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Tropical Storm Franklin nears the Dominican Republic and Haiti bringing torrential rain

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the Dominican Republic shut schools and government offices Tuesday as Tropical Storm Franklin took aim at the island of Hispaniola that it shares with Haiti and threatened to unleash landslides and heavy floods.The storm was expected to make landfall on the island Wednesday and drop up to 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rain in both countries, with up to 15 inches (38 centimeters) in isolated areas. Heavy rainfall is of great concern to Haiti, where severe erosion in many places can lead to catastrophic flooding.Dominican officials announced the closures of schools, government offices and businesses until Thursday. It also planned to close its main international airport and five others through Wednesday. In Haiti, where a day of heavy rain from a thunderstorm in June left more than 40 people dead, government officials urged caution but did not announce closures, though schools are already shuttered for summer holiday until mid-September.In t...

Asylum-seekers are being set up for rejection at a New Mexico detention facility, rights groups say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

SANTA FE, N.M (AP) — A coalition of human rights groups on Tuesday leveled new criticism at a privately operated migrant detention facility in New Mexico where they say fast-track asylum screenings routinely take place without legal counsel or adequate privacy during sensitive testimony.The rights groups say the broken screening system at the Torrance County Detention Facility means that migrants with strong, viable claims to asylum — who can’t go back to their country because of persecution or the threat of torture — are instead being screened out inappropriately for deportation as the Biden administration seeks to impose severe limitations on migrants hoping for asylum at the border. The 187-page complaint and findings were made by the American Civil Liberties Union and three advocacy groups that provide legal services to asylum-seekers. They’re urging the U.S. government to end its contract with the private company that runs the facility, which is overseen by Immigration an...

Kerry Washington, Martin Sheen shout for solidarity between Hollywood strikers and other workers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kerry Washington and Martin Sheen, a pair of fictional former politicos, turned Hollywood’s strikes into a rousing campaign rally Tuesday with speeches celebrating unity across the industry and with labor at large.“We are here because we know that unions matter,” said Washington, who played a political fixer on ABC’s “Scandal.” “Not only do we have solidarity within our union, we have solidarity between our unions, because we are workers.” The rally outside Disney Studios in Burbank, California, coming more than a month into a strike by Hollywood actors and more than three months into a strike by screenwriters, was meant to highlight their alliance with the industry’s other guilds and the nation’s other unions, including the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO. “The audacity of these studios to say they can’t afford to pay their workers after they make billions in profits is utterly ridiculous,” Los Angeles County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheel...

Libya’s stability at greater risk after deadly militia clashes, turmoil in Niger and Sudan, UN says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Libya’s stability is at greater risk following recent militia clashes and amid turmoil in neighboring Sudan and Niger that could spill over into the oil-rich North African nation, the country’s U.N. special envoy said Tuesday.Abdoulaye Bathily told the U.N. Security Council that political divisions in Libya “are fraught with risks of violence and disintegration for countries.” He urged the country’s rival factions to resolve all election-related issues so that long-delayed voting can take place.“It is fundamental to restore Libya’s stability, to preserve regional security,” he said. “Without an inclusive political agreement that paves the way for peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections across Libya, the situation will worsen and cause further suffering to the Libyan people.”Libya plunged into chaos after a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country split in the chaos that followed, with rival admin...

Man charged with attempted murder in shooting of Bolingbrook police officer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — A man has been charged with attempted first degree murder in connection to a police officer who was shot in Bolingbrook Sunday evening.According to the Bolingbrook Police Department, 24-year-old Victor Zarate was charged with two counts of attempted first degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm Tuesday.The charges come after Zarate was arrested without incident around 1 a.m. Monday morning after police said an individual shot a Bolingbrook PD officer twice, and barricaded himself inside a Bolingbrook residence. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Officer shot, suspect in custody after barricade situation in Bolingbrook Police said the officer who was wounded during the shooting was released from the hospital around 4 p.m. TuesdayZarate is being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility on a $5,000,000 bond.The investigation into this incident remains ongoing and is being conducted by the Illinois ...

‘It can be life-threatening’: Cook County physician offers warning about incoming heat

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

Intense heat is heading to the Chicago area this week and the Cook County Health Department is encouraging people to play it safe during the hot weather.Temperatures this week will continue to climb, with heat index values expected to reach up to 115 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday, that is the reason the National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat warning and watch for Wednesday morning. Illinois Tollway deploys Hot Weather Patrols to help stranded drivers amid extreme heat "It's not just the heat, it's the humidity, so pay attention to the heat index, it's definitely something to take seriously," said Dr. Michael Schindlbeck, Cook County Health Emergency Physician. "It can be life-threatening and deadly."The Cook County Health physician encourages people not to head outside during peak heat hours. According to Dr. Schindlbeck, staying hydrated and avoiding direct exposure to the sun are key to preventing heat stroke, fatigue and dizziness. List: Cooling centers in Chic...

'Baby, wake up': Florida woman spots missing toddler resting on neighbor's porch swing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

DAVENPORT, Fla. (WFLA) – A Florida woman who helped a missing 3-year-old boy with autism reunite with his family was still marveling Tuesday at how well the potentially tragic situation ended."It was just so emotional, just seeing them reunite again,” said Karyna Minchala Tuesday afternoon.But Minchala's day did not begin with much hope. Instead, she was filled with fear.Around 3:30 a.m., she awoke to the sound of helicopters overhead. Deputies were looking for the boy, who went missing from a home on Acorn Court in the Solterra Resort subdivision in Davenport. He and his family were visiting from out of town.The family told deputies they had checked on the boy at 1 a.m.“At about 2:45, they noticed the front door was open and Thomas was not there anymore,” said Alicia Manautou, a public information officer with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. “The fact that Thomas had autism heightened that need to find him rather quickly.” 5 recalls in 4 weeks: All the things from Trader Joe’s ...

MedWatch Digest: Long Covid may take a while to strike — and more

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

For Tuesday, Aug. 22, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch CDC study finds long Covid can emerge months after infectionCovid sufferers may get over their acute illness and feel fine, only to degrade weeks, even months later. A new Centers for Disease Control study shows the delay that occurs for some patients with long Covid. There is positive news, cases of long Covid are dropping. But the debilitating symptoms of long Covid including extreme fatigue, cognitive difficulties, breathing and gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and heart issues can emerge unexpectedly months after the initial infection. One in four people in the study experienced significant limitations in daily activities as a result of long Covid. High-fat diets can increase risk of colon cancerA high-fat diet gives people a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with colon cancer. Fatty foods alter gut bacteria creating an environment ripe for cancer cells to g...

Binge drinking, marijuana use hit historic highs for adults 35 to 50 in 2022, NIH says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The use of some substances reached an all-time high for adults aged 35 to 50 in 2022, according to the results of a National Institute of Health survey. Per the annual survey, binge drinks and the use of marijuana and hallucinogens reached a historical apex among adults aged 35 to 50. NIH researchers said binge drinking has declined among younger adults (19 to 30) over the last decade, but marijuana, hallucinogen and nicotine vaping use is up. Further, marijuana use and vaping were at their highest levels for younger adults in 2022. “Substance use is not limited to teens and young adults, and these data help us understand how people use drugs across the lifespan,” Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, said. “Understanding these trends is a first step, and it is crucial that research continues to illuminate how substance use and related health impacts may change over time. We want to ensure that people from the earliest to t...

Federal court hears challenge over Texas border buoys

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:00:56 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — The state of Texas could be forced to remove its barrier of buoys along the Rio Grande River near Eagle Pass, if a federal judge agrees with the U.S. Department of Justice that Texas overstepped its constitutional authority by installing the flotation devices.The Biden administration filed suit against Gov. Greg Abbott in late July over the state’s floatation barrier, arguing it violates international and federal law. In the lawsuit, the DOJ said Texas’ construction of buoys in the river violates the Rivers and Harbor Act, as it obstructs the “navigable capacity” of U.S. water. The filing also notes Texas did not obtain a prior permit from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, as required by the act. Federal attorneys are asking the courts to stop Texas from putting any more barriers in the water and to remove the current 1,000-foot stretch of buoys at its own expense. U.S. District Judge David Ezra will heard arguments in the case ...