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Idalia strengthens over Gulf of Mexico and is now predicted to hit Florida as Category 4 hurricane

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

By DANIEL KOZIN (Associated Press)CEDAR KEY, Fla. (AP) — Florida residents living in vulnerable coastal areas were ordered to pack up and leave Tuesday as Hurricane Idalia gained steam in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and threatened to unleash life-threatening storm surges and rainfall.Idalia also pummeled Cuba with heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday, leaving the tobacco-growing province of Pinar del Rio underwater and many of its residents without power. Idalia had strengthened to a Category 2 system on Tuesday afternoon, with winds strengthening to 110 mph (177 kph) by Tuesday evening. The hurricane was projected to come ashore early Wednesday as a Category 4 system with sustained winds of at least 130 mph (209 kph) in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. The result could be a big blow to a state still dealing with lingering damage from last year’s Hurricane Ian.The National Weather Service in Tallahassee ...

6 regions targeted in biggest drone attack on Russia since it sent troops to Ukraine, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian officials accused Ukraine of targeting six Russian regions early Wednesday in what appeared to be the biggest drone attack on Russian soil since Moscow sent troops into Ukraine 18 months ago. Drones hit an airport in the western Pskov region and started a massive fire there, the governor and local media reported. More drones were shot down over Oryol, Bryansk, Ryazan, Kaluga and the Moscow region surrounding the Russian capital, according to the Defense Ministry. The strike in Pskov, which was first reported minutes before midnight, hit an airport in the region’s namesake capital and damaged four Il-76 transport aircraft, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported, citing emergency officials.Pskov regional Gov. Mikhail Vedernikov ordered all flights to and from the airport canceled Wednesday so damage could be assessed during daylight.Footage and images posted on social media showed smoke billowing over the city of Pskov and a large blaze. Vedernikov said t...

EPA head says he’s ‘proud’ of decision to block Alaska mine and protect salmon-rich Bristol Bay

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The nation’s top environmental official said he fully supports his agency’s decision to block a proposed gold and copper mine in Alaska’s salmon-rich Bristol Bay, even as the state of Alaska has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn that action.“Let me be clear, we are very proud of our decision to really evaluate the Pebble Mine project and do what is necessary to protect Bristol Bay,” Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday as he began a four-day tour of Alaska, starting in a Bristol Bay village.The EPA in January vetoed the proposed Pebble Mine, citing concerns with possible impacts on the aquatic ecosystem in southwest Alaska that supports the world’s largest sockeye salmon fishery. The region also has significant mineral resources.Last month, the state of Alaska asked the nation’s high court to intervene.“The EPA’s order strikes at the heart of Alaska’s sovereignty...

11 taken to hospital as Delta jetliner hits turbulence near Atlanta airport

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Eleven people on a Delta Air Lines flight were taken to the hospital on Tuesday after the plane hit turbulence while heading to Atlanta, officials said.Flight 175 had left Milan, Italy, and was about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport when the crew reported severe turbulence, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, which said it will investigate.The Airbus A350 landed safely at the airport shortly before 7 p.m.Eleven passengers and crew members were taken to the hospital, Delta said. It didn’t provide details on their injuries or conditions.The plane was carrying 151 passengers, 10 flight attendants and four pilots, Delta said.“Delta Care Team members are mobilizing to connect with customers,” Delta said in a statement. “Our priority is taking care of our customers and crew who sustained injuries.”The airline said Delta agents were providing food, lodging and re-booking for the uninjured customers.The...

Treating a tropical illness in Chicago: Patient's painful journey with malaria

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

CHICAGO — It’s not something urban doctors see very often but that didn’t stop a local team of specialists from helping a scientist suffering with the extreme effects of malaria.Lindsay Maess loves her work.“I am a field biologist, but I specialize in the rescue and rehabilitation of African primates,” she said.And she knows the risks.“One of them is getting tropical infections,” she said.In the 20 years she’s been traveling to Africa, the Quad City native has weathered multiple illnesses. Her latest was malaria, even after taking preventive medication.“I took my first malaria medication and it didn’t work,” she said. “My Nigerian doctor believed it was a counterfeit medication.”After two more failed treatments, her symptoms grew worse, impacting her central nervous system.“Just searing nerve pain into the face, the head, deep inside the tongue, still down my spine and left arm,” she said. “I could barely hold my head up. I couldn’t speak. I had onset of extreme vertigo. My heartrat...

Named after famous Oriole, Saints’ Brooks Lee is his own player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

With all due respect to his wife, Liz, Larry Lee, a baseball lifer, decided that if he ever had a son he would give him a baseball-oriented name.He was a big fan of Hall of Fame outfielder Lou Brock, but Brock Lee just didn’t click. Maybe he’d go with Major, but Major Lee? Too close to Major League, and too much pressure for someone who he knew was going to grow up playing the game.This is a 2023 photo of Brooks Lee of the Twins baseball team. This image reflects the Twins roster as of Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, in Fort Myers, Fla., when this image was taken. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)He settled on Brooks, with a tip of the cap to Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson. And the son with the baseball name will tell anyone who asks that he thinks that’s pretty cool, even if the facts can get twisted at times.“Most people think my first name is Lee,” Saints shortstop Brooks Lee said prior to going 1 for 4 in the Saints’ 5-4, 11-inning win over Columbus on Tuesday at CHS Field. “They cal...

Police: 3 Webster Groves properties the site of hate crimes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. – Webster Groves police are searching for the person or persons who wreaked chaos by burning signs on private property in suspected hate crimes.Words and messages of passion turned into ash, something that came as a surprise for those who live on North Bompart.“Early in the morning, when I was walking my dogs, I noticed my sign. I looked at my grass, I looked, and said, ‘What, was there a fire here or something?’” said Laura, a resident who lives in the neighborhood with her children and husband.What’s left is charred and burned grass, a sign once spreading messages of inclusion, now completely unrecognizable. It’s something Laura noticed early Monday morning while walking her dogs.“Someone burned the sign down,” she said.“That was a very personal, important thing for our family to show that we're in solidarity with individuals from different backgrounds and diversities.”At Webster Groves Baptist Church, feet away from the family’s home, yet another sign of the a...

Contreras homers twice to help Cardinals knock off Padres 6-5 in 10 innings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Willson Contreras homered twice, pinch-hitter Tommy Edman singled in the deciding run in the 10th inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 6-5 on Tuesday night to snap a four-game losing streak.Edman slammed the first pitch from Josh Hader (0-2) to left field with one out to bring in Maysn Winn. Richie Palacios set up the winning run with a two-strike bunt to move Winn to third.Contreras cut it to 4-3 in the sixth with his first homer, then tied it at 5 with a two-run homer in the eighth off Robert Suarez. Contreras has 15 homers. He three multi-homer games this season and 14 overall.JoJo Romero (4-1) struck out two batters in the 10th.Luis Campusano homered for San Diego, which has lost four of five to fall to 7-16 in August. The Padres are 0-11 in extra-inning games.Matthew Batten had four hits for San Diego. Ha-Seong Kim had two hits and reached base three times. He drove in a run in the eighth with a sacrifice fly.TRAINER’S ROOMCardinals: LHP...

FBI initiative aims to prevent school tragedies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Shaun Swearengen is a St. Louis parent who has safety on his mind. He is the father of a 6-year-old and a 17-year-old student.“I think about safety in the elementary school as well as the high school,” Swearengen said.He’s excited about an FBI initiative that aims to prevent school tragedies before it’s too late. The School Safety Initiative is a proactive effort to create threat assessment teams comprised of school counselors, staff, and school resource officers.The FBI shares research with schools to help identify any potential threat, with the idea of providing resources that could help.“The real goal here is that each school can create a team that fits their student body, their staff, their capabilities, and they can create the safest possible environment for their students,” said Jay Greenberg, special agent in charge of the St. Louis FBI office.Greenberg believes schools have a wealth of multidisciplinary experts, including SROs, faculty, staff, and counselors, cap...

Pattonville School District to add safety protocols following Friday night scare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:47:05 GMT

ST. ANN, Mo. – Hundreds of students and families were sent running Friday night when they thought they heard gunshots.The Maryland Heights Police Department dispelled any of those rumors following an investigation, and it was determined folks started running because they saw everyone else running.“When you see a group of kids running, dispersing from an area, and you are in the stands, you think, ‘Okay, what’s wrong? What are those kids running from?’” Pattonville School District Superintendent Barry Nelson said.On Tuesday, Pattonville School District announced it would upgrade its Friday night safety protocols by first taking a closer look at how its security is positioned inside the football stadium. The school district is also adding floodlighting in the parking lot and moving the stadium's security checkpoint in front of the ticketing area. Search for gunman after Ferguson police chief’s niece killed “What happened on Friday scared a lot of kids and we need to make adjustments...