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Invoice of the NC Senate OK for the distribution of the federal COVID support cash

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Invoice of the NC Senate OK for the distribution of the federal COVID support cash

February 02, 2021

RED SPRINGS – Commissioners here were given a “snapshot” of the city’s sewer system on Tuesday and were told of a worst-case scenario that could cost tens of millions of dollars to correct.

The city’s sewage capital management plan, which serves as a map of the sewer system and its condition, was unveiled at a livestream meeting of the Board of Commissioners by representatives from WithersRavenel, a Cary-based civil and environmental engineering company.

“The AMP is a snapshot, but it’s a living document,” said JD Freeman, project manager.

The data entered into the county’s geographic information system will serve as a plan for the city to repair pipes in the future and develop a better funding strategy for repairs. The development of the appraisal management plan is paid for with a $ 150,000 grant for inventory and appraisal of assets from NC Environmental Quality Department.

WithersRavenel staff used smoke to find holes in the sewer lines and inspected the city’s 34-mile sanitary sewer system, which is 1 mile long and serves five sanitary sewer lift stations and their 681 sanitary manholes, he said.

The results showed that in the worst case scenario, the city would have to spend $ 40 million on pipe repairs over 50 years if the system is not efficiently maintained or necessary repairs are not performed in high risk areas.

City administrator David Ashburn said the city hopes to sliplining a percentage of these pipes, which will allow workers to place a liner in existing pipes that will harden and repair leaks. Ashburn estimated that using sliplining would bring repair costs down to $ 24 million.

The city routinely cleans the pipes, even more than prescribed in the schedule, to better maintain the system, the city administrator said.

Ashburn said the city hopes to have bids for repair work on some of the pipes mentioned in the plan by March 1. If an acceptable offer is received, work can begin in spring or summer. The project would be paid for using a Community Development Block Grant of approximately US $ 2 million.

On other matters, Ashburn urged residents to sign up for call notifications from the city.

“We are working very hard to improve communication with the citizens of this city,” he said.

The newsletter that the city sends out with monthly electricity bills is not enough, said the city administrator. Residents can be better informed of events and receive emergency notifications by calling City Hall and logging in to be notified by phone.

The commissioners also heard from Red Springs Police Chief Brent Adkins about the Police Department’s Let’s Chat Awhile program. The program helps officials conduct daily wellness checks on elderly or disabled residents living alone. The attendee would call the department to check in daily, and if the department can’t reach them, an officer will visit the house.

“We care about you. We want you to use this service,” said Adkins.

People can sign up by visiting the police and filling out a form. The program requires at least two alternate people to be listed for the police to seek help in contacting participants. If a participant leaves town or is in the hospital or on vacation, the department asks them to be made aware so that they don’t worry, Adkins said.

“Again, it’s a friendship,” said Adkins.

The program is similar to a wellness check-out program that he was involved in while serving in the St. Paul’s Police Department, Adkins said. This program was well received and had between 30 and 40 participants.

“As you can see, we have many positive things ahead of us in our city,” said Mayor Ed Henderson.

Projects like the water treatment plant replacement, the sewage project and the addition of businesses like the Robeson Health Care Clinic will all help improve the quality of life for city dwellers, he said.

Also on Tuesday, the commissioners encouraged residents to help clean up the roadside rubbish.

“We have the bags for you,” said Inspector Duron Burney.

The residents can pick up supplies from the town hall. The collected garbage will be picked up by the city’s public works department.

Commissioner Elma Patterson recently filled four garbage bags from Quick and Harrington Streets and other areas. She also praised a group from Jones Chapel for collecting trash on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

In closing comments, commissioners encouraged residents to continue wearing masks and get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Commissioner Murray McKeithan encouraged residents “to take additional measures to be extra careful” to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.

Mayor Henderson said he received his COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday.

“I encourage you to have yours too,” he said.

Why is ‘herd immunity’ abruptly factor?

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Why is ‘herd immunity’ abruptly factor?

a crowdPhoto: Aleksandr Ozerov (Shutterstock)

In the early days of the pandemic there was the idea that we should try to get “herd immunity” as soon as possible. It was a terrible, terrible, not a good, very bad idea because of it meant giving up and letting millions of people die. And yet, now that we have a vaccine, herd immunity is suddenly a good thing. What gives?

In short, herd immunity from vaccination protects people from disease. Herd immunity to natural infections is what you get after not protecting everyone from disease.

Illustration for article titled Why Is Herd Immunity Suddenly A Good Thing?

“Herd immunity” describes how the community protects people

Let’s talk about what herd immunity actually means. It is also known as “community immunity”.

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When most of the people in a community are immune to a contagious disease, the few who are not immune are less at risk of developing the disease. For example, if almost everyone in your town is immune to measles – either from the vaccine or from surviving as a child – babies who are not old enough to get the MMR vaccine are protected simply because not many People nearby are able to transmit measles to them.

Herd immunity is not a perfect protection, but it does mean that there aren’t many people who are prone to the disease and that these people are unlikely to be in contact with one another. It would be very difficult for an outbreak to begin in such a community.

Illustration for article titled Why Is Herd Immunity Suddenly A Good Thing?

Herd immunity is a goal of vaccination

Vaccinating a person protects that person. Vaccinating most people protects vulnerable people across the community.

The definition of “most” depends on how contagious the disease is. For measles you would need it at least 92% of people be immune. For COVID-19, it is often estimated that 70% of people must be immune to achieve herd immunity.

Herd immunity has historically kept disease at bay. Smallpox vaccination campaigns resulted in smallpox being eradicated from the earth – the only human disease that was ever completely eradicated. Measles is still there Outbreaks in the US are disappearing quickly Thanks to our good vaccination coverage and aggressive contact tracing (although the pandemic has affected this work).

Illustration for article titled Why Is Herd Immunity Suddenly A Good Thing?

Infection-related herd immunity is not the same

In theory, it is possible to achieve herd immunity through natural infection. But that’s not a smart plan for dealing with deadly diseases for two reasons:

First, if there is no vaccine, we will only achieve herd immunity after many, many people become sick. If you had a community where 70% of the people are COVID-19 survivors, the community would have buried many of its residents, and many of the remaining people would have long-term complications. (Notwithstanding the collateral damage of an overstretched health system and the economic consequences of an uncontrolled pandemic that would have caused even more death and misery.) Even with the remaining 30% protected, it came at dire costs.

Second, if the only way to gain immunity is to infect yourself, then there is no way to give newcomers – like babies – that immunity without exposing them to all the dangers of disease. Herd immunity without vaccination is temporary.

The reason vaccines are so valuable is because they give us immunity without having to face the threat of disease. Herd immunity to natural infections is the result of tragedy, while vaccines allow us to achieve herd immunity safely.

Jennifer Lopez & Alex Rodrigez shake off Madison LeCroy rumors

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Jennifer Lopez & Alex Rodrigez shake off Madison LeCroy rumors

Jennifer Lopez is not about to give up her “El Anillo” because of a few whispers about a certain Bravolebrity.

In case you missed it, Southern Charm Star Madison LeCroy was recently accused by a castmate of cheating on then-boyfriend Austen Kroll with a former MLB star. The baseball player’s identity was a mystery until rumors began to circulate that J.Los was engaged Alex Rodriguez, was on the receiving end of Madison’s FaceTime calls and Instagram DMs.

Character colleague on February 3rd Danni Baird addressed the hot topic during an appearance on the Reality Life With Kate Casey podcast.

“When you heard it was possibly A-Rod,” host Kate Casey Danni asked: “Were you like ‘What? What happened to our show? Where are we in the world? What’s going on?'”

The reality TV star replied, “I had heard months earlier [Madison] had told me they were facetiming or something and I just assumed. I never asked about that or anything again. So I just forgot. It just didn’t fit with being a major league baseball player. “

American Airways is resending trip notifications to staff with low journey requests

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American Airways is resending trip notifications to staff with low journey requests

An airport worker points at the tarmac as an American Airlines Airbus 220 aircraft is seen at the gate of Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia on December 18, 2020.

Daniel Slim | AFP | Getty Images

American Airlines announced on Wednesday that it would be sending vacation notices to around 13,000 employees this week as a second round of state payroll assistance expires and demand for travel remains in tatters.

Rival United Airlines sent similar vacation alerts to 14,000 employees last Friday.

The last $ 15 billion congress, approved for U.S. airlines late last year, urged airlines to call back employees on leave in the fall and keep payroll up through March 31. This was the second round of Covid aid to the industry. Congress gave airlines $ 25 billion last March to keep them from downsizing in the fall.

After the U.S. airline’s CEOs reported new record losses of $ 34 billion last month, they warned they wouldn’t expect a sharp recovery in air travel anytime soon.

Employers are legally obliged to give staff 60 days in advance of any possible layoffs or temporary vacation days. The communications do not guarantee that recipients will ultimately lose their jobs.

American CEO Doug Parker told staff last week that the airline is still overstaffed for current demand forecasts and that there may be vacations.

“I don’t want anyone to be surprised if the company issues WARN notices in the near future,” Parker said last week at a town hall with staff whose audio was checked by CNBC. He said the company will work with unions to reduce vacation through voluntary action.

The airline unions are now seeking an additional $ 15 billion in industry payroll support to keep jobs through September 30th.

Do You Know Your COVID Mortgage Forbearance Rights?

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Do You Know Your COVID Mortgage Forbearance Rights?

Illustration for article titled Know Your COVID Mortgage Forbearance RightsPhoto: pogonici (Shutterstock)

ON new CFPB report Says Some Mortgage Lenders Failed To Follow Mortgage Forbearance Act During COVID. Lenders have misled borrowers as to their rights, imposed unauthorized penalties, and wrongly evicted tenants. Here’s what you need to know and how to report an unscrupulous lender.

Know your rights as a borrower

The CARES law provides for a complete freeze on payments until March 31, 2021 if you claim financial difficulties due to COVID. Federal grant borrowers who choose to participate indulgence may suspend payments, including interest or penalties, for up to 360 days from the date of the application (this does not apply to personal loans, but many banks have voluntarily offered 180 days of payment relief).

In addition, the law– –in connection with a recent order from President Biden– –stipulates that foreclosure and foreclosure measures must be interrupted by March 31, 2021. The CARES Act also contains provisions for withholding negative credit reports when relief has been granted.

How to Forbearance

This part is simple: all you have to do is ask your lender (it may be a good idea to have a written record of this, or at least take notes if you call for indulgence). Anecdotes suggest that lenders usually don’t ask for hardship evidence either.

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Do not let your lender mislead you

Now that you know your rights, make sure your lender isn’t breaking the rules. Per Bank rateExamples for this are:

  • Pull out forbearance processing. In some cases servicers have been slow to process forbearance requests, according to the CFPB. This resulted in some borrowers missing payments and affecting their creditworthiness.
  • Forbearance of borrowers without their knowledge. In other cases, they thought they were simply reading forbearance information on a service provider’s website or discussing financial issues with agents over the phone. These borrowers did not understand that they had requested an indulgence or that the servicer would process them.
  • Incorrect collection instructions. The CARES Act promised borrowers that they would not have to worry about mortgage payments for six months to a year. However, some servicers sent notes leniently letting borrowers know that their accounts were overdue and that they might face late fees and dings for their credit scores. These notices “may cause confusion for consumers registered in forbearance of the CARES Act,” the CFPB said.
  • Misleading statements about flat-rate payments. CARES does not require borrowers to pay a large amount for missed payments after the forbearance ends. Instead, the borrower resumes the monthly payments. However, according to CFPB, some servicers told borrowers they would have to make lump sum payments to cover any missed monthly payments when the forbearance ends.

How to File a Complaint

First, contact your lender or credit service provider directly as they will be the quickest way to resolve your concern (especially if it is a relatively minor error that could simply be a mistake, such as an indulgence request that is taking too long to process lasts).

If this doesn’t work, or if you think your lender has intentionally evaded the law set out in the CARES Act, contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) by filing a complaint Here. The CFPB will work on your behalf to find a solution (most companies will respond to complaints within 15 days).

Israel Giving Palestinians 5,000 Covid Vaccine Doses Is Inadequate: HRW

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Israel Giving Palestinians 5,000 Covid Vaccine Doses Is Inadequate: HRW

Palestinian students wearing face masks stand in line to enter their school after personal training, interrupted as part of the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) measures, resumed for elementary and secondary school students in the Gaza Strip today on January 13, 2021.

Ali Jadallah | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images

Israel’s decision to give 5,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine to frontline Palestinian health workers has been criticized by Palestinians and right-wing groups as inadequate and inconsistent with the country’s commitments.

“Israel’s delivery of 5,000 doses of vaccine to Palestinian health workers pales in comparison to the nearly 5 million doses it has already provided to Israeli citizens,” Omar Shakir, Israeli and Palestinian director of Human Rights Watch, told CNBC after the announcement. Just over 5 million people live in the Palestinian Territories.

The office of Israel Defense Minister Benny Gantz announced that the broadcast was approved on Sunday. This was the first such step since the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine began shipping through the 9 million country in mid-December. Israel has since run the world’s fastest vaccination campaign in terms of shots per person, and says more than a quarter of its population has received at least the first dose of vaccine since December 19.

In this aerial photo, taken in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Monday January 4, 2020, people are queuing outside a Covid-19 mass vaccination center in Rabin Sqaure. Israel plans to vaccinate 70% to 80% of its population by April or May. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein has said.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Palestinian Authority did not comment on the news. Until the last announcement, however, no vaccines had reached the Palestinians, except for those who lived in East Jerusalem or worked in the Palestinian hospitals there.

“Israel retains overall control”

For rights organizations and Palestinian interest groups, this was a breach of duty by Israel, which the United Nations has classified as an occupying state over the Palestinian territories.

“Israel retains overall control over land, over the population register, over the movement of people and goods and over the airspace. Under international law, this type of control is linked to obligations towards an occupied population,” said Shakir.

“Israel’s obligations under international law after more than 50 years of occupation, the end of which is not in sight, go far beyond the supply of some vaccines if they have the capacity,” he added, “but rather offer the Palestinians in the occupied territory equal access to the vaccine on par with what it offers its own citizens. “

Hussein Ibish, a Palestinian expert on the Middle East and a senior scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, described Israel’s move as “a reluctant recognition of its obvious responsibility for the Palestinians under its rule.”

However, he believes this also demonstrates “the brutal ethnic discrimination against Israel in the West Bank, where all Israeli setters are quickly vaccinated while the Palestinians living next to them are largely alone”.

A health care worker administers a Covid-19 vaccine at Clalit Health Services in the ultra-Orthodox Israeli city of Bnei Brak on January 6, 2021.

JACK GUEZ | AFP | Getty Images

The Israeli health and foreign ministries did not respond to CNBC’s requests for comments in response to these specific statements, but previously stressed that the Israeli coordinator of government activities in the territories had been working with the Palestinian Authority to provide ventilators, test kits and other medical devices to transfer “Donated by the international community.”

There was also joint training of some Israeli-Palestinian medical teams, COGAT told CNBC.

However, Israeli officials argue that ultimate responsibility for health care and vaccine acquisition rests with the Palestinian Authority, which the Palestinians have elected to be the government of the West Bank.

Human Rights Watch’s Shakir denies this. “The fact that Palestinians also bear responsibility does not negate the Israeli role. Ultimately, as occupying powers, they are responsible for the supply and well-being of the occupied population,” he said.

“The hospitals are full of patients”

Nouar Qutob, assistant professor and Covid-19 data researcher at Arab American University in the city of Ramallah on the West Bank, is concerned about the situation.

“Things are worrying. We have cases, cases we don’t know about, the hospitals are already full of patients. And the British variant is now in Palestine,” Qutob told CNBC, referring to a new strain of the first identified coronavirus in the UK and found to be 70% more communicable.

As a resident of East Jerusalem, Qutob has an Israeli residence and was able to receive the Pfizer vaccine. She commutes to work from home in Ramallah, which has a private Covid-19 testing center, but said the rate of people tested has decreased.

“People avoid testing because they don’t want to give up work,” she said.

A worker cleans the classes in preparation for school before teaching in person in specific classes at Taybe Schools in Khan Yunis, Gaza, October 4, 2020 on October 10, 2020.

Mustafa Hassona | Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The new variant of the virus that now exists in the Palestinian Territories is “really worrying because it means more cases – and we still don’t have the vaccine in the West Bank,” she said. Qutob spoke to CNBC ahead of the Israeli announcement on Sunday, but since the delivery of the 5,000 doses of vaccine is only for frontline Palestinian health workers, it won’t do much to change the infection situation for the general population.

The latest data from the World Health Organization shows 178,900 confirmed coronavirus cases among Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, with more than 2,000 deaths.

The Palestinians expect the first major vaccine shipments in March

The Palestinian Authority expects to receive its first shipments of independently sourced vaccines in March.

Yasser Bouzia, an official with the Palestinian Ministry of Health, told CNBC that the PA is currently in a bilateral agreement with AstraZeneca for 2 million doses of its UK-developed vaccine. An additional 2 million vaccine doses are expected to be received through COVAX, a global program established to ensure equitable access to vaccines around the world.

“That will cover almost the majority of the population. And after that we will look to other sources to get nearly 1 million more people vaccinated because we want to vaccinate nearly 5.2 million people,” said Bouzia.

Until then, the infections will still spread despite government restrictions.

“People don’t seem to want to abide by the closings and regulations, they just suffer from bad economic situations,” said Qutob. “I don’t see people following the rules and the virus is spreading, and it’s worrying.”

See Kaley Cuoco and different nominees make their first gold globes

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See Kaley Cuoco and different nominees make their first gold globes

Maybe there is a reason to party in Hollywood after all.

While the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the production of films and television shows in recent months, the 2021 Golden Globes are determined to move on. In fact, this year’s nominations were announced on Wednesday February 3rd with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker and Taraji P. Henson.

As expected, Schitt’s Creek and The Crown received a lot of love from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with a variety of nominations. On the film side, Mank and The Trial of the Chicago Seven led the film nominations, receiving six and five nominations, respectively.

And to the delightful surprise of others, Sarah Paulson‘s role in Ratched as well Kate HudsonThe performance in Sing was recognized by the voters.

The 2021 Golden Globes will air on NBC on February 28th and will likely look different than Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Return as a host. But film and TV fans can count on many festivals, big prizes and unforgettable moments.

9 Tremendous Bowl Sunday Snack Recipes for One or Extra Individuals

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9 Tremendous Bowl Sunday Snack Recipes for One or Extra Individuals

Illustration for article titled 9 Super Bowl Snacks to Eat Everything YourselfPhoto: AA Newton

I hope you’ve got the concept of a “Super Bowl party” out of your brain because there is no scenario in which it is acceptable for an American to have one for that particular Super Bowl. (Didn’t we pay enough attention to Tom Brady either? I mean, honestly – where does it end?)

You can still watch the game and – if you do – grab some snacks. Actually, you should have a whole festival: a Super Bowl festival for one (or two, or however many in your household). The following recipes could certainly expand “for a lot”, but it’s nice that they don’t have to be. (Making one pizza is fun; making seven pizzas is a job.)

Illustration for article titled 9 Super Bowl Snacks to Eat Everything Yourself

You may be owed MORE incentive cash this tax season – particularly in case you had misplaced earnings in a Covid pandemic

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You may be owed MORE incentive cash this tax season – particularly in case you had misplaced earnings in a Covid pandemic

The TAX season is just around the corner – but you may be eligible for extra stimulus money when you submit your 2020 return due to the Covid crisis.

Anyone eligible for a second stimulus payment due to coronavirus and who thinks the email is delayed can use an online tool to track progress.

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For the 2020 tax refund, the IRS will make amends to those who have not received any stimulus paymentsPhoto credit: Getty Images – Getty

You will need to claim what is known as a recovery discount credit, and the stimulus money will be added to any discount due.

Individuals must submit Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR to receive the refund credit, even though they would not normally file a tax return.

Taxes and your direct payments were linked in the first two rounds of stimulus payments.

Filing a tax return is critical to the third stimulus review currently being discussed in-house – even if you typically don’t file a tax return for the tax year.

But for the 2020 tax refund, the IRS will make amends for those who did not receive stimulus payments.

Anyone who has not received a second stimulus check shortly after the January 15 deadline can claim the money as Recovery Rebate Credit.

The agency has integrated Rebate Recovery Credit directly into the tax return process.

And if you’ve received money that you weren’t entitled to based on a previous tax return (i.e. $ 500 for a loved one who no longer depends on your filing for 2020), there is no need to take any action to return it.

More than 100 million second-round stimulus checks are said to have reached eligible Americans.

You may be owed MORE incentive cash this tax season – particularly in case you had misplaced earnings in a Covid pandemic

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However, if you didn’t get it or were underpaid in the first round last spring, you can still claim the money through your 2020 tax return.

Last March’s CARES bill allowed payments of up to $ 1,200 for adults and $ 500 for children under the age of 17.

The $ 900 billion coronavirus relief package approved in December approved additional payments of up to $ 600 per adult and $ 600 for each qualified child under the age of 17.

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Air fry your spring onions for the proper garnish

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Air fry your spring onions for the proper garnish

Illustration for article titled Air Fry Your Scallions for the perfect garnishPhoto: Claire Lower

Spring onions are an absolute bargain. You are aromatic, versatile, and cheap. Usually you can grab a bunch for less than a dollar, they’ll last a long time, and you can more shallots grow from the scraps. I like them raw (try one dipped in salt next to a rich, creamy cheese) but right now it’s all about the air-fried spring onion.

Illustration for article titled Air Fry Your Scallions for the perfect garnish

An air-fried, turbo-roasted onion not only makes my home smell warm and allium-like, but it also adds deep flavor to what you throw it at. It’s my favorite thing for a half-used green onion, which is mostly light green and white. You know the little shabby guys that look like this

Illustration for article titled Air Fry Your Scallions for the perfect garnishPhoto: Claire Lower

I rub a little cold bacon fat the entire length of each green onion (you can toss them in olive oil, too), then toss them in my air fryer basket for 5-7 minutes depending on how thick they are. (I usually start checking after two minutes and shaking them a little.) You can also make whole spring onions, but you need to cut them in half for two reasons: depending on the size of your air fryer, they may not fit if held whole but I mostly separate the deeper green from the paler green because the deeper green part tans a lot faster than the rest of the spring onion. If your air fryer is set to 400 ° C, the green part will wither in about two minutes. The color will intensify and you will see some brown spots. After four minutes, the green portions start to crisp up strongly. After six minutes, the light green and white parts soften and begin to char.

Illustration for article titled Air Fry Your Scallions for the perfect garnishPhoto: Claire Lower

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I like to chop the crispy green pieces and mix them into dips or mash them with some cream cheese to make toasted scallion cream cheese. The lighter ends are good on their own as a side or side dish, but they’re pretty excellent in sandwiches, wraps, and tacos.

Illustration for article titled Air Fry Your Scallions for the perfect garnish

If you want to fry a whole bunch the oven makes more sense, but it will take a lot longer (at least 30 minutes longer if you include preheating). Having an air-fried spring onion accessible means you don’t have to commit to an entire sheet pan. You can fry a pair or several or a single spring onion in less than 10 minutes and repeat if necessary. I have an average of three toasted green onions a day, one for each meal.

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