Comment on U.S., Taliban sign deal aimed at ending war in Afghanistan

By The Associated Press Police in Madison, Wisconsin, are trying to determine what prompted a 15-year-old student to open fire at a private Christian school. The shooting Monday was just days before the winter break. A fellow student and a teacher were killed. The shooter also died. Here are some things to know about the shooting: What happened in Madison? Gunfire erupted late Monday morning at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin’s capital city.

Sunny Isles Beach is already taking another look at many of its gleaming high-rises in the wake of a new study by the University of Miami that found 35 beachside buildings along Miami-Dade’s barrier islands are sinking to an “unexpected extent.” But Mayor Larisa Svechin stressed the city is also confident its towering skyline is structurally sound and will do a review largely to address any concerns or questions from residents and visitors. “We are 100 percent confident that everything is safe,” Svechin told the Miami Herald on Monday night, saying that all inspections were up-to-date and that the luxury high-rises and hotels were built to the nation’s highest standards by “the best of the best”. Read full story at miamiherald.com

By MIKE STOBBE, Associated Press Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Teen drug use hasn’t rebounded from its drop during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results from a large annual national survey released Tuesday. About two-thirds of 12th graders this year said they hadn’t used alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes or e-cigarettes in the previous 30 days.

Which mini fridge is best? While a mini fridge won’t replace your full-size refrigerator, it certainly can be handy for keeping food and drinks cold. These compact coolers are ideal for dorm rooms, garages, guest bedrooms and general use when space is tight. Of course, you’ll need to pick a fridge with enough space and features to suit your purpose.

With advances in cordless technology, electric power equipment is quieter, more efficient and friendlier for the environment. So electric snowblowers are a great option for homeowners and small businesses to clear snow without the need for gasoline, oil and regular maintenance that gas-powered blowers require. Electric snowblowers range from large models designed to clear driveways to power shovels that quickly clear snow from walkways and patios. Electric blowers vs. gas-powered blowers If you have a large area to clear and live in a region with frequent heavy snow, gas-powered engines can’t be surpassed for powerfully throwing even the deepest, wettest snow. Electric snowblowers, though, offer quieter operation, with highly efficient brushless motors.

A company that sells replacement winter tires is recalling more than 541,000 of them in the U. S. because they don’t have enough snow traction to meet North American standards. Prinx Chengshan Tire North America is recalling over 100 sizes of Fortune Tormenta and Prinx Hicountry tires with three-peak mountain snowflake symbols on the sidewalls. The company says in documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the tires passed European tests but likely would not meet traction standards in North America. The safety agency says tires without sufficient snow traction can increase the risk of a crash. Prinx Chengshan is working on a way to fix the problem.