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‘A true toxicant’: Oil refinery dumps tons of polluted wastewater into Lake Michigan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A new analysis of industry data maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that five of the worst wastewater polluters in the American oil refinery industry are in the Great Lakes region and one of them dumps directly into Lake Michigan.The analysis was released in January by the Environmental Integrity Project, a nonprofit organization that bills itself as a watchdog to make sure the EPA properly enforces environmental laws.In “Oil’s Unchecked Outfalls,” the EIP reports the 81 oil refineries across the country released 1.6 billion pounds of chlorides, sulfates and other dissolved solids in its wastewater in 2021. That doesn’t include the 10,000 pounds of nickel, 60,000 pounds of selenium and 15.7 million pounds of nitrogen that drew the focus of the study.While the EPA organizes the information, EIP Executive Director Eric Shaeffer told News 8 that the data is actually collected by the individual oil refineries and submitted to the age...

Maryland governor unveils plan to phase out new gas-powered cars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

(The Hill) – Maryland will become the latest state to adopt the clean-car rules that originated in California, phasing out new gas-powered car sales by 2035, Gov. Wes Moore (D) announced Monday.The Advanced Clean Cars II rule, first implemented in California in 2022 under a provision of the Clean Air Act, allows states to impose stricter car standards than their federal counterparts. The standards are not retroactive to existing cars or to used car sales.“Today, we’re talking about a major transformation that is going to define this administration—and that’s how we turn Maryland from a state powered by oil and gas to a state powered by clean energy,” Moore said in a statement. “I am confident that the state of Maryland can and will lead the clean energy revolution.”Projections by the state Department of the Environment estimates that under the rule, Maryland will see 383,000 fewer sales of new gas-powered vehicles by the end of the decade. The state could also see lower carbon dioxi...

Can I share weed in Illinois?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Recreational marijuana has been legal in Illinois for three years, and it has been an economical boon, soaring past $1.5 billion in 2022.While marijuana has been sharing the wealth in the state, many residents might be wondering if they can share the drug with their friends and family. Can I bring weed purchased in Illinois to other states? Like alcohol, the legal age to partake in Illinois is 21 or older. This is the same for marijuana in the state, according to the EarthMed.While residents can share the recreational drug if the person is 21, they may not accept any payment for gifting marijuana.There were 113 licensed cannabis dispensaries in Illinois in January, with an additional 189 in the process of being approved.

56lbs of marijuana flown into Indianapolis airport in 9-day span

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS — Four Indianapolis men are accused of flying into the Indianapolis airport with 10 or more pounds of marijuana stowed away in their luggage. Joel Shavers, Mikhail Williams and Keenan Thomas face one count of dealing marijuana in at least 10 pounds, a Level 5 felony in the state of Indiana. Keith Williams also faces one count of dealing marijuana as a Level 5 felony, but was also charged with dealing in a scheduled one controlled substance, a Level 2 felony, due to psilocybin mushrooms also being found in his luggage. Can you bring marijuana on a plane through a TSA checkpoint? According to court records, both Shavers, Mikhail Williams and Thomas flew back to Indianapolis from San Francisco with vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana smuggled in their luggage. Both Shavers and Mikhail Williams were caught on Feb. 27 after a police K9 sniffed out the drugs in their luggage. Police claim Shavers had 18 pounds of marijuana in his luggage along with another 10.5 grams in his ba...

Dog dies in California fire caused by lithium-ion battery overheating 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

A structure fire in Venice Beach on Sunday morning claimed the life of a business owner’s dog, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The fire started at 1 19th Avenue in Venice Beach around 9:30 a.m. due to a lithium-ion battery overheating and spread to two adjacent businesses.  2 more children die after a Montclare house fire at a Chicago firefighter’s home Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames in 35 minutes with no injuries reported, according to LAFD.  Due to the narrow streets and limited access, residents and the public are requested to avoid the area while LAFD workers are still on scene. 

GPS-enabled headphones help deputies bust thief in California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

A 34-year-old Chino Hills man was arrested Sunday after stealing a backpack that contained GPS enabled headphones that led deputies to his location, authorities announced.  Deputies with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department responded to the 5400 block of Wild Sage Place at around 8:40 a.m. on reports of a vehicle burglary.  During the investigation, deputies recovered video surveillance that captured the suspect, identified as Terrall Meisenheimer, breaking into the victim’s vehicle.   Russian jet intercepts US drone over Black Sea, forcing it down “The suspect stole the victim’s backpack, which contained miscellaneous items and headphones equipped with GPS tracking technology,” a sheriff’s department news release stated.  Using the GPS tracking, the victim was able to pinpoint the location of the headphones at a business parking lot on Mountain Avenue in Chino, where deputies found the 34-year-old suspect in possession of the stolen property.  Meisenheimer ...

Indiana bus driver arrested for assaulting, choking middle school student on the bus

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS — A Pike Township, Indiana, bus driver is facing felony charges following accusations that she assaulted and choked a student on the bus.According to court documents, Leslie Sea is now facing felony charges from an incident on the bus and it all played out in front of a bus full of students.“He had scratches all up and down his neck,” said the boy’s mother, Ashlee. She said her son was left traumatized after an incident last month.According to court documents, it all began when the bus driver had to reroute due to an accident.“The bus driver refused to answer the kids' questions," Ashlee said. "Like ‘Why are we turning around'?"The mother said her son, who has special needs, became confused and attempted to get off the bus at an earlier stop. According to police – that's when Sea grabbed the student.“She grabbed him by the neck, pushed him onto the seats,” Ashlee said. “Put her hands around his neck and started squeezing and scratching. The other students were trying to...

Reported rapes increasing at Indiana University Bloomington

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The number of reported rapes at the Indiana University campus in Bloomington is climbing, and the problem may be more serious than the numbers suggest.IU Police tell FOX59/CBS4 that with two months left in the academic year, 24 students have told police they have been raped. That number matches the total number of rapes reported in all of 2021. 18-year-old fatally shot while riding in vehicle on Southwest Side “It takes a lot of courage for our students to come forward and make those reports to us.  Every time that happens, we are fully supporting our students and whatever avenue they chose to take,” said Public Information Officer Hannah Skibba.But most IU students who’ve been sexually assaulted or raped do not tell the police, according to Sally Thomas, director of the campus Sexual Violence Prevention office.“There’s a very minimal number of people who decide to report to the police," Thomas said. "The vast amount of students will come here and seek se...

Trump tops DeSantis by 4 points in new poll of Republicans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Former President Trump leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) by 4 percentage points for a hypothetical 2024 GOP presidential nomination among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in a new poll.The CNN survey found 40 percent of the Republican respondents said they’d most likely support Trump, who launched his campaign for another White House term back in November. DeSantis, who hasn’t officially said he’ll run but is widely expected to enter the race, earned 36 percent. Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who was the first major Republican to challenge the former president, came in 30 points below DeSantis, with just 6 percent saying they’d most likely support her. Tied with Haley was former Vice President Mike Pence, who has not announced a bid. Adding together separate responses, only 22 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents prefer someone other than Trump or DeSantis for the GOP nomination.The new poll results are ...

How development, campaigns are impacting Austin's live music industry

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — When you think of Austin, most people can't help but think of its live music scene. Across Texas, the music industry has generated nearly $11 billion in economic activity in 2022, a recent state report shows. Austin music tourism generates about $1.8 billion per year, according to the Austin Music Movement nonprofit. RELATED: Census highlights changes in Austin’s music scene, as high costs push musicians to suburbs In a South by Southwest panel Tuesday called "The Economic Impact of Live Entertainment," live music experts talked about how entertainment multiplies dollars spent locally and how the impact goes beyond the venues and artists themselves. Arts and entertainment work like an economic multiplier, according to Tamara Keshecki, the owner of nonprofit consulting firm AINOK Consulting. For example, if a person sees a performance or show, income around the venue can increase, as the person buys food or parking or a hotel room.In 2021, the Austin City Limits Mu...