WEBVTT 00:00:01.699 --> 00:00:04.540 Good morning and a warm welcome to your show, 00:00:05.080 --> 00:00:09.119 Sunny Mornings in Boston. I'm your host, Melissa, 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:13.199 and it's Wednesday, February 18th. You'll be 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:17.879 interested to know. Today is Ash Wednesday. Communities 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:20.679 gather for a gentle ritual of blessing and the 00:00:20.679 --> 00:00:23.940 marking of ashes on foreheads, inviting quiet 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:27.379 reflection and communal care as the season of 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:31.460 Lent begins. It is a hopeful time to renew intentions, 00:00:31.820 --> 00:00:34.759 practice compassion, and celebrate spiritual 00:00:34.759 --> 00:00:38.780 renewal together with warmth. So now you know. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:46.079 And now, it's time for the weather report. This 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:48.939 morning, it's mostly cloudy and it feels like 00:00:48.939 --> 00:00:53.939 29 degrees, with 4 mile per hour wind. The sunset 00:00:53.939 --> 00:00:56.950 will take place at 520. and it will rise again 00:00:56.950 --> 00:01:00.869 tomorrow at 631. It looks like we're in for some 00:01:00.869 --> 00:01:04.129 snow after 9 this morning, with cloudy skies 00:01:04.129 --> 00:01:07.650 and a high near 36, along with a light northwest 00:01:07.650 --> 00:01:13.090 wind. Tonight, expect more snow, mostly cloudy 00:01:13.090 --> 00:01:16.650 skies, and a low around 25, with a north wind 00:01:16.650 --> 00:01:20.170 at 5. For all you beach runners out there, the 00:01:20.170 --> 00:01:23.730 first high tide Wednesday will be at 1145, with 00:01:23.730 --> 00:01:28.280 a low tide at 6. The nearshore buoy at Cape Cod 00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:31.799 Bay reads 32 degrees for the water temperature. 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.939 Looking ahead in the weather. Thursday starts 00:01:37.939 --> 00:01:40.500 with a slight chance of snow before 8 a .m., 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:43.959 then turns mostly sunny, with a high near 38 00:01:43.959 --> 00:01:48.099 and light northeast winds. A more widespread 00:01:48.099 --> 00:01:51.000 wintry mix is likely Friday into Friday night, 00:01:51.219 --> 00:01:54.099 with snow changing to freezing rain, then sleet 00:01:54.099 --> 00:01:57.700 and rain. with temperatures near 39 Friday and 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:01.540 lows around 31 overnight, and new snow accumulation 00:02:01.540 --> 00:02:05.659 less than one -half inch possible. Bonjour, food 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:08.939 enthusiasts! This podcast is brought to you by 00:02:08.939 --> 00:02:13.020 Versailles Café & Pastries in Encinitas. Nestled 00:02:13.020 --> 00:02:16.539 on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:20.039 Boulevard, this café is a haven for culinary 00:02:20.039 --> 00:02:24.120 delights. Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict. 00:02:24.379 --> 00:02:28.039 or their gluten -free crepes. You can grab a 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:31.020 panini for lunch or just breeze on through to 00:02:31.020 --> 00:02:33.979 get your morning coffee. They are open every 00:02:33.979 --> 00:02:38.300 day from 8 to 5. So stop on by and don't forget 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:43.280 to tell them. Sunny mornings send you. In local 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:48.840 news, in honor of America's 250th birthday, the 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.580 Allied War veterans will change this year's St. 00:02:51.759 --> 00:02:54.409 Patrick's Day Parade route. starting at Andrew 00:02:54.409 --> 00:02:58.009 Square instead of Broadway Station. The parade 00:02:58.009 --> 00:03:00.830 actually celebrates Evacuation Day in the city 00:03:00.830 --> 00:03:05.610 of Boston, marking the 1776 victory, when American 00:03:05.610 --> 00:03:08.689 Revolutionary forces drove the British out after 00:03:08.689 --> 00:03:12.430 an 11 -month occupation. This year's parade is 00:03:12.430 --> 00:03:15.689 scheduled for Sunday, March 15, kicking off at 00:03:15.689 --> 00:03:19.810 11 .30 a .m. The route begins at Andrew Square, 00:03:20.229 --> 00:03:22.909 proceeding up Dorchester Street, turning right 00:03:22.909 --> 00:03:26.009 on Telegraph Street and continuing through several 00:03:26.009 --> 00:03:35.490 streets before ending. Now on to sports. While 00:03:35.490 --> 00:03:38.669 the Olympics are a big business, every two years, 00:03:38.949 --> 00:03:41.710 they have maintained one guiding principle since 00:03:41.710 --> 00:03:46.430 their inception in 1896. The International Olympic 00:03:46.430 --> 00:03:49.389 Committee does not compensate athletes directly 00:03:49.389 --> 00:03:52.979 for their participation or performance. Athletes 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:55.319 earn endorsement money and collect cash from 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:59.780 their individual federations. In Team USA's case, 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:04.300 financier Ross Stevens made a $100 million donation 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:07.780 to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation. 00:04:08.919 --> 00:04:11.419 Every American Olympian and Paralympian will 00:04:11.419 --> 00:04:15.460 receive $200 ,000 for each event, until at least 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:20.220 2032. Winning a gold medal in the 2026 Winter 00:04:20.220 --> 00:04:26.720 Olympics earns Team USA stars $37 ,500. Silver 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.899 and bronze medalists receive $22 ,500 and $15 00:04:31.899 --> 00:04:35.600 ,000 respectively. The figures rank in the middle 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:38.939 of the pack among 25 countries providing financial 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:43.180 data. Chinese skier Aileen Gu is the highest 00:04:43.180 --> 00:04:46.860 paid Olympic athlete. with earnings of $23 million 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:53.040 in total. In local sports, the Pats are set to 00:04:53.040 --> 00:04:56.439 promote Zach Korr to full -time defensive coordinator, 00:04:57.060 --> 00:04:59.519 maintaining the successful defensive play calling 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:03.300 that led them to the Super Bowl. Korr, who took 00:05:03.300 --> 00:05:05.759 over from Terrell Williams early in the season, 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:08.860 played a key role in the team's playoff success. 00:05:09.740 --> 00:05:12.060 Williams has moved to a high -ranking position 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:14.949 within the organization. and will still influence 00:05:14.949 --> 00:05:18.970 decision -making. Kerr, previously an offensive 00:05:18.970 --> 00:05:21.889 coordinator, thrived in his new role, proving 00:05:21.889 --> 00:05:24.870 his capability to lead the defense effectively. 00:05:25.990 --> 00:05:28.589 This promotion marks a significant step in his 00:05:28.589 --> 00:05:31.870 NFL career as he takes on the full -time coordinator 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:37.889 position. In top news, a mysterious symptom is 00:05:37.889 --> 00:05:41.009 appearing in some users of GLP -1 medications. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.600 Demand for these drugs has skyrocketed, with 00:05:44.600 --> 00:05:49.180 users more than doubling since 2024. Clinical 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:52.220 psychologist Dr. Sarah Lavelle noted that patients 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:56.120 report a strange side effect, extreme apathy. 00:05:57.100 --> 00:06:00.000 She describes this as a missing spark, leading 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.819 individuals to lose interest in things they once 00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:06.279 loved. While some patients find relief from binge 00:06:06.279 --> 00:06:09.360 eating, while others, particularly those with 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:14.079 anorexia, may misuse these medications. The psychological 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:17.699 impacts of glucagon -like peptide 1 drugs are 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:23.339 complex, warranting further exploration. In business 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:26.939 news, the Trump administration is supporting 00:06:26.939 --> 00:06:30.560 prediction market operators, Kalshi and Polymarket 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:33.699 in a significant legal battle against states 00:06:33.699 --> 00:06:37.480 seeking to ban these platforms. Michael Selig, 00:06:37.639 --> 00:06:40.420 The recently appointed chairman of the Commodity 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:43.600 Futures Trading Commission stated that the agency 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:46.420 will not allow state governments to undermine 00:06:46.420 --> 00:06:49.980 its jurisdiction. The Commodity Futures Trading 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:52.480 Commission currently regulates these markets, 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.860 enabling them to operate across all 50 states. 00:06:57.160 --> 00:06:59.819 Kalshi recently appealed a temporary restraining 00:06:59.819 --> 00:07:03.670 order issued by a federal judge in Nevada. Selig 00:07:03.670 --> 00:07:06.589 emphasized that states cannot preempt federal 00:07:06.589 --> 00:07:09.769 regulators, stating, we will see you in court. 00:07:10.850 --> 00:07:15.430 In crypto movement, Bitcoin is down 2 % to about 00:07:15.430 --> 00:07:21.689 $67 ,000. Ethereum is down 1 % to just under 00:07:21.689 --> 00:07:29.670 $2 ,000. And XRP is down 1 % to $1 .48. Moving 00:07:29.670 --> 00:07:34.000 on to a more local vibe. In our community spotlight 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:36.899 on health and wellness, we are working with a 00:07:36.899 --> 00:07:39.720 national Pilates studio to bring you some free 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:44.040 classes, so listen up. Check out Club Pilates 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:47.560 with several locations in the Boston area. Pilates 00:07:47.560 --> 00:07:51.000 presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.500 strength, reducing tension, and elevating mental 00:07:54.500 --> 00:07:57.819 well -being. Scientific research affirms its 00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:01.920 benefits. So now you can check out Club Pilates. 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:06.120 for a free class. With locations in Canton, Wellesley, 00:08:06.480 --> 00:08:10.220 Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure 00:08:10.220 --> 00:08:14.720 to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. And now, 00:08:15.019 --> 00:08:19.980 back to the show. Let's talk tech. OpenAI has 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:23.399 hired Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral 00:08:23.399 --> 00:08:27.779 OpenClaw personal AI assistant platform. showcasing 00:08:27.779 --> 00:08:30.560 the intense competition for innovative ideas 00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:34.500 in artificial intelligence. Steinberger, who 00:08:34.500 --> 00:08:37.519 developed OpenClaw as a side project in November, 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:41.080 will join OpenAI while maintaining the project's 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:44.340 independence through a separate foundation. His 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:47.279 assistants, which communicate via popular messaging 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:50.500 apps, perform various tasks, including sending 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:54.200 emails and making reservations. Steinberger, 00:08:54.539 --> 00:08:57.120 a former startup founder, was surprised by the 00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:08.759 rapid success of OpenClaw, stating, And in entertainment 00:09:08.759 --> 00:09:12.879 news, Warner Bros. will reopen takeover talks 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.080 with Paramount Skydance after receiving a seven 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:19.559 -day waiver from Netflix. The waiver will allow 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:23.019 Warner Bros. to discuss unresolved deficiencies 00:09:23.019 --> 00:09:26.919 in Paramount's previous offers. Warner Bros. 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:30.299 Discovery now has until Monday to negotiate a 00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:33.259 possible transaction with Paramount Skydance. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:36.779 Netflix stated that while it is confident in 00:09:36.779 --> 00:09:40.279 its transaction providing superior value, it 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:43.120 recognizes the distraction for stockholders caused 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:46.820 by Paramount Skydance's actions. Warner Bros. 00:09:46.980 --> 00:09:49.940 board still recommends unanimously that shareholders 00:09:49.940 --> 00:09:54.220 vote for the Netflix buyout, valued at $72 billion. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:10:00.460 Paramount is pursuing a $77 .9 billion all -cash 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:04.759 offer. Well, all righty, folks. It's time for 00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:08.720 the quote of the day. And today, our quote comes 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.940 from the American author and theologian, Frederick 00:10:11.940 --> 00:10:16.179 Gechner. Anti -set. The place God calls you to 00:10:16.179 --> 00:10:18.919 is the place where your deep gladness and the 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:23.419 world's deep hunger meet. And that's a wrap for 00:10:23.419 --> 00:10:26.399 this morning. You can check out our Instagram, 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:30.399 YouTube, and TikTok for some captivating aerial 00:10:30.399 --> 00:10:33.500 videos with local news and the weather reports. 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:37.500 Have an amazing day, my good friends. We'll see 00:10:37.500 --> 00:10:40.600 you tomorrow with another episode of Sunny Mornings 00:10:40.600 --> 00:10:41.279 in Boston.