COVID-19 UPDATES: 147 new COVID-19 cases in the area
Local health officials reported 147 new COVID-19 cases in the area Monday.
Continue ReadingMonth: February 2021
Justice Clarence Thomas reveals some sympathy for Trump’s baseless fraud claims
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday claimed election fraud is a threat to America, revealing in a forceful dissent some support for former President Donald Trump and Republicans who have refused to accept the result of the 2020 election. A longtime conservative, Thomas’ legal views naturally aligned with the Trump administration. But his dissent
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Analysts blast legislative tax plans
The independent Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy is ripping recent tax proposals being considered by the Idaho Legislature this year.
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Cinderblocks, wires & trees: how all-natural fish habitats are creating a brighter future for a local lake
Click here for updates on this story DAVENPORT, Iowa (WQAD) — Over 20 volunteers spent Saturday morning dragging cedar trees out onto Crow Creek Wildlife Management Area’s frozen lake. Each plant was tied with wire into groups, then anchored down with cinderblocks. When the ice opens up and the trees sink this spring, they’ll fall
Continue Reading School District defends use of solid white dividers in cafeterias
Click here for updates on this story BETTENDORF, Iowa (WQAD) — Officials with Pleasant Valley Community School District say returning to 100 percent in person learning on Feb. 16 felt like the first day of school all over again. And at Monday night’s school board meeting, they hope to ease any concerns families might have,
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Family of Gabriel Fernandez holds ceremony to honor him
Click here for updates on this story PALMDALE, California (KCAL/KCBS) — The family of Gabriel Fernandez released butterflies nearly eight years after his death, caused by child abuse. Saturday would’ve been his 16th birthday. “He had the biggest smile,” said Olivia Rubio, his cousin. “This is the way we need to celebrate Gabriel. We feel
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Virginia lawmakers vote to make state first in South to abolish death penalty
Virginia state lawmakers on Monday approved legislation that would abolish the death penalty in the state, moving the Old Dominion one step closer to becoming the first southern state to outlaw the practice. The bill — HB 2263 — now heads to Gov. Ralph Northam’s desk for final approval. The Democratic governor has previously signaled
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Sheriff’s office fills in details of shooting investigation
Taylor R. Murrieta, 42, of Idaho Falls has been pronounced dead after spending several days on life-support.
Continue Reading Aurora Police did not have basis to stop, frisk or restrain Elijah McClain, investigation finds
The Aurora, Colorado, police officers involved in the fatal confrontation with Elijah McClain in August 2019 did not have a legal basis to stop him, frisk him or physically restrain him, according to an independent investigative report released Monday. The report also questions the officers’ statements about McClain’s “superior strength,” criticizes emergency medical responders’ rash
Continue Reading 6 takeaways from Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing
Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s attorney general nominee, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday, vowing to preserve the integrity of the Justice Department and to fully prosecute the “heinous” crimes committed during the attack on the US Capitol last month. The chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
Continue Reading Neighbors help stop harassment of Asian American family
Click here for updates on this story LADERA RANCH, California (KCAL/KCBS) — Every night, neighbors take shifts protecting a local family that has been harassed in what appears to be anti-Asian American attacks. Home security video shows teens running up to Haijun Si’s home in Ladera Ranch, pounding on the door and at times flashing
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Idaho bill appears to eliminate coronavirus as an emergency
Legislation defining pandemics that would appear to eliminate the coronavirus pandemic from qualifying as an emergency in Idaho is going to the House.
Continue Reading NASA shares first video and audio, new images from Mars Perseverance rover
During its harrowing descent to the surface of Mars last Thursday, NASA’s Perseverance rover captured video that the agency is calling “How to Land on Mars.” The video, along with other newly released footage, gives earthlings back home a better sense of the sights and sounds on the red planet. Cameras on “Percy,” as the
Continue Reading New Jersey governor signs law decriminalizing marijuana use for those 21 years and older
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday signed bills to legalize and regulate marijuana use for those 21 and older, decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana and clarify marijuana and cannabis use and possession penalties for those younger than 21. “This legislation will establish an industry that brings equity and economic opportunity to our
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The US just suffered 500,000 COVID-19 deaths. Now Americans face a serious crossroads in the pandemic
A nightmare of this magnitude seemed unfathomable just a year ago. Half a million US lives have been lost to COVID-19. That’s more than the number of Americans killed in World War II. The victims of this silent enemy were young and old, spanning all backgrounds and corners of the country. And the pandemic is
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Investigation of Wyoming toddler found dead continues
Police in Wyoming continued Monday to investigate the death of a 2-year-old boy whose body was found in a dumpster at an apartment complex.
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Idaho spared gas price weather hit
Most of the country is experiencing a double-digit spike in gas prices as freezing weather forced the shutdown of refineries across the Gulf Coast and mid-west.
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The 737 Max is no longer Boeing’s biggest problem, after yet another safety grounding
Late last year it seemed Boeing was finally on the verge of moving past some of the biggest challenges in its history. US regulators lifted the 20-month grounding of the 737 Max, and Covid-19 vaccine approvals raised hopes for back-to-normal demand for air travel and aircraft purchases. But now Boeing faces perhaps a more serious
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Montana snowmobiler killed in Idaho mountain avalanche
A Montana man was killed in a large avalanche while riding a snowmobile in the Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho.
Continue Reading House Budget Committee votes to advance their Covid relief bill
The House Budget Committee voted Monday to advance President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief package, setting up the legislation aimed at fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout to go to the House floor for a vote later this week. The package includes direct aid to small businesses, $1,400 direct checks to Americans making
Continue Reading Boris Johnson lays out go-slow plan to take England out of lockdown by summer
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a four-step roadmap to take England out of its Covid-19 lockdown, declaring Monday that the nation was on a “one-way road to freedom.” The country has been in full national lockdown since January 4, after a new, more transmissible variant of coronavirus was discovered in southeast England.
Continue Reading Father-to-be killed, brother injured when gender reveal device explodes
Click here for updates on this story LIBERTY, NY (WABC) — A Sullivan County man was killed and his brother injured when a gender reveal device they were building exploded. It happened just before noon Sunday, with state police responding to a report of an explosion. Authorities say the investigation revealed that 28-year-old Christopher Pekny
Continue Reading Big student loan debt is not a ‘Harvard, Yale and Penn’ problem
On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden promised to cancel at least $10,000 of federal student loans for all borrowers in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Over 60 lawmakers and 17 state attorneys general have called on him to go further and cancel up to $50,000 administratively. When Biden was asked if he would cancel
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FDA issues updated guidance on adapting COVID-19 vaccines, tests and therapeutics for coronavirus variants
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued updated guidance for companies that plan to adapt their COVID-19 medical products — including vaccines, tests and therapeutics — to address the emergence of coronavirus variants. The agency said in an announcement on Monday that it expects that “manufacturing information will remain generally the same” for authorized
Continue Reading After sophisticated brain cancer surgery, woman finds skiing to be form of therapy
Click here for updates on this story AVON, CO (KCNC) — “When can I ski again?” is not the typical question you’d expect to hear from a patient just diagnosed with one of the most aggressive types of brain tumors, but that was exactly what was on the mind of 45-year-old Misty Gans. Gans, from
Continue Reading Cloned black-footed ferret ‘Elizabeth Ann’ could help determine fate of endangered animal
Click here for updates on this story FORT COLLINS, CO (KCNC) — A ferret named “Elizabeth Ann” in Northern Colorado is the first endangered animal native to the United States to be cloned. Elizabeth Ann, a Black-Footed Ferret, is an identical twin to its twin sister, “Willa,” who died more than 30 years ago. The
Continue Reading Transport Canada may consider banning Boeing 777s from airspace following engine fire
Click here for updates on this story TORONTO, Ontario (CTV News) — Transport Canada may consider temporarily banning certain Boeing 777s from Canadian airspace depending on what investigators uncover about an engine fire that forced a 777 to land shortly after takeoff from Denver over the weekend. The incident prompted Boeing to recommend grounding 777s
Continue Reading Police drop charges after Black teen jailed for walking in street during snowstorm
Click here for updates on this story PLANO, TX (KTVT) — A Black teenager in Collin County was arrested for walking home on a street during the winter storm and spent one night jailed in jail. Now the misdemeanor charge against Rodney Reese has been dropped. It was on February 16 when Reese was followed
Continue Reading Human traffickers use transportation corridors to avoid detection: report
Click here for updates on this story TORONTO, Ontario (CTV News) — Human traffickers are using transportation corridors to exploit more women and girls in Canada, a new report says. The report by The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, found that by continuously moving through cities and provinces sex traffickers keep their victims confused
Continue Reading Supreme Court allows release of Trump tax returns to NY prosecutor
The Supreme Court cleared the way for a New York prosecutor to obtain former President Donald Trump’s tax returns, dealing a massive loss to Trump who has fiercely fought to shield his financial papers from prosecutors. The documents will be subject to grand jury secrecy rules that restrict their public release. The ruling is a
Continue Reading Biden set to honor the half million US lives lost to coronavirus
President Joe Biden is slated to deliver remarks and participate in a candle-lighting ceremony Monday evening at the White House as the country approaches the grim milestone of 500,000 American lives lost to coronavirus. You can watch below. Biden is scheduled deliver remarks at 6:00 p.m. ET before he participates in a moment of silence
Continue Reading Man rescues his dog from frozen backyard pool
Click here for updates on this story SOUTHLAKE, TX (KTVT) — A Southlake man is warning people to watch over their pets over the next few days, after he had to rescue his dog from a frozen swimming pool. Rajat Sharma’s family was staying with neighbors after a pipe burst in their home. When they
Continue Reading New York Gov. Cuomo says he should have been more aggressive against Covid death ‘misinformation’ and announces nursing home reform initiative
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he should have been more “aggressive” in calling out reporters and politicians for “lying” about his handling of Covid-19 deaths among long-term care residents. Cuomo, who’s been accused of covering up the true scope of the death toll among the vulnerable population, said during a news conference Friday that
Continue Reading ‘We lost our family’: Barn fire kills every animal inside animal sanctuary
Click here for updates on this story NEWCASTLE, California (KOVR) — A devastating fire destroyed an animal sanctuary barn in Newcastle and killed every animal inside. Melyssa Descovich, the owner of The Enchanted Forest-Exotic Animal Sanctuary, said on Facebook that the flames tore through the barn at around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Descovich said the
Continue Reading ‘I’m not going to be forced to resign’: Unemployed for five months, a nurse can’t access benefits because company has her as a full-time
Click here for updates on this story CHICAGO (CBS) — (WBBM) — A nurse, pushed out in the middle of the pandemic months ago, said now her company is blocking her from getting benefits. The company said she’s still a full time employee. CBS 2’s Tara Molina is investigating the issue and how the facility
Continue Reading Engine debris rained over a mile across a Denver suburb. Now Boeing recommends suspending its 777s with that engine
Kieran Cain was playing basketball with his kids Saturday afternoon at an elementary school in greater Denver when he heard what sounded like a sonic boom and looked up. “We could see there was a giant black cloud of smoke high up in the sky, immediately followed by, you know what looked like pieces of
Continue Reading Pandemic brings new light to pet grief counseling: ‘It makes the loss even greater’
Click here for updates on this story BOSTON, MA (WBZ) — It’s a service that’s become especially important during the pandemic: pet grief counseling. Kaleel Sakakeeny of Roslindale is an ordained animal chaplain and pet grief counselor, one of few in the country. In 2019, he founded “Animal Talks,” a local business that aims to
Continue Reading Read: Interior secretary nominee Deb Haaland’s prepared remarks for her confirmation hearing
Democratic Rep. Deb Haaland of New Mexico, who has been nominated by President Joe Biden for interior secretary, is expected to discuss the “historic nature” of her confirmation by the Senate at her confirmation hearing Tuesday. Haaland, who will testify before the the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, would be the first Native American
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This 29-year-old cancer survivor is set to be the youngest American ever in space
Hayley Arceneaux, a 29-year-old cancer survivor and physician assistant at St. Jude children’s hospital, got an out-of-the-blue question from her employer last month: Would she like to go to space? “I remember laughing,” Arceneaux told CNN Business. “And then, I just said — ‘Yes! Yes, like, put my name down.’” Arceneaux will be one of
Continue Reading Historic San Francisco Victorian home’s jaunt amazes onlookers
Click here for updates on this story SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX) — San Francisco goes to great lengths to preserve its historic Victorian homes and, on Sunday, one of them took a journey. While it wasn’t a great length it was great entertainment. The Englander House is — or was — a 140-year-old Victorian mansion located
Continue Reading Family alleges abuse of grandmother at nursing facility
Click here for updates on this story SAN RAFAEL, California (KPIX) — After suffering a stroke in January, an 87-year-old grandmother was placed in the care of the Smith Ranch Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in San Rafael. The family says she was abused and neglected during her two-week stay. Photos and video provided by
Continue Reading Momentum is building for a stock-trading tax — and Wall Street is furious
Uncle Sam is in search for a pot of gold that could ease the pain of trillion-dollar deficits. And some believe Wall Street might just have the answer. For more than a decade, progressives have tried and failed to impose a financial transaction tax. But there is new momentum for such a levy as the
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Amy Poehler doesn’t know if UCB will reopen
Amy Poehler is unsure about the future of the Upright Citizens Brigade, the improv theater she co-founded. “What we said in our statement was true, which is, we were trying to own up to the things we did wrong or didn’t know or know now,” Poehler told The New York Times of the struggling theater.
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Teton County, Wyo. COVID-19 vaccination update
The Teton County Health Department opened registration Monday for the following population groups listed below.
Continue Reading They joined a movement focused on kindness. Some say it’s helped them get through the pandemic
Catherine Barrett says a neighbor’s small act of kindness was what sparked a now-global movement focused on all things good. Like most people around the globe in March 2020, Barrett was terrified of the then-novel coronavirus and watched as residents tried to navigate the crisis by canceling events, often panic buying and locking themselves inside
Continue Reading Biden administration rolls back Trump-era citizenship civics test
The Biden administration is rolling back the controversial Trump-era naturalization civics test, reverting to a prior version of the exam, according to a policy alert published Monday. US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers the test, announced it will go back to using a 2008 version. The agency had received thousands of comments on the
Continue Reading Another safety scare is the last thing Boeing needs
Boeing has spent years trying to assure customers, regulators and the public that its planes are safe. That job may have just gotten harder. What’s happening: Airlines in the United States, South Korea and Japan have grounded dozens of Boeing 777 aircraft after one of the jets suffered engine failure Saturday, sending debris crashing down
Continue Reading Australian Open Fast Facts
Here’s a look at the Australian Open, one of four competitions that make up the “Grand Slam” in professional tennis. The other three are Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open. February 8-21, 2021 – The 109th Australian Open takes place. January 20-February 2, 2020 – The 108th edition of the Australian Open takes
Continue Reading Peloton is releasing a cheaper treadmill. It’s still $2,495
Peloton is releasing a lower-priced treadmill to become more than a purveyor of high-end stationary-bikes. The public company, which reported revenue of more than $1 billion for the quarter ending in December, already has one treadmill on the market, called Tread+, which has earned celebrity endorsements from the likes of Miley Cyrus and Lizzo who
Continue Reading Hoarding situation at home leads to removal of over 40 cats
Click here for updates on this story WATERFORD, Connecticut (WFSB) — Dozens of cats were taken from a Waterford home this past Thursday. The cats had to be removed from the residence due to the hoarding situation inside. Officials had originally captured/trapped thirty-six cats from the elderly couple’s care, with an additional seven that were
Continue Reading Witness tip brings conviction in 21-year-old murder case of Juanita Zdroik
Click here for updates on this story RACINE COUNTY, WI (WDJT) — A Florida man was found guilty in a decades old murder case from Racine County. Juanita Zdroik was shot and killed 21 years ago. A tip, from a witness, helped bring her family some peace. The victim’s son, and county sheriff, spoke publicly
Continue Reading Democrats draft plan for commission to investigate January 6 insurrection
Democrats have drafted a plan for the formation of a 9/11 style commission designed to investigate what led to the January 6 Capitol insurrection. A senior Democratic aide involved in the negotiations described the plan as a discussion draft to begin the process of crafting the legislation that will be used to form the group.
Continue Reading Science Center uses cranes to bring in animatronic dinosaurs for new exhibit
Click here for updates on this story HARTFORD, Connecticut (WFSB) — More than a dozen animatronic dinosaurs made their way into Hartford on Monday. The Connecticut Science Center welcomed parts of their new exhibit called “Dinosaurs Around the World.” Some of the dinosaurs needed a giant crane parked outside so the staff could then use
Continue Reading This bitcoin bank’s stock has jumped nearly 1,300% in just over a year
The boom in bitcoin prices is giving a huge lift to a California bank that accepts cryptocurrency deposits and doles out bitcoin-backed loans. Shares of Silvergate Capital are up more than 120% so far this year -— and the stock has skyrocketed nearly 1,300% since going public in November 2019. Increasingly more financial services firms,
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Idaho panel OKs less restrictive ‘ballot harvesting’ bill
A revamped version of a proposed law making it a felony in Idaho for third parties to collect and return multiple ballots to election officials headed to the full House for debate and a vote after it passed in committee on Monday.
Continue Reading Family of Americans held hostage in Iran urges Biden administration to make release key part of Iran policy
The family of two Iranian-Americans held in Iran is urging the Biden administration to make the release of hostages a key part of its Iran policy and to ensure that they are not left behind again. Babak Namazi, the son of Baquer and brother of Siamak Namazi, told reporters Monday that it “pains (him) greatly
Continue Reading Minnesota priest auctions off baseball card collection for charity
Father John Ubel has been collecting baseball cards for 50 years. Now, he is stepping up to the plate and auctioning off his most valuable cards to raise money for grade school scholarships in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ubel, a lifelong Minnesota Twins fan and the rector at St. Paul’s Cathedral, began collecting baseball cards in
Continue Reading Garland gets emotional during Senate confirmation hearing
Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland fought back tears on Monday during his confirmation hearing when he explained to senators on his panel why this role is important to him. “I come from a family where my grandparents fled anti-Semitism and persecution. … I feel an obligation to the country to pay back for protecting us,”
Continue Reading Tanden’s OMB confirmation on brink of collapse after two GOP senators say they won’t support her nomination
The confirmation of Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management and Budget is on the brink of collapse after two key Republicans announced Monday that they will vote against her nomination, citing her past social media behavior. Tanden’s nomination in the evenly split Senate was jeopardized late last week when Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin
Continue Reading Iran reaches deal with global nuclear watchdog for inspections over the next 3 months
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has struck a deal with Iran that will give its inspectors continued access to verify and monitor nuclear activity in the country for the next three months, potentially laying the ground work for Washington and Tehran to kick-start nuclear talks. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said Sunday that the two
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Hadaka Matsuri: Japan’s famed Naked Festival canceled for all but a select few
This time a year ago, thousands gathered for Japan’s annual Hadaka Matsuri — also popularly known as the “Naked Festival”– in Okayama prefecture in the southern part of Honshu island. In today’s climate of social distancing, the video highlights from last year’s event (see above) are a surreal reminder of how much has changed since
Continue Reading READ: Clarence Thomas’ dissent in Pennsylvania election decision
The Supreme Court on Monday denied an appeal from Republicans challenging a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allowed ballots received up to three days after Election Day to be counted to accommodate challenges by the coronavirus pandemic. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a forceful dissent. Read it here: cnn.com/2021/02/22/politics/thomas-dissent-in-pa-election/index.html
Continue Reading Oil spill leads Israel to close beaches as it faces one of its ‘most severe ecological disasters’
Israeli authorities are trying to locate the source of a suspected oil spill that has been described as one of the most severe ecological disasters to hit the country, threatening wildlife, forcing beaches to close and prompting a mass cleanup. Blobs of sticky tar started washing up on the country’s Mediterranean shores last week. Images
Continue Reading More than a week with no power, Oregonians demand answers from PGE
Click here for updates on this story PORTLAND, Oregon (KPTV) — Thousands of Oregonians are still in the dark, and for many, they’ve been without power for more than a week. Those affected are demanding answers from Portland General Electric. There are still about 38,000 customers without power because of that historic winter storm. PGE’s
Continue Reading Janet Yellen on what a successful economic recovery looks like
The US economy is still at the mercy of the pandemic. But for policy makers to help the recovery along, we must first get the virus under control, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. “Success on the public health front is a key metric that we will be watching,” Yellen said during an interview with the
Continue Reading Becerra expected to face heat over lack of experience but stress his personal and professional history at confirmation hearing
President Joe Biden’s nominee for the nation’s top health position Xavier Becerra will stress his upbringing as a son of a Mexican immigrant, his father’s recent passing and his history expanding health care access during his time as a longtime congressman and California’s attorney general, in a pitch to senators at his confirmation hearing on
Continue Reading The Coast Guard rescued 10 people stranded on ice floes in Lake Erie
Ten people became stranded on floating sheets of ice in Lake Erie on Sunday, requiring rescue from the local Coast Guard. The group became stuck on two ice floes near a waterfront park in Cleveland, Ohio, the Coast Guard’s Great Lakes unit said. Six of the people stranded were rescued with the Coast Guard’s ice
Continue Reading Microsoft wades into Facebook news fight by siding with European publishers
Microsoft is joining forces with publishers in Europe to call for an Australia-style system that would force tech platforms such as Google and Facebook to pay news organizations for content. The company said Monday that it would team up with media industry groups like the European Publishers Council to lobby for such a policy, which
Continue Reading Biden administration changes PPP rules to help reach the smallest businesses
The Biden administration announced several changes Monday to the Paycheck Protection Program in an effort to reach minority-owned and very small businesses that may have previously missed out on accessing loans to help weather the coronavirus pandemic. Starting Wednesday, small businesses with fewer than 20 employees will have a two-week exclusive window to apply for
Continue Reading As the US nears 500,000 COVID-19 deaths, Americans hold the key to steering the course of the pandemic
On the brink of a devastating milestone — 500,000 US COVID-19 deaths — the US is at a crossroads in the course of this pandemic. While numbers of new cases and hospitalizations go down, reports of new, highly contagious variants go up. And while vaccinations slowly increase, some Americans say they won’t get a COVID-19
Continue Reading The Texas deep freeze could force this energy company out of business
Electricity and gas provider Just Energy warned that the financial impact of the Texas winter storms could force it out of business. Just Energy said Monday that it could lose about $250 million from Texas’ deep freeze that left millions without power last week. The hit “could be materially adverse to the Company’s liquidity and
Continue Reading Rapper pleading for an end to gun violence after shooting left his barbershop damaged
Click here for updates on this story ATLANTA, GA (WGCL) — Killer Mike, a popular Atlanta rapper, songwriter, actor, and activist is pleading for an end to gun violence after someone shot up a barbershop he owns. Killer Mike, whose real name is Mike Render, posted to his Instagram page the shooting happened over the
Continue Reading Public Schools teachers get vaccinated as students return to class
Click here for updates on this story KANSAS CITY, Kansas (KCTV/KSMO) — As districts start the process of returning to in-person learning, more teachers are asking for the COVID vaccine. Starting Monday, elementary students who have major connectivity issues, and those at-risk of not completing the grade level will be learning from the classrooms. It
Continue Reading Supreme Court denies election appeal from Pennsylvania Republicans
The Supreme Court on Monday denied an appeal from Republicans challenging a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that allowed ballots received up to three days after Election Day to be counted to accommodate challenges by the coronavirus pandemic. The court’s action is the latest sign that the justices have no interest in cases concerning the 2020
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Republican governors fight energy executive order
Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon is leading a coalition of 17 Republican Governors asking President Joe Biden to withdraw an executive order banning new oil and gas development on federal land or offshore waters.
Continue Reading A spacecraft named for ‘Hidden Figures’ mathematician Katherine Johnson has arrived on the International Space Station
A spacecraft named for the famed NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson has arrived at the International Space Station with about 8,000 pounds of cargo in tow. The S.S. Katherine Johnson, a Northrop Grumman Cygnus resupply spacecraft, launched on Saturday from a NASA facility in Virginia and made it to the space station early Monday morning. It
Continue Reading Community helping elderly woman whose house caught fire after neighbor’s home exploded
Click here for updates on this story MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) — The tragedy in the Happy Hills community is also impacting victims Tony and Leila Lewis’ neighbors. That horrific fire Wednesday night — spread to the house next door, which is also a total loss. Pearlie Howard, known to most as “Miss Pearl,” and her
Continue Reading How Joe Biden can boost the economic recovery by expanding internet access
Nearly a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, many Americans remain stuck trying to work, attend school and socialize from home. For tens of millions of them, this is made more difficult because they lack access to fast, reliable internet at home. That means millions of American kids are unable to do at-home schoolwork. Millions of
Continue Reading Biden is president, but Trump’s election lies are still being amplified by his media allies
A version of this article first appeared in the “Reliable Sources” newsletter. You can sign up for free right here. USA Today and Suffolk University conducted a survey of 1,000 Trump voters, identified via 2020 polls, in the past week. The results reaffirm that Donald Trump’s big lies are now part of the bedrock of
Continue Reading Black women executives making history in the c-suite offer career advice to those following in their footsteps
Kamala Harris isn’t the only Black woman making history in 2021. The January 20 swearing-in of the nation’s first woman, Black and southeast Asian vice president came at a pivotal moment for Black women in the business world, which up until recently has failed miserably to increase the number of Black executives — male and
Continue Reading Bill Gates: Tradeoffs in Texas led to deaths
In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Bill Gates said deaths during Texas’ winter freeze were preventable, caused by the state’s decision not to weatherize its energy. Gates pushed back on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s claim that frozen wind turbines were to blame for the massive power failure. Gates said America’s dependence on renewable energy
Continue Reading ‘It was emotional for all of us’: High school student gets special moment on Senior Night after rare Covid complication ends her season
Click here for updates on this story CLINTON, IA (WQAD) — From the outside looking in, it’s hard to see what’s really going on. For the Clinton River Queens, that’s true. The Queens went through the ups and downs of the season without their star point guard, Elle Davis. “She’s got a really nice shot,”
Continue Reading Loved ones of Tony and Leila Lewis not letting tragedy of final moments taint their memory
Click here for updates on this story MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) — For decades, Tony and Leila Lewis were fixtures in their community, touching so many people who showed their love outside of the couples home Saturday afternoon, leaving candles at their steps which now lead to an unrecognizable pile of ashes and memories. The husband
Continue Reading National Guard to deliver water to Charleston
Click here for updates on this story CHARLESTON, Arkansas (KFSM) — According to Franklin County Emergency Management (FCEM), the Arkansas National Guard will deliver a water hippo to Charleston sometime after 8:30 a.m. on Monday (Feb. 22) to help Mill Town/Washburn Public Water Authority (MTWPWA) customers who are in need of drinking water. The water
Continue Reading Another United Airlines flight experienced a right engine failure in 2018
The dramatic engine failure on a United Airlines flight flung debris across neighborhoods outside Denver and caused the airline to ground more than 20 planes out of caution. It’s the second time in three years that the right engine failed during a United Airlines flight. In 2018, a Boeing 777 bound for Honolulu lost the
Continue Reading Yes, Donald Trump is in very *real* legal jeopardy
The Supreme Court’s rejection of Donald Trump’s attempts to keep his tax returns out of the hands of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance is a potent reminder of this fact: The former President is in real legal jeopardy — on a number of fronts. In the narrowest aperture what the court’s ruling means is that
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‘Absolutely defeated’: Black nurses struggle with mental health support while battling Covid-19
Throughout Olivia Thompson’s 12-hour shift as a cardiac and Covid-19 nurse in Chandler, Arizona, she closely monitors the oxygen levels of several patients at a time and works with other medical specialists to heal them. For some, no amount of care Thompson gives prevents them from being transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. “There were
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Kangaroo painted over 17,000 years ago is Australia’s oldest known rock art, scientists say
A painting of a kangaroo in Western Australia is the oldest known rock art in the country, according to scientists, who say radiocarbon-dating analysis shows it was created more than 17,000 years ago. The kangaroo depiction was among a number of rock paintings first recorded by researchers in the 1990s in the Kimberley region, which
Continue Reading Boris Johnson lays out ‘irreversible’ plan to take England out of lockdown by summer
Boris Johnson has set out a four-step roadmap to take England out of lockdown. The country has been in full national lockdown since January 4, after a new, more transmissible variant of coronavirus was discovered in southeast England. All being well, Johnson’s government is hopeful that most of the economy will be able to open
Continue Reading Covid-19 devastated this small city. Volunteers are going door-to-door to ensure people get vaccinated
The last 12 months have been tolling for Linda Harris, who lives in a small Southwest Georgia city hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m tired of losing grandparents, grandmamas, granddaddys and some of our small children, too.” Back-to-back funerals and a marathon proved to be deadly, as the virus quickly spread throughout Albany, Georgia.
Continue Reading UK study finds one dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine reduces risk of infection by 72%
New data shows that the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine “provides high levels of protection against infection and symptomatic disease,” Public Health England (PHE) said in a press release on Monday. PHE’s Siren Study, which was carried out on healthcare workers aged under the age of 65, found that one dose of the
Continue Reading Rio Tinto blew up a sacred site in Australia. The CEO left but still got a huge payout
Rio Tinto’s former CEO got a huge payout last year despite being forced to resign over the company’s destruction of a sacred Indigenous site in Australia. Jean-Sébastien Jacques received £13.3 million ($18.6 million) in pay and long-term incentive rewards in 2020, compared to £7.1 million ($9.9 million) the previous year, according to the company’s annual
Continue Reading Garland vows to prosecute White supremacists and others who attacked Capitol on January 6
Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden’s attorney general nominee, vowed Monday to prosecute the “heinous” crimes committed in the attack on the US Capitol and to redouble the Justice Department’s efforts to provide equal justice amid heated policy debates over race and the criminal justice system. Garland is testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday,
Continue Reading Supreme Court agrees to hear challenge to Trump administration’s public charge rule
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up a case brought by various groups and state and local officials challenging a Trump-era rule that makes it more difficult for immigrants to obtain legal status if they use public benefits, such as Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers. The rule, issued by the Trump administration
Continue Reading Boris Johnson announces plan to take England out of lockdown
Boris Johnson has set out his four-step roadmap to take England out of lockdown. The country has been in full national lockdown since January 4, after a new, more transmissible variant of coronavirus was discovered in southeast England. All being well, Johnson’s government is hopeful that most of the economy will be able to open
Continue Reading Dominion sues MyPillow and its CEO Mike Lindell for $1.3 billion
Dominion Voting Systems, the election technology company that has been the focus of debunked conspiracy theories about election fraud, is suing MyPillow and its CEO Mike Lindell. The company is seeking about $1.3 billion in damages for Lindell’s numerous unfounded public statements by allies of former President Donald Trump that Dominion rigged its machines in
Continue Reading Supreme Court takes up Trump regulation on abortion counseling
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to a Trump administration rule barring federally funded health care providers in the Title X family planning program from referring patients for abortions. Lower courts have split on the Trump administration’s regulation, which critics call a “gag rule” and is currently in effect in most
Continue Reading Disney+ warns viewers that ‘The Muppet Show’ includes offensive content
Disney+ is warning viewers that some episodes of “The Muppet Show” feature “negative depictions” and “mistreatment of people or cultures.” The variety show, which ran for 120 episodes in the 1970s and features puppet characters interacting with celebrity guests, was added to Disney’s streaming service last week. Viewers are being shown the warning label before
Continue Reading Aurora set to release investigation into death of Elijah McClain
The city of Aurora, Colorado, is set to release on Monday an investigation into the death of Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Black man who died after he was put in a chokehold by police and injected with ketamine in August 2019. The investigative team is expected to present its findings, including a timeline and review
Continue Reading ‘We’ve lost 40 animals’: Barn fire claims sanctuary animal lives
Click here for updates on this story NEWCASTLE, CA (KCRA) — An animal sanctuary near Auburn is suffering a major loss. Dozens of its creatures died in an early morning barn fire Sunday. “I saw that it was 3:30 in the morning … so I held my breath when I answered the phone,” said Melyssa
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