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Rabid bats are more common in summer and fall months, L.A. County health officials warn

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department is warning residents about rabid bats, indicating that they are more common during the summer and fall.They advise people never to touch a bat with their bare hands and to report injured, sick or dead bats.Healthy bats are good for the environment and typically sleep during the day and only emerge at dusk, officials explained.While only 1% of bats in nature have rabies, about 15% of bats found near people and pets in L.A. County end up testing positive for rabies, according to the health department.Last year, officials identified 50 rabid bats, and so far this year, six rabid bats have been found; three were found in Santa Clarita, while one was found in Altadena, Glendale and in the Griffith Park area, respectively.How can you tell if a bat has rabies?Health officials explain that rabid bats are more likely to fly during daylight hours, appear on the ground, or be resting for long periods in highly visible areas. However, bats with ra...

Federal judge blocks Biden’s controversial asylum policy in a major blow to administration

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

(CNN) — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked President Joe Biden’s controversial asylum policy, delivering a major blow to the administration, which has leaned on the measure to drive down border crossings. The judge put the ruling on hold for 14 days for a possible appeal.The ruling against the Biden administration could have major implications on the US-Mexico border, where crossings have plummeted since the rollout of the asylum policy, among other measures.Judge Jon Tigar of the California Northern District Court previously ruled against a similar policy under the Trump administration and expressed skepticism that there was any daylight between Biden’s policy and the Trump-era one during a court hearing last week. Administration officials have rejected the comparison to Trump-era rules. The Biden administration has rolled out a series of measures to try to stem the flow of migration and manage the situation along the US-Mexico border but is facing multiple lawsui...

House panel plans to move forward with Mark Zuckerberg contempt vote Thursday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

By Alayna Treene, Annie Grayer and Donie O’Sullivan | CNNThe House Judiciary Committee has announced it will hold a hearing on Thursday to begin contempt proceedings against Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for failing to comply with a series of subpoenas to turn over documents related to the panel’s investigation into whether the company censored free speech on its platform.Committee members will use the hearing to mark up its contempt resolution against Zuckerberg.The House Judiciary Committee would have to vote this out of committee, and then GOP leadership would have to schedule this for a vote on the House floor.Meta spokesperson Andy Stone told CNN, “For many months, Meta has operated in good faith with this committee’s sweeping requests for information. We began sharing documents before the committee’s February subpoena and have continued to do so.”“To date we have delivered over 53,000 pages of documents – both internal and external – and have made nearly a dozen current and f...

SeaWorld coaster that was shut down because of a leg injury reopens

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

BY LORI WEISBERG | San Diego Union TribuneSeaWorld’s Electric Eel coaster, which was shut down over a month ago due to an injury suffered by a rider, has reopened, the park confirmed Monday.Marketed as the park’s fastest, tallest coaster when it opened five years ago, Electric Eel was quickly taken offline more than a month ago after a passenger reported being injured while on the ride. That injury, in turn, was reported June 9 to the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, which regulates public health and safety in workplaces as well as amusement park attractions and ski lifts.SeaWorld San Diego spokeswoman Tracy Spahr said on Monday that Electric Eel resumed operations on July 18. That was only after the park’s “independent safety and engineering experts” and the ride’s manufacturer reviewed it, Spahr said in a statement. The park also added a safety modification but did not disclose what that was.“The safety of our guests is always our top priority, and it...

Abortion rights amendment qualifies for November ballot in Ohio

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

By Terence Burlij | CNNOhio Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced Tuesday that organizers submitted enough valid signatures to put an amendment on the November ballot to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution.“I hereby certify that petitioners submitted 495,938 total valid signatures on behalf of the proposed statewide initiative,” LaRose wrote in a letter to petitioners, clearing the hurdle of roughly 414,000 signatures required to be placed on the ballot this fall.Related ArticlesNational Politics | Florida man helped U.S. Marine, accomplice in California Planned Parenthood bombing, prosecutors say National Politics | Opinion: Kevin McCarthy appeases the Republican radicals again National Politics | Judge halts Iowa’s new 6-week abortion ban National Politics | Why a single senator is blocking U.S. military promotions and what it means for the Pentagon National Politics | Iowa law ba...

The hidden cost of California’s hot workplaces: 20,000 job injuries a year

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

With more heat waves expected this summer, California officials are trying to assess the long-term economic impact on workers and businesses — and what more can be done to protect workers bearing the brunt of extreme temperatures.Although California is one of the few states with heat standards protecting outdoor workers, advocates and workers say enforcement is still a struggle. Meanwhile the state has been trying for years to create indoor workplace heat rules.A 2021 study of California worker compensation data by a left-leaning economic research nonprofit shows hot days lead to increased workplace accidents across California. The Washington Center for Equitable Growth study estimates hot temperatures have caused at least 360,000 workplace injuries in California from 2001 to 2018, or about 20,000 injuries a year.Researchers examined California workers compensation data and tracked daily temperatures down to the zip code. They compared the number of worker injuries and illnesses on ...

6 convicted of terrorist murder in Brussels extremist attacks that killed 32

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

Associated PressBRUSSELS — A jury on Tuesday found six people guilty of terrorist murder for extremist attacks in Brussels in 2016 that killed 32 people and were claimed by the Islamic State group, in Belgium’s deadliest peacetime violence, according to Belgian media.Among those convicted for their role in the suicide bombings at Brussels’ airport and a subway station was Salah Abdeslam, who already is serving a life sentence without parole in France over his role in attacks that hit Paris cafes, the Bataclan theater and France’s national stadium in 2015.The verdict was reported by public broadcaster RTBF, newspaper Le Soir and news websites HLN and Nieuwsblad.The chief judge read out the verdict and explanations by the 12-person jury, who made a clear connection to IS and its extremist ideology. The reading of the verdict was expected to take a few hours. Sentencing will be decided in a separate process, not before September.In addition to the six people convicted of terrorist murd...

Richmond firefighters union unanimously votes for no confidence in fire chief, calls for his tenure to end

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

RICHMOND — Members of the Richmond firefighters union have publicly called for the end of their chief’s tenure after a unanimous vote of no confidence, the union’s president said on Tuesday.In a news release, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 188 President Mike Velazquez cited Fire Chief Angel Montoya’s “refusal to address pressing safety issues, unwillingness to meet and confer, and his excessive absence” in the decision to formally demand his firing or resignation.“It’s unfortunate that it’s come to this,” Velazquez said in the statement. “Union leadership made every effort to meet with Chief Montoya to voice our concerns. His refusal to meet with us while we have so many safety issues has left us no choice.”Montoya could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday morning. Mayor Eduardo Martinez could also not be reached for comment.In the news release, the union listed seven complaints against Montoya, calling them...

49ers clear Brock Purdy for training camp — but in what capacity?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Brock is back, or at least he has crossed a key hurdle as 49ers training camp opened Tuesday.Nearly 20 weeks after surgery to repair his throwing elbow, Purdy received medical clearance and skirted the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) list.“Brock’s cleared and ready to go,” general manager John Lynch said. “He’s been cleared. He’s going to be without restrictions. Having said that, we’re sticking to and adhering to a plan. He got after it the last couple days and we upped his pitch count. We believe in that plan.“.. The great news is that Brock worked his tail off and is ready to go.”Not ready is defensive end Nick Bosa, who Lynch does not expect at the start of camp while the 49ers negotiate a multi-year extension with Bosa’s agent. Bosa is subject to a daily $40,000 fine as a no-show on his rookie contract’s fifth-year option, according to the collective bargaining agreement.Coach Kyle Shanahan said the Purdy will take firs...

Taylor Swift’s best album? Swifties chime in on what deserves No. 1 spot

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 00:43:10 GMT

Taylor Swift has delivered so many good albums over the years, beginning with her self-titled debut in 2006 and continuing right up to the recently released “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”The official tally is impressive, given that she’s just 33 years old: 10 studio albums; three so-called “Taylor’s Version” reissues of recordings on the Big Machine label that Swift dropped as part of a long-running feud with her music manager Scooter Braun and to gain artistic control over her music; five live albums; five EPs; untold streaming-only collections; and one big box-set.Her releases been a hit with critics and fans alike; to date she’s sold some 115 million albums, led by the influential smash hit “1989,” which has logged some 14 million in sales on its own.So, yeah, Swift’s discography offers a lot terrific albums and collections to choose from.But which deserves to be ranked No. 1?Related ArticlesMusic | … A...