word first appears in print in&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=aTJRAQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=Dugdale%20Origines%20Juridiciales&amp;pg=PA131#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">an account of a banquet</a>&nbsp;hosted by politician John Prideaux in 1555: The menu included 38 red deer, 43 pheasants, 50 quince pies, 63 swans, 114 pigeons, 120 rabbits, 840 larks, 325 gallons of Bordeaux wine and “Turkies 2. rated at 4s. a piece.”

History’s most famous turkey dinner, though, was&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-first-thanksgiving-dinner-actually-looked-like-85714">served in Plymouth Plantation in 1621</a>, as 50 Pilgrims who survived a year of brutal hardship joined 90 Native Americans for a three-day feast. Turkey wasn’t the only dish being served. Writing in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bradfords-manuscript-of-plimoth-plantation">History of Plymouth Plantation</a>, Governor William Bradford noted that Native Americans brought “codd, &amp; bass, &amp; other fish,” and others brought “water foule” and venison. But he was especially impressed with the “great store of wild Turkies.”

The bird has become so associated with harvest-time celebratory dinners that we’ve been calling Thanksgiving “Turkey Day” since at least 1870.

Meanwhile, the word has continued to find new uses, showing up with&nbsp;<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/hwibi6q">dozens of meanings</a>. In 1839, the Southern Literary Messenger – a magazine edited by Edgar Allen Poe – reported on a new kind of dance, called the “turkey-trot” from its jerking motions.

In 1920, New York’s Department of Health reported that “Some addicts voluntarily stop taking opiates and ‘suffer it out’ … which in their slang is called taking ‘<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/5k7gmoa">cold turkey</a>.‘”

The turkey’s reputation for stupidity prompted other meanings. The legendary gossip columnist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/walter-winchell-biographical-timeline/15619/#podcastsubscribe">Walter Winchell</a>&nbsp;told readers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/25/opinion/click-click-gobble-gobble.html">Vanity Fair in 1927</a>&nbsp;about some new showbiz slang: “‘A turkey,’” he reported, “is a third rate production.”

Since then, movies that flop with the critics or at the box office have been called turkeys.

Another disparaging sense arrived in the 1950s, when turkey became a name for “a stupid, slow, inept, or otherwise worthless person.” That, in turn, probably led to the rise of the “<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/3378674-Ohio-Players-Jive-Turkey-Part-1-Streakin-Cheek-To-Cheek">jive turkey</a>,” which first showed up in African American speech in the early 1970s, defined by slang&nbsp;<a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/24/jonathon-green-lexicographer/">lexicographer Jonathon Green</a>&nbsp;as “<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/kenrl3q#uv4asfq">an insincere, deceitful, dishonest person</a>.”

And what about “talk turkey”? Well, that can mean quite contradictory things.

One dictionary from 1859 defines it as “To talk in a silly manner, talk nonsense.” A similar meaning is attached to another turkey-related word, “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gobbledygook">gobbledygook</a>.”

Another definition found in the 1889 “Americanisms, Old &amp; New” had “<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OQY1AQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=%22when%20plain%20English%20would%22%20%22turkey%22&amp;pg=PA543#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">talking turkey</a>” meaning “To use high-sounding words, when plain English would do equally well or better.”

The most familiar meaning of “talking turkey,” in which it is a stand-in for “straight talk,” is often said to come from a once popular joke. A white man and an American Indian, the story goes, spend a day hunting together and manage to bag a turkey and a somewhat less bountiful buzzard. The devious white man proposes a “heads-I-win-tails-you-lose” division of the spoils. “I’ll take the turkey, and you the buzzard,” he says, “or, if you prefer, you take the buzzard, and I’ll take the turkey.” The frustrated American Indian replies – usually in some version of would-be comic pidgin English – “You talk all buzzard to me, and don’t talk turkey.”

Those who&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tal1.htm">study word histories</a>&nbsp;are skeptical of stories like this, since most are invented after the fact. More likely, “talk turkey” came from pleasant conversation at Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe negotiations between Native Americans and European colonists over the cost of poultry. Whatever the origin, though, when we “talk turkey,” we’re engaging in the kind of straightforward, honest speech the scheming hunter denied his hunting partner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637797713891.jpeg" alt="Not everyone is a fan of Turkey Day.&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/taminwi-1715951/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">taminwi</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">Pixabay</a>" />
 <figcaption>Not everyone is a fan of Turkey Day.&nbsp;Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/taminwi-1715951/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">taminwi</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=1071392">Pixabay</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By JACK LYNCH “Meleagris Gallopavo Day” is a bit of a mouthful. Which may be why this Thanksgiving, most people will opt for the less ornithologically precise “Turkey Day.”And just as turkey is a versatile meat – think of those leftover options! – so too is the word “turkey,” which can refer to everything from the bird itself to a&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/us/topics/turkey-2915">populous Eurasian country</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/">movie flops</a>.As a&nbsp;<a href="https://sasn.rutgers.edu/about-us/faculty-staff/jack-lynch">scholar who studies word origins</a>, I love “talking turkey” – not only how the bird came to be named, but also how the word has evolved over time. But let’s start with what has become the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving Day dinners.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/animals/bird/mega/all.html">North American turkey</a>&nbsp;– the kind that many families will be carving up this Thanksgiving – was being&nbsp;<a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/taming-turkey">domesticated in Mexico some 2,000 years ago</a>.Europeans glimpsed their first turkeys around 1500, when Spanish explorers arrived in the Americas and brought them back to the mother country. By the 1520s, turkeys were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/11/turkey-history-world-thanksgiving/417849/">being bred in Spain</a>, and soon the delicacy was appearing on rich people’s tables across Europe.<h2>Oh, dinde!</h2>But what to call the new import? Europeans in the New World were overwhelmed by the new plants and animals they saw, and often used familiar names for unfamiliar species. The Spanish, for instance, thought turkeys looked like peacocks, so they used the Spanish word “<a href="https://www.spanishdict.com/translate/pavo">pavos</a>.” The French called them “poules d’Indes,” or Indian chickens, later shortened to “<a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dinde">dinde</a>.”To the English, the newly discovered American birds looked like the guineafowl – a bird native to Africa but which was introduced into Europe by Arab and Turkish traders in the 14th and 15th centuries.And it is this point in the story that the modern-day turkey gets its name.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/ottomanempire_1.shtml">Ottoman Empire</a>&nbsp;was then at its height. Ethnic Turks, based in Constantinople (now Istanbul), ran the empire that spanned the Near East, Middle East and North Africa. As a result, to many Europeans, anyone from “the East” was a “Turk.”Because Ottomans dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean, a lot of produce coming to Europe was seen as “Turkish.” So a precious stone from Persia was named “Turkey stone,” and the French version of that name, “pierre turquoise,” gave us the word “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/turquoise">turquoise</a>.”In the same way, African guineafowl, introduced by Turkish traders, became a “turkey-cock” or “turkey-hen.” Over time, this was shortened to just “turkey.”<h2>Now that’s a feast!</h2>For as long as the New World turkeys have been in Europe, they’ve been featured in celebratory meals. The English word first appears in print in&nbsp;<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=aTJRAQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=Dugdale%20Origines%20Juridiciales&amp;pg=PA131#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">an account of a banquet</a>&nbsp;hosted by politician John Prideaux in 1555: The menu included 38 red deer, 43 pheasants, 50 quince pies, 63 swans, 114 pigeons, 120 rabbits, 840 larks, 325 gallons of Bordeaux wine and “Turkies 2. rated at 4s. a piece.”History’s most famous turkey dinner, though, was&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-the-first-thanksgiving-dinner-actually-looked-like-85714">served in Plymouth Plantation in 1621</a>, as 50 Pilgrims who survived a year of brutal hardship joined 90 Native Americans for a three-day feast. Turkey wasn’t the only dish being served. Writing in his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mass.gov/info-details/bradfords-manuscript-of-plimoth-plantation">History of Plymouth Plantation</a>, Governor William Bradford noted that Native Americans brought “codd, &amp; bass, &amp; other fish,” and others brought “water foule” and venison. But he was especially impressed with the “great store of wild Turkies.”The bird has become so associated with harvest-time celebratory dinners that we’ve been calling Thanksgiving “Turkey Day” since at least 1870.Meanwhile, the word has continued to find new uses, showing up with&nbsp;<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/hwibi6q">dozens of meanings</a>. In 1839, the Southern Literary Messenger – a magazine edited by Edgar Allen Poe – reported on a new kind of dance, called the “turkey-trot” from its jerking motions.In 1920, New York’s Department of Health reported that “Some addicts voluntarily stop taking opiates and ‘suffer it out’ … which in their slang is called taking ‘<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/5k7gmoa">cold turkey</a>.‘”The turkey’s reputation for stupidity prompted other meanings. The legendary gossip columnist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/walter-winchell-biographical-timeline/15619/#podcastsubscribe">Walter Winchell</a>&nbsp;told readers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1993/11/25/opinion/click-click-gobble-gobble.html">Vanity Fair in 1927</a>&nbsp;about some new showbiz slang: “‘A turkey,’” he reported, “is a third rate production.”Since then, movies that flop with the critics or at the box office have been called turkeys.Another disparaging sense arrived in the 1950s, when turkey became a name for “a stupid, slow, inept, or otherwise worthless person.” That, in turn, probably led to the rise of the “<a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/3378674-Ohio-Players-Jive-Turkey-Part-1-Streakin-Cheek-To-Cheek">jive turkey</a>,” which first showed up in African American speech in the early 1970s, defined by slang&nbsp;<a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/2011/02/24/jonathon-green-lexicographer/">lexicographer Jonathon Green</a>&nbsp;as “<a href="https://greensdictofslang.com/entry/kenrl3q#uv4asfq">an insincere, deceitful, dishonest person</a>.”<h2>Jive or straight talking?</h2>And what about “talk turkey”? Well, that can mean quite contradictory things.One dictionary from 1859 defines it as “To talk in a silly manner, talk nonsense.” A similar meaning is attached to another turkey-related word, “<a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gobbledygook">gobbledygook</a>.”Another definition found in the 1889 “Americanisms, Old &amp; New” had “<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OQY1AQAAMAAJ&amp;newbks=1&amp;newbks_redir=0&amp;dq=%22when%20plain%20English%20would%22%20%22turkey%22&amp;pg=PA543#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">talking turkey</a>” meaning “To use high-sounding words, when plain English would do equally well or better.”The most familiar meaning of “talking turkey,” in which it is a stand-in for “straight talk,” is often said to come from a once popular joke. A white man and an American Indian, the story goes, spend a day hunting together and manage to bag a turkey and a somewhat less bountiful buzzard. The devious white man proposes a “heads-I-win-tails-you-lose” division of the spoils. “I’ll take the turkey, and you the buzzard,” he says, “or, if you prefer, you take the buzzard, and I’ll take the turkey.” The frustrated American Indian replies – usually in some version of would-be comic pidgin English – “You talk all buzzard to me, and don’t talk turkey.”Those who&nbsp;<a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-tal1.htm">study word histories</a>&nbsp;are skeptical of stories like this, since most are invented after the fact. More likely, “talk turkey” came from pleasant conversation at Thanksgiving dinner, or maybe negotiations between Native Americans and European colonists over the cost of poultry. Whatever the origin, though, when we “talk turkey,” we’re engaging in the kind of straightforward, honest speech the scheming hunter denied his hunting partner.<div><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/171925/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important" />
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jack-lynch-1290992">Jack Lynch</a>, Professor of English, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rutgers-university-newark-1985">Rutgers University - Newark </a>

This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/talking-turkey-how-the-thanksgiving-bird-got-its-name-and-then-lent-it-to-film-flops-171925">original article</a>.</div>

Talking turkey! How Thanksgiving bird got name, then lent it to film flops

By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension news writer&nbsp;

MANHATTAN — Kansas 4-H youth development specialist Beth Hinshaw knows how important meaningful family time is during the holidays, and how it may be a challenge to come up with ideas on how to spend that precious time together. &nbsp;

That’s one of the very reasons why the national 4-H program has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays" target="_blank">holiday activity guide</a>.&nbsp;

“[The Holiday Activity Guide] has great ways to spend quality time with people, and we can learn so much from our family when we see them at the holidays,” Hinshaw said. “And to be able to have these learning experiences with them – that'll make a memory for us as well.”&nbsp;

The holiday guide, she said, contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes.&nbsp;

“One of the things I think about, in my own experience, is the things I learned in the kitchen, during the holidays from my grandmothers,” Hinshaw said.&nbsp;

Within the Holiday Guide is a “cookie book” - listing more than 20 sweet holiday recipes to make together. One of Hinshaw’s favorites is the no-bake cookies, a recipe from a Kansas 4-H member.&nbsp;

“In the holiday guide, there are several activities that are STEM and math-focused, but as you read through and think about it, they’re fun as well,” Hinshaw said. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on in 4-H -- to have those experiential, fun learning activities.”&nbsp;

Food and STEM are both project areas 4-Hers may already be involved in, and the activity guide includes an additional area important during the holidays: service.&nbsp;

“It shares how you might put together a winter coat drive for your community,” Hinshaw said. “Or how you might make fleece scarves by hand for the homeless.”&nbsp;

To begin one of the many fun and educational projects offered by 4-H, go&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;to find the complete Holiday Activity Guide.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637791510334.png" alt="The holiday guide contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>The holiday guide contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By TAYLOR JAMISON K-State Research and Extension news writer&nbsp;MANHATTAN — Kansas 4-H youth development specialist Beth Hinshaw knows how important meaningful family time is during the holidays, and how it may be a challenge to come up with ideas on how to spend that precious time together. &nbsp;That’s one of the very reasons why the national 4-H program has published a&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays" target="_blank">holiday activity guide</a>.&nbsp;“[The Holiday Activity Guide] has great ways to spend quality time with people, and we can learn so much from our family when we see them at the holidays,” Hinshaw said. “And to be able to have these learning experiences with them – that'll make a memory for us as well.”&nbsp;The holiday guide, she said, contains an array of fun activities, such as making ornaments, family story time, visual art projects, and many food recipes.&nbsp;“One of the things I think about, in my own experience, is the things I learned in the kitchen, during the holidays from my grandmothers,” Hinshaw said.&nbsp;Within the Holiday Guide is a “cookie book” - listing more than 20 sweet holiday recipes to make together. One of Hinshaw’s favorites is the no-bake cookies, a recipe from a Kansas 4-H member.&nbsp;“In the holiday guide, there are several activities that are STEM and math-focused, but as you read through and think about it, they’re fun as well,” Hinshaw said. “That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on in 4-H -- to have those experiential, fun learning activities.”&nbsp;Food and STEM are both project areas 4-Hers may already be involved in, and the activity guide includes an additional area important during the holidays: service.&nbsp;“It shares how you might put together a winter coat drive for your community,” Hinshaw said. “Or how you might make fleece scarves by hand for the homeless.”&nbsp;To begin one of the many fun and educational projects offered by 4-H, go&nbsp;<a href="https://4-h.org/about/4-h-at-home/holidays/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;to find the complete Holiday Activity Guide.&nbsp;

4-H holiday guide: Many fun, educational activities for the season

(AP)-Kellogg's and its 1,400 striking cereal workers agreed to return to the bargaining table a day after the company threatened to start permanently replacing some of the workers. 

Contract talks are set to resume next Tuesday between the Battle Creek, Michigan-based company and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. 

The two sides met for one day earlier this week but didn’t make much progress toward ending the strike that began on Oct. 5. 

The strike includes four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee that make all of Kellogg’s brands of cereal, including Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies.

(AP)-Kellogg's and its 1,400 striking cereal workers agreed to return to the bargaining table a day after the company threatened to start permanently replacing some of the workers. Contract talks are set to resume next Tuesday between the Battle Creek, Michigan-based company and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union. The two sides met for one day earlier this week but didn’t make much progress toward ending the strike that began on Oct. 5. The strike includes four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha, Nebraska; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee that make all of Kellogg’s brands of cereal, including Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies.