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A heat wave named Cerberus has southern Europe in its jaws, and it’s only going to get worse

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Tourists in central Athens huddled under mist machines, and zoo animals in Madrid were fed fruit popsicles and chunks of frozen food, as southern Europeans braced for a heat wave Thursday, with a warning of severe conditions coming from the European Union’s space agency.Emergency measures – including staffing changes, cellphone alerts, and intensified forest fire patrols – were readied or put into effect in several countries as temperatures in parts of Mediterranean Europe were set to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113F) Friday and into the weekend.In Athens and other Greek cities, working hours were changed for the public sector and many businesses to avoid the midday heat, while air-conditioned areas were opened to the public.“It’s like being in Africa,” 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary, told the AP. “It’s not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult.”The high-pressure system, which crossed the Mediterranean from north ...

IOC declines to give Russia and Belarus formal invitations to Paris Olympics 1 year out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Russia and Belarus will not get a formal invitation to the 2024 Paris Olympics when more than 200 national teams receive their traditional invites later this month, the IOC said Thursday.It is an International Olympic Committee tradition exactly one year before a Summer Games or Winter Games opens to invite all the national teams worldwide to the event. Despite the protocol move, some Russian and Belarusian athletes could still compete in Paris despite their countries’ war on Ukraine. Their national teams will not yet be asked to come. The IOC said Thursday that 203 eligible national Olympic committees (NOCs) will be sent their invitations to Paris on July 26.“For the reasons given, this will exclude the NOCs of Russia and Belarus, plus the NOC of Guatemala, which is currently suspended,” the Olympic body said in a statement.The president of the Belarus NOC is Viktor Lukashenko, the son of state leader Alexander Lukashenko. He followed his father i...

Storm damage surveyed after multiple suspected tornadoes hit Chicago area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — A National Weather Service team will survey damage Thursday across the Chicago area, where fierce winds from suspected tornadoes ripped roofs from buildings, downed trees and sent residents scrambling for safety as sirens sounded.The weather service warned Wednesday evening that a confirmed tornado was on the ground near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. Passengers took shelter and the storm disrupted hundreds of flights, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. A short time later, the weather service said the Chicago forecast area was “currently tornado warning free.” Tornado touches down near O’Hare Airport amid severe weather warnings The storm moved into Michigan before passing through the state and into Canada early Thursday. Tornado watches that were in effect for parts of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio all expired.Ty Carr, a resident of the Skyline Motel in McCook, Illinois, said a tornado tore off the roof.“Just chaos,” Carr said, cradling a toddle...

FDA approves 1st over-the-counter birth control pill in US

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, which will let American women and girls buy contraceptive medication from the same aisle as aspirin and eyedrops.The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it cleared Perrigo’s once-a-day Opill to be sold without a prescription, making it the first such medication to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The company won’t start shipping the pill until early next year, and there will be no age restrictions on sales.Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s. Until now, all of them required a prescription.Medical societies and women’s health groups have pushed for wider access, noting that an estimated 45% of the 6 million annual pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Teens and girls, women of color and those with low incomes report greater hurdles in getting prescriptions...

Man claims to be Northwest Indiana police chief in phone spoof

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

CHESTERTON, Ind. — Chesterton police are warning residents following a phone spoof where a man claimed to be their police chief.The woman who was targeted was a Westwood Manor resident and saw her caller ID display the phone number to the Chesterton Police Department.The man identified himself as Chief Tim Richardson, but spoke in what she described as an "Indian accent."Police said Richardson's accent might be best described as "Flat Indiana."The man told her that he needed to discuss a complaint against her involving Homeland Security. The man ended the call after the woman asked him if he knew anyone who once served with the department, police said. Gary bar shut down after man killed, 3 shot “It is worth noting that it is relatively easy nowadays to manipulate caller ID information, making it appear as though you are receiving a call from a specific phone number,” Assistant Chief Francisco Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, the resident did not engage in conversation long enough ...

Driehaus Foundation gives $1M neighborhoods on West and South Sides

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Driehaus Foundation is giving $1 million to underserved neighborhoods on the West and South Side.The grant will be given to Landmarks Illinois to help fund their program that provides low interest loans to spark reinvestment in particularly under-resourced communities.Landmarks Illinois will be allowed to give out larger loans. Repaid loans will replenish the fund and be redeoloyed for new projects. FDA approves 1st over-the-counter birth control pill in US A Driehaus Foundation spokesperson said in a statement:"Rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings can be challenging for many reasons but lack of funding is often the most frequent obstacle for preservation project."Landmarks Illinois made its first loan last year to the Greater Chatham Initiative (GCI) to fund storefront repairs to a historic building at 735 East 79th Street to support GCI in inspiring investment on the block. GCI used the building for its “Artists on the 9” program, creating a work and ga...

Austin's Tree of the Year Awards return

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin Tree of the Year Awards return once again this year after nearly a ten year hiatus. It re-launched last year (2022), but with with an updated, fresh focus on community engagement. TreeFolks, alongside Austin Parks & Recreation, spearhead the program and encourage everyone to get involved by nominating and voting for their favorite trees.Nonprofit TreeFolks, whose mission is to "empower Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees," has engaged thousands of volunteers to plant more than 3 million trees here in Central Texas. This awards program furthers those efforts by educating the importance of trees; including the air they clean, the habitat for wildlife they provide, and the shade they bring.Héctor Gonzáles is the Marketing Coordinator with TreeFolks. Meteorologist Sean spoke with him on-site of one of 2008's Tree of the Year winners. The large 50-foot-tall and 150-foot-wide Live Oak tree provides a rich canopy of...

I-94 West open again after MN crash near border with Hudson, Wis.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

Thursday morning commuters, take note: Due to a crash, traffic on Interstate 94 West is reportedly still backed up near the border with Hudson, Wis.The westbound lane was closed earlier, with traffic diverted at exit 258 at St. Croix Trail North (Lakeland), just over the border in Minnesota from Hudson, Wis.The Minnesota Department of Transportation initially estimated the closure will last until about 8:45 a.m., but it is reportedly open again at 8 a.m.View traffic cameras at 511mn.org. Earlier, traffic appeared to be backed up into Wisconsin due to the crash.Related ArticlesLocal News | St. Paul’s Rice Park unveils last part of redesign: a high-tech lighting display Local News | Minnesota 36 overnight lane closures planned for next week Local News | Blue Cross employees stumble upon long-forgotten time capsules hidden in Eagan Local News | ‘Mission Impossible’? No, it’s an electrical worker dangling...

Casting call notice in Woodstock

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

WOODSTOCK, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Calling all actors! Hudson Valley Casting is hosting a casting call in Woodstock from mid to late July into early August. Those interested in attending can email [email protected]. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! For the first group of actors, Hudson Valley Casting is looking for 12 people, seven of whom resemble blue-collar construction workers or people who work with their hands. These actors ideally would be in their late 30s to 50s.For the second group of actors, 30 store shoppers will be cast. Most ages would work, according to Hudson Valley Casting. 5 things to know this Thursday, July 13 Extras are needed on the following days:Monday, July 17, day shoot (group one, six to eight extras)Friday, July 21, night shoot (group one, 12 extras)Monday, July 24, day shoot (group one, 12 extras)Tuesday, July 25, day shoot (group one, six extras)Monday, July 31, day shoot (group one, 15 extras)...

Troy City Council votes unanimously to investigate Harbour Point Gardens apartments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:11:54 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Troy City Council members didn't need to think twice, voting unanimously Wednesday night to start their own investigation into the Harbour Point Gardens apartment complex on Delaware Avenue. The vote also including a subpoena intending to compel complex management to stand before city council for questioning.Residents are quickly approaching a month without homes after Mayor Madden issued an emergency evacuation order June 22. A check of the complex shortly before the meeting shows the majority of the failing brick facades at the center of the evacuation order have been removed. However, major damage appears to also have been done to multiple air conditioning units and damage to several electrical meters caused during the demolition has also not been fixed. A National Grid crew on the scene telling NEWS10 they were there to cut power to additional units Wednesday afternoon due to issues requiring a qualified technician before service can be safely restored.The...