New Zealand volcano death toll rises as crews search for remaining victims
Police on Monday plan to review the search area of this month's volcanic eruption on New Zealand's popular tourist destination White Island, Police Superintendent Andy McGregor said. They will also determine how to proceed two weeks after the Dec. 9 eruption spewed ash and steam on the island. The death toll rose to 19 as police said Monday another person died overnight Sunday from injuries related to the eruption and has not been identified. Crews have unsuccessfully searched for the bodies of the two victims who have yet to be recovered. The missing, identified as tour guide Hayden Marshall-Inman, 40, and Australian tourist Winona Langford, 17, are presumed dead in addition to the other 17 fatalities. Whether tourists should have been allowed on the island is under investigation. Two separate inquires have been opened, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
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Still looking for holiday gifts? Don't forget to mail them in time
FedEx, United Parcel Service and the U.S. Postal Service all expect to deliver a record number of packages this holiday season, which is six days shorter than in 2018 and the shortest since 2013. To help them make sure your gifts get to their final destination on time – and save a little money – here are a few key shipping deadlines to pay attention to.Monday is the recommended send-by date for expected delivery by Dec. 25 for the U.S. Postal Service's Priority Mail Express, FedEx's overnight options, UPS' Next Day Air and Amazon's free one-day delivery on more than 10 million items for Prime members.
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Michigan highway to reopen after mysterious green ooze discovered
The mysterious, greenish-yellow liquid that ran onto a Michigan highway on Friday came from a closed electroplating business whose owner is serving a year in federal prison for operating an unlicensed hazardous waste storage facility. Lanes will remain closed until Monday after the fluid gushed from the walls of I-696 about a half mile from the Oakland-Macomb county line at Dequindre, according to Madison Heights Fire Department Capt. Kevin Powers.The Environmental Protection Agency was called to investigate and determined the liquid likely was groundwater contaminated with hexavalent chromium, according to The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE).EGLE said a team of state investigators assessed the situation and determined there is no imminent risk to the public.
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Packers, Vikings battle in last 'MNF' game of NFL season
In the final "Monday Night Football" game of the 2019 NFL season, fans will get to see two old NFC North foes clash with plenty on the line. The Green Bay Packers (11-3) will travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Vikings (10-4) on Monday night (ESPN, 8:15 p.m. EST) and both teams have a shot to win the NFC North. If star quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers win, they will clinch the NFC North title. They can still get the No. 1 seed in the conference, too, but they will need help. The Vikings can win the NFC North championship as well, though they will first need to beat their rival Monday. The two teams haven't matched up since Week 2 when Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins struggled during the Packers' 21-16 win in Green Bay. The Vikings' offense has played better in recent weeks, but they will be without leading rusher Dalvin Cook Monday as he has been ruled out with a chest injury.
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'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' falls short, 'Cats' flops badly
The Force was a little less strong with "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker." J.J. Abrams' "Star Wars" finale couldn't match its recent predecessors on opening weekend, but it still amassed a $175.5 million debut that ranked as the third largest weekend of the year."Skywalker" also pulled in $374 million worldwide, according to studio estimates Sunday. Such expectations did not await director Tom Hooper's adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Cats." The much ridiculed big-screen musical, featuring infamous "digital fur technology," scratched out just $6.5 million in ticket sales. Holdovers "Jumanji: The Next Level" (No. 2 with $26.1 million) and Disney sequel "Frozen 2" (No. 3, $12.3 million) both surpassed "Cats." Final numbers are expected Monday.