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As cat owners know, cats choose when and how they will receive affection and from whom. It’s special to be chosen and, when not chosen, pointless to try to make it happen. The cat gives and lives on her own terms. Love is a purring cat under this Leo moon, curled up and offering a sweet, rare and relaxed moment. ARIES (March 21-April 19). What a whirlwind you’re in today, just a constant state of motion, vibrating with energy. And because motion fascinates, you’ll have an audience a little in awe of everything you accomplish inside of a day. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In even ...

Hints From Heloise

Water plants indoors without mess Dear Heloise: When I bring my plants indoors during the colder months, watering them can sometimes get messy. Using ice cubes to water houseplants can be effective for orchids. But most tropical houseplants do not respond well to this method, and the results depend on the room temperature. While some people put ice cubes on the soil to slowly water their houseplants, others warn that this method can actually cause the plants to decline over time. But this method gives the plant time to absorb the moisture without flooding the pot. This slow-melt ...

Flower bed thefts plant seeds of suspicion

Dear Annie: This situation has been bothering me for four years and is much more complicated, but I’ll try to be brief. I’m a horticulturist and plant collector and have lived in my home for 38 years. I’ve put my extra time and money into my perennial flower beds, and some of the plants in my collection are worth as much as $200. Whenever my husband and I leave town — which happens often in the summer when we stay in another state — someone comes into our yard and digs up plants and flower bulbs. At first, I thought my son had taken them, but he said he hadn’t and then ...

Having a conversation and creating best practices for your child’s social media use

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — In a pivotal moment that underscored how powerful and immersive social platforms can be for children and teens, a jury in California this week found both Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms to kids using their services. The jury’s decision in the first-of-its-kind lawsuit — centered on social media addiction — was applauded by doctors and advocates, who say they are hopeful it could eventually lead to industrywide changes. “I am excited about the outcome of the litigation, in part because we’ve had basically seen these platforms sort of ...

14-year-old boy on the ballot to run for governor of Vermont

STOWE, Vt. (AP) — Looking back, gubernatorial candidate Dean Roy says his political ambitions started in the eighth grade. And by that he means, last year. After working as a legislative page at the Vermont Statehouse, the 14-year-old freshman at Stowe High School now has his sights set on the corner office. In November, he’ll be the first candidate for governor under age 18 to appear on the state’s general election ballot. “I don’t expect necessarily to win,” he said. “What I do expect is to start the movement, and get more young people to come in behind me and say, ...

U.S. lawmakers push to suspend the federal gas tax

(AP) — WASHINGTON (AP) — As the war in Iran pushes U.S. gas prices toward $4 a gallon nationally, some lawmakers are pushing to suspend the federal gasoline tax in the latest attempt to try to control surging energy costs. Lawmakers say the action would provide much-needed relief for families and businesses that rely on their cars and trucks to get to work and school and run everyday errands. Asked about the gas tax at a Cabinet meeting Thursday, President Donald Trump said he has “thought about” suspending it but suggested states should consider suspending their fuel ...