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B.C. ending state of emergency as wildfire risk winds down

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

VICTORIA — The British Columbia government says it is ending the state of emergency imposed last month when thousands of residents were chased out of their homes by wildfires. The government says in a statement the wildfire risk is diminishing in much of the province as temperatures cool, allowing most residents to return home. Bowinn Ma, B.C.’s minister of emergency management, says while the provincial state of emergency that lifts at the end of Thursday is no longer required, the wildfire season isn’t over and many communities still have local states of emergency. The provincial state of emergency was declared Aug. 18 as winds fanned fires into infernos in several areas, including the Kelowna and Shuswap regions, where most of the 400 homes and other structures destroyed this season were located. Ma says conditions in northern B.C. continue to be very challenging, with 125 active fires in the Prince George Fire Centre. This year has been a record for area burned at 23...

MedWatch Digest: Physically demanding jobs can risk mental acuity — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

For Thursday, Sept. 14, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Physically demanding jobs associated with risk for cognitive impairmentWhile exercise helps both the mind and body, Columbia University doctors say consistently working in jobs with high physical demands is associated with a risk for cognitive impairment.  They examined more than 7,000 men and women diagnosed with dementia and cognitive impairment at age 70. Then researchers probed their careers from 33 to 65.Researchers found a higher incidence of mind-robbing illnesses in people who were pushed physically every day at work. Experts say the results of their study point to the need to develop strategies to protect people in physically demanding careers. Early detection of breast cancer through breast milk Breast cancer is found in breast milk.  Breast milk from breast cancer patients diagnosed during pregnancy or postpartum contains circulating tumor DNA. The young wo...

CTA touts record ridership, highest since pandemic

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

CHICAGO — Ridership on the Chicago Transit Authority continues to rebound. According to a release, the agency has given more than one million rides on multiple occasions this summer. The CTA conducted more than one million rides on four weekdays — Aug. 29, Aug. 30, Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 — with last Thursday recording the agency's highest daily ridership level since before the COVID-19 pandemic.  SEE ALSO: CTA issues request for proposals in Red Line extension projectThe CTA also neared one million rides on Aug. 31 (more than 964,000) and Sept. 1 (more than 992,000) first. “I want to thank the students, parents, commuters, and leisure riders for helping CTA hit this important ridership milestone. As we continue to recover from the pandemic, these milestones demonstrate the necessity, sustainability and affordability of CTA service for our communities,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “While special events have helped boost ridership on the weekends, hitting and exceeding the ...

Farm bill deadline approaches as lawmakers list priorities

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- The deadline for this year's farm bill is fast approaching and Democrats and Republicans in the House say certain aspects are top priorities that need to be included."The farm bill is critically important, not only to food but to national security," said Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-N.Y.).Molinaro wants to ensure more milk production and help local farmers access foreign markets."Make sure that we can move product from upstate New York to families and markets across the globe, ensuring dairy has the support they deserve, opening job opportunities up in agriculture," Molinaro said.Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) said crop insurance and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits need improvement."Making SNAP benefits applicable to fresh local produce and including dairy and cheese, which I would support," Auchincloss said."There's a number of issues here," said Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Penn.).Meuser has his own list of goals."Rural broadband, very important," Meuser...

52,000 water bead toys recalled after infant death

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

(WHTM) -- The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Buffalo Games have recalled about 52,000 Chuckle & Roar Ultimate Water Beads Activity Kits sold at Target following the death of an infant.If ingested, a water bead expands and can pose ingestion, choking and intestinal obstruction hazards inside a child’s body. This can cause severe discomfort, vomiting, dehydration and potentially death for a child, according to the commission.That was the case for a 10-month-old baby who had swallowed the water beads in July 2023, prompting this recall. The toy company also received a report a 9-month-old who was seriously injured in November 2022 after swallowing the beads. The baby had an intestinal obstruction and needed surgery to remove them.The CPSC says consumers should immediately stop using the recalled water bead kits and take them away from children. People can also contact Buffalo Games for a full refund and to receive instructions on how to return the product...

14-year-old boy loses hands, feet after 'flu-like symptoms'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJW) — The parents of a 14-year-old boy are warning others about a rare illness that started out seeming like the simple flu and turned into a nightmare. After going to the doctor twice earlier this summer for prolonged influenza, Mathias Uribe landed in the emergency room on June 30 after his "heart stopped," his parents said in a GoFundMe campaign.He was reportedly diagnosed with pneumonia and Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), which is defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "as an infection with Streptococcus pyogenes accompanied by sudden onset of shock, organ failure, and frequently death." Rare brain-eating amoeba was cause of Arkansas child’s death Uribe was eventually admitted to the ICU at Monroe Carrel Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville. He was taken off life support by mid July, but by early August, his doctors and parents had to make the tough decision to amputate his hands and feet due to poor...

Paxton defense rests its case in impeachment trial; closing arguments Friday morning

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Defense attorneys representing suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton rested their case in the historic impeachment trial Thursday evening, after calling a string of their first witnesses, current employees of the AG's office, who testified they found no wrongdoing in Paxton's actions.Closing arguments are expected to start at 9 a.m. Friday.Senators, who are acting as jurors, could vote as early as Friday on whether to convict Paxton — which would result in removal from office if he is convicted on at least one of the 16 articles they are considering.Paxton faces 16 articles of impeachment in the Senate that accuse him of abusing his powers as attorney general to help his friend and donor Nate Paul, an Austin real estate investor who faced federal investigation and is central to many of the allegations against Paxton. The suspended attorney general pleaded not guilty to all impeachment articles on day one of the trial and has not been prese...

Gritty Wyoming comes to Austin as Longhorns try to avoid 'Bama hangover

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — If the No. 4 Texas Longhorns want to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2012, they'll need to get by a veteran Wyoming team that already has a victory over a Big 12 opponent this season.It's easy for people to think this is some sort of trap game, meaning the highly-touted Longhorns, coming off their historic win over Alabama, could potentially take the Cowboys lightly and stumble at home. In the first game of the season for the Cowboys on Sept. 2, they welcomed the Texas Tech Red Raiders to Laramie and beat them 35-33 in double overtime after trailing 17-0 early on. MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"This is a classic week where you could have a sore back because everyone's been patting you on the back going to class, on social media, or wherever else," Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I think it's important for them to understand t...

Main Street in Stillwater reopens Friday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

A drone image captured Wednesday, June 7, 2023, showing the progress on the Chestnut Street Plaza in downtown Stillwater. (Courtesy of city of Stillwater)Construction on a two-block length of Main Street, also known as Minnesota 95, in Stillwater is expected to wrap up Friday morning, Sept. 15, a press release from the Minnesota Department of Transportation said.Sidewalks and crossings between Myrtle Street and Olive Street were upgraded to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards, new water mains and storm utilities were installed, and a new signal system at the intersection with Chestnut Street was created.A new plaza for pedestrians and bikers in Stillwater’s downtown was also completed.A collaborative project between the city and MnDOT, the plaza has new sidewalks, lighting, planting and landscaping. The plaza is now open to the public.Related ArticlesLocal News | Funerals set for Oakdale woman and Woodbury man killed in northern Minnesota crash Local...

St. Paul seeking 18-month contract extension for garbage collection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:37:53 GMT

With St. Paul’s garbage service set to expire on Sept. 30, the city is seeking an 18-month extension to continue working with its current haulers.Five private haulers — Waste Management, Aspen Waste Systems, Gene’s Disposal, Highland Sanitation and Republic Services — have serviced 65,800 one-to-four unit residential properties in St. Paul for nearly five years as part of its collection system.Although the system has received some backlash from residents, the extension leaves current services, collection day or designated hauler unchanged. However, while customers with small carts and every-other-week service would see no price increases next year, other customers would see increases.Residents with small carts and weekly service would see a $0.22 increase per month under the extension, while people with medium and large carts will have larger price increases. According to the city, the change is largely due to increased tipping fees and local energy centers.If approved, the ex...