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Editorial: Wall Street Journal reporter is not a spy – free him

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich is a top-flight journalist, courageously reporting from Vladimir Putin’s Russia at a time when the Russian leader’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has the world’s attention intently trained on virtually every move Moscow makes.He is not a spy.He has, however, become a pawn in Putin’s reckless gambit against the West, a victim of the Kremlin’s willingness to resort to hostage-taking as a bludgeon against America. WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner’s nearly 10-month detention in Russia was hardly an exercise of justice, and neither is Gershkovich’s indefensible arrest on wholly unsubstantiated charges of espionage.To report in Russia, foreign correspondents must get Kremlin permission, via accreditation and visas. In the past, correspondents in Russia have routinely encountered government threats, harassment and surveillance. In rare instances, a correspondent triggering the ire of the Kremlin faced deportation.But, whereas Russian journalists...

Keep Easter lilies away from cats

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

Dear Dr. John,I am an usher at church this Easter Sunday and I seek your counsel on whether I should bring home one or two of the Easter Lily plants after our services. I own two cats that are young and mischievous. They love to get into things, and I understand that these plants can be toxic to cats. What does it do to them?  Also, my house cleaner said that in her home country of Brazil there is a new cat disease going around that is also dangerous to people that she heard about from her relatives. Have you heard anything about this and, if so, what is it? Thanks, and Happy Easter. S.W.Dear S.W.,Easter lilies are indeed highly toxic and dangerous to cats, as are other lily plants. Ingesting even any amount of the plant, and cats are prone to chewing plants and leaves, can lead to renal failure and even death. Cats that do eat the plants can vomit and become weak eventually leading to drinking and urinating more, oral lesions, heavy breathing, and more.If you do intend to bring pla...

‘American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing’ revisits dark days

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

As the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing approaches, Netflix unveils on Wednesday Floyd Russ’s new 3-part documentary whose title says it all: “American Manhunt: The Boston Marathon Bombing.”After the shock of four innocents murdered and hundreds wounded, the police, the FBI, the city and the nation wanted to know who and why. It took five days. First, authorities identified the brothers Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev as having planted and exploded two home-made bombs near the finish line. A subsequent massive search concluded with Tamerlan dead and Dzokhar in custody (and subsequently tried, convicted and, since 2022, sentenced to die).“American Manhunt” interviews the principals, reveals extraordinary background information on the brothers as it follows the nightmarish day by day search.  We see the divisions – the FBI did not want to reveal that they knew who the bombers were until they had found them.  The police, however, felt they were at a standstill and went pu...

Allergies or virus? How to tell the difference

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

Dear Mayo Clinic: Every year I am plagued by springtime allergies. But in the last few weeks I have been experiencing congestion, runny nose and a persistent cough. How can I determine whether this is a cold, allergies or something more? When should I seek medical care?A.  As the seasons shift, it can be harder to distinguish between the symptoms of the common cold, COVID-19, the flu and allergies, since all can have similar symptoms. This can lead to confusion as to when to seek medical care.COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, and the flu comes from a strain of the influenza virus. The common cold most often is caused by rhinoviruses. These viruses all spread in similar ways — by tiny particles that originate from the lips and nose when a person sneezes, coughs, sings or touches a surface. For instance, germs can get picked up from a surface —like a phone or computer keyboard — and then be transmitted into the mouth, nose or eyes.The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough ...

Dear Abby: Woman frustrated by sister’s endless lies

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

Dear Abby: I’m at a loss about how to deal with my sister, “Julie.” We had an incredibly hard childhood. We lost our mother when she was only 48. My issue with Julie is her constant and blatant storytelling. She has two young children and is recently divorced. While I feel terrible about her situation and have gladly been there to help her, her lies drive me up the wall.The things she makes up are so bizarre, they make me cringe. She’s obvious about it, and it screams red flags. I’m a proud aunt to my niece and nephew, and I do not want them to pick up this habit from her. I know Julie wouldn’t be willing to admit she has a problem, because she becomes extremely defensive when faced with anything she needs to work on. What can I do? — Unsure in UtahDear Unsure: There is nothing you can do to help someone with a problem they refuse to admit they have, but there may be something you can do to help her children. Model honest behavior, admit whe...

San Diego Seals at Las Vegas Desert Dogs

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

The San Diego Seals will headed to Las Vegas Saturday to take on the Desert Dogs at 7:30 p.m. The team ultimately won in the 14-10 game.

2 Wisconsin police officers killed in traffic stop shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

Two Wisconsin police officers were killed in a shooting during a traffic stop on Saturday, authorities said.The Wisconsin Department of Justice said in a statement late Saturday that it was investigating the shooting in Cameron, Wisconsin.An officer from the Chetek Police Department conducted a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. and at some point gunfire was exchanged with the motorist, the state justice department said.The Chetek officer and another officer from Cameron were pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect in the shooting was taken to a hospital and later died, the justice department said.The names of the officers and the suspect were not immediately released.“I am deeply saddened by the tragic loss today of two officers. I am thinking of their families and the Chetek and Cameron Police Departments at this incredibly difficult time,” Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a tweet late Saturday.The Division of Criminal Investigation within the Wisconsin Department of Just...

Colorado Rapids earn first win of season over Sporting Kansas City as Diego Rubio finds winner; Andreas Maxsø stretchered off with scary head injury

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

The Colorado Rapids played their hearts out for their Great Dane on Saturday night, that much was clear. It resulted in the team’s first win of the 2023 campaign.Designated Player and Danish center back Andreas Maxsø had to be substituted off with concussion-like symptoms in which he was down injured for many minutes late in the first half. In the second half, the team took chances on the counterattack as Diego Rubio found a 68th-minute winner against his old club. The defense held on and Colorado earned its first win at “Blue Hell”, Children’s Mercy Park, since Sept. 2019.“It was a shock for everybody at that point (when Andreas was down). But, we (won) for him today,” Rubio said in his postgame comments. “That’s all I wanna say is, we made that effort for him. We know how hard he works for us, for the team. It’s a great big effort and a great win.”Colorado (1-3-3, 6 points) started off well as the team was able to create ...

Authorities search for inmate who walked away from Chino camp

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

Authorities are searching for an inmate who walked away from custody at a Chino conservation camp on Friday.Authorities say Casey J. Lyons, 30, an incarcerated man, was serving his sentence at the Prado Conservation Camp when he walked away around 8:50 a.m. The camp is a minimum security facility, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).A search of the camp buildings and grounds was immediately conducted, but the man was nowhere to be found.Lyons was admitted to the camp in July 2022 from Lassen County. He is currently serving a two-year sentence for charges of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person as a second striker.Casey J. Lyons, 30, in a 2022 photo from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.Lyons is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 260 pounds with blue eyes and blond hair. He was last seen on the campgrounds wearing an orange-colored CDCR shirt and pants.Authorities with the CDCR’s Office of Correctional Sa...

At least 3 people were shot during a confrontation at a mall food court in Delaware, police say

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:16:41 GMT

At least 3 people were wounded by gunfire during an apparent fight at a Delaware mall food court Saturday evening, according to state police.Police were called to the Christiana Mall in Newark around 6:43 p.m. local time Saturday, where they found three individuals with gunshot wounds in the area of the food court. They were all taken to area hospitals, two of them in critical condition, said Delaware State Police Senior Cpl. Jason Hatchell.Five other people were also taken to a hospital after they “sustained various injuries not related to gunfire,” the corporal said.No shooting suspect was in custody Saturday night, Hatchell said, adding that “it has not been confirmed how many suspects were involved. Investigators are actively working to identify the suspects.”The shooting was not a random one, Hatchell said.“Investigators believe this is a result of an altercation between several suspects and at least one of the victims,” Hatchell said.With th...