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Pilgrims yearn to visit isolated peninsula where Catholic saints cared for Hawaii’s leprosy patients

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

KALAUPAPA, Hawaii (AP) — Kalaupapa beckoned to Kyong Son Toyofuku. She had long prayed to visit the hard-to-reach Hawaiian peninsula, trapped by its deep-green, sheer sea cliffs and rugged, black rock shores that glisten under the Pacific’s pristine waters. As a daily Mass-going Catholic devoted to Saint Damien of Molokai, she wanted to walk where he walked, pray where he prayed, and witness for herself the place — both stunning and haunting — where the late priest spent a pivotal part of his life caring for banished people sick with leprosy. The pilgrimage to Kalaupapa, defined by its natural isolation in northern Molokai, is logistically challenging and restricted under normal circumstances. It is even more so today because of lingering COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that canceled all pilgrimages and tours of the national historical park to protect the peninsula’s eight remaining former patients. Park and state health department officials are considering when to resume organized p...

Barricaded person firing at officers in Ohsweken, residents asked to shelter: OPP

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

Residents are being asked to shelter in place near Ohsweken, Ont. as officers responded to a barricaded person who is allegedly firing at officers.Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Six Nations Police responded to a weapons call at a home in the area of 6th Line and Chiefswood Road on Six Nations of the Grand River around 10:30 p.m. Thursday.In an update posted to X on Friday morning, OPP say a barricaded male at the house is discharging their firearm at officers.No injuries have been reported.UPDATE – Barricaded person discharging firearm at police officers on Sixth Line. Residents requested to continue to shelter in place. The motoring public is asked to avoid the area. No injuries were reported. Updates to follow. @SixNationsGR ^es https://t.co/EHcfdgZgT9— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) December 1, 2023Residents in the nearby area are being asked to continue to shelter in place. Police are also asking motorists to avoid the area.“We have an active shooter firing a...

The Taliban’s new ambassador arrives in China as Afghanistan’s rulers court foreign investment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban government’s new ambassador to China arrived in Beijing on Friday — the first time Afghanistan’s rulers have officially sent an ambassador to another country since returning to power more than two years ago.No country recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, but some, including China, have embassies in Kabul. Many other diplomatic missions were shuttered and their staff evacuated as Taliban fighters bore down on Afghanistan’s capital in August 2021. China is of particular importance to the Taliban, who are courting foreign investment and regional alliances amid their continued isolation on the international stage because of their restrictions on Afghan women and girls.The new ambassador, Bilal Karimi, who has no diplomatic experience and is in his late 20s or early 30s, was welcomed in Beijing by China’s special envoy for Afghan affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, according to a Taliban statement. Karimi presented...

Charges pending in shooting of 9-month-old girl in Washington Park: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

CHICAGO — A person is in custody and charges are pending after a 9-month-old girl was shot in the head in Washington Park, according to Chicago police.The shooting happened around 10:55 p.m. Tuesday in the 0-100 block of East Garfield. The baby was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition by her mother.Police said they did not receive a report of the incident until 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Baby shot in head, critical after Washington Park shooting No further information has been released at this time.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Dean's Reviews: 'Maestro,' 'Renaissance,' and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

Check out Dean's reviews on the new films 'Maestro' and 'Renaissance.'Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

VOTE: Help us choose the best KXAN viewer photo of November 2023

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows the latest forecast from the KXAN First Warning Weather team.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Here at KXAN, we get hundreds of photos sent to us each month by viewers just like you.We want to showcase some of the best pictures we receive, so we narrowed them down to our 10 favorites for the month.Help us choose the best viewer photo of November 2023. Look through the 10 pictures below, then vote for your favorite. The winning photo will move on to represent November in the best viewer photos of the year once 2023 is said and done.If you’d like to submit a photo for December, email it to [email protected]. Be on the lookout as KXAN may contact you to send a permission form so we can use your photo on air and online. All submissions must be taken in December 2023.Here are the options for November, in no particular order.Take to the SkiesAustin, Nov. 26. Courtesy Nils Andresen.Sunset over Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on Nov. 26, 2023. (...

Winter holiday fire safety tips, statistics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The holiday season often includes festive light displays and decorations, which can sometimes present fire risks.The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) said U.S. fire departments respond to nearly 800 fires a year caused by holiday lights and decorations.“These fires caused an annual average of 4 civilian fire deaths, 33 civilian fire injuries and $14 million in direct property damage,” NFPA said.According to the association, nearly one in five Christmas tree fires began with lamps or bulbs, and 8% were started by candles.“Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months,” NFPA said.NFPA provided the following winter holiday safety tips:Winter_Holiday_SafetyDownload

Staying safe from bears during forage season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – As the fall season winds down to winter, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said Thursday people in western, southwestern and northeastern portions of Texas could find themselves in the unwelcome company of black bears. TPWD said the native Texas animals are guided by an excellent sense of smell and their behavior is driven largely by appetite. Fall provides their last opportunity to feast before they start denning up for the winter, TPWD said.The department warned the bears' natural instincts to forage become a problem when they find easy meals from humans, such as garbage, pet food or corn from a deer feeder. If a bear continually finds food around humans, TPWD said it can become habituated, losing its fear of people and creating a potentially dangerous situation.TPWD encouraged people outdoors to:stay alert and togetherkeep dogs leasheddouble bag food and trash while hiking or campingcamp safelyknow what to do if you see a bearTPWD said black bears are protec...

Schenectady County opens 30-day review period to enroll property in agricultural district

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Beginning Friday, residents in Schenectady County will have until Saturday, December 30 to enroll and be accepted as part of the county's agriculture district. This annual review period looks to encourage the use of farmland for agricultural production and maintain the agricultural industry in the county. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Those interested in applying can do so online. According to the county, after the 30-day review period, applications will be reviewed by the County’s Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The County Legislature will hold a public meeting and there will be a final vote taken by the Legislature to include additional parcels in the Agricultural District.“Agricultural Districts were created to give counties a mechanism to assist landowners in conserving open spaces and enhancing the viability of farming within their borders,” said Anthony Jasenski, Chair of the Sc...

Colorado’s long COVID clinics can’t meet demand, so health leaders look to expand treatment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:48:10 GMT

Colorado doesn’t have enough capacity to treat everyone suffering with long COVID at the three specialized clinics in the state, so public health leaders are trying to figure out ways for more people to get the care they need closer to home.Three multidisciplinary clinics in the state see long COVID patients, at National Jewish Health in Denver, UCHealth in Aurora and Family Health West in Fruita. Together, they’ve treated about 10,000 people since mid-2020 — a significant number, but nowhere near everyone in need, said Dr. Sarah Jolley, medical director of the UCHealth Post-COVID Clinic.Researchers estimated in November 2022 that between 228,000 and 651,000 Coloradans had symptoms that lingered after a COVID-19 infection, what has become known as long COVID.Some people have relatively mild symptoms, such as loss of smell, while others are unable to work or care for themselves because of extreme fatigue or “brain fog.” Some report their conditions impro...