Good morning and a warm welcome to your show,
Sunny Mornings in Boston. I'm your host, Melissa,
and it's Wednesday, February 18th. You'll be
interested to know. Today is Ash Wednesday. Communities
gather for a gentle ritual of blessing and the
marking of ashes on foreheads, inviting quiet
reflection and communal care as the season of
Lent begins. It is a hopeful time to renew intentions,
practice compassion, and celebrate spiritual
renewal together with warmth. So now you know.
And now, it's time for the weather report. This
morning, it's mostly cloudy and it feels like
29 degrees, with 4 mile per hour wind. The sunset
will take place at 520. and it will rise again
tomorrow at 631. It looks like we're in for some
snow after 9 this morning, with cloudy skies
and a high near 36, along with a light northwest
wind. Tonight, expect more snow, mostly cloudy
skies, and a low around 25, with a north wind
at 5. For all you beach runners out there, the
first high tide Wednesday will be at 1145, with
a low tide at 6. The nearshore buoy at Cape Cod
Bay reads 32 degrees for the water temperature.
Looking ahead in the weather. Thursday starts
with a slight chance of snow before 8 a .m.,
then turns mostly sunny, with a high near 38
and light northeast winds. A more widespread
wintry mix is likely Friday into Friday night,
with snow changing to freezing rain, then sleet
and rain. with temperatures near 39 Friday and
lows around 31 overnight, and new snow accumulation
less than one -half inch possible. Bonjour, food
enthusiasts! This podcast is brought to you by
Versailles Café & Pastries in Encinitas. Nestled
on El Camino Real South, just north of Encinitas
Boulevard, this café is a haven for culinary
delights. Indulge in their amazing Eggs Benedict.
or their gluten -free crepes. You can grab a
panini for lunch or just breeze on through to
get your morning coffee. They are open every
day from 8 to 5. So stop on by and don't forget
to tell them. Sunny mornings send you. In local
news, in honor of America's 250th birthday, the
Allied War veterans will change this year's St.
Patrick's Day Parade route. starting at Andrew
Square instead of Broadway Station. The parade
actually celebrates Evacuation Day in the city
of Boston, marking the 1776 victory, when American
Revolutionary forces drove the British out after
an 11 -month occupation. This year's parade is
scheduled for Sunday, March 15, kicking off at
11 .30 a .m. The route begins at Andrew Square,
proceeding up Dorchester Street, turning right
on Telegraph Street and continuing through several
streets before ending. Now on to sports. While
the Olympics are a big business, every two years,
they have maintained one guiding principle since
their inception in 1896. The International Olympic
Committee does not compensate athletes directly
for their participation or performance. Athletes
earn endorsement money and collect cash from
their individual federations. In Team USA's case,
financier Ross Stevens made a $100 million donation
to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation.
Every American Olympian and Paralympian will
receive $200 ,000 for each event, until at least
2032. Winning a gold medal in the 2026 Winter
Olympics earns Team USA stars $37 ,500. Silver
and bronze medalists receive $22 ,500 and $15
,000 respectively. The figures rank in the middle
of the pack among 25 countries providing financial
data. Chinese skier Aileen Gu is the highest
paid Olympic athlete. with earnings of $23 million
in total. In local sports, the Pats are set to
promote Zach Korr to full -time defensive coordinator,
maintaining the successful defensive play calling
that led them to the Super Bowl. Korr, who took
over from Terrell Williams early in the season,
played a key role in the team's playoff success.
Williams has moved to a high -ranking position
within the organization. and will still influence
decision -making. Kerr, previously an offensive
coordinator, thrived in his new role, proving
his capability to lead the defense effectively.
This promotion marks a significant step in his
NFL career as he takes on the full -time coordinator
position. In top news, a mysterious symptom is
appearing in some users of GLP -1 medications.
Demand for these drugs has skyrocketed, with
users more than doubling since 2024. Clinical
psychologist Dr. Sarah Lavelle noted that patients
report a strange side effect, extreme apathy.
She describes this as a missing spark, leading
individuals to lose interest in things they once
loved. While some patients find relief from binge
eating, while others, particularly those with
anorexia, may misuse these medications. The psychological
impacts of glucagon -like peptide 1 drugs are
complex, warranting further exploration. In business
news, the Trump administration is supporting
prediction market operators, Kalshi and Polymarket
in a significant legal battle against states
seeking to ban these platforms. Michael Selig,
The recently appointed chairman of the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission stated that the agency
will not allow state governments to undermine
its jurisdiction. The Commodity Futures Trading
Commission currently regulates these markets,
enabling them to operate across all 50 states.
Kalshi recently appealed a temporary restraining
order issued by a federal judge in Nevada. Selig
emphasized that states cannot preempt federal
regulators, stating, we will see you in court.
In crypto movement, Bitcoin is down 2 % to about
$67 ,000. Ethereum is down 1 % to just under
$2 ,000. And XRP is down 1 % to $1 .48. Moving
on to a more local vibe. In our community spotlight
on health and wellness, we are working with a
national Pilates studio to bring you some free
classes, so listen up. Check out Club Pilates
with several locations in the Boston area. Pilates
presents a comprehensive wellness approach, cultivating
strength, reducing tension, and elevating mental
well -being. Scientific research affirms its
benefits. So now you can check out Club Pilates.
for a free class. With locations in Canton, Wellesley,
Hingham, Brookline, and Framingham, just be sure
to tell them Sunny Morning sent you by. And now,
back to the show. Let's talk tech. OpenAI has
hired Peter Steinberger, the creator of the viral
OpenClaw personal AI assistant platform. showcasing
the intense competition for innovative ideas
in artificial intelligence. Steinberger, who
developed OpenClaw as a side project in November,
will join OpenAI while maintaining the project's
independence through a separate foundation. His
assistants, which communicate via popular messaging
apps, perform various tasks, including sending
emails and making reservations. Steinberger,
a former startup founder, was surprised by the
rapid success of OpenClaw, stating, And in entertainment
news, Warner Bros. will reopen takeover talks
with Paramount Skydance after receiving a seven
-day waiver from Netflix. The waiver will allow
Warner Bros. to discuss unresolved deficiencies
in Paramount's previous offers. Warner Bros.
Discovery now has until Monday to negotiate a
possible transaction with Paramount Skydance.
Netflix stated that while it is confident in
its transaction providing superior value, it
recognizes the distraction for stockholders caused
by Paramount Skydance's actions. Warner Bros.
board still recommends unanimously that shareholders
vote for the Netflix buyout, valued at $72 billion.
Paramount is pursuing a $77 .9 billion all -cash
offer. Well, all righty, folks. It's time for
the quote of the day. And today, our quote comes
from the American author and theologian, Frederick
Gechner. Anti -set. The place God calls you to
is the place where your deep gladness and the
world's deep hunger meet. And that's a wrap for
this morning. You can check out our Instagram,
YouTube, and TikTok for some captivating aerial
videos with local news and the weather reports.
Have an amazing day, my good friends. We'll see
you tomorrow with another episode of Sunny Mornings
in Boston.