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“Addictive” social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

New York would restrict the way online platforms like Instagram and YouTube can collect and share children’s personal information and let parents keep their kids from being bombarded by “addictive” feeds from accounts they don’t follow, under legislation proposed Wednesday. The bills offered by state leaders are aimed at protecting young people from features designed to keep them endlessly scrolling, endangering their mental health and development, Attorney General Letitia James said. “Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame,” James said. “This legislation will help tackle the risks of social media affecting our children and protect their privacy.”The regulations sought by James and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, are similar to rules already in place in Europe, where violations could incur fines worth a percentage of re...

El Salvador sends 4,000 security forces into 3 communities to pursue gang members

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador sent more than 4,000 security forces into three communities on the outskirts of the capital to root out gang members Wednesday, as President Nayib Bukele prepared to request another extension of emergency powers to combat crime.Bukele announced the pre-dawn operation in a slickly produced video posted to the platform X. Soldiers and police were sent to surround the densely populated communities of Popotlan, Valle Verde and La Campanera outside San Salvador, the president said.“We are not going to stop until we capture the last terrorist that remains,” Bukele wrote, using a phrase that typically refers to members of gangs who have been accused of drug trafficking, protection rackets and extortion. “We won’t allow small remnants to regroup and take away the peace that has cost so much.”Bukele has used emergency powers granted after a surge in gang violence i n March 2022 to wage an all-out offensive against the country’s powerful street gan...

Panama, Costa Rica agree to a plan to speed migrants passing through from Darien Gap

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

PANAMA CITY (AP) — Panama and Costa Rica announced a plan to quickly bus thousands of migrants through Panama to the Costa Rican border, as the countries continue to grapple with a steady increase in the number of migrants moving through the jungle-clad Darien Gap.Panama estimates that 420,700 migrants have crossed the Gap from Colombia to Panama so far this year, making it likely the full-year number will top a half million.Industrial-scale smuggling operations in Colombia have now reduced the dangerous crossing to a little over two days for the strongest walkers. The expedited bus service in Panama will likely decrease further the amount of time migrants take to reach the U.S. border, now down to about two and a half weeks.Panama hopes the new plan will disrupt the smuggling networks that charge migrants to get through the country, as well as reduce crowding at reception camps in Panama where migrants stay once they exit the Darien Gap trail.Panama’s National Immigration Ser...

Brampton man faces 16 charges, pepper sprayed police officers during pursuit: PRP

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

A Brampton man is facing up to 16 charges in a stolen vehicle investigation during which the man tried to flee on foot and pepper sprayed responding officers.Peel Regional Police said on October 6 at around 5 p.m., its Strategic Tactical Enforcement Program (S.T.E.P.) was investigating a vehicle with an apparent stolen licence plate in a hotel parking lot in the Hurontario Street and Derry Road area in Mississauga.Authorities said the driver attempted to flee the area in the vehicle, resulting in damage to a police cruiser and civilian cars in the area. The driver then fled on foot.While running, investigators allege the driver tried to unsuccessfully steal a vehicle and carjack another. The man was located by officers a short distance away, but during a struggle, he pepper-sprayed multiple officers before being arrested.The officers suffered minor injuries.On Wednesday, police identified the suspect as 24-year-old Rajbir Singh of Brampton. He’s facing 16 charges, including da...

New national wildlife refuges in Tennessee, Wyoming created to protect toads, bats, salamanders

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two newly created national wildlife refuges in Tennessee and Wyoming will help protect habitats for threatened and endangered species such as toads, bats, shrimp and salamanders, federal officials say. The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee are the result of “decades-long, locally led efforts to conserve habitat for species while maintaining recreational access,” the U.S. Department of Interior said Tuesday in a news release.The two refuges are the latest additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, a collection of 570 refuges and 38 wetland districts managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area is in the Laramie Plains of the Wyoming Basin and will provide public access to the Laramie River. Officials say it will help protect the Wyoming toad, an endangered amphibian, while also helping conserve other species including the white-tailed prairie dog and migratory...

2nd former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice advises Republican leader against impeachment

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A second former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice asked to investigate taking the unprecedented step of impeaching a liberal justice came out Wednesday against it.Former Justice Jon Wilcox told The Associated Press that there was nothing to justify impeaching Justice Janet Protasiewicz, as some Republican lawmakers have floated because of comments she made during the campaign about redistricting and donations she accepted from the Wisconsin Democratic Party.“I do not favor impeachment,” Wilcox told AP in a telephone interview.Wilcox, along with former justices David Prosser and Patience Roggensack, were tapped by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to look into possible impeachment. Prosser on Friday emailed Vos telling him that he was also against impeachment.Roggensack has not returned numerous messages seeking comment, including Wednesday.Vos floated impeaching Protasiewicz if she did not recuse from a redistricting lawsuit seeking to toss GOP-drawn legislati...

Finland police investigate undersea gas pipeline leak as possible sabotage

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finnish police said Wednesday they have launched a criminal investigation into possible sabotage of an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was shut down over the weekend following a leak.Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI, says it has started gathering evidence at the location of the leak, which was detected in Finland’s economic zone Sunday on the Balticconector pipeline connecting the two NATO allies. A telecommunications cable also was damaged.The purpose of the probe is to establish whether the Balticconector pipeline was damaged intentionally or by accident and by whom. Finnish authorities have already ruled out an operational mishap, saying the damage resulted from “external activity.”Noting that the analysis was still in an early stage, NBI said “traces have been detected in the seabed” near the leak but didn’t give details.Outside analysts have speculated on everything from a ship’s anchor hitting the pipeline to an ex...

London’s Luton Airport reopens after major disruption caused by a parking garage fire

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

LONDON (AP) — London’s Luton Airport reopened Wednesday after a vehicle fire spread through a newly built parking garage, causing the partial collapse of the structure and major disruption for tens of thousands of passengers.Dozens of flights were canceled, diverted or delayed at Luton, located about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of central London, after the blaze erupted late Tuesday. Four firefighters and an airport employee were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after the fire.Officials at the airport, which is a hub for easyJet, Ryanair and other budget airlines running flights to destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe, said flights began to arrive and take off again Wednesday afternoon. Investigators believe the fire started with a diesel vehicle, according to Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The recently opened parking garage didn’t appear to have sprinklers, he said. “And then that fire has quickly ...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 60s with storms possible by evening

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

CHICAGO — Frost Advisory until 8 a.m. Wednesday (not for central/north Cook or Lake IL). Increasing clouds, afternoon rain and storms expected. Winds: SW 0-5. High: 63. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly cloudy tonight with showers and storms. Winds: E 5-10. Low: 53.Thursday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, rain and storms, wide temp range, E 10-15 G25. High: 59.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

D.J. Moore gets an NFL award after a unique performance

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:22:35 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — One of the better performances by a wide receiver in Chicago Bears history has earned some NFL recognition.It certainly was a unique game for D.J. Moore both in terms of his team and the league over the last few years. Bears WR D.J. Moore has been named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week after his 8 catch, 230 yard, 3 touchdown effort against the Commanders..It’s the 1st player of the week honor of Moore’s career, 1st for the Bears since Justin Fields, Week 9, 2022..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/7q8wPBEbel— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 11, 2023The receiver was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Commanders last Thursday in which he had eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-20 win in Landover, Maryland. That ended a franchise-record 14-game losing streak for the Bears and marked the first time the team has scored 40 points in a game since Week 16 of the 2020 season. Moore's 230 catches were...