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Initial damage was estimated to be around $180,000, authorities said Seven people were treated for signs of excessive smoke inhalation and four were transported to a nearby hospital, firefighters said. The lot was evacuated, with park-goers being unable to return to their vehicles until just before 7 p.m. Videos from the scene show thick black smoke billowing from the structure. It was not immediately clear what led to the fire, but authorities did not suspect foul play.

Walt Disney World is increasing single-day tickets at certain times of the year and setting expiration dates on tickets in hopes of preventing overcrowding during its parks' busiest times. Company officials said Saturday that single-day ticket prices are either staying the same, or are increasing no more than $5 under the new price structure for its Florida theme parks.

It’s not uncommon to feel the urge for an airport drink that can help manage your flying anxieties (or boredom). That’s why there are so many airport bars in the country’s busiest airports. But be aware: If you try to bring your own form of liquid relief onto a plane in the form of a nip (or mini) bottle of liquor, you’re going to have a bad time. That’s what Lucy Yallop found on her flight from Newcastle, England, to Alicante, Spain. She tried to spike her orange juice with a mini of Absolut Vodka she’d brought onto the flight,...

Highway 35 in Los Gatos is shut down, a portion of the roadway at Las Cumbres Road is gone. Highway 35 has been completely washed away near mile marker 10.47 in Santa Cruz County, according to the California Highway Patrol. The ground gave-way Friday. The CHP sent this tweet out Friday afternoon:

Her eyes teared up as a North Korean soldier gripped her hand in the hardest handshake she’d ever felt. “We’re going to destroy you, America,” he said. Over the past year and a half, American traveler Cassie DePecol has visited every country in the world, and the greetings she received weren’t always gracious. She had set out to promote peace in her own small way, by meeting people from every country in the world — and she did so at a record pace. Traveling to all the world’s 196 sovereign nations in 18 months and 26 days, De Pecol made...

Dragons are very common mythical creatures in almost every part of the world, but no other civilizations paid closer attention to them than East Asia and Western Christendom. While these serpentine creatures are worshiped in Oriental countries, dragons in Christendom are feared to a point of revulsion. In fact, a popular Christian myth that perpetuated the fear of dragons is found in the narratives of the early pre-Catholic era. The 3rd Century AD Roman martyr named St. George was believed to have slain a dragon who feeds on sheep and virgin women during his adventures in Libya. This legend also...

Survivor: Game Changers — Mamanuca Islands is the 34th season of Survivor (for those unfamiliar with the show, there are two seasons each year). It begins Wednesday, March 8, 2017 on CBS at 8/7c with a special two hour episode. References: Official Survivor site at CBSWikipedia article There will be twenty returning players divided into two tribes of ten players each. The "Game Changers" theme as with some past themes, is of course utterly contrived. Apparently the original plan called for three teams consisting of (1) winners, (2) those who made the jury, and (3) those who were booted prior...

Just when you thought you’d escaped the world’s most overexposed and sycophantically fawned-over woman, here she comes again. All will love her sculpted arms, and despair. Yes, Michelle Obama, former fat-shamer in chief, she of the wasted vegetables and inedible school lunches, just won’t leave kids alone. She’s going to be on Masterchef, Jr. hosted by culinary psychopath Gordon Ramsay and joined by the likes of Martha Stewart. You gotta feel for the kids. If Masterchef Jr. is anything like other kid cooking competition shows, they’re already disturbingly maladjusted. Ramsey screams at people for a living, Martha Stewart ran a...

RIO DE JANEIRO — At least 90 people are reported dead in a wave of violence in the Brazilian city of Vitoria after the police force there went on strike. The number of registered murders had risen to 90 since military police stopped patrols on Saturday, Globo reported, citing figures received from a police union. The mood in the southeastern state of Espirito Santo remained tense Wednesday as armed forces continued patrolling the streets for the fifth straight day

Let's get this out of the way, right up front this period correct, widebody, musclebound Mustang takes just a tick under ten seconds to reach 60 mph. Don't worry, we have the feeling once you read up on this uber-rare Mustang, you'll still want it as badly as we do. If you've got some cash lying about, you can even buy it for yourself, courtesy of our friends at Bring a Trailer. On behest of Ford, McLaren Engines from Michigan developed the swollen 1980 Ford McLaren Mustang M-81 with full-blown production plans set for a 249 unit run. In some...

Mark Moore's expertise is being tapped to address concerns like noise pollution, battery life, safety and air trafficJust four months after officially joining the flying car revolution, Uber has added a big name to orchestrate its innovative plans. Mark Moore, a 30-year veteran of NASA, is ditching the government agency to take on Uber's director of engineering for aviation gig, according to the ride-hailing company. Moore's primary role is to enhance the San Francisco company's flying car strategy coined Uber Elevate, a program originally outlined in a 98-page white paper released in October. The enticing and futuristic proposal would work...

THESE incredible photos show former US President Barack Obama as you’ve never seen him before – wrestling with billionaire pal Richard Branson and learning to kite surf. Obama, photographed while on holiday on Branson’s luxurious Necker Island, took up the sport after being succeeded by President Donald Trump last month. Former president Barack Obama pictured learning to kite surf while staying with pal Richard Branson PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION 14 Former president Barack Obama pictured learning to kite surf while staying with pal Richard Branson He had a competition with Branson to see if he could learn the sport quicker than Branson...

Anybody know a decent Minneapolis events calendar?

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney is stepping up efforts to bring a pair of giant pandas to New York City. Currently only zoos in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., San Diego and Memphis have pandas in the U.S. For years, Maloney has been lobbying to bring the pandas from a preserve in China to the Big Apple, saying the animals will be a boost to tourism and strengthen the city’s ties with the Asian nation.

If you believe that 'strangers are simply friends you haven't met yet', you could be making a lot more if you stay at some Marriott hotels in the near future. The largest hotel chain in the world is planning to make communal rooms in some of its hotels that will be shared by between six and 16 guests. The idea, which is still in the design stage, would be rolled out in 23 Element hotels which is the chain's eco-conscious, extended stay brand....

Relocating for work to Texas from southern NH - looking for FReeper advice/input - been lurking out here for 19 or so years - best community to ask a question of. I know there'll be some snark, but anyway..

ROCHESTER, Minn., Nov. 4— With the glee of brigands, the Reagan campaign touched down in its rival's home state this morning so President Reagan might personally seek to sway some final, resistant votes from Walter F. Mondale. A day after they disowned any intent to ''rub in'' their lead in the polls by visiting the Democratic nominee's home turf, Reagan strategists did precisely that. Without the usual advance preparation, they hurried the President into a rural airport as recorded music played and travelers gawked at Air Force One. Some thought Mr. Reagan was using the sudden foray to embarrass Mr....

SPRING LAKE, NC -- A North Carolina sheriff's office says a man was shot during an argument over bright car headlights. Investigators said the victim was headed down a North Carolina highway on Saturday evening when he met an oncoming vehicle with its bright lights on. The victim flashed his lights in an attempt to get the oncoming driver to dim the bright lights.

Even before George Jetson entranced kids with his cartoon flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have long tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing. Nearly a dozen companies around the globe, including some with deep pockets such as European aircraft maker Airbus, are competing to be the first to develop a new kind of aircraft that will enable commuters to glide above crowded roadways. A few of the aircraft under development are cars with wings that unfold for flight, but most aren’t cars at all. Typically they...

What’s a Super Bowl without controversy? Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are in Houston for their record-setting ninth appearance in Sunday’s NFL championship game, but the biggest questions the future Hall-of-Famer faces this week have nothing to do with the Atlanta Falcons secondary, his receiving corps or coach Bill Belichick’s game plan. Instead, football’s best player has become the focus of a political debate between those, including many in the sports world, who insist the quarterback must explain — or even “disavow” — his friendship with President Trump, and others who contend Brady is as entitled to a...