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Scientists provide update on algae bloom impacting marine life

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Marine mammals and algae bloom experts gave an update Friday on a plankton that is harming hundreds of sea lions and dolphins.  Scientists said they want to let people know what is happening and to be aware of their surroundings in and around the water.  The algae is nothing new, according to scientists, but it is becoming more toxic over the years and they are still unsure why, but they are taking note of its impact.  ”We are used to seeing these animals on the beach displaying these sypmtoms what we are not used to is the numbers they are coming in right now, we are seeing so many,” said Justin Viezbicke, the Mammal Stranding Coordinator with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Scientists said people at the beach could encounter a sick marine mammal over the next few weeks.  There is an algae bloom happening off the shore. The algae or plankton is called “Pseudo-nitzschia,” which scientists see every year.  The plankton does not ...

25 dead after bus crashes and catches fire in western India

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — A tire blowout caused a bus to lose control and crash into a road divider and burst into flames, killing 25 people in western India early Saturday, police told local media.Police officer Sunil Kadasne told the Press Trust of India news agency that 33 people were on the bus when the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on a highway in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state. The eight survivors were taken to a hospital, he said.The private travel bus was headed to Pune city from Nagpur, another city in the state.Deadly road accidents are common in India, often due to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. More than 110,000 people are killed every year in road accidents across India, according to police.The Associated Press

Arrest made after body discovered at Liberty Village building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

Toronto police have made an arrest in a suspicious death investigation.Investigators were called to a building on East Liberty Street near Strachan Avenue around 12:30 p.m. on June 8 for reports of hazardous materials inside a garbage compactor.Police then discovered the body of a deceased person in the compactor of the townhouse complex.The deceased person has been identified as filmmaker Reeyaz Habib, 53, of Toronto. He was previously reported missing on June 9.Khoa Tran, 33, of Toronto, has been arrested and charged with indignity to a human body and obstruction of justice.With files from John Marchesan

Park Ridge police arrest man who allegedly impersonated police officer, assaulting teen girls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

PARK RIDGE, Ill. — The Park Ridge Police Department is investigating two reported incidents of a man who impersonated a police officer while approaching teenage girls and on Friday, they announced an arrest.On Wednesday, June 14, two teenage girls were walking near Touhy Avenue and Seminary Avenue when they were approached by a man who started to question them about why they were out past curfew.During the June 14 incident, Park Ridge PD report that the man grabbed the buttocks of one of the teenage girls and offered to walk them home. Mother instructed 14-year-old son to shoot, kill man at hot dog stand, court docs allege Just after midnight on the morning of Friday, June 23, two different teenage girls were walking near Courtland Avenue and Albion Avenue when they were approached by the same man who identified himself as a police officer.The man reportedly asked the girls if they knew they were out past curfew and again grabbed the buttocks of one of the teenage girls.On Friday...

Paul Lisnek on major SCOTUS decisions of the week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

CHICAGO — WGN Political Analyst Paul Lisnek joined WGN Evening News to discuss several big stories from the week.In addition to President Joe Biden visiting Chicago, the Supreme Court released several major decisions.Read more: Latest Chicago news headlinesWatch this story in the player above.

CASA seeing dip in volunteers, uptick in alleged neglect and abuse cases

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- CASA of Travis County said since the end of the pandemic, it's seen a dip in volunteers. Meanwhile, the number of complex cases involving foster care kids is going up. CASA -- which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates -- is a volunteer-based group that steps in when a child enters the foster care system. CASA volunteers serve as an advocate for and the voice of a foster child during the legal process. But CASA of Travis County said they've seen a roughly 20% drop in new volunteers by this point in the year as compared to last. They're also seeing an uptick in complex cases, which are the ones most often involving allegations of extreme abuse or neglect. "So we're definitely looking for more volunteers. Our goal this year is to get 200 people all the way through our training and screening process and so far we're at 59 so we've got a ways to go," said Laura Wolf, the CEO of CASA of Travis County. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old but does not need to ...

Support strong, but effort dies for safer emergency vehicle intersections in St. Louis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Despite strong support from the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for a measure to make intersections safer for the public and emergency vehicles, the effort failed.You Paid For It started tackling the prospect of an emergency vehicle intersection last year after it was initiated and put into effect by St. Charles County. Executive Steve Ehlmann put the technology in place at more than 300 lights, which allows lights to stay green for the first responders coming through the intersection. The lights would be red for everyone else. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway Elliott Davis took the idea to St. Louis Alderman Joe Vaccaro who rallied support on the Board of Aldermen. The former board voted unanimously for it.Even current board president Megan Green was all for it, saying back in April: ”I think that kind of timing of lights is important to make sure that emergency vehicles can get to where they need to go in the fastest manner ...

Local organizations helping the unhoused beat the excessive heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The hot weather is taking a toll on the homeless in the St. Louis area, with many struggling to find things like cold water and shade. Several organizations were out Friday helping them cope with the heat.For people like Jennifer, this heat is a huge challenge.Hot, really hot. The heat is really bad. We need water," she said. "Try to go into wherever I can to stay in the shade.”Organizations like Affinia Healthcare were out to help supply some of their needs. They set up shop in a park across from city hall, where the homeless congregate. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "Very challenging; you see how I’m sweating, Elliott. I've been out here for an hour," said Deandre Commons with Affinia Healthcare. "Could you just imagine being out here all day like with nowhere to go? If we were not passing out water and cooling towels like what would they have? So yes, it’s very challenging.”Affinia was not the only group out. The New...

Ezequiel Tovar, Austin Gomber lead Rockies over Tigers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

On fireworks night at Coors Field, Ezequiel Tovar delivered a star-spangled performance.The Rockies’ rookie shortstop hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning and also singled in Colorado’s five-run second in an 8-5 win over the Detroit Tigers in front of a sellout crowd of 47,239.Tovar finished the night 2-for-4, extending his career-high hitting streak to 13 games, the longest by a Rockies player this season.Colorado also got a huge boost from starter Austin Gomber, who became the first Rockies starter to pitch seven innings during a home game this season. Gomber gave up three runs on six hits and struck out seven. Best of all, he walked only one, reversing a trend of free passes that has plagued Colorado much of the season.Tovar, at 21 the youngest position player to make his debut in franchise history, is hitting .358 (19-for-53) during his 13-game hitting streak. The shortstop has a hit in 26 of 29 games since May 27 and is batting .336 (38-for-113) over that sp...

Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon, out for at least two more weaks, itching to return

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:30:35 GMT

In what is likely his final season in a Rockies uniform, Charlie Blackmon is trying to stay patient as he waits for his broken right hand to heal.“It’s different. It’s an adjustment,” the veteran outfielder/designated hitter said Friday before the Rockies hosted the Tigers at Coors Field. “I’d rather be playing, certainly.”His absence is made more difficult by Colorado’s June swoon in which the Rockies will win fewer than 10 games in the month for just the fourth time in franchise history.“It’s tough not really being a contributor,” he said. “No matter what I do, it’s rarely critical. Whether it’s bringing energy to the dugout or talking to guys off the field, that’s not a lot of impact.”Blackmon said Friday that he will have to wear the cast on his right hand for two more weeks. He’s not sure how long it will take for him to get back in the lineup.“I think it’s pretty v...