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Marijuana recommendation by US health agency hailed as first step to easing weed restrictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration on marijuana policy, and Senate leaders hailed it Wednesday as a first step toward easing federal restrictions on the drug.HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Wednesday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the agency has responded to President Joe Biden’s request “to provide a scheduling recommendation for marijuana to the DEA.”“We’ve worked to ensure that a scientific evaluation be completed and shared expeditiously,” he added.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement that HHS had recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.“HHS has done the right thing,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “DEA should now follow through on this important step to greatly reduce the harm caused by draconian marijuana laws.”Rescheduling the drug would reduce or potentially eliminate criminal penalt...

176 world leaders and Nobel laureates urge Bangladesh to halt legal cases against Peace Prize winner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — More than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates have urged Bangladesh’s prime minister to suspend legal proceedings against Muhammad Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the use of microcredit to help impoverished people.In an open letter, the leaders, including former U.S. President Barack Obama, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and more than 100 Nobel laureates, said they were deeply concerned by recent threats to democracy and human rights in Bangladesh.“One of the threats to human rights that concerns us in the present context is the case of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus. We are alarmed that he has recently been targeted by what we believe to be continuous judicial harassment,” said the letter, dated Tuesday. “We are confident that any thorough review of the anti-corruption and labor law cases against him will result in his acquittal,” it said.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina responded by...

Forecasters warn of increased fire risk in Hawaii amid gusty winds, low humidity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The National Weather Service on Wednesday warned gusty winds and low humidity have increased the risk that fires could spread rapidly in the western parts of each Hawaiian island, three weeks after a deadly blaze tore through a coastal Maui town during a similar alert. But the agency said winds would not be as powerful compared to Aug. 8 when flames burned down much of Lahaina, killing at least 115 people and destroying more than 2,000 structures. The fire was the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century.Lahaina’s flames were fanned by wind gusts topping 60 mph (97 kph). This time, winds are forecast to be 15 to 30 mph (24 to 48 kph) with gusts up to 50 mph (80 kph), said Maureen Ballard, meteorologist at the agency’s Honolulu office.“There is a magnitude of difference between the wind speeds in this event versus August 8th,” Ballard said.The agency issued a Red Flag Warning for the leeward sides of the Hawaiian Islands through Thursday afternoon. It said g...

Alice Cooper loses cosmetics deal after remarks about trans people

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

(The Hill) - Rock singer Alice Cooper has lost his deal with an LGBTQ-owned cosmetics company after he called "cases of transgender" people a "fad." Cooper’s comments were published last week in an interview with Stereogum in which the singer was asked his opinion on gender-affirming care. The interviewer brought up Cooper’s 1974 interview with SPEC in which the singer said “everyone in the future will be bisexual.” “I’m understanding that there are cases of transgender, but I’m afraid that it’s also a fad and I’m afraid there’s a lot of people claiming to be this just because they want to be that,” Cooper said.  “I find it wrong when you’ve got a six-year-old kid who has no idea. He just wants to play, and you’re confusing him telling him, ‘Yeah, you’re a boy, but you could be a girl if you want to be.’” Cooper argued people should “at least become sexually aware” before they start considering their gender and claimed genitals are the “logical way...

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport breaks ground on West Gate Expansion project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin-Bergstrom International Airport broke ground on the West Gate Expansion project Wednesday. The project is led by Journey With AUS, which will increase terminal space beyond current gates 33 and 34, adding 84,500 gross square feet over three levels of space, according to a news release from AUS.Central Texas and Austin leaders gathered at the airport Wednesday for the groundbreaking. “This is just the start of a series of transformative airport projects that will modernize the AUS experience for everyone,” Mayor Kirk Watson said. “The Journey With AUS will bring unique changes to the traveler experience as we navigate turning this 24/7 facility into an active constructive site.” The expansion will add amenities for all travelers to enjoy such as new food and retail spaces, art through the City of Austin Arts in Public Places Program, more seating areas, the largest restrooms in the terminal, quiet places and private rooms for nursing or pumping an...

Need to know about lifesaving CPR? It’s probably wise not to ask Alexa or Siri

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

Ask Alexa or Siri about the weather. But if you want to save someone’s life? Call 911 for that.Voice assistants often fall flat when asked how to perform CPR, according to a study published Monday.Researchers asked voice assistants eight questions that a bystander might pose in a cardiac arrest emergency. In response, the voice assistants said:— “Hmm, I don’t know that one.”— “Sorry, I don’t understand.”— “Words fail me.”— “Here’s an answer … that I translated: The Indian Penal Code.”Only nine of 32 responses suggested calling emergency services for help — an important step recommended by the American Heart Association. Some voice assistants sent users to web pages that explained CPR, but only 12% of the 32 responses included verbal instructions.Verbal instructions are important because immediate action can save a life, said study co-author Dr. Adam Landman, chief information officer at Mass General Brigham in Boston.Chest compressions — pushing down hard and fast on the victim’s ch...

Byron Buxton returns to center field for Saints while on rehab assignment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

It was a sight for sore eyes, and a site for a sore knee: Byron Buxton in center field for the Saints on Wednesday night at CHS Field.Playing center field for the first time since Aug. 22 of last year, Buxton, on rehab assignment from the Twins as he recovers from a right hamstring strain, has been limited to serving as the Twins’ designated hitter this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last September.The Twins hope to be able to determine this week whether Buxton will be able to return to center field when his rehab stint is completed. The Twins had said that Buxton would sit out Thursday’s game, but Saints manager Toby Gardenhire said postgame that he was still waiting to hear from Twins officials on what the plan will be going forward.Buxton had a quiet night in the field, getting one putout on a soft fly ball and chasing down a double in left-center field. He was not made available to the media after the Saints’ 6-1 win over Columbus. Twins President...

State Fair’s Space Tower breaks down, will remain out of commission for the duration of event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

The Space Tower, a landmark on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, has broken down and will remain offline for the duration of the 12-day event, according to State Fair officials.The Fair opened Aug. 24 and closes on Labor Day, Sept. 4.The Space Tower, a Minnesota State Fair landmark, broke down on Aug. 30, 2023, and was to remain offline for the duration of the 12-day event, according to event officials. (Runner1928 via Wikimedia Commons)A staple of the State Fair since 1965, the tower and its slowly rising and spinning cylindrical rider platform have offered generations of fairgoers a 360-degree view of the Twin Cities and the attractions of the Falcon Heights fairgrounds, and its blinking lights provide a warm goodbye to departing visitors at nightfall.On Wednesday evening, Fair officials released a limited statement about the breakdown by email: “The Space Tower will not reopen during the 2023 State Fair. The ride requires specialized electronic equipment that will not arrive...

Peoria Police: 6 people shot in South Peoria late Wednesday night

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) - Peoria police have confirmed that five to six people were shot in South Peoria late Wednesday night. Officers were called to the 2200 block of West Marquette Street just before 9 p.m. That's in between South Westmoreland Avenue and Madison Park Terrace. A slew of rescue vehicles filled the street. Crime tape was draped across several parts of the intersection and the street. Multiple ambulances raced away from the scene after patients were loaded inside. On scene are the Peoria Police Department, Peoria County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police. Terry Burnside of the House of Hope said that he believed six people were shot. He believed that all six were teenagers. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said his office has not yet been called. Several on social media were reporting the incident. Videos of people gathered on Marquette were posted in many spots. Gun violence has ravaged Peoria in the past month. And in August, shootings have become an almost ...

Missouri Task Force 1 dispatched to Florida for Idalia relief

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:35 GMT

COLUMBIA, Mo. – On Wednesday night, 46 members of Missouri Task Force 1 sat stationed in Panama City, Florida, as the storm Idalia made its way through the Sunshine State and up to the nation’s southeast coastline. Missouri’s Task Force 1 is now ready to respond to whatever may arise. When they’ll return is anybody's guess.The Boone County Fire Protection District has helped equip first responders for disaster relief efforts.Members of the task force must be ready to deploy in just a few hours notice."It's a well-orchestrated machine to put 100,000 pounds of equipment on a tractor-trailer and getting moving down the road in four hours,” said Gale Blomenkamp, support services bureau director for the Boone County Fires Protective District.