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Natural gas pipeline explodes in Houston suburbs [Video]

A natural gas pipeline east of Houston exploded Monday, setting houses around it on fire. The pipeline owner, Dallas-based Energy Transfer, says a 20-inch main carrying natural gas liquids ignited, triggering mandatory evacuations for about 1,000 homes and businesses while others were told to shelter in place.

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Home Based Business

The Israeli military says 3 hostages recovered months ago were likely killed in November airstrike [Video]

The Israeli military says there is a “high probability” that three hostages found dead months ago were killed in an Israeli airstrike.Related video above: Thousands take to streets in Israel to call for Gaza hostage dealThe army on Sunday announced the conclusions of its investigation into the deaths of Cpl. Nik Beizer, Sgt. Ron Sherman and Elia Toledano.It said investigations had determined that the three were likely killed in a November airstrike that also killed a senior Hamas militant, Ahmed Ghandour.All three of the hostages were kidnapped in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Their bodies were recovered in December, but the cause of death was only recently determined.In its report, the army said there was a “high probability” they were killed in the strike, based on where the bodies were recovered, pathological reports and other intelligence. But it said, “it is not possible to definitely determine the circumstances of their deaths.”The conclusions could add pressure on the government to strike a deal to bring home the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Critics say it is too difficult and dangerous to try to rescue them.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. A missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels landed in an open area in central Israel early Sunday and triggered air raid sirens at its international airport, in the latest reverberation from the nearly yearlong war in Gaza. Israel hinted that it would respond militarily.There were no reports of casualties or major damage, but Israeli media aired footage showing people racing to shelters in Ben Gurion International Airport. The airport authority said it resumed normal operations shortly thereafter.A fire could be seen in a rural area of central Israel, and local media showed images of what appeared to be a fragment from an interceptor that landed on an escalator in a train station in the central town of Modiin.The Israeli military said it made several attempts to intercept the missile using its multitiered air defenses but had not yet determined whether any had been successful. It said the missile appeared to have fragmented midair, and that the incident is still under review. The military said the sound of explosions in the area came from interceptors.The Yemeni rebels, known as Houthis, have repeatedly fired drones and missiles toward Israel since the start of the war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, but nearly all of them have been intercepted over the Red Sea.In July, an Iranian-made drone launched by the Houthis struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and wounding 10 others. Israel responded with a wave of airstrikes on Houthi-held areas of Yemen, including the port city of Hodeidah, a Houthi stronghold.Israel indicates it will respond to attackIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted at a similar response in remarks at a Cabinet meeting after Sunday’s attack.”The Houthis should have known by now that we exact a heavy price for any attempt to harm us,” he said. “Anyone who needs a reminder is invited to visit the port of Hodeidah.”Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the rebels, said they fired a ballistic missile targeting “a military target” in the area of Tel Aviv.The Houthis have also repeatedly attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, in what the rebels portray as a blockade on Israel in support of the Palestinians. Most of the targeted ships have no connection to Israel.On Sunday, a European Union naval mission operating in the Red Sea said salvagers had begun towing a tanker that had been on fire for weeks after a Houthi attack. Operations Aspides said the Greek-flagged Sounion was being taken to a “safe location.”The war in Gaza, which began with Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack into southern Israel, has rippled across the region, with Iran and allied militant groups attacking Israeli and U.S. targets and drawing retaliatory strikes from Israel and its Western allies. On several occasions, the strikes and counterstrikes have threatened to trigger a wider conflict.International carriers have canceled flights into and out of Israel on a number of occasions since the start of the war, adding to the war’s economic toll on the country.Iran supports militant groups across the region, including Hamas, the Houthis and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, its most powerful ally, which has traded fire with Israel on a near-daily basis since the war in Gaza began. Iran and its allies say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians.Rockets fired from LebanonThe military said around 40 projectiles were fired from Lebanon early Sunday, with most intercepted or falling in open areas.In a separate incident, Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the Lebanese border town of al-Wazzani calling on residents to evacuate. The military later said there were no such evacuation orders, and that a local commander had acted without the approval of his superiors. It said the incident was under investigation.It was not clear if anyone had evacuated the town, or if any message had been conveyed to residents that the leaflets were dropped in error.The strikes along the Israel-Lebanon border have displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides. Israel has repeatedly threatened to launch a wider military operation against Hezbollah to ensure its citizens can return to their homes.”The status quo will not continue,” Netanyahu said at the Cabinet meeting. “This requires a change in the balance of power on our northern border. We will do everything necessary to return our residents safely to their homes.”Gaza smuggling tunnels blockedHezbollah has said it would halt its attacks if there is a cease-fire in Gaza. The United States and Arab mediators Egypt and Qatar have spent much of this year trying to broker a truce and the release of scores of hostages held by Hamas, but the talks have repeatedly bogged down.In recent weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted on lasting Israeli control over the Gaza side of the border with Egypt, which Israeli forces captured in May. He has said Hamas used a network of tunnels beneath the border to import arms, allegations denied by Egypt, which along with Hamas is opposed to any lasting Israeli presence there.An Israeli military official said late Saturday that of the dozens of tunnels discovered along the border, only nine entered Egypt, and all were found to have been sealed off. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence, said it was not clear when the tunnels were sealed.The discovery appeared to weaken Netanyahu’s argument that Israel needs to keep open-ended control of the corridor to prevent cross-border smuggling.Egypt has said it sealed off the tunnels on its side of the border years ago, in part by creating its own military buffer zone along the frontier.___Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel. Associated Press writers Samy Magdy in Cairo, Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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Small Business Lifestyle

University of Missouri to see massive Mizzou football stadium renovation [Video]

The University of Missouri Board of Curators this week approved a massive $250 million renovation to the Mizzou football stadium hoping to elevate the university’s competitive standing in the Southeastern Conference. Designed by Kansas City architecture firm DLR Group, improvements to Memorial Stadium include a new multi-level north concourse that will bring more options for seating, concessions, an expanded video board and more. According to plans announced by the University, the project will break ground on Saturday, Nov. 30, when the Tigers host division rival Arkansas. The project is expected to be complete in 2026 to coincide with the stadium’s 100th anniversary. “The Memorial Stadium Improvements Project is a milestone in Mizzous continued growth, University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. This project symbolizes the university’s strategic vision to provide world-class facilities for our student-athletes while reinforcing Mizzous role as a driver of economic impact for the state. This investment is about more than football. Its about community and economic development for the state of Missouri. The new north concourse structure will total approximately 191,000 gross square feet, including 99,000 gross square feet of enclosed, climate-controlled areas. This includes a new retail outlet for Mizzou merchandise, the integration of an enhanced video board and sound system in the north end zone and improved wayfinding and graphics throughout the stadium.The Bunker Club in the south end zone will be transformed into a recruiting center, and the entire stadium will see enhanced LED lighting for Faurot Field, Wi-Fi improvements, upgrades to concourse restrooms and concessions, auxiliary locker room conversion, and more. In a release, the university said, “The project envisions the development of 14 field-level open-air suites behind the north end zone and two new club sections, including a field-level, 300-person Rock M Club built directly under the historic Rock M Hill behind the current north end zone, and a 500-person Mezzanine Club. The project will explore the addition of 150 family lounge boxes, 250 club seats and 28 ‘Tiger Den’ private outdoor patio boxes for families or corporations. Under DLRs design, the stadiums capacity will increase to approximately 65,000.””This project is a game-changer for Mizzou Football, our fans and our student-athletes, Mizzou Director of Athletics Laird Veatch said. This could not be possible without the leadership of our Board of Curators and President Choi. Their unwavering commitment continues to push Mizzou Athletics on an upward trajectory. This historic stadium renovation will not only enhance the overall fan experience but provide the resources necessary for our program to compete at the highest level in the SEC.”This is an incredible statement by our Board of Curators and President Choi, Missouri head football coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. Their leadership has been instrumental in pushing this project forward. These stadium improvements are crucial for recruiting and developing the next generation of Tigers. Were building something special here, and a renovated Memorial Stadium will be the heartbeat of that progress.” Click here to learn more about the project and to see renderings.

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Small Business Lifestyle

Oil prices tumble on growth worries, stocks diverge [Video]

Oil’s main international benchmark fell below $70 per barrel for the first time since the end of 2021 amid mounting concerns about slowing global growth. Meanwhile, global stock markets diverged Tuesday as traders assessed the outlook for interest rates in the United States and Europe and awaited the US presidential debate. Brent crude slumped more