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One-third of Americans under heat alerts as blistering weather spreads from Southwest to California

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — More than a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings Thursday as a blistering heat wave that’s been baking the nation spread further into California, forcing residents to seek out air conditioning or find other ways to stay cool in triple-digit temperatures. The sweltering conditions were expected to build Friday and through the weekend in Central and Southern California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned. Highs in inland desert areas could top 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the day, and remain in the 80s (above 26.6 C) overnight, offering little relief. In the desert city of Palm Springs, many homeless people were left to contend with the heat on their own, with just 20 indoor beds at the lone overnight shelter. John Summers, a homeless resident, climbed through a dry riverbed Thursday to seek shade at an encampment. “...

CPD: Body of man found in Chicago River near The Salt Shed

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

CHICAGO -- A body was recovered from the Chicago River near The Salt Shed concert venue Thursday evening.According to the Chicago Police Department, officers recovered a male's body from the Chicago River near the 1300 block of North Elston Ave just before 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 13. Suburban woman allegedly offering ‘too good to be true’ vacations, scamming customers out of thousands The male recovered from the Chicago River was pronounced dead at the scene. CPD confirmed that the body recovered was identified as a 63-year-old man.No further information has been made available at this time.26-year-old Noah Enos' body was recovered from the water near the 1300 block of North Elston Avenue near the Salt Shed on June 19.Stay with WGN as this story develops.

Lisa Marie Presley's cause of death revealed by autopsy report

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lisa Marie Presley died from complications from bariatric surgery she had several years ago, authorities said Thursday.The January 12 death at age 54 of the singer, songwriter and heir of Elvis Presley was ruled as being from natural causes due to effects of a small bowel obstruction.Additional details about what caused Presley's death were included in an autopsy report released Thursday afternoon by the office of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.The report says the complication that Presley experienced is a common complication from bariatric surgery, which is a weight loss procedure. The Mayo Clinic says it is often done when other weight loss methods haven't worked or if a person has a serious medical condition.Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caus...

Thursday Forecast: Clear, seasonably mild as we head into the weekend

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.CHICAGO — Thursday will be fairly quiet with some patchy fog to start the day and a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day. Highs will reach the mid to upper 70s this afternoon with light northwesterly winds. 4 confirmed tornadoes after Wednesday night’s storms: National Weather Service Our next chance of showers and storms moves in overnight will just a small chance of non-severe storms likely after midnight. Thursday night:  Isolated t-storms exit the area. Becoming mainly clear, seasonably mild. Low: 67.Friday: Sun through building summertime cumulus clouds. Quite warm, and humid. Scattered thunderstorms develop over at least half the metro area before the day is over. High: 86/locally near 90 in some of the typically warmer locations. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Saturday:  Seasonably warm under a mix of sun and clouds. Scattered mainly afternoon and early evening thunderstorms bubb...

Arizona Republican’s 'colored people' remark draws floor rebuke

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

A Republican lawmaker on Thursday referred to African Americans as “colored people” on the House floor, prompting outrage from Democrats and a quick rebuke from the chamber’s presiding officer.Rep. Eli Crane (R), an Arizona freshman, was reprimanded after he took to the floor to promote an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that he says will rein in Defense Department “wokeness” — a racially charged concept that has divided the parties and the country in recent years. During debate over the amendment, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) — the former head of the Congressional Black Caucus — railed against the measure, arguing that Republicans were “setting us back.”“I’m old enough to remember when Black officers, when women, were not allowed to serve,” Beatty said. “You are setting us back. On this floor on both sides of the aisle we have people of color, we have people who have served.”Crane, a former Navy Seal, shot back after Beatty concluded her remarks, arguing th...

New DSHS dashboard tracks fentanyl data in Texas

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the launch of the Texas fentanyl data dashboard.The dashboard by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is part of the statewide "One Pill Kills" campaign, according to the Governor’s Office.“This dashboard, available on Texas Health Data, reflects the expansion of data on fentanyl and other drug poisoning deaths published by DSHS online. Texans can now access information that includes fentanyl-related deaths from 2014 to 2023 and lets users view them over time, by demographics or by geography,” the Governor’s Office said. Abbott signs Texas bill allowing fentanyl deaths to be prosecuted as murder According to a statement from Abbott, information on fentanyl and other drug poisonings comes from death certificates.“It shows that fentanyl-related deaths have exploded over the last few years, increasing more than 575 percent over a four-year period from 317 in 2019 to 2,161 in 2022. The numbers also reveal that eve...

Texas softball adds infielder Joley Mitchell via transfer portal from Notre Dame

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns softball team added of the best players from the Atlantic Coast Conference through the transfer portal.Head coach Mike White announced Wednesday that Joley Mitchell, an infielder who spent four years playing for Notre Dame, signed a scholarship agreement to play for the Longhorns next season. She has two years of eligibility remaining.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersMitchell was an all-ACC first-team selection last season while hitting .383 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 49 games. She's a classic power-speed threat with a .658 slugging percentage and 15 stolen bases in 2023."Joley will be a difference maker for us over the next two years," White said. "She will be a consistent power threat who will hit for average and have the speed to steal bases as well. More importantly, though, she will add leadership to our program with her wo...

Theater review: History Theatre’s hit murder musical ‘Glensheen’ entertaining as ever

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

There’s a palpable sense of absence in downtown St. Paul this summer, as the financially troubled Park Square Theatre sits dark when it would customarily be presenting one of its very popular summer murder mysteries. But if you need a little murder in your life, it’s available blocks away at the History Theatre.“Glensheen” originally premiered in 2015 and has become one of the Twin Cities’ most unlikely theatrical success stories. Who would think that a musical comedy about one of the state’s most notorious murders would become such a hit?Yet the latest incarnation of “Glensheen” makes clear the reasons for its success. Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher and composer Chan Poling have crafted a consistently clever and tremendously tuneful musical about the 1977 murder of heiress Elisabeth Congdon and nurse Velma Pietila, and the subsequent trials of Congdon’s daughter, Marjorie Caldwell, and her husband, Roger Caldwell.And the 2023 production — featuring six of 2015’s original seven actors —...

Gophers lose defensive end recruit after Clemson offer

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

The Gophers football program’s 2024 recruiting class took a hit on Thursday.Palm Bay, Fla., defensive end Adam Kissayi said he has decommitted from Minnesota. The decision came after the highly-regarded three-star, 6-foot-7, 230-pound prospect received a scholarship offer from Clemson. He also has offers from Michigan, Nebraska and others.“All love to the University of Minnesota, to (head coach) PJ Fleck and to (defensive line coach Winston DeLattiboudere), those guys are doing a great job In Minneapolis, but I am now decommitting from UM,” he wrote on Twitter. “Thank you Gopher family.”Minnesota’s class for next season has 23 pledges and has slipped out of the top 25 in the nation, per 247sports.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | After wiping away tears, Gophers receiver Chris Autman-Bell found his ‘grit’ College Sports | Gophers football program receives commitment from Kansas offensive lineman for 2024 College Sports | Gophers ...

Bethlehem Drag Queen Story Hour draws supporters, those opposed

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 21:01:49 GMT

BETHLEHEM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Drag Queen Story Hours are not new to libraries in the Capital Region, but decisions over whether to hold them have gotten a lot of attention in recent months. The Bethlehem Library hosted one on Thursday.The library's director said more than 100 people showed up, including supporters and people who opposed it. While leaders acknowledged the controversy it could cause, they said libraries should not stay away from difficult topics and should, instead, teach people how to respect those with different viewpoints. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "Lots of people who agreed with the program and some folks who did not agree with the program," Bethlehem Library Dir. Geoffrey Kirkpatrick said. "And everybody was here and engaged peacefully , and the program went off without a hitch."The director said the library would consider hosting another Drag Queen Story Hour given the high level of community interest.