Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa's heart bleeds for Maszlee Malik, who resigned as education minister with effect today.

According to him, the Bersatu MP became a victim despite not being the worst performer in the cabinet.

The veteran politician also claimed that the next education minister is someone with powerful connections.

Poor Maszlee... He became a victim despite not being the worst. But his place is to be taken by someone known as the crony to the 'most influential person' in the Pakatan Harapan government.

This person is known to play safe and put his interests first in politics. He was a former strongman of DSN (former premier Najib Abdul Razak), he tweeted this morning.

However, the Umno leader did not mention names.

Referring to the petition urging for Maszlee to be retained, Annuar, in a separate tweet, reiterated that the former was a victim of political manoeuvring.

At least Maszlee had principles in his struggle. His successor....? he added.

Puad Zarkashi: This is transition of power game

Similarly, Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi also claimed that Maszlee was made a scapegoat to bring a particular individual into the cabinet.

This is the transition of power game plan, he said.

Surely, (Maszlee's replacement) is not (PKR president) Anwar Ibrahim, he was quoted as saying by Umno Online.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he would determine Maszlee's replacement and an announcement would be made soon.

Among the names making the rounds is former Umno minister Mustapa Mohamed, who joined Bersatu last September.

Read more:
'Crony of most influential person in Harapan' to replace Maszlee, says Annuar - Malaysiakini

For someone who spent most of his political career cast as agitator-in-chief, Pierre Poilievre is getting a lot more ink than he deserves among those being talked about in Conservative party circles as a potential successor to Andrew Scheer.

Poilievre is not what the party needs right now another Harper-era sycophant from the partys Reform base whos dodgy on same-sex marriage and abortion.

But there was CTV weighing in last week with some holiday filler on how Poilievre is the most likely to succeed Scheer. That story was based on the opinion of one party insider, which should rate as a thin gruel on which to base a conclusion.

To be sure, Poilievre has been one of Parliaments most polarizing figures. Hes earned the nickname Skippy for his exuberance in defending his partys political interests, no matter what. To say its been comical at times would be an understatement. Poilievre is the kinda guy that gets blocked on Twitter. (Full disclosure). Funny thing is, however, is that Poilievre best represents the geist of the current party perhaps better than any of the other names being kicked around to replace Scheer.

And therein lies the dilemma for the Cons. After more than a decade of tacking right under Harper and arguably further right under Scheer the Conservative movement has hit a ceiling. Its appeal to populist sentiment has resulted in the partys base of power reverting to a facsimile of its former Reform wing.

Where to from here?

For some party insiders, the results of the recent federal election suggest a new leader with socially progressive views is enough to unseat Trudeau. For others, nothing short of a wholesale change in direction is needed for the party to win in Ontario and Quebec. So far, the unofficial race to replace Scheer is shaping up to be a bit of a dog-and-ponyshow.

Suffering from saviour complex

Rona Ambroses name has come up a lot in public opinion polls among Conservatives when theyre asked whod make the best replacement for Scheer. She has practically been anointed party saviour.

There is good reason to like Ambrose. She served ably as interim leader after Harper's departure. She looks good on paper. Shes also the choice of Ontario Conservatives. She scores well with seniors and affluent voters, which are among the party's core constituents.

But if its a break from the past that the party is looking for, then her record as a Harper loyalist poses a problem. It includes a number of questionable votes, including a motion to essentially reopen the abortion debate in 2012.

And who could forget her performance as environment minister, which was nothing short of a disaster? Besides making a mess of Canadas Kyoto obligations, Ambrose is also remembered as part of the climate-change-denying cabal in the Harper government that muzzled scientists. She also served as minister for western economic diversification under Harper, and we're all witnessing the fallout from that failed experimentasenergy sector workerslosing their jobs have nowhere to turn.

And if were being brutally honest, the fact Ambrose is a woman will hurt more than help her chances in a party whose views are mostly dominated these days by white guys angry at"globalists" and elites.

The old guard versus the new

Peter MacKay has been plotting to take over the party ever since he left politics to get married and raise a family. In fact, some would say MacKay has been plotting to reclaim the position he believes is rightfully his since he made that deal with the devil (Stephen Harper) in 2003and the Progressive Conservative party led by MacKay was absorbed by the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada.

Harper went on to serve as PM. And MacKay would occupy a number of important portfolios in successive Conservative governments. But the relationship with Harper was one borne out of necessity rather than a mutual belief that the future of conservatism is populist.

The scion of the MacKay family has got the money to mount a challenge. And he has reportedly assembled a team that includes former PM Brian Mulroney. He seems to have learned a few tricks from Brian when it comes to orchestrating a coup. But MacKay is long past his best-before date. And if its excitement the Cons are looking for, then MacKays not it.

On the outside looking inward

Some pundits argue that what the Cons need is an outsider to break from the partys Harper-era past, but dont bet on it. Ekos Research polled Conservative Party members on their choices and the results were more of the same. Jason Kenney (who says hes not interested), Michelle Rempel (good luck with that) and, yes, Stephen Harper, were among those on the list. This is clearly not a party looking for radical change. The only outsider to speak of was Jordan Peterson, who scores well among the partys young male base.

But more recently, Jean Charest has been mentioned as a possibility. The former PC leader who left federal politics to become a Liberal premier of Quebec, has been exploring a return to the political ring. Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says its a done deal, and that Charests friends in Toronto are laying the groundwork.

Charest would be quite a leap. Given Western tensions over provincial cost-sharing agreements, there would seem to be little appetite in the current incarnation of the party for a leader from Quebec. And then theres the cloud of corruption hanging over Charest (related to construction contracts) that led to his departure from politics. He could always explain that away to say it was to save Quebec jobs, right?

Now you see em

One minute John Baird was being touted as a dark horse to watch, the next he was gone among the names of serious contenders.

The former Harper cabinet minister was enlisted by the partyto investigate how the Cons made a mess of the election. Then Scheer unexpectedly resigned and it seemed to many Conservatives that the choice to replace him was staring them right in the face in Baird. As Harpers designated attack dog in the House (and before that under Ontario premier Mike Harris), Baird certainly has the chops to go toe-to-toe with Trudeau.

But the reasons for Bairds departure from the party back in 2015 continue to be the subject of much speculation. Was it over the Harper governments opposition to recognition of same-sex marriage? Was he jumping ship because the writing was on the wall for the Cons under Harper in the lead-up to the 2015 election? Or did it have to do with his notorious lifestyle choices? There have been more revelations about that last bit lately.

Baird has the bona fides. The smart money would be on him, if his chances havent already been upended by rumblings about his past.

@nowtoronto

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The race to replace Andrew Scheer is turning into a dog-and-pony show - NOW Magazine

Happy 2020! This year, instead of hindsight being 2020, wouldnt it be nice if foresight were 2020?

Unless youve been hiding under a rock, you know the natural world is taking a huge hit from climate change, habitat destruction and pollution, resulting in mass extinction.

While the challenges sometimes seem insurmountable, there are ways all of us can help leave a better world for future generations.

Create wildlife habitat. Who doesnt like flowers? Native flowering plants help pollinators like bees and butterflies. Birds and other wildlife need bushes, brush piles and trees to raise young and avoid predators.

So do yourself a favor, too, and start reducing the size of your unproductive grass lawn. Stop using pesticides, herbicides and other poisons, which kill all life, not just pests.

Help preserve habitat. Eating less meat is the best way to keep forests and open spaces from being destroyed. Livestock, especially cattle, take up a lot of space. Rainforests are being burned to make way for food for cattle.

Drink only fair trade, organic coffee and tea for the same reasons, and avoid palm oil, which is responsible for the destruction of rainforests and the annihilation of many species, including orangutans.

Given a choice of a new house and an existing house, buy an existing house. Start a business in a vacant building. We need to protect open spaces and create wildlife corridors.

If you have a large tract of land, consider placing it in a conservation easement.

Use less plastic. Plastic, from microscopic pieces to large chunks, has now been found in virtually every waterway on the planet. Whales, other marine life and birds are starving from the amount of plastic they are ingesting, or dying from getting tangled in discarded fishing lines and nets.

Dont release balloons into the air. They often end up in the seas, where turtles mistake them for food.

Dont litter. All litter is problematic, as noted above, and not just because its unsightly. Litter along the roadways attracts animals to the sugar in soda bottles or the carbs in pizza crusts. Likewise, rodents are attracted to the roadside, which in turn attract owls and hawks. All are at risk of being struck by vehicles.

Driving slower, especially at night, can reduce roadkill. And if you see one deer, expect more close behind.

Keep cats indoors. Habitat destruction and cats are the biggest killers of birds, which have declined nearly 30% since 1970.

Turn off lights and noise. Light and noise pollution disrupt natural patterns for animals and people, too.

Vote for wildlife and a sustainable future. This is a big election year. We currently have a president who denies climate change and has rolled back 58 environmental regulations, including those that protect clean air and water, as well as endangered species and migratory birds. Another 37 rollbacks are pending.

Voting for candidates at all levels of government who care about a sustainable world is the most important thing you can do this year.

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For Love of Nature: Resolving to help wildlife in 2020 - Lynchburg News and Advance

Home warranties is an industry that constantly finds itself in controversy. A seemingly good idea has been corrupted by many, and the good intentions of citizens looking to be financially responsible has backfired.

There was never really a time where home warranties had a good reputation. It is arguably getting better, but the industry is frequently let down by unscrupulous companies. Many have proven to be fly-by-night companies that are set up, take in as many premiums as they can and then close down unexpectedly, leaving customers hanging. In 2018, this happened with Secure Home Warranty, Allied Home Warranty, American Home Guard and Endurance.

Whist they loosely functioned for the time of operating, theyve reported to have handed out a lot of unexpected fees, delayed repairs and have been extremely poor in communication. Many turn to the BBB rating the Better Business Bureau which often provide low scores to such companies to give customers an indication of corrupt businesses.

The issue is that even the BBB, a non-profit started over 100 years ago which is considered to be a reliable, impartial customer protection organisation cannot be trusted itself. There have been many accusations that the BBB ask for a membership fee in an attempt to accept bribes for higher ratings. Many renowned businesses have been bizarrely poorly rated, and it has come out that they do not pay a membership fee. So now with even non-profit bodies not being trusted, home warranties can run amok. Again, Yelp has been accused of the same pay-to-play system, in which you cannot trust the very core of their value proposition (reviews).

The only thing left to gain some insight is customer reviews from their own experiences. Whilst some websites such as Trustpilot have been accused of taking down negative reviews and such, there are still many places where you can find the general reception for a company. Even using places such as Reddit and other social media can be useful.

The worrying thing about home warranties is that even the best companies still often have significant negative feedback. Theres no doubt that there are some legit, useful companies out there, but its becoming a real pain to find them.

Another example from what was previously touched on (scams and shutting up shop) is Secure Home Warranty. The Philadelphia-based company has been reported to have scammed over 160 customers through false advertising, charging credit cards unbeknownst to the customer, and wrongfully denying claims. This kind of behavior is exactly what is on the front of peoples minds when thinking about the industry.

There is a lawsuit aimed at Secure Home Warranty, in which they went out of business in 2017. We dont see traditional banks being set up and scamming the customer quite as often, which highlights a key problem in the home warranty industry: its young. Due to it not being around or established for very long, regulations are lacking and are varying widely across different states.

Attorney Josh Shapiro claimed [in a statement regarding Secure Home Warranty] These scammers left consumers out to dry by refusing to provide the services they promised, namely, 24/7 access to a claim center that would assist in the repair or replacement of systems and appliances.

Choice Home Warranty, a giant in the industry, is also being sued. The Arizona Attorney General Office has filed a consumer lawsuit surrounding fraud against the company. This is mostly on the grounds of alleged false promises made to customers, such as wrongful claim denials.

Going back to state-specific regulation, it may be that companies pray on the states that have loose regulations. In this instance, Choice home warranty review says they are unavailable in California, and so this may be a conscious legal choice instead of a business one.

Ultimately, home warranties have been good for some customers and bad for others. Almost any company, no matter how established, has negative reviews. This places an unfair but nevertheless real emphasis on the customers service-picking skills. It may be that if you live in a certain state that commonly sees home warranty scams, you may want to avoid them at all costs. Even the big companies will be enticed into foul practices if they see legislative liberties.

If you do decide to get a home warranty, it can be a successful experience. Youll need to find one with the least negative reviews, good customer service, little history of breaking promises and so on. Even then, there will unfortunately be an element of luck in the decision. Whilst on paper these companies are designed to put our minds at rest and our toolbox back in the garage, you have to be prepared for the worst.

Therefore, it would be wise to only take on a home warranty plan if it is financially sensible for you. If you can barely afford the premiums, then this might be a gamble in and of itself. Being denied a claim when youre $400 down on premiums is a surefire way to end up in an even worse situation. In this scenario, its better to have cheap, second-hand appliances that you fix yourself or replace.

Likewise, if youre extremely vulnerable and rely on the home warranties too much, this can also be stressful. For the elderly, the last thing they want to do or are prepared for is to fight for coverage claims. This isnt the peace of mind that you were promised. It can often be, but once you get to a stage of being very dependent, it may be worth being independent of them. At least a self-employed repairman isnt going to argue with you about the causes of the breakdown. Theyll just take your money, fix it and leave.

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Claritas only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Are Home Warranties Becoming A Nuisance? Hometown Station - KHTS Radio

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. A yellow-tinted surgical mask is wrapped around the face of Lucy Vaughn as she sits on the front stoop of her Winston-Salem home. A jacket and scarf keep her warm on what is a typical cold December day, I like sitting out here, its warmer out here than inside, said Vaughn.

Vaughn is a cancer survivor and is now battling the disease again. Currently undergoing chemotherapy, its important she stays as healthy as she can. Its also why Vaughn reached out to our Call for Action Team a few weeks ago.

Her home has become a bit of an icebox after the heater broke about a week before Christmas. A crew came out and fixed the compressor but a few days later the system failed again, When I woke up this morning it was 63 degrees (in home) I cant afford to get sick, said Vaughn.

RELATED: 'Twas a great year for our Call For Action team helping get back $100K

A heating and air conditioning technician determined Vaughn needed the entire heater replaced. The job is not cheap, but Vaughn has a home warranty that should cover the cost. The problem, however, is getting the job approved so the heater can be replaced, I may have to go stay in a hotel if we cant get this resolved, said Vaughn.

Once Vaughn called us, we contacted the home warranty company along with Aspire Heating, Air Conditioning, and Electrical. The owner at Aspire worked with us to help get the job approved. Once the warranty company signed off Aspire had a crew out the next day to replace the unit, Im calling it my Christmas miracle, said Vaughn.

A technician spent about eight hours installing the new unit and making sure it worked perfectly. One of the owners even stopped by with the crew was working to make sure Vaughn was doing okay, They assured me everything would be fine, and I would not pay any money, said Vaughn.

The unit was up and running by the end of the day and Vaughn was able to stay in the home and not pay for a hotel, All I can say is News 2 rocks, said Vaughn. I also want to thank the fine folks at Aspire.

Vaughn enjoys sitting outside on her porch but prefers to go back inside to get warm, not the other way around.

OTHER 2 WANTS TO KNOW STORIES

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RELATED: News 2 helps get car warranty company to pay for repairs

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'I can't afford to get sick': Cancer patient gets new home heater after turning to 2 Wants To Know - WFMYNews2.com

There are no silver bullets for getting rich quick in life, but if you own a home, there are a number of effective ways to build more wealth over time.

Compound interest is a force of nature, and a few decisions that collectively help you generate an extra 2% or more in wealth per year can have long-lasting effects on your investment outcomes.

As we move into 2020, you can build more wealth by finding ways to either cut costs associated with your home or generate additional revenue through your home. Here are five suggestions on how to do both:

1. Refinance your mortgage.

The Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates three times in the past year, and all signs point to rates remaining at similar levels for the foreseeable future.

If you have a mortgage, look into refinancing. Yes, there will likely be closing costs, but if you find you can lower your mortgage by 0.5% or more, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars per month, or tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of your mortgage.

2. Write off everything you can on your home.

If youre a home owner whos been doing taxes by yourself, Id strongly encourage you to find professional help to make sure youre writing off everything you can possibly write off. A seasoned accountant and financial advisor can help ensure youre taking all the appropriate deductions, and will likely make recommendations that will help you save more on taxes in the years to come.

3. Invest in preventative maintenance.

This may sound counter-intuitive, but if you spend money doing preventative maintenance on your house instead of waiting for things to break, youll end up saving money in the long run.

Its hard to put a number on this, but for one example, consider your hot water heater. Theyre value-engineered to last about 10 years, which is often when the warranty runs out. Some of us let them run until they die. When that happens, you can end up with several inches of water on your basement floor and staining or damaging walls, rugs and anything else you have in the area. If you live in a condo building and your water tank is on the third floor right next to your bathroom, running it until it breaks down could result in you spending many thousands of dollars on repairs.

So, its a good idea to know when your water tank was installed and replace it at the 10-year mark or just before. Sure, you could roll the dice and it might last 12 or even 15 years. But what would the damage cost if it fails, and how much will this interrupt your life when you wake up one day and theres a small flood in your basement?

4. Airbnb a room when youre in town, and your entire home when youre traveling.

Even in cities like Boston where Airbnb laws are quite restrictive, you can still make money by renting out a room in your primary residence a few nights a month, or even renting out your entire home while youre on vacation.

Although managing guests requires some work, the benefits can be significant. For instance, if you can rent out your place for $200 per night for the three weeks per year youre traveling to see family or going on vacation, you stand to make a profit of around $3,000.

5. When its time to move, convert your home into a rental property.

Your home could very well be your best investment. When youre ready to move, think twice before selling it. The better long-term wealth-building option for you could very well be turning your home into a rental property.

By following these five steps, you can leverage your home and ownership position to generate even more wealth into 2020 and beyond.

Go here to see the original:
Five Easy Ways Home Owners Can Build More Wealth In The Next Decade - Forbes

Published 9:15am EST, Friday, January 3, 2020

LAS VEGAS (AP) A Nevada man who has lived in an abandoned mine shaft for seven years has been given 30 days to vacate his renovated, underground home.

Boulder City police delivered the eviction notice to Richard Roman Dec. 19, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Thursday.

City officials determined Roman, 68, was violating four city codes and two state laws and raising numerous health and safety concerns.

The mine is near U.S. Highway 93 in an undeveloped area of the city 26 miles (42 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas.

Roman installed two swinging doors at the entrance of the mine shaft extending horizontally about 20 feet (6 meters) into a rocky ridge. The shaft leads to a cavern living area of about 160 square feet (15 square meters).

Roman has a customized mattress that fits into an elevated corner and an fan salvaged from a scrapped vehicle that maintains the temperature at 85 degrees (29 degrees Celsius) in the summer.

There is also a $2,000 solar panel that powers several LED lights and batteries, while the floor of the cavern is covered with a discarded carpet from a casino.

Members of poor and homeless advocacy group HELP of Southern Nevada accompanied Boulder City Police Sgt. Craig Tomao and Officer Guy Leidkie to meet with Roman.

HELP took Roman to look at several apartments where he qualifies for housing assistance, City Manager Al Noyola said in an email to the mayor and city council.

Mr. Roman understood the health and safety concerns, and confirmed that he will be leaving the site within 30 days," Noyola wrote, adding that HELP and the police showed expediency and empathy in addressing Roman's housing situation.

Roman said in a text that he was looking for housing in Las Vegas and was ready to move forward and make this a good year.

Read more:
Nevada man ordered to move out of renovated mine shaft home - Thehour.com

Public art has been part of Charlestons rich history and culture for decades. Monumental sculptures in the city date back to the 1920s. Today we are experiencing a surge of public art activity that is transforming our city.

In 2017, the Office of Public Art was established to educate, conserve and create new works in public spaces. To date, the office has since been instrumental in the installation of more than 65 new pieces of public art.

In 2018, investment in the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center included an opportunity to establish a Public Art program. The City of Charlestons Office of Public Art acquired over 25 new pieces, including several large-scale sculptures that define the new space.

In 2019 this momentum continued, as 25 artists were commissioned to create 32 new works of public art. These pieces were diverse and gave new understanding of the impact that public art can make. While many murals were completed, parade pieces, art centered events, major conservation efforts and education made 2019 a truly unforgettable year for public art.

These are a few of the projects that highlight public art in Charleston in 2019:

Partners: Office of Public Art, Briar Hills Garden Club and Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center

Deep Roots Long Reach is a kinetic sculpture that was designed specifically for Charleston taking inspiration from the trees. Trees simultaneously reach into the earth and the sky, artist Harry McDaniel said. If they could speak, some could tell us of the early days of Charleston.

Artists: Rob Cleland, Jeff Pierson, Amanda Jane Miller, Staci Leech, Debra Rayhill, Kayleigh Phillips, Mallory Burka and Blake Wheeler

Eight artists designed site-specific pieces meant to integrate with their environment. These pieces become part of the Charlestons landscape as part of the Citys Team Up to Clean Up event.

Designers: Jeff Pierson and Jack OHearn

Partners: Office of Public Art, Charleston Main Streets, Sherwin Williams and the Red Carpet Lounge

Over 30 artists and volunteers came together to create a community mural on Charlestons East End. The piece featured colorful circles and showcased the East Ends vibrancy and community pride.

The Brawley Walkway Pop Up Mural Project

Artists: Luke Atkinson and Carlos Culbertson

Partners: Office of Public Art and CURA

Along Brawley Walkway, windows were transformed by Carlos Culberston and Luke Atkinson, who created two dynamic new murals.

Partners: Office of Public Art, South Hills Neighborhood Association and City National Bank

A sprawling mural located on the side of City National Bank depicts everyday life with wild colorful designs.

Project Title: The Dreamer

Partners: Office of Public Art; Dewayne Duncan, Bradley Harris, Paula Flaherty; Charleston Main Streets

The two red doorway awnings on Gardners Dry Cleaners create a red bench. As a working man eating his lunch daydreams, birds and pattern work become more and more colorful, wrapping around a second facade on the building.

Glow in the Park/Zoeys Butterfly

Partners: Office of Public Art and FestivALL

During the Makeshop Appalachia program, through the Charleston Boys and Girls Club and MESH design, Zoey, 12, created a design concept for a butterfly sculpture that glowed. The Office of Public Art worked with Zoey to make the sculpture a reality. Glow in the Park brought members of the community to Magic Island for a night of face painting, family art activities and the unveiling of Zoeys sculpture.

The Wonder Conservation Project

Partners: Office of Public Art, WTSQ and John and Tighe Bullock

Since its creation in 2016, the Wonder Mural has become an icon for public art and a symbol of the revitalization of the Elk City. Due to a water leak, the mural was damaged and the artist recreated the lower third of the mural adding new characters to his already colorful piece.

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Eye of the Beholder: Year in review of Charleston's public art in 2019 - Charleston Gazette-Mail

Oxford, Miss. | $750,000A newly built house with three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms, on a 0.31-acre lot

Adapted from Allison Ramsey Architects cottage plans, this home was constructed in 2019 by its owner, who is also the listing agent. It is 10 minutes on foot from the University of Mississippi campus and Courthouse Square, the historic heart of Oxford and the location of what is said to be the oldest department store in the South (Neilsons, founded in 1839). Stone Park, with its new activity center, and the Oxford Depot Trail, a biking and pedestrian thoroughfare that was once a stretch of the Mississippi Central Railroad, are two blocks away.

Size: 2,529 square feet

Price per square foot: $297

Indoors: The front door takes you into room with shiplap-clad walls and bleached engineered hardwood floors. On the left is the living area, which centers on a gas fireplace. On the right is the kitchen, which has an island with seating, quartz countertops and a Smeg oven and hood. Floating shelves and glass-fronted upper cabinets lend a clean feeling to this room and the adjacent dining area. Beyond it are a pantry, study and laundry room.

Straight ahead of the front door, beyond a staircase with metal cable railing, is a master suite. The bedroom is decorated with metallic cork wallpaper; the bathroom includes a natural-stone-trough double sink and a wet room: a glassed-in area with a soaking tub, rain shower head and hand-held sprayer. The walk-in closet is fitted with storage from the Container Store.

The second floor has two carpeted guest rooms, each with a walk-in closet with custom organization and an en suite bathroom. There is also a media room with a sliding barn door and climate-controlled storage, and a bonus room that could be put to any number of uses.

Outdoor space: The house has a covered front porch and a small rear deck that steps down to a brick patio and the yard. Garden beds surround a lawn and could be planted with evergreens for privacy in place of a fence. Parking is in a rear carport.

Taxes: $4,000 (estimated)

Contact: Betsy Patton, Matthews Real Estate, 662-801-4502; iproperty.com.my

This home is just a few blocks uphill from Country Club Plaza, a historic shopping center with Spanish-style buildings, whose holiday-season lights are visible from the propertys roof deck. The nine-acre Westwood Park is a five-minute walk west, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a mile and a half east. The owners recently freshened all the interior paint and installed new carpet.

Size: 3,632 square feet

Price per square foot: $203

Indoors: The three-story house puts social and private spaces on the main level, minimizing the number of stairs occupants need to climb. The open-plan layout centers on a living-and-dining room with a floor-to-ceiling window, a white-painted brick wood-burning fireplace and a beamed ceiling. A partial wall of bookshelves blocks the view of the staircase; beyond it is an eat-in kitchen lined in floating wood lower cabinets with cultured-stone countertops and laminate upper cabinets. Penny-round tile covers the backsplashes. The breakfast area opens to a backyard deck built around an oak tree. The floors throughout these rooms are stained hardwood.

The three carpeted bedrooms on this level include a master with direct access to the backyard deck. The master bathroom has double sinks in a concrete-and-wood vanity. There is also a laundry room.

Upstairs is an office with red linoleum flooring and access to the roof deck. On the walkout lower level, the owners removed one of two garages and created a bedroom, a full bathroom and a rec room. This section has a private exterior entrance and could be rented.

Outdoor space: The spacious roof deck has wood fencing around the perimeter and built-in benches. Parking is in the remaining two-car garage at the homes base.

Taxes: $2,333

Contact: David Costello, RE/MAX Premier Realty, 816-591-3186; remax.com

This one-story stucco-clad house with a clay-tile roof is in West Sedona, less than a mile below stores, services and entertainment along Route 89A. The property of more than three-quarters of an acre is planted with mature trees and has red-rock views. The house is unusual in the area, as it is not governed by a homeowners association; a casita could be added and rented out for any length of time.

Size: 2,601 square feet

Price per square foot: $279

Indoors: A living room with a vaulted ceiling and travertine floor includes a wall of glass, providing access to a rear patio. In a corner is a kiva fireplace with a granite-topped travertine hearth. A dining area flows off the opposite side of this room, with French doors opening to another patio. It connects to an upgraded kitchen with oak cabinets, granite countertops, a mobile island and a windowed breakfast bay. Among the appliances are a double wall oven and a Viking cooktop.

The master suite includes a walk-in closet and a private terrace with a trellis woven with wisteria vines. The master bathroom has double sinks, a jetted soaking tub and a glass-walled shower. The two guest bedrooms are on the opposite side of the home and share a hall bathroom. There is also a laundry room between the attached two-car garage and the kitchen.

Outdoor space: The four patios, one on each side of the house, open the living space to the surrounding nature and the wildlife that wanders by: Elk, deer, javelina and more than 30 bird species have been observed by the owners.

Taxes: $4,100

Contact: Denise Thomas Garlan, Russ Lyon Sothebys International Realty, 928-399-9616; russlyon.com

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$750,000 Homes in Mississippi, Missouri and Arizona - The New York Times

Editor's note:A few weeks ago, the Tribune provided readers with what we believe are the most important Crawford County-area stories of 2019. We then asked our readers to rank the stories from No. 1 (most important) to No. 15 (least important).

Today, we present the top story of the year. Nos. 15-11 ran Friday, followed by 10-7 Saturday, 6-4 Sunday and 3-2 Monday.

The top story of 2019 is an epic whopper of a tale, but this time its not the size of the fish thats likely to increase with each retelling but the length of the dry spell in between fishing expeditions on a beloved body of Crawford County water.

Year after year after year, the news was a chorus no one loved: Tamarack, Tamarack, youre always a year away.

No more: 2020 is the year for Tamarack Lake, the year it ceases to be the lake that got away and becomes the lake that returned.

Its not quite fully there yet, but the water level is steadily, if slowly, inching its way up.

It's nice seeing the new dams in place and the water returning, West Mead Township Secretary-Treasurer Jill Dunlap said in mid-December. There is a lot more water in itthan at this time last year and we are being told that by spring, it should be at normal levels.

Officials at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, which maintains the lake, confirmed the anticipated completion date.

The lake will continue to refill over winter and we expect to fully reopen in spring 2020, Communications Director Mike Parker said. Its definitely one of our success stories in the region because of all the local involvement and everyone being engaged.

And water isnt the only thing returning to Tamarack.

Fish are returning as well. PFBC began restocking the lake over the summer: 11,000 golden shiners and 28,000 fathead minnows were released to provide forage for larger fish and 5,500 largemouth bass fingerlings, each about 6 inches long, were released in the lake this year, according to Parker.

In all likelihood, some unwanted carp also remain among the forage fish and bass that were added, according to Parker, since small pools of water remained in the lake even years after it was drained. Adding the largemouth bass fingerlings is an attempt to jump-start the predator-prey relationship and eliminate some carp still existing in there, Parker said.

The forage fish are expected to reproduce rapidly next year, when more panfish will be added. Over the next three years, sunfish, crappies and eventually muskies will be released. During that time, and likely for another year or two after, fishing will remain strictly catch and release as the fish populations are established.

Empty since 2012, Tamarack Lake began its resurgence in 2018 with the construction of two new dams at either end of the reservoir. The comeback continued throughout 2019 as construction wrapped up and refilling began. In June, a ceremonial valve-turning took place with state and local officials, neighbors and the media gathering to mark the symbolic end of $12.2 million rehabilitation project.

Students from Cochranton Junior-Senior Highdepart after completing work in preparation for aquatic vegetation exclosures that they helped to install this fall at Tamarack Lake.

Later in the summer, dry hydrants for use by area fire departments were installed and by August the first batch of bass fingerlings had been released.

In early fall, work on the docks and parking areas was finished. Enhancements continued in the fall with students from Cochranton Junior-Senior High and members of the Friends of Tamarack Lake, the grassroots organization that helped spur the dam rehabilitation project, joining personnel from PFBC and Crawford County Conservation District.

The students built installed fishing line recycling stations at the Springs Road boat launch at the northern end and at one launch on the eastern side of the lake. The stations will be maintained by the Friends of Tamarack Lake, with more stations planned for next spring around the time the refilling process is complete.

In addition, the students participated in a project that is the first of its kind for PFBC and CCCD, according to Brian Pilarcik, watershed specialist with the conservation district.

At this point its a demonstration project to see if we can get it to work, Pilarcik said of the installation of exclosures in areas adjacent to three launch sites around the lake.

For now, the exclosures are on dry land, but by spring they should be underwater, with the pens installed by students keeping out animals like turtles and waterfowl that might otherwise eat the native aquatic vegetation that Pilarcik hopes will thrive inside the fenced areas.

Without such exclosures, growing such plants would be almost like putting out a salad bar for things that eat aquatic plants, he said.

With Tamarack empty for seven years, the bottom of the lake is a blank slate, according to Pilarcik, but as soon as its covered with water, boat traffic and waterfowl are likely to introduce invasive nonnative species like hydrilla, a vexatious weed that grows quickly and aggressively, forming a dense covering like a shag carpet that leaves no room for fish and no food for waterfowl, according to Pilarcik.

To prevent such an outcome, the Cochranton students will return to the exclosures in the spring to plant eelgrass, water willow, pickerel weed and arrow arum, species that are much more beneficial to fish and waterfowl as well as to the stability of the lakeshore banks, in hopes that the plants will take hold before invasive species have a chance to. Pilarcik said the plan is modeled on similar efforts in Texas, where it has worked well in already-full lakes.

The fact that Tamarack was being refilled it was like everything was lining up for it, Pilarcik said. Its a first for Fish and Boat. Were cautiously optimistic, but were pretty excited about trying to get this off the ground.

Mike Crowleycan be reached at 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.

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Tribune's Top Story of 2019: Tamarack Lake is on the rise - Meadville Tribune