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Clock ticks as debt ceiling deadline nears

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) -- After a tumultuous weekend of on-again/off-again negotiations, President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy will meet at the White House Monday evening.Ahead of the meeting, though, McCarthy and Biden appeared no closer to striking a deal."It's very hard to get them off that spending spree that they're addicted to," McCarthy said.Biden said he couldn't "guarantee that they wouldn't force a default by doing something outrageous. I can't guarantee that."Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns that if Congress doesn't agree to raising the debt ceiling the US could see catastrophic consequences."It's not an acceptable situation for us to be unable to pay our bills," Yellen said.Those bills include the ability to pay creditors, US military personnel and Social Security recipients.A major sticking point is the GOP demand to include more work requirements for people who receive government welfare, such as food stamps and Medicaid."We in Congress are wil...

Man struck, killed while helping family of ducks cross California street

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

ROCKLIN, Calif. (KTXL) — A man was struck and killed by a car while helping a family of ducks cross a street in Rocklin, California, on Thursday night, according to authorities. The Rocklin Police Department said shortly after 8 p.m., the man got out of his vehicle near Park Drive and Stanford Ranch Boulevard to help ducklings in the intersection. Police said the driver, identified as a 17-year-old girl by local outlets, was traveling east on Stanford Branch Boulevard and struck the man while he was in the road. WATCH: Florida deputies save hawk with snake wrapped around its neck A witness told local reporters the ducks had reached the other side of the road moments before the man was struck. According to police, the man, who has not yet been identified, died of his injuries before being transported to the hospital. In an email to families, the Maria Montessori Charter Academy in Rocklin said the man had worked at the school for a few months, describing him as a "good guy and a g...

Daily rain chances this week, highest on Wednesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A few late-night showers and storms are possible in the Hill Country Monday and Tuesday, but more numerous downpours are expected on Wednesday across the area. BLOG: Summer forecast released: When do 100º days begin Northwest flow high up in the atmosphere courtesy of a ridge of high pressure parked to our west will send periodic disturbances our way. These will lead to daily/nightly chances of a few showers and thunderstorms.The first chance of rain comes to just the northern Hill Country overnight, where a few decaying showers are possible after midnight.A second round of showers and thunderstorms will penetrate the Hill Country more successfully Tuesday evening, bringing some rain mainly west of I-35 late at night.Wednesday appears to be the wettest day of the week as another disturbance combines with leftover boundaries from previous rounds of rain. Scattered thunderstorms may begin early in the day and continue at times through the early-evening.Clouds/radar ...

Bongi Hlongwane’s success shows what Under-22 Initiative can do for Loons

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

The MLS Under-22 Initiative has brought intrigue and early returns to Minnesota United since the club has twice used the roster mechanism added by the league in 2021.The current, improving play from Bongi Hlongwane in his second season shows what might be possible when Sang Bin Jeong gets more experience.Hlongwane has displayed more confidence, better decision-making and precision on the ball in Year 2, and the 22-year-old South African has a team-high four goals in MLS play and two more goals in the shootout win over Philadelphia Union in the U.S. Open Cup round of 32 on May 9.The Loons play the Houston Dynamo in a U.S. Open Cup round of 16 match at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.Hlongwane is the “perfect example” of the U22 Initiative working out, Loons manager Adrian Heath said. The Loons paid a $500,000 transfer fee from Maritzberg United in South Africa for Hlongwane. His guaranteed compensation is $610,000, per the MLS Players’ Association, but it only hi...

Capital Region counties declare State of Emergency to address migrant influx

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) - As the state readies itself for an influx of migrants, local municipalities are preparing. Rensselaer County was the first in our area to initiate a State of Emergency. New tool to fight invasive species in Schroon Lake County Executive, Steve McLaughlin, issued the emergency order May 9, with the following statement on the County’s webpage:“We do not have the resources and we do not have the room to handle a large number of migrants,” stated Steve McLaughlin.It will allow the County to request federal funding for housing and services for migrants.County Clerk Frank Merola commends the efforts to stay one step ahead of the race, telling the county is better prepared now.“Our County Executive knew enough to do it right away, get it in place and start off over there on the right foot,” said Merola.Rensselaer County Legislator, Nina Nichols, says they need to know more about the situation in order to understand the needs of the city.“I think we sh...

Dave Matthews Band has new album 'Walk Around the Moon' and perspective: 'Everything is kind of new'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Ten studio albums done, the Dave Matthews Band finds itself in a good place, maybe even at a new beginning. “The band is really gelled right now," said singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews. "We’re all, at least for now, shining favorable lights on each other and laughing a lot and enjoying making music together.” Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The seven members—including new keyboardist Buddy Strong—released the 12-track album “Walk Around the Moon” on May 19, the band's first studio album since 2018—and plan a summer tour. “We’ve come to this place in an interesting way, but it wasn’t unnatural,” said Matthews. “We’ve had some good fights that probably would scare people but with the goal being that we could find some common ground. And I think we did.” Natalie Merchant emerges from darkness with nothing but love “Walk Around the Moon” is a varied set, with the tracks veering from small and inti...

Missing Maplewood woman last seen near train tracks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. -- Maplewood Police have issued an endangered missing person advisory for a missing woman. Brelyn Spears, 29, was last seen on May 16, 2023, walking near the intersection of Anna and Limit Avenues. The area is near the train tracks.Spears was reported missing Sunday. Police say she is 5'3" tall, 148 lbs, with auburn hair, and brown eyes.Anyone with information about her location should call Maplewood Police at 314-645-3000 extension 2.

Skittles ban passes in the California State Assembly

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

California is one step closer to enacting a law that would ban Skittles, Hot Tamales, and a host of other food items that contain chemicals linked to health issues.Assembly Bill 418, proposed by Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), passed overwhelmingly in the California State Assembly last week and now heads to the State Senate.The bill would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of products containing Red Dye No. 3, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium Bromate, Brominated Vegetable Oil, or Propyl Paraben in the Golden State.Those chemicals, which are already banned in the European Union, have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and developmental issues in children, Gabriel says.“It’s unacceptable that the U.S. is so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to banning these dangerous additives,” Gabriel said in a statement. “We don’t love our children any less than they do in Europe and it’s not too much to ask food and beverage manufacturers to switch to the safer alte...

Smoking cannabis doesn't carry same risks as tobacco: UCLA study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

A new study from researchers at the UCLA found some good news for cannabis smokers: one of the major risks associated with tobacco smoking isn't connected with marijuana.The study, "Impact of Marijuana Smoking on COPD Progression in a Cohort of Middle-Aged and Older Persons," was published in the journal "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases" this month.The researchers compared groups of people who currently, used to or have never smoked marijuana as part of the longitudinal research. Many of the subjects were studied for more than four years."Neither former nor current marijuana smoking of any lifetime amount was associated with evidence of COPD progression or its development," the study said.Cannabis advocates, including the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, celebrated the findings, noting that they "are consistent with those of prior studies concluding that cannabis inhalation, even long-term, is not positively associated with COPD, lung cancer, or irrever...

Walmart is offering virtual vet visits -- for free!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:56:57 GMT

Walmart is expected to announce Tuesday that it's getting into the pet telehealth business.CNBC said Monday it confirmed with the retail giant that it's partnering with a company called Pawp, a provider of virtual vet visits, to offer a year's worth of free telehealth visits to Walmart+ subscribers.The move is aimed at adding value to Walmart's loyalty program and making it more competitive with Amazon Prime.It's a smart play.Americans don't skimp when it comes to their furry friends. The U.S. pet market is worth about $124 billion."It’s undeniable that over the past decade, we started thinking and looking at pets as part of the family," Pawp CEO Marc Atiyeh told CNBC.He said Walmart has "a very strong thesis around the pet category and, yes, they want to be a big player in pet care and pet health in general."Amazon Prime is pricier than Walmart+ -- $140 annually vs $100. But Prime offers lots of extras, including Prime Video and Amazon Music.Pet telehealth is a shrewd way of grabbi...