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A third day of smoky air gives millions in US East Coast, Canada a new view of wildfire threat

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Images of smoke obscuring the New York skyline and the Washington Monument this week have given the world a new picture of the perils of wildfire, far from where blazes regularly turn skies into hazardous haze.A third day of unhealthy air from Canadian wildfires may have been an unnerving novelty for millions of people on the U.S. East Coast, but it was a reminder of conditions routinely troubling the country’s West — and a wake-up call about the future, scientists say.“This is kind of an astounding event” but likely to become more common amid global warming, said Justin Mankin, a Dartmouth College geography professor and climate scientist. “This is something that we, as the eastern side of the country, need to take quite seriously.”Millions of residents could see that for themselves Thursday. The conditions sent asthma sufferers to hospitals, delayed flights, postponed ballgames and even pushed back a White House Pride Month celebration. The fires sent plumes ...

California’s Newsom pushes constitutional amendment to tighten gun access amid 2024 campaign

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed Thursday amending the U.S. Constitution to harden federal gun laws amid a surge of mass killings across the nation, his latest step onto the national stage amid the unfolding 2024 White House campaign. With the U.S. bitterly divided over gun rights and the 2nd Amendment, the chances of recasting the Constitution to enshrine universal background checks, a waiting period to buy firearms and other restrictions into law appeared remote. A new amendment has not been added since 1992. Newsom has denied any interest in a presidential run and is supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection bid. But his proposal marked his latest maneuver in what has taken on the look like a shadow campaign as he injects himself into the national discussion on guns, abortion, immigration and other contentious issues. He’s been in a running dispute with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, and traveled to Flori...

David Sedaris’ first children’s book, ‘Pretty Ugly,’ to be published next February

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — David Sedaris is publishing his first children’s book, a collaboration with Ian Falconer conceived decades ago and finished shortly before the “Olivia” creator died in March. Toon Books, an imprint of Astra Publishing House, announced Thursday that “Pretty Ugly” will be published Feb. 27 of next year. A look at the “age-old question” of what makes people attractive or unattractive, “Pretty Ugly” began 20 years ago as a contribution to the anthology “Little Lit: Strange Stories for Strange Kids.”More recently, Toon publisher Françoise Mouly, who helped edit “Little Lit,” thought “Pretty Ugly” would work as a stand-alone book.“With the systematic attacks so-called conservatives are leveling on all those they see as deviant or even just different, it felt urgent to publish a tale with such a clear moral center,” Mouly said in a statement. “David and Ian agreed and earlier this year, we finalized the editing and design, prepping it for spring 2024 publi...

GM’s electric vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s vast charging network

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — Electric vehicles made by General Motors will be able to use much of Tesla’s extensive charging network beginning early next year under an agreement the two companies announced Thursday.In addition, GM will adopt Tesla’s connector, the plug that links an electric vehicle to a charging station.GM joins Ford in shifting its electric vehicles to work with about 12,000 of Tesla’s roughly 17,000 chargers, and both Detroit automakers are pushing to make Tesla’s connector the industry standard. GM CEO Mary Barra and her Tesla counterpart, Elon Musk, made the announcement during a Twitter Spaces conversation. Their discussion comes two weeks after Ford CEO Jim Farley joined Musk to announce that Ford’s electric vehicles would gain access to much of Tesla’s EV-charging network, the largest in the nation. Farley also said Ford would switch to Tesla’s connector rather than go with the connector used by the rest of the industry. At first,...

'Deserves to be shot': IN man accused of showing up to Taylor Swift's home, stalking

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

LAPORTE COUNTY, Ind. (WGN-TV) — On the morning of Taylor Swift's first Chicago show, a Northwest Indiana man was arrested after allegedly showing up to her Nashville residence last month.Mitchell Taebel, 36, of Long Beach, entered a not guilty plea Tuesday on the charges of stalking by threatening serious injury or death, intimidation, invasion of privacy and harassment.The investigation began on March 25 after Taebel allegedly sent pictures of weapons via social media to members of Taylor Swift's management company — threatening to "destroy them."Five days later, Taebel was accused of leaving a message to Swift's father that he is her "soulmate" and "he is the only one that can make her secure." Red Lobster Crabfest back after 4 years — with $5 martinis On April 5, Taebel allegedly sent a threat via fake Instagram accounts to one of the dancers on Swift's Eras Tour. According to court documents, Taebel posted a picture of someone firing a gun at a range and stated "if today there...

Texas to use floating barrier along Rio Grande to combat border crossings, Abbott says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) —Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday afternoon a "new, water-based barrier of buoys" will be installed at the Texas border soon. Abbott made the announcement after signing several border security-related bills that passed during the 88th Legislative Session. Abbott said the installation of the buoys will start "immediately.""These buoys will allow us to prevent people from even getting to the border," Abbott said.Col. Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the deployment of the first 1,000 feet of buoys will start in Maverick County's Eagle Pass. McCraw added the buoys can be deployed quickly and are movable. Abbott retracts claim that Texas shooting victims were all ‘illegal immigrants’ Images of the concept were displayed on each side of the table where Abbott, McCraw and Major General Thomas Suelzer, the Adjutant General of Texas, were sitting for the press conference. One image showed someone attempting to get over...

Ohio 'anti-gay' bill amended to allow parents to opt students out of 'sexuality content'

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio lawmakers are advancing a bill allowing parents to opt their child of out school "sexuality" lessons, legislation opponents said is anti-LGBTQ+ and will force educators to out students. House Bill 8 — the "Parents’ Bill of Rights" — would require teachers to notify parents before teaching "sexuality content" and of any change in a student’s mental, emotional or physical health. Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron) and Rep. Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) reintroduced the bill earlier this year after the legislation failed to pass Ohio’s General Assembly last year."The focus is to ensure that parents are empowered to be involved in their child’s education both inside and outside the classroom," Swearingen said in a statement. Pride Month ‘an act of protest’ against anti-LGBTQ+ bills, Stonewall Columbus says Carruthers and Swearingen were not in attendance for the bill's fifth hearing on Tuesday when the Primary and Secondary Education C...

Westlake's 'burning desire' fuels them to 6A semifinals against Pearland

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — They've won a school-record 40 games this season, and now the Westlake Chaparrals are trying for two more to claim a 6A baseball state title.The Chaps, 40-4 this season and 10-1 in postseason play, are matched up against the Pearland Oilers in the 6A semifinals scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Dell Diamond. It's the first time since 2009 that Westlake has appeared in the state tournament, and head coach JT Blair said this team hates to lose more than it likes to win. Texas high school baseball championships: Scores, schedules, box scores "They're just not going to be denied," he said. "We've won games in every possible way. We've come from behind, won in extra innings, boat-raced people ... they have a burning desire in them and they're resilient."A senior-laden squad with 23, the only hiccup on their playoff ledger was a 1-0 loss to Round Rock in the first game of the regional quarterfinals. The Chaps shrugged that loss off, considering they had to face potential fi...

Texas to use floating barrier to combat border crossings, Abbott says

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) —Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday afternoon a "new, water-based barrier of buoys" will be installed at the Texas border soon. Abbott made the announcement after signing several border security-related bills that passed during the 88th Legislative Session. Abbott said the installation of the buoys will start "immediately.""These buoys will allow us to prevent people from even getting to the border," Abbott said.Col. Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said the deployment of the first 1,000 feet of buoys will start in Maverick County's Eagle Pass. McCraw added the buoys can be deployed quickly and are movable.Images of the concept were displayed on each side of the table where Abbott, McCraw and Major General Thomas Suelzer, the Adjutant General of Texas, were sitting for the press conference. One image showed someone attempting to get over the barriers.Concept image of adding buoy barriers to the Rio Grande (Nexstar Photo)Im...

Texas man rides horse for 1,000 miles to raise awareness for homeless veterans

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 19:12:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Jeremy Robinson and his horse, Trooper, have spent months trotting along Texas roads from Huntsville to Austin, where he and Trooper will finish up their trek Saturday.While Robinson has said the 1000+ mile journey has been a fulfilling experience, it’s not just a joy ride – Robinson, who’s a veteran, set out on this ride to raise awareness for issues affecting veterans.  “Our focus is homelessness,” he said. “The two largest issues within the veteran community revolve around homelessness and suicide. It's my position that we lose a lot of our brothers and sisters to self-inflicted harm because they have a fear of becoming homeless,” Robinson continued. The National Association of American Veterans estimates that over 16 million veterans live in the U.S., and over 40,000 are without homes. The organization also reports that around 13% of all U.S. veterans are living with mental health issues. “Substance abuse, mental health, lack of community, isolation – a...