According to the Hendersonville Police Department, officers responded to the Orchard Bar & Grill around 2:40 a.m. in reference to a disturbance involving gunshots in the parking lot.

Upon arrival, officers located a man lying on the ground in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

Officials identified the man as 30-year-old Elijah Edward Timmons III, of Asheville. Timmons was pronounced dead at the scene.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Timmons was engaged in an altercation with a suspect before he was shot.

According to the police department, the suspect remains at large. This incident is believed to be isolated with no ongoing threat to public safety.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lt. Bonanno with the Hendersonville Police Department at (828) 697-3025.

South Carolina championship schedule:

All games will be played at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg.

November 30

• 2A Championship - 7 p.m.

December 1

• 1A Championship - 2 p.m.
• 5A Championship - 8 p.m.

December 2

• 4A Championship - 12 p.m.
• 3A Championship - 7 p.m.

According to the Greer Fire Department, crews responded to the 100 block of Pinewood Drive around 7:34 p.m.

Firefighters arrived to find a single-story house fire with smoke and fire showing from the front and rear of the residence.

Officials said crews worked in an offensive strategy and the fire was contained at 8:26 p.m.

The building was occupied at the time. No injuries were reported.

Pelham Batesville Fire Department, Tyger River Fire Department, and Taylors Fire Department also responded to assist.

Corporal Lucas Watts was shot during a chase after Oconee County deputies attempted to stop a vehicle along Highway 11 near Mt. Pleasant Road on Nov. 16.

Investigators said the vehicle stopped near Black Bass Road and Shelor Ferry Road and shots were fired, striking Corporal Watts.

He was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery.

Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said, " I'm, not talking about a grazing wound to the head. I'm talking about ta bullet to his brain."

An update on Watts' condition was provided by the family on his CaringBridge website.

"Your prayers continue to make a difference! Lucas’s swelling and bruising is decreasing and he looks so good today!" the family said. "Not all days can be good days, so we celebrate in all the victories."

 The update went on to say, " In addition to your prayers, thank you for the many donations and offers of help you have made. These have taken such a weight off many shoulders and allowed us to focus on Lucas and his recovery. Your love and support make a huge difference. It truly takes a village and we belong to a very special one at that."

According to the sheriff's office, 18-year-old Hendrix Alan McCormick was last seen on Thanksgiving around Darby Lane.

He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and camo pants.

Anyone with information regarding McCormick's whereabouts is asked to contact ACSO at (864) 260-4444 and reference case number 2023-15740.

“We’ll have more officers out and about on the busier roads," Sgt. Johnathan Bragg said. "Haywood Road and Woodruff Road are the two with the most shoppers."

Officers will be monitoring roads and directing traffic to stop drivers from blocking intersections.

Electronic message boards are set up along Roper Mountain Road, Woodruff Road, and Verdae Boulevard to assist in directing traffic.

If drivers are trying to avoid Woodruff Road, officers encourage them to take Parallel Parkway instead.

"It's a good route to take if you're trying to get to the major stores on Woodruff Road and want to bypass some of the traffic," Bragg said.

As people begin their holiday shopping, Bragg reminded them to be cautious.

"Unfortunately, this is also a time for people to commit crimes," he said. "Any crime of opportunity, a criminal will take it. Make sure you do the other safety precautions that we always try to hit on with locking your vehicles and not leaving your bags in the back seat where people can see it to prevent auto break ins." 

In Florida, preliminary state statistics show more than 133,840 loggerhead turtle nests, breaking a record set in 2016. Same for green turtles, where the estimate of at least 76,500 nests is well above the previous mark set in 2017.

High sea turtle nest numbers also have been reported in South Carolina, Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia, although not all set records like Florida, where Justin Perrault, vice president of research at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, said the number of nests is remarkable this year.

“We had more nests than we had ever seen before on our local beaches,” said Perrault, whose organization monitors Palm Beach County and broke a local record by 4,000 nests. “That's quite a bit of nesting.”

There are seven species of sea turtles: loggerhead, green, leatherback, hawksbill, Kemp's ridley, olive ridley and flatback. All are considered either endangered or threatened. They come ashore on summer nights, digging pits in the sand and depositing dozens of eggs before covering them up and returning to the sea. Florida beaches are one of the most important hatcheries for loggerheads in the world.

Only about one in 1,000 sea turtle hatchlings live to adulthood. They face myriad natural threats, including predators on land and in the ocean, disruptions to nests and failure to make it to the water after hatching. This year along one stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast where 75 nests had been counted, most were wiped out by the surge from Hurricane Idalia in August.

“Unfortunately, the nests pre-Idalia were almost all lost due to the high tides and flooding on our barrier islands,” said Carly Oakley, senior turtle conservation biologist at Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

Female turtles generally lay eggs in a three-year cycle, leading to up-and-down years of nests, she said. “The nesting process is very exhausting and, in this break, females regain the energy to do the process again,” Oakley said.

Climate change has added to those challenges, reducing beaches as sea levels rise and causing more powerful tropical storms. Hotter air, water and sand and changes in the ocean currents turtles use to migrate also lower the odds of surviving, according to Oceana, an international conservation group.

Sand temperatures play a major role in determining sea turtle sex. In general, warmer temperatures produce more female turtles, and sand temperatures are projected to increase dramatically around the world by 2100, according to researchers at Florida State University.

“So the warmer the nest is, the more likely that nest is to produce females,” Perrault said. “Additionally, hatchlings that come out of warmer nests are much smaller and often slower.”

A study led by FSU professor Mariana Fuentes that was published recently in the Global Change Biology journal found sea turtles will have to nest much later or much earlier than they currently do to cope with changing environmental conditions.

Even that may not be enough for every species, said Fuentes, who works in FSU's Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science. Turtles have adapted to altered climates over millions of years, but today's rapid changes could happen too quickly for them to evolve, she said.

“We have found that even if they do change the timing of their nesting, that's not going to be sufficient to maintain the temperatures of current nesting grounds,” Fuentes said.

Sea turtle mothers already have to lumber out of the water to find a good spot to nest, which can be difficult in areas where humans have built seawalls. Some female turtles make several attempts, known as false crawls, before finding a suitable location.

Racoons, coyotes and other predators raid the nests and hatchlings, once they dig their way out, have to crawl to the sea before being snatched up by birds and other animals. Electric lights can disorient them, causing turtles to head the wrong way on the beach instead of following light from the moon and stars. And when the lucky ones finally start swimming, hungry fish await.

Michelle Pate, biologist at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, said tens of thousands of hatchlings don’t make it to the water, even as nest numbers trend higher across much of the Southeast.

“If we can't get hatchlings to emerge and make it to the ocean, then an increase in nest numbers doesn't help,” she said.

The increase in turtle nests this year conceals an ominous future for the animals, Perrault said.

“Yes, we’re seeing record numbers, but our hatchling production may not be that great,” he said. “And so in the future, 20 to 30 years from now, and these things come back to nest, we may not be seeing these record numbers that we’re seeing now.”

AP video journalist Cody Jackson contributed from Juno Beach, Florida.

Tons of shoppers gathered at Haywood Mall for Black Friday to get their early Christmas shopping done.

According to the Brandi Crowe, area business director for Simon Property Group, the mall's parking lot has been 90 to 95 percent full since the mall opened Friday morning. 

“Stores will have offers throughout the entire weekend but obviously to get the best selection you have to get here early,” said Crowe. 

Crowe said the mall has new retailers such as Lucky Brand and Trade Home Shoes. The mall is expected to open a store called “Garage” later this season. 

Shoppers can expect to see deals ranging from 30 to 60 percent off all weekend and into Cyber Monday. 

Due to inflation, the mall has created a holiday gift guide for shoppers. 

“I think a lot of our shoppers, are very budget concise this holiday season so what we’re doing to combat that is we have a holiday gift guide that had just launched on our website and will let you know all the offers and all the discounts that you could get throughout the entire holiday season,” said Crowe. 

Shoppers can utilize the mall’s website to view stores products and deals without ever having to leave their home. 

While some shoppers enjoy online shopping, others prefer the traditional in person option. 

“If you ask my husband, he would 100 percent say online because he hates going into stores, but my mother and I enjoy the chaos in our lives and just the hustle and bustle and the energy. I absolutely feed off that and my kids enjoy it too,” said Stephanie Scherdt. 

The mall will extend their store hours Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The procession of freed prisoners, some accused of minor offenses and others convicted in attacks, at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem stoked massive crowds of Palestinians into a chanting, clapping, hand-waving, screaming frenzy.

Fifteen dazed young men, all in stained grey prison sweatsuits and looking gaunt with exhaustion, glided through the streets on the shoulders of their teary-eyed fathers as fireworks turned the night sky to blazing color and patriotic Palestinian pop music blared.

Some of those released were draped in Palestinian flags, others in the green flags of Hamas. They flashed victory signs as they crowd-surfed.

“I have no words, I have no words,” said newly released 17-year-old Jamal Brahma, searching for something to say to the hordes of jostling journalists and thousands of chanting Palestinians, many in national dress. “Thank God.”

Tears fell down his father Khalil Brahma's cheeks as he brought his son down from his shoulders and looked him in the eye for the first time in seven months. Israeli forces had arrested Jamal at his home in the Palestinian city of Jericho last spring and detained him without charge or trial.

“I just want to be his father again,” he said.

The release of the Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails came just hours after two dozen hostages, including 13 Israelis, were released from captivity in Gaza in the initial exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners during the four-day cease-fire that started Friday.

Under the deal, Hamas is to release at least 50 hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners, over the four days. Israel said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

Although the atmosphere was festive in the town of Beitunia near Israel's hulking Ofer Prison in the West Bank, people were on edge.

The Israeli government has ordered police to shut down celebrations over the release. Israeli security forces at one point unleashed tear gas canisters on the crowds, sending young men, old women and small children sprinting away as they wept and screamed in pain.

“The army is trying to take this moment away from us but they can’t,” Mays Foqaha said as she tumbled into the arms of her newly released 18-year-old friend, Nour al-Taher from Nablus, who was arrested during a protest in September at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. ”This is our day of victory."

The Palestinian detainees freed Friday included 24 women, some of whom had been sentenced to years-long prison terms over attempted stabbings and other attacks on Israeli security forces. Others had been accused of incitement on social media.

There were also the 15 male teenagers, most of them charged with stone-throwing and “supporting terrorism,” a broadly defined accusation that underscores Israel’s long-running crackdown on young Palestinian men as violence surges in the occupied territory.

For families on both sides of the conflict, news of the exchange — perhaps the first hopeful moment in 49 days of war — stirred a bittersweet jumble of joy and anguish.

“As a Palestinian, my heart is broken for my brothers in Gaza, so I can't really celebrate,” said Abdulqader Khatib, a U.N. worker whose 17-year-old son, Iyas, was placed last year in "administrative detention," without charges or trial and based on secret evidence. "But I am a father. And deep inside, I am very happy.”

Israel is now holding an all-time high of 2,200 Palestinians in administrative detention, according to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, in a controversial policy that Israel defends as a counter-terrorism measure.

Since Oct. 7, when Hamas took roughly 240 Israeli and foreign citizens hostage and killed 1,200 Israelis in its unprecedented rampage through southern Israel, Palestinians have wondered about the fate of their own prisoners.

Israel has a history of agreeing to lopsided exchanges. In 2011, Hamas got Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a single captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit.

A prisoner release touches Palestinian society to its core. Almost every Palestinian has a relative in jail – or has been there himself. Human rights groups estimate that over 750,000 Palestinians have passed through Israeli prisons since Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in 1967.

Whereas Israel views them as terrorists, Palestinians refer to them by the Arabic word for prisoners of war, and devote a good chunk of public funds to supporting them and their families. Israel and the U.S. have condemned the grants to prisoner families as an incentive for violence.

“These kinds of prisoner exchanges are often the only hope families have to see their sons or fathers released before many years go by,” said Amira Khader, international advocacy officer at Addameer, a group supporting Palestinian prisoners. “It’s what they live for, it’s like a miracle from God.”

Since the Hamas attack, Israel has escalated a months-long West Bank crackdown on Palestinians suspected of ties to Hamas and other militant groups. Many prisoners are convicted by military courts, which prosecute Palestinians with a conviction rate of more than 99%. Rights groups say Palestinians are often denied due process and forced into confessions.

There are now 7,200 Palestinians in Israeli prison, said Qadura Fares, the director of the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, with over 2,000 arrested since Oct. 7 alone.

On Friday in Beitunia, a lanky and pimpled 16-year-old, Aban Hammad, stood unmoving, looking shaken by the tumult of tears, hugs and pro-Hamas chants around him. It was his first glimpse of the world after a year in prison for throwing stones in the northern town of Qalqilya. He was freed even though he had eight months of his sentence left to serve.

He turned toward his father, wrapping him into a hug. “Look, I'm almost bigger than you now," he said.

Nearly 100 people in 32 states have gotten sick from the contaminated fruits. Arizona, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio have the highest number of cases. Two people have died of the infections in Minnesota, and 45 people are hospitalized nationwide.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's original recall included Malichita brand whole cantaloupe, Vinyard brand pre-cut cantaloupe and ALDI whole cantaloupe and pre-cut fruit products. Rudy brand whole cantaloupes and Freshness Guaranteed brand and RaceTrac brand pre-cut cantaloupes joined the list Friday.

Health officials say anyone who bought the recalled fruits should throw them away and wash surfaces that touched them with hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within six hour to six days after consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. Illnesses typically last four to seven days. Vulnerable people, including children, people older than 65 and those with weakened immune systems may develop severe illnesses that require medical care or hospitalization.

AP Health Writer JoNel Aleccia contributed to this report.

In June, the company offered its Ultimate Endless Shrimp — typically a limited offer — on their regular menu for $20. The attempt to get more people into the store worked, but it came at a cost.

Red Lobster posted an operating loss of more than $11 million in Q3, according to Restaurant Business. It's a loss that owner Thai Union Group said the Ultimate Endless Shrimp was a "key factor" in creating.

“We knew the price was cheap, but the idea was to bring more traffic in the restaurants,” said Thai Union CFO Ludovic Regis Henri Garnier, according to a transcript.

Garnier said that more people were choosing the endless shrimp than the company thought would.

According to Men's Journal, the shrimp fiasco is set to leave the company with a $20 million loss for the year. Seafood news site SeafoodSource said that the company attributed most of the losses to industry challenges, including inflation and labor costs.

To continue Ultimate Endless Shrimp as a regular menu item, the company said they'll bump the price up to $25.

The actor and comedian was detained after Beverly Hills police received a call about 5:45 a.m. Police said she appeared to be found slumped over the wheel of the vehicle while the car engine was still running.

Haddish, an Emmy and Grammy winner, performed at the Laugh Factory in Los Angeles on Thursday night. It was the comedy club’s 43rd annual free Thanksgiving feast for the community.

A representative for Haddish did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Last year, Haddish was arrested on suspicion of DUI in suburban Atlanta.

Haddish has starred in the films including the comedy “Girls Trip,” “Night School,” “Like a Boss” and “The Kitchen.” She wrote the New York Times best seller “The Last Black Unicorn,” which earned a Grammy nomination.

In 2018, Haddish won an Emmy for her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” and a Grammy in 2021 for her special "Black Mitzvah.”

The order came Friday after President Biden proclaimed the flag of the United States be lowered from November 25 until sunset on the day of interment.

Carter died Sunday afternoon at the age of 96, about two days after she entered hospice care. She will be buried on Wednesday, Nov. 29 in Plains, Georgia, the hometown she shared with former President Jimmy Carter.

"Throughout her life as First Lady of Georgia and First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter exemplified hope, warmth, and a steadfast commitment to doing all she could to address many of our society’s greatest needs," Biden's proclamation reads. "She was a champion for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls; an advocate for mental health and wellness for all; and a supporter of the often unseen and uncompensated caregivers of our children, aging loved ones, and people with disabilities."

Gov. McMaster directed that flags atop the state Capitol be flown at half-staff and requested that the flags over state buildings and buildings of the political subdivisions of the state be adjusted in accordance as well.

According to Goldman Sachs, the current pace of job growth is around 175,000 per month, but they expect it to slow to 100,000 in the second half of 2024. JP Morgan is on the same page – it predicts that job growth is expected to soften in 2024.

And the most official source, the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, tells us that job growth slowed in October after the economy added fewer jobs in August and September than expected.

All of it promises a slowdown in labor market momentum, news that is considered to be “Fed-friendly”: good for the economy. But what does it mean for workers?

The cards are not as stacked in your favor as they were 12 months ago, and wage growth is also slowing, so the springboard from your current role into a better one may not be quite as visible nor as bouncy. There is, however, reason for optimism. A slowing in the jobs market presents an opportunity to take stock to safeguard your career progression.

If you have been on the fence about staying in your current role, safe in the knowledge that the market is awash with new opportunities, this is your nudge to be more cautious and more curious. It could be a good time to make your move.

An employer’s market

The Great Resignation that pockmarked the jobs market since the pandemic is officially over say observers, which is good news for organizations on the hunt for the best talent. Quits have fallen to pre-pandemic levels, and consequently so have new hires, so employers are less desperate to fill openings. This means you’ll have to search harder to find great opportunities but when you inevitably do, be ready to step up.

Do your research

With a focus on your skills, rather than your current job title, research the hottest sectors where your knowledge and expertise are turning heads these days. If you are on the hunt for something new, note that government, health, nonprofit and professional services roles have been ripest for picking this year, with more active openings and hirings. Expand your network online and aim to follow key players and join associations related to your targeted sector.

Be open to a change

These days, a huge amount of job seekers are still searching for full-time remote work. Don’t put yourself directly in line with the masses; Stand out from the competition by including hybrid and on-site roles in your search and application process. Furthermore, be open to contract and shorter-term positions that could help you find your feet on a new career path.

Speed matters

All the experts agree that now might not be the time to take your time. In a softer jobs market, your leverage as a skilled worker is softening, too. When you see an interesting role, have your résumé and references dusted off and ready to go. The right applicants are getting appointed quickly, and competition can be fierce. Be on your game and move fast.

Are you ready to make your move? All of the best opportunities can be found at The Hill Jobs  – start your search today.

Director of Election Protection, Issue One, Washington

Fortifying US elections is the main goal of the Director of Election Protection at Issue One, who will lead strategic initiatives in this area. Reporting to the Chief of Strategy, the Director will oversee the National Council on Election Integrity and spearhead the Faces of Democracy campaign, in a role that drives communications, wider policy and grassroots mobilization. A minimum of five years in campaign leadership is preferred as well as a familiarity with legislative advocacy, plus exceptional communication and management skills. Read more about this important role at The Hill Jobs, where you can apply directly.

Director, Treasury FX Trading & Funding, Remitly, Seattle

Remitly is currently seeking a Treasury Director to oversee its FX operations, managing $40B in transactions across more than 170 countries annually. You’ll lead a global team of 10, and head up FX inventory purchases, funding strategies, and trade execution, with a focus on optimizing liquidity and minimizing cost. At least a decade in global treasury FX management, with deep knowledge of emerging markets currencies or remittances, and strong leadership skills is ideal. Your educational background would ideally be in finance, accounting, or a related field, while professional certifications such as CFA, CTP, or CPA are an advantage. In return, you’ll enjoy flexible time off, great health benefits, 401k-matching, and educational support. Discover more about working for Remitly at The Hill Jobs today.

Manager, Digital Communications, American Gas Association, Washington

The American Gas Association, which represents more than 200 natural gas companies, has an exciting opening for a Manager of Digital Communications to join its team. The successful candidate will oversee online content, social media, and graphic design projects, so the role ideally calls for a degree in communications or a related field. Occasional travel will be involved. If you are energetic, collaborative and at your best under pressure, this role could be for you. Read more about it at The Hill Jobs.

The Hill Jobs is the place to find your next opportunity, even as the market softens: make it part of your daily career path plan

The freed hostages included 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and one from the Philippines, according to Qatar.

The agreement opened the way for sorely needed aid to flow into Gaza for beleaguered residents. It was also a moment of hope for families in Israel and elsewhere worried about loved ones taken captive during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.

With the truce’s start Friday morning, Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians saw quiet for the first time after seven weeks of relentless Israeli bombardment, which has killed thousands, driven three-quarters of the population from their homes and flattened vast swaths of residential areas. Rocket fire from Gaza militants into Israel went silent as well.

The freed Israeli hostages included eight women — six of them in their 70s and 80s — and three children. Their release was followed in the evening by the freeing of the Palestinian prisoners — 24 women, including some convicted of attempted murder for attacks on Israeli forces, and 15 teenagers jailed for offenses like throwing stones.

But joy at the deal has been tempered — among Israelis by the fact that not all hostages will be freed and among Palestinians by the briefness of the pause. The short truce will leave Gaza mired in humanitarian crisis and under the threat that fighting could soon resume.

Israel says the cease-fire could be extended if more hostages are released, but it has vowed to resume its massive offensive once the truce ends. That has clouded hopes that the deal could eventually help wind down the conflict, which has fueled a surge of violence in the occupied West Bank and stirred fears of a wider conflagration across the Middle East.FIRST HOSTAGES FREED

After nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing in Egypt, carrying the freed hostages, according to live footage on Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera TV. Israel’s Channel 13 showed an older woman exiting an ambulance alongside young girl, then walking slowly into a building. An Egyptian medical team held another older woman’s arms as she walked.

At a plaza dubbed “Hostages Square” in Tel Aviv, a crowd of Israelis cheered as news of the release was announced. The Israeli military later confirmed that the hostages had returned to Israel and were undergoing medical checks before being moved to hospitals to be reunited with their families.

The Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which played a key role mediating with Hamas in the long negotiations over the deal, said 13 Israelis, 10 Thai and one Filipino were freed. The Thai prime minister earlier said in a tweet that 12 Thai nationals were freed. There was no immediate explanation for the discrepancy.

The plight of around 240 people taken captive during Hamas’ attack has been wrenching in Israel, raising anger among some families that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not doing enough to bring them home.

Under the deal, at least 50 are to be released, though it is not clear if the Thai and Filipino captives would be included in that count. Israeli is to free 150 Palestinian prisoners. Israel said the four-day truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed.

“I’m excited for the families that are going to hug their loved ones,” Shelli Shem Tov, the mother of 21-year-old Omer Shem Tov, told Israeli’s Channel 12 at the square. “I’m jealous, and I’m sad, mostly sad that Omer is not coming home yet.”

In the West Bank, thousands gathered near the Israeli military’s Ofer Prison, awaiting the release of Palestinian prisoners, some waving Palestinian flags in celebration. Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners’ Club, an advocacy group, Israel is currently holding 7,200 Palestinians, including about 2,000 arrested since the start of the war. Israel holds many for months without charge in administrative detention. Most of those who are tried are put before military courts that almost never acquit defendants and often don’t follow due process, human rights groups say.CEASE-FIRE

Palestinians say a longer cease-fire is needed to recover from the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. But Friday’s halt in fighting brought the uprooted population a moment to catch their breath after weeks of fleeing bombardment across the tiny coastal enclave and trying to find increasingly scarce food, water and other basic supplies.

After the truce began Friday morning, an increased flow of aid promised under the deal began. Four trucks of fuel and four trucks of cooking gas entered from Egypt, as well as 200 trucks of relief supplies, Israel said.

Since the war began, Israel barred all imports into Gaza, except for a trickle of supplies from Egypt.

Its ban on fuel, which it said could be diverted to Hamas, caused a territory-wide blackout. Hospitals, water systems, bakeries and shelters have struggled to keep generators running. Amid food shortages, U.N. officials had warned in recent weeks of potential starvation.

During the truce, Israel agreed to allow the delivery of 130,000 liters (34,340 gallons) of fuel per day — still only a small portion of Gaza’s estimated daily needs of more than 1 million liters.

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people are crowded into the southern portion of the territory, with more than 1 million living in U.N. schools-turned-shelters.

For those originally from the south, the calm brought a chance to visit homes they had fled and retrieve some belongings.

To the hundreds of thousands who evacuated from northern Gaza to the south, Israel issued a warning not to return. Northern Gaza has been the focus on Israel’s ground assault.

In leaflets dropped around the south, the Israeli military said it would block such attempts, saying the “the war has not ended yet.”

Still, hundreds of Palestinians could be seen walking north Friday.

Two were shot and killed by Israeli troops and another 11 were wounded. An Associated Press journalist saw the two bodies and the wounded as they arrived at a hospital.

Sofian Abu Amer, who had fled Gaza City, said he decided to risk heading north to check on his home.

“We don’t have enough clothes, food and drinks,” he said. “The situation is disastrous. It’s better for a person to die.”

Israel’s northern border with Lebanon was also quiet on Friday, a day after the militant Hezbollah group, an ally of Hamas, carried out the highest number of attacks in one day since fighting there began Oct. 8.

Hezbollah is not a party to the cease-fire agreement but was widely expected to halt its attacks.A LONGER PEACE?

The war erupted when several thousand Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel, killing at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking scores of hostages, including babies, women and older adults, as well as soldiers.

The hope is that “momentum” from the deal will lead to an “end to this violence,” said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry of Qatar, which served as a mediator along with the United States and Egypt.

But hours before it came into effect, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told troops that their respite would be short and that the war would resume with intensity for at least two more months.

Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

The Israeli offensive has killed more than 13,300 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Women and minors have consistently made up around two-thirds of the dead, though the latest number was not broken down. The figure does not include updated numbers from hospitals in the north, where communications have broken down.

The ministry says some 6,000 people have been reported missing, feared buried under rubble.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its death tolls.

Israel says it has killed thousands of Hamas fighters, without presenting evidence for its count.

The Christmas House started 50 years ago with the parents of Sandra Montgomery, James and Doris Blackwell.

James Blackwell was over maintenance at his job where they asked him to put Christmas decorations out.

After two years, he started decorating his own house. He started with a nativity scene.

"It snowballed in the community," Montgomery said about her parents' Christmas display located at 350 Foster Road in Inman.

When her father died in 2005, Montgomery and her husband, Bill Montgomery moved into the house.

One of the last things James Blackwell wanted to know before he died was if they would continue the Christmas spirit and put up Christmas lights.

Bill Montgomery promised "to do it as long as we can."

The first Christmas with the Montgomerys in charge they had 40,000 lights. Most of them were flourcents.

Now in 2023, they have more than 130,000 lights. Most of them being LED lights.

The Montgomerys have also pulled out old decorations from the Blackwells including a blow mold nativity, and an old Santa that they have restored.

They have added an animated gold tree in front of the house to celebrate the 50 anniversary of The Christmas House.

When it comes to preparation, the Montgomerys begin the second week in October with the help of family and friends for the grand reveal on Thanksgiving evening

The lights are on rain or shine between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The Montgomerys said there is no charge to see the lights. However, there is a donation box in front of the manger scene for anyone who wishes to help with expenses.

They said the donations help cover the triple power bill they receive when the lights are on. The donations also pay for law enforcement who directs traffic on the weekend.

The rest of the donations go to non-profits that the Montgomerys support.

The strike is organized by the UNI Global Union, which represents workers around the world and said it has mobilized workers from more than 30 countries, including Italy, Germany and the U.S., to speak out against Amazon's treatment of employees.

Hundreds of workers were striking on Friday at warehouses in Coventry, U.K., and in multiple German cities, Reuters reported. Additional walkouts were expected later in the day in other countries.

Officials with the GMB Union, a large trade union in the U.K. that organized protesters there, wrote on the platform X that the strike on Friday was the "the biggest industrial action in Amazon's history."

The effort is part of the "Make Amazon Pay" campaign, which has organized strikes for the past four years. Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, said workers around the world are "standing up to Make Amazon Pay."

"This day of action grows every year because the movement to hold Amazon accountable keeps getting bigger and stronger," Hoffman said in a statement. "Workers know that it doesn’t matter what country you’re in or what your job title is, we are all united in the fight for higher wages, an end to unreasonable quotas, and a voice on the job."

Strikers argue that Amazon pays warehouse workers lower wages compared to employees in other sectors of the company and for better health and safety policies. Some also raise concerns about the e-commerce corporation's environmental footprint.

Jessie Moreno, an Amazon Teamsters member from Local 396 in California, said she and other works "are on strike against Amazon’s unfair labor practices."

"We have taken our picket line across the country and now we’re joining our colleagues from around the world to demand respect, fair wages, and a workplace where our health and safety are a priority," Moreno said in a statement. "Amazon is no match for the power of its workers united."

Amazon spokesperson Mary Kate Paradis said the "vast majority of these allegations are false or misinformed."

"The fact is Amazon has created millions of good jobs, while helping create and support hundreds of thousands of small businesses around the world. We offer great pay and benefits for our employees," Paradis said in a statement to The Hill, "with great career opportunities, and provide a modern and safe working environment for all.

"We continue to invest in the countries and communities where we operate, and we’re proud to be the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy," Paradis added. "That’s part of our drive to be net zero carbon by 2040, with billions already invested in packaging reduction, clean energy and electric vehicles."

Updated: 10:51 a.m.

Nineteen year-old Brandon Garrett grew up playing several sports and was a serious runner. At one point, he ran 10 miles every morning. A few months after becoming a personal trainer at Club Fitness in O’Fallon, Illinois, Garrett set a new goal.

Garrett wanted to break the world record for the most pull-ups in 24 hours: 8,600. To break it down, Garrett would do 10 pull-ups a minute to get to 5,000 before switching his rep pace.

"Once I'm committed to something, I'm going to get it," Garrett said.

Nexstar's KTVI reports he spent eight months training while juggling clients at the gym. During that time he committed 25 hours per week doing pull-ups, completing 70,000 every seven days.

Last Friday, it was time for Garrett to test his limits.

At 4 p.m. at Club Fitness, Garrett began his quest for a new world record. Going straight for 24 hours meant going through the darkness.

"I kept looking outside, looking for the sun to rise,” Garrett said. "That midnight to 6 a.m., I felt like, a perpetual darkness."

Describing the pain he endured, Garrett explained the forearms were the first thing to "go."

"It literally felt like rubber bands snapping through my forearms."

When Garrett hit 9,000 pull-ups — well past the world record — he didn't stop.

In the next couple of hours, Garrett began to feel and push his limits.

"I told everybody I was going to go to 23 hours, 59 minutes, and 59 seconds. So that's what I did," he said. "A man of my word."

In the end, Garrett said he completed 9,229 pull-ups — 629 more than the previous record. He's sent the video of his pull-ups to the Guinness Book of World Records for confirmation, which could come at the perfect time this holiday season.

"That would be really nice to get that gift going into the new year,” Garrett said. “[I’d be a] world record holder, so I'd be excited."

Inside a Zipplicity bag, Waldeier said she's ready for a five-day vacation. She said it can hold about five pounds worth of clothing.

"I've got three pairs of leggings, five shirts and six socks," Waldeier said, holding up one bag.

Waldeier designed the fabric sleeve suitcase with a zipper specifically to cut costs on luggage at the airport. Instead of checking a bag, she and her family now carry on "neck pillows."

"I didn't want to spend the money on the baggage fees," Waldeier said. "I wanted to spend the money on memory making, like all the money on fun."

The idea came to her in 2019 during a family trip where they were celebrating good health. Qaldeier had battled a bladder disease and hip issues for the three years prior. When she finally got cleared to walk on the beach, they made the most of it.

She said overcoming those challenges helped lead her to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

"It's a dream come true," Waldeier said.

She started Zipplicity roughly four years ago and officially got the patent for her invention in 2022. Her company has since done about $90,000 in sales. The neck pillow, or rather unique piece of luggage, costs approximately $50 each and has even been a hit internationally.

"I'm shipping these to Australia and Germany," Waldeier said.

Waldeier wants her company to help others grow. She said all of her products are sewn in micro-factories across the Kansas City area.

"I just thought it was ingenious," Laura Treas said.

Treas is the founder of Fashion Tech Kansas City. She is not only Waldeier's manufacturer but also her mentor. Her message to small business owners is simple and packs a punch.

"You have to be passionate because you have to be in it night and day," Treas said. "You have to be in it for the long haul."

As a mother of two, Waldeier is proud of her hard work as an entrepreneur and believes it has taught her kids to think outside the box.

"Just looking for solutions to everyday problems," Waldeier said.

Waldeier is not stopping at one Zipplicity bag and style. She designed a trinket bag and is coming out with a camo bag and more prints next year.

You may think of the 140-foot tall tree in Enid, Oklahoma, or the 284-foot tall tree in Indianapolis, but DeSoto Parish, Louisiana is about to take the title.

The plan is to make Christmas history Friday when the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office lights up a towering 300-foot structure. That's the equivalent of a 28-story building. At 6:30 p.m. local time, officials are set to flip the switch on The Spirit of DeSoto Tree and its 10,250 LED holiday lights. The event will include hot cocoa and a visit with Santa Claus.

The "tree" is actually the parish's new Stonewall Government Plaza communications tower, but plans have been in the works since last December to give it a once-a-year holiday façade. Sheriff Jayson Richardson thought it would be possible to put DeSoto at the top of the list and began contacting the FAA, FCC, Kay Radio & Electronics out of Alexandria, and various other sponsors and donors that would be willing to approve and cover the time and costs associated with the project.

Richardson credits local businessman Perry Thompson with taking the reins to turn the dream into reality. In addition to transforming the communications tower, Thompson is creating a Christmas-themed business in Stonewall.

While officials don't plan to have an independent organization verify the tree structure is in fact the world's largest, they note there are none larger found through an online search. They hope the tree brings in tourists to visit and shop throughout the holiday season.

The crash, which took place just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, shut down the four-vehicle bridges which cross the U.S. and Canada border in western New York and also left one border patrol officer with minor injuries. Three of the bridges re-opened Wednesday evening, while the Rainbow Bridge re-opened Thursday night around 6:30 p.m.

Video shows the car going at a high rate of speed before appearing to hit something, going airborne, and landing on a structure near the border inspection booths. The car then exploded, bursting into flames and killing both occupants.

Nexstar's WIVB reports the incident remains under investigation and no further details, including a cause, have been released by police. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Wednesday there was no indication the crash was an act of terrorism.

"The City of Niagara Falls would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families as they deal with this tragedy," Niagara Falls police said in a statement.

The Villani family said in a statement obtained by WIVB’s Tara Lynch that they wished to “extend our sincere gratitude to all that extended prayers, condolences and well wishes. We are all deeply touched. At this point, we would request privacy so we may begin the process of healing.” The statement was also on behalf of the Ceccato, Maniccia and Gui’s Lumber families.

Niagara Falls Police Department Superintendent John Faso told WIVB the vehicle was a 2022 Bentley and believed to be the Flying Spur model. Faso added that 2018-21 Bentley GT and Flying Spur models were recalled in 2021 due to the risk of the accelerator getting stuck. While the car in the crash was a 2022, he said this is still part of the investigation.

Additionally, police have stated they are investigating the possibility of a medical emergency.

But one food that many humans love is particularly dangerous for dogs and cats: chocolate.

Chocolate is toxic for both dogs and cats because it contains a chemical called theobromine, which is used medicinally as a blood vessel dilator and heart stimulant as well as for other purposes.

Dogs and cats cannot metabolize theobromine and caffeine as well as people can, so they are more sensitive to the chemical. According to VCA Animals Hospitals, theobromine varies with the type of chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be.

Baking chocolate and dark chocolate are highly concentrated with up to 140 milligrams of theobromine per ounce, while common milk chocolate has a lower concentration of the chemical with around 44 to 58 milligrams per ounce.

White chocolate does not pose as much of a threat since it only has 0.25 milligrams per ounce.

VGA Animal Hospitals say a medium-sized dog weighing 50 pounds would only need to eat 1 ounce of baker's chocolate, or 9 ounces of milk chocolate, to show possible signs of poisoning.

Signs of chocolate poisoning depend on the amount and type of chocolate ingested. For many dogs and cats, the most common signs are: 

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Increased thirst
• Excessive urination
• Racing heart rate

In severe cases, symptoms can include muscle tremors, seizures and heart failure.

If you suspect that your cat or dog has eaten chocolate, immediately call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661

The drug, made by Eli Lilly, is marketed as Zepbound. Also known as tirzepatide, it has helped dieters lose as much as 40 to 60 pounds in testing.

The weekly injection of Zepbound works by mimicking the hormones that kick in after you eat, which regulate appetite and give you a feeling of fullness. In addition to suppressing appetite, it also slows down the rate your stomach empties, making you feel full longer, explained Dr. Cecilia Low Wang, with UCHealth's Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic.

The drug's ingredients work much like semaglutide, which can be found in Wegovy and Ozempic.

“This would be the most highly efficacious drug ever approved for the treatment of obesity," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity medicine expert at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Veronica Johnson, an obesity medicine specialist at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Lifestyle Medicine, said the drug was just about as effective as metabolic and bariatric surgery. It gives patients an alternative to going under the knife to treat obesity and all the medical conditions that come with excess weight.

Dr. Johnson encouraged people to think of Zepbound as a potential solution to the complex condition of obesity.

"Obesity is far more complicated than just eating less, moving more," she said. "We have clear hormones in our body and other determinants and contributors that make it harder for us to manage our weight with just lifestyle modifications."

The drug, while FDA-approved, may not be easier to access. A month's supply costs about $1,000 a month out of pocket. Tirzepatide is also still in short supply, according to FDA tracking.

Another challenge is that patients may need to be paying that price for a long time, if not forever.

"At the moment, the understanding is that tirzepatide and semaglutide need to be taken for a lifetime," Dr. Leana Wen, a professor of health policy and management at George Washington University, told CNN. "If they are stopped, much of the weight loss is reversed."

Hear more about Zepbound from Dr. Johnson in an interview with WGN Radio below:

Zepbound is the latest diabetes drug approved for chronic weight management, joining Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, a high-dose version of its diabetes treatment Ozempic. Both are weekly injections.

Side effects of the new weight-loss drug include vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal problems. In the most recent published trial, about 10% of people taking tirzepatide dropped out of the study because of such problems, compared to about 2% of people taking dummy shots.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

That help can come on two legs or four.

Foothills Search and Rescue was established in Greenville County around 15 years ago. Jamie Cox's family was part of starting the team and she now serves as its search manager.

The team, with seven certified search dogs, was called out 80 times in 2022.

"Sometimes we're in the mountains. We go all the way down to the beach," Cox explained. "Sometimes we're in an urban city environment. It just depends on where the call is."

Lots of breeds can be trained to become search and rescue dogs. Size doesn't matter because dogs share one common trait.

"Dogs can smell 44 times greater than the human nose," according to Cox. "So, these dogs are trained on one task typically, and that is to find their target odor. And to them, it's just a game."

About half of the calls for Foothills Search and Rescue come from the Upstate. The team is also called for searches in the Midlands, North Carolina and Georgia.

"These dogs go in any environment, whether it's on top of a mountain," K9 handler Jeff Fowler told 7NEWS. "We've had searches, we're actually in a bear sanctuary. We've searched in landfills."

"We search in water. Our dogs are able to locate the odor that comes from underneath the water," Fowler said.

Too many searches like these end with tragedy, but the happy outcomes make it worthwhile for the team.

"When you find that person and you help that family find their loved one," Cox said. "There's just there's no other feeling like that."

Prevatte coached at Gaffney from 1956 to 1969. In that time he compiled a record of 119-29-11, a win record that stood until 2022. He also won five state championships with the Indians as one of their winningest coaches.

The Bob Prevatte Athletic Complex at Limestone University is named in his honor.