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Innies, outies and omphalophobia: 7 navel-gazing questions about belly buttons answered

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

(The Conversation) - Everyone has one, but you might not know much about it. Here biologist Sarah Leupen, who teaches human and comparative animal physiology, explains the ins and outs of belly buttons.1. Why do I even have a belly button?Your belly button, or navel – clinically, your umbilicus – is the permanent scar left from where your umbilical cord connected your circulatory system, when you were a fetus, to the placenta. Fetuses don’t breathe, eat or eliminate waste, so the placenta provides an exchange site for the mother to deliver oxygen and nutrients from her bloodstream to the fetus, as well as collecting its wastes to eliminate from her body.After the baby is born, the physician or other attendant cuts the cord and clamps off the stub, which then dries and falls off after about a week, leaving the point of connection – your belly button – remaining.If the cord is not cut, as has been the practice in some times and places and as is becoming trendy again in other...

Biden slams Texas abortion pill ruling as 'political, ideological' attack

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

(The Hill) – President Biden slammed the ruling by a federal judge in Texas rejecting the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of an abortion pill as a “political, ideological” attack. Biden said in a statement on Friday that the court has substituted its judgment for that of the FDA, which he called the “expert agency” on approving drugs. He said mifepristone, the pill, has been available for more than 22 years and safely and effectively used by millions of women in the United States and throughout the world. “If this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the FDA, that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks,” he said. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled that the FDA improperly rushed the approval process for the pill, violating federal standards and allowing an unsafe drug regimen to be on the market.  Federal judge blocks abortion pill approval The pill was app...

6 injured in South Carolina beach shooting; video captures moment shots ring out

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD) – Frightened beachgoers fled the scene of a shooting in South Carolina after gunshots rang out on a crowded Isle of Palms beach, video obtained by Nexstar's WCBD shows.Six people were injured in Friday evening's shooting following a series of altercations during local senior skip-day festivities, Isle of Palms officials confirmed during a news conference."We know there was a fight that broke out, then a second fight that broke out. While officers were dealing with those two incidents, that's when the shooting started," Isle of Palms Police Chief Kevin Cornett said.The Isle of Palms Police Department (IOPPD) said that most of the victims were teens, and at least one victim appeared to be in her thirties to mid-forties. Several people were detained on weapons charges as of Friday evening, though IOPPD had not yet confirmed if any of those individuals were responsible for the shooting.Chief Cornett said the department was still...

What grocery stores are open for Easter this year?

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - With Easter now upon us, many families will be getting together for egg hunts, basket swaps, and likely, a large meal. Forgot a basket-stuffer, a side dish, or, even worse, the holiday ham? Before you run to the store, be aware – some have closed their doors for Easter Sunday. Here's a look at which grocery stores are – and aren't – open for Easter:Albertsons: Albertsons locations will be open for Easter, according to their weekly ad.ALDI: Easter Sunday is one of the four holidays ALDI closes its stores for, according to the company's website.BJ's Wholesale: Hours may vary by location but most BJ's clubs will be open. You can check your store hours here.Costco: No last-minute purchases here - Costco locations are closed on Easter. CVS: Many locations will remain open for Easter, a spokesperson tells Nexstar, but some pharmacies may be closed or working with reduced hours. You can call ahead to check your store's hours or check online here.Kroger: According to the chain, ...

Gophers add transfer kicker David Kemp from Memphis

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

The Gophers football program added a commitment from Memphis transfer kicker David Kemp on Saturday.The redshirt sophomore has three years of eligibility remaining. The Wichita, Kansas native made five of seven field goals and was 7 of 9 on extra points during the 2021 season. He redshirted in 2022.“I’m extremely excited to announce my commitment to the University of Minnesota!!” Kemp tweeted. “The culture and atmosphere @GopherFootball is special! I’m excited for this opportunity and ready to get to workKemp’s long in college was 40 yards, but showed range of 54 yards in high schools in Kansas and Florida.Matthew Trickett, the Gophers top kicker for the last two seasons, had graduated. Dragan Kesich has been the No. 1 kicker in spring practices, with Jacob Lewis the backup.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | Gophers football: How will the U’s remade offense look in 2023? College Sports | Top in-state prep prospect Daniel Freitag headed to California fo...

Walz touts proposed $12B for child care in Moorhead visit

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

Touting what is considered the largest investment in public education in Minnesota’s history, Gov. Tim Walz arranged a roundtable discussion at the Moorhead Public Library on Friday to hear about needs surrounding child care.With Walz’s goal of making Minnesota the best state in the country for kids, he has put forward in his 2023 budget a $12 billion package that would lower the cost of child care for middle-class families, expand tax cuts, reduce child poverty and create a new state agency to focus on families and children.Walz, Minnesota Department of Revenue Commissioner Paul Marquart, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson and Sen. Rob Kupec, DFL-Moorhead, were joined by organizations involved in child care and concerned parents, who said the workforce shortage and affordability were two of the main obstacles.The investment would come as a series of four packages within the One Minnesota Budget and also would provide universal school meals and better access to mental health resources, W...

Avalanche goalie Pavel Francouz returns from injury, will start vs. Anaheim Ducks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES — It took longer than the Avalanche wanted, but backup goalie Pavel Francouz is back in time for the NHL playoffs.Related ArticlesColorado Avalanche | Avalanche journal: Avs have climbed all the way back from sixth place in division, but two recent wins could loom over them — in a bad way Colorado Avalanche | Avalanche navigating Cale Makar’s health again with Norris Trophy winner day-to-day as NHL playoffs near Colorado Avalanche | These Avalanche players scored 40 or more goals in a season Colorado Avalanche | Mikko Rantanen’s hat trick completes Avalanche’s first 50-goal season in 20 years, as Avs beat Sharks Colorado Avalanche | Bo Byram is unhindered in Avalanche’s system and still just getting started: “I’ve just been trying to shoot the puck more.” Francouz will get the start in net Sunday (6:30 p.m. MT) in Anaheim, returning from a lower...

Boyle Heights residents demand safer streets after boy loses leg in hit-and-run crash

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

After a hit-and-run crash in Boyle Heights left a 13-year-old boy severely injured with the loss of his right leg, residents are fed up and are demanding action for safer streets.According to data from the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, the traffic fatality rate in Boyle Heights is 53 percent higher than the overall city-wide rate and has the highest number of traffic fatalities than any other L.A. neighborhood over the past five years.Community members are speaking out and want something done about the recurring traffic collisions that have injured or killed hundreds of people in recent years.“I’m here to say enough is enough. The primary factor for all of these collisions, the single biggest factor, is speeding,” said Damian Kevitt, founder of Streets Are Safe For Everyone (SAFE), a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce "traffic fatalities to zero."In 2013, Kevitt was run over by a driver who never stopped. The hit-and-run crash caused Kevitt to lose his leg.Accord...

A look at previous Masters affected by inclement weather

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A look at Masters tournaments that were affected by inclement weather over the last four decades:2019 — Round 2 was delayed a half-hour. Split tees were used in the final round, which began at 7:30 a.m. Sunday in anticipation of foul weather later in the day. The leaders teed off at 9:20 a.m. Tiger Woods won his fifth green jacket.2006 — A four-hour delay on Saturday forced Round 3 to be completed Sunday morning. Phil Mickelson went on to capture his second Masters title.2005 — A five-hour delay on Thursday led to first-round play being suspended by darkness with 68 players still on the course. They returned to complete the opening round on Friday morning. More weather delays pushed the completion of Round 3 into Saturday. The third round was suspended by darkness and had to be completed Sunday morning. Woods won for the title for the fourth time, beating Chris DiMarco in a playoff. 2000 — A two-hour delay on Saturday led to the third round being finished Sunday ...

Shesterkin shutout helps Rangers beat Blue Jackets 4-0

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 14:00:56 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Igor Shesterkin stopped all 20 shots he faced for his third shutout of the season and 11th of his career, and the New York Rangers beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 on Saturday night.Jimmy Vesey, Chris Kreider, Niko Mikkola and Vincent Trocheck scored, and Mika Zibanejad added two assists for the Rangers, who pulled two points behind New Jersey for second place in the Metropolitan Division and home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Devils played at Boston on Saturday night. Michael Hutchinson stopped 24 shots while appearing in his 150th NHL game for Columbus, which has lost six of its last seven games and remained tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for the fewest points in the NHL with 56. Despite being outshot 12-9, the first period belonged to the Rangers who had a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes, courtesy of Vesey at 10:08 and Kreider 1:41 later.After a scoreless second period in which the Rangers outshot Columbus 11-2, Mikkola put New York up ...