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‘Something’s changed’: Summer 2023 is screaming climate change, scientists say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

Earlier this summer, two Canadians walked into a party in rural Germany.“Canadians?” joked the host. “I thought you’d smell more like smoke.”It’s been that kind of season. Floods, drought, warm waters lapping three coasts — but mostly wildfire smoke from sea to sea and overseas. Yes, this is climate change, scientists say, and expect more weather weirdness to come.“It’s been a wild ride,” said Danny Blair, co-director of the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg. “It’s been a season and a year of extremes.”Drought is one example. Canada’s a big place and it’s always dry somewhere, but not like this.Agriculture Canada’s June 30 drought map shows most of the country was abnormally dry. Large stretches of the Prairies were under at least a moderate drought, pushing to extreme in southern Alberta.In British Columbia, once the “wet coast,” 28 out of 34 river basins were at...

A fugitive mob suspect in Greece is betrayed by his passion for hometown Naples soccer champions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — Hometown passion for this year’s soccer champions from Naples has betrayed the hideout of a longtime crime fugitive from Italy, who was captured while riding a motor scooter on a Greek island, Italian police said Saturday. Naples-based Carabinieri paramilitary police said the man, who was on Italy’s list of 100 most dangerous fugitives, was spotted in a photo of fans in a restaurant in Corfu, who were celebrating after the Napoli soccer squad clinched Italy’s top league championship a few weeks ago. Police then headed to Corfu to tail the fugitive, identified by them as 60-year-old Vincenzo La Porta, who had been on the lam for 11 years.They didn’t specify when his recent arrest was carried out, but said officers blocked him going down a Corfu street on a motor scooter.La Porta, considered close to a crime clan of the Naples-based Camorra syndicate, has been convicted in absentia of criminal association, tax evasion and fraud, the police said.He is now in a Greek j...

Slovenia has suffered its worst-ever floods. Damage could top 500 million euros, its leader says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia has faced the worst-ever natural disaster in its history, Prime Minister Robert Golob said Saturday, after devastating floods caused damage estimated at half a billion euros ($550 million). Devastating floods on Thursday and Friday killed three people and destroyed roads, bridges and houses in the small Alpine country. Two thirds of the territory had been affected, Golob said. The floods were “the biggest natural disaster” in Slovenia’s history, Golob said after a meeting of the country’s National Security Council on Saturday. “Luckily, last night was easier than the one before.”After three weather-related deaths were reported on Friday, Slovenian media said on Saturday that one more person was found dead in the capital Ljubljana. Police are yet to confirm the report. The floods were caused by torrential rains on Friday which caused rivers to swell swiftly and burst into houses, fields and towns. Slovenia’s weather service ...

Woman found stabbed to death on road in Oak Forest: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

OAK FOREST, Ill. -- Oak Forest police are investigating a domestic homicide where a woman was found with fatal stab wounds in the road Friday night. Police said 30-year-old Lauren Pikor was found in the road near the 5300 block of Diamond Drive around 10.p.m. with fatal lacerations and stab wounds. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Dior store employee robbed at gunpoint in Gold Coast Oak Fores police are currently investigating the incident. If any information is recovered on the incident, contact Detective Sergent Ryan Burnett at 708-687-1376.

Child found under Florida roller coaster track with traumatic injuries, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

ORLANDO (WFLA) – A 6-year-old was found injured Thursday after an incident at a Florida amusement park, according to local officials.Osceola County Fire Rescue responded to the Fun Spot America amusement park in Kissimmee after a caller reported a child falling from a roller coaster.Firefighters found the child under the coaster's track, which was 20 feet overhead.The 6-year-old suffered traumatic injuries and was rushed to the hospital, officials said. He's currently recovering."I can't even imagine if it was my child," Neverlyn Johnson, a visitor who brought her grandkids to the park, told Nexstar's WFLA."It's been happening. People being stuck. The rides being cracked and damaged, and people falling off … it's unbelievable," Johnson said. Another crack in the coaster? Defect found on Carowinds ride after July repairs On Friday, Fun Spot released a statement claiming all safety procedures had been followed prior to the incident."On Thursday August 3rd, 2023 an unfortunate incide...

Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce: Reduced pesticides can double pollinator

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

Did you know reducing pesticides can double the number of Pollinator? Check out Weekend Gardening with Tim Joyce for more tips. Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Alcohol vs. cannabis vs. tobacco: Doctors answer which is worst for you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – In nearly half of the United States, all three are legal for those over 21: alcohol, tobacco and marijuana. However, the three substances come with different rules, taxes and – of course – health effects. We posed the question to three doctors around the country: How do alcohol, weed and cigarettes rank when it comes to your health?All three doctors agreed on which is best. First off, they had a few conditions. "It is difficult to conclusively rank them in the order of their risks, since there have been no major randomized controlled head-to-head trials among the substances," said Dr. Michael L. Glickman, a Washington, D.C. family medicine doctor and weight loss expert. He added that the amount you consume of each substance also greatly impacts your risk of bad effects. Where recreational marijuana is – and isn’t – legal in 2023 Dr. Anand Akhil, a behavioral health doctor with Cleveland Clinic, also pointed out that each individual has their own risk factors based on ...

DeSantis' biggest donor cuts off funds, demands moderate shift

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

(The Hill) – One of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) most prominent donors told reporters on Friday that he would cut off funds to his 2024 campaign if he didn't adopt a more "moderate approach."Robert Bigelow, the founder of Budget Suites of America and Bigelow Aerospace, told Reuters in an interview that he spoke with DeSantis' campaign and said DeSantis risks losing Bigelow's support unless he shifts his agenda to target moderates."He'll lose if he doesn't," he said, referring to DeSantis' chances against former President Trump. "Extremism isn't going to get you elected."He added that his funding wouldn't resume "until I see that he's able to generate more on his own.""I'm already too big a percentage," Bigelow claimed. "A lot of his donors are still on the fence." Biden says he doesn’t watch TV, shares ‘worst advice’ he ever got When asked what led him to the decision to curb funding, the entrepreneur pointed to what he called the governor's "extreme positions" on policy, includ...

AFD: Multiple fires merge into one along southwest Austin roadway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Saturday, Austin Fire said it was responding to a brush fire in southwest Austin.AFD said multiple small fires merged along the side of the roadway near the 6800 block of Southwest Parkway.The cause of the fire remained undetermined, but AFD said multiple fires along the road are typically from a trailer dragging a safety chain.Austin firefighters respond to fires on Southwest Parkway on Aug. 5, 2023. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Austin firefighters respond to fires on Southwest Parkway on Aug. 5, 2023. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Austin firefighters respond to fires on Southwest Parkway on Aug. 5, 2023. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Austin firefighters respond to fires on Southwest Parkway on Aug. 5, 2023. (Courtesy Austin Fire Department)Fire crews were able to get the fire under control and were mopping up hot spots as of 9:39 a.m., according to AFD.

Mega Millions jackpot climbs to historic amount; $1 million ticket sold in Texas

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:32 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The current Mega Millions jackpot is estimated at $1.55 billion dollars, which would make it the largest in the game’s nearly three-decade history.For now, though, that figure is only an estimate: Officials say there’s a slight possibility Tuesday’s jackpot could fall short of the record (a $1.537 billion jackpot awarded in 2018), but it doesn’t look likely.“With enthusiastic players across the country, many of whom are newcomers to the game, it is indeed likely that there will be a new record Mega Millions jackpot,” reads a press release issued by Mega Millions. “However, we won’t know for sure until we get closer to Tuesday’s drawing; at this level, jackpots are hard to predict with complete accuracy.” Why the Mega Millions jackpot winner won’t actually get the jackpot amount Friday night’s winning numbers — 11, 30, 45, 52, 56, and the Mega Ball 20 — went unmatched once again, continuing a months-long trend that began after the last jackpot winner was announced on Ap...