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Learn how builders choose design options

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

Much of the fun of touring new homes is in noticing how builders design and decorate their model homes. For that reason, touring model homes can play an early role in how buyers approach choosing their own new-home finishes.For many builders, choosing options begins with the concept of personalization. They want to offer buyers the ability to personalize their spaces from a variety of options offering flexibility to individualize with style.Some builders hire individuals or consulting firms to conduct research. That process may include evaluating past and current  product demand, availability or overstocks. Regional or national customer surveys may take place to provide usable data for developing design packages.As part of all of this, builders analyze costs relative to materials, labor and home pricing. Some builders primarily serve entry-level buyers or build multifamily homes.Other builders may serve more buyers who are purchasing move-up homes, who are age 55+ or who may be seek...

Word Game: Dec. 7, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — SAUCIER (SAUCIER: SAW-see-er: More bold or impertinent.)Average mark 22 wordsTime limit 35 minutesCan you find 30 or more words in SAUCIER? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — FIREPOT fire fore fort forte fret refit rife rift riot ripe rite rope rote roti pert pier poet pore port profit tier tire tope toper topi tore trio trip tripe tropeTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Hooker Furniture: Fiscal Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Hooker Furniture Corp. (HOFT) on Thursday reported profit of $7 million in its fiscal third quarter.The Martinsville, Virginia-based company said it had profit of 65 cents per share.The home furnishings company posted revenue of $116.8 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on HOFT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/HOFTSource

Two rising stars of the Bundesliga meet as leader Leverkusen takes on Stuttgart

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Is Bayer Leverkusen’s German title challenge for real? How about Stuttgart’s chances?The Bundesliga’s two teams on the rise meet on Sunday when league-leading Leverkusen travels to third-placed Stuttgart.Leverkusen’s 21-game unbeaten start to the season is on the line again after a rare moment of vulnerability in a 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.Stuttgart knocked Dortmund out of the German Cup on Wednesday and is aiming for another upset win in a season already packed with eye-catching performances.The simple fact that Stuttgart vs. Leverkusen has become a must-watch game in Germany is tribute to Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso and his Stuttgart counterpart Sebastian Hoeness, who both took over relegation-threatened teams partway through last season and turned them around.Leverkusen may have to do without Florian Wirtz after the 20-year-old attacking midfielder limped off after a hard tackle to the ankle in Wednesday’...

Putin moves a step closer to a fifth term as president after Russia sets 2024 election date

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

Russian lawmakers on Thursday set the date of the country’s 2024 presidential election for March 17, moving Vladimir Putin a step closer to a fifth term in office.Members of the Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, voted unanimously to approve a decree setting the date. “In essence, this decision marks the start of the election campaign,” said Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council. Russia’s central election commission is to hold a meeting on the presidential campaign on Friday.Putin, 71, hasn’t yet announced his intention to run again, but is widely expected to do so in the coming days now that the date has been set.Under constitutional reforms he orchestrated, he is eligible to seek two more six-year terms after his current one expires next year, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.Having established tight control over Russia’s political system, Putin’s victory in the March election is all but assured. Prominent critics who co...

Denver weather: Sunny with 60s before Friday snow

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Mainly sunny skies and 60s will feel mild on Thursday, even with a breezy wind. Cooler temperatures and snow arrive on Friday in the Denver weather forecast. Weather today: Sunny and breezyHigh wind warnings will be in effect in the foothills and into the mountains until 5 p.m. Thursday, with winds at 30-45 mph and gusts at 65-80 mph. Timing, totals, impact of Friday’s snowstorm in Denver metro Pinpoint Weather: High wind advisory on Dec. 7 The Front Range won't be as brisk on Thursday, but it will be breezy. Mainly sunny skies help highs climb back into the middle 60s.Pinpoint Weather: Daily forecast on Dec. 7 Weather tonight: Increasing cloudsClouds build into the Front Range Thursday night as winds slow. Overnight lows will dip into the upper 20s with increasing clouds and early morning snow in the mountains. Pinpoint Weather: Overnight forecast on Dec. 7 Winter weather advisories will be in effect for the mountains from 9 p.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Friday wi...

McDonald’s testing new CosMc’s chain amid unprecedented global expansion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

McDonald’s is testing a new restaurant format with customizable drinks and treats designed to appeal to afternoon snackers — and grab sales from competitors like Starbucks and Dunkin’.The company said Wednesday it will open 10 CosMc’s restaurants through the first half of next year. One will be near the company’s headquarters in Chicago and the rest will be in Texas. The company will study the results for at least a year before determining whether to expand.The announcement was one of the most anticipated at McDonald’s day-long investor conference Wednesday. The company also said it expects to open nearly 10,000 McDonald’s restaurants worldwide over the next four years — to reach a total of 50,000 restaurants — a pace of growth that would be unprecedented even for the world’s largest burger chain.It plans to open 900 new stores in the U.S. and 1,900 in international markets with company operated and franchised restaurants like Canada, German...

Miramar family escapes unharmed in early morning house fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

A Miramar family safely exited their home after a fire broke out, Thursday morning. Miramar Fire Rescue arrived just before 3:15 a.m. when they quickly extinguished the blaze. Cellphone footage revealed the intensity of the flames and billowing smoke. The residence, housing a family of eight to 10 people and their cat, was affected, but all occupants emerged unharmed. A firefighter, commenting on the incident, suggested an electrical origin, emphasizing the ongoing investigation with the state fire marshal.As of 7 a.m., fire crews remained on-site, continuing their examination. 7SkyForce was overhead during the aftermath as the family gathered in the backyard. While the house isn’t a total loss, the family cannot return until authorities deem the structure safe. No injuries were reported.

If your spouse has high blood pressure, you’re more likely to have it too, study suggests

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

(CNN) — About half of hypertension cases in middle-age and older adults are shared or “concordant” within couples, a new study suggests, meaning if one spouse has high blood pressure, their partner does, too.Among heterosexual couples in four countries – China, England, India and the United States – the women who were married to men with high blood pressure were more likely to also have hypertension themselves than those whose husbands did not have high blood pressure, according to the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association. And the men who had wives with hypertension were more likely to have hypertension compared with the men whose wives did not have hypertension.“Many people know that high blood pressure is common in middle-aged and older adults in the US, England, China, and India. But we were surprised to find out that in these countries, many older couples both have high blood pressure. For instance, in the US, more than 35% of couples ...

Slovakia’s plan to scrap prosecutor’s office prompts rule-of-law concerns in Brussels

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:16:38 GMT

The new Slovakian government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico wants to shut down a special prosecutor’s office that oversees sensitive corruption cases, raising fears in Brussels about erosion of the rule of law in the country.“The institution significantly contributed to the violation of human rights,” Fico claimed Wednesday after approving the use of a fast-track legislative process to shutter the prosecutor’s office, adding that officials working there have abused their authority. The special institution, which has existed since 2004, handles cases connected to corruption and serious crimes, including those related to misusing EU funds. Investigations by the office have led to numerous convictions in high-profile corruption cases, many of which were linked to Fico’s ruling Smer party during his previous tenure as prime minister.After Wednesday’s decision to use the fast-track process to amend the criminal code, the Slovak parliament will vote on the plan in the coming week...