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High surf warnings issued for most of West Coast and parts of Hawaii; dangerous waves expected

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.The warnings were in place Wednesday for parts of Oregon and Hawaii. The weather service warned that waves of up to 25 feet during the day could morph into “dangerously large breaking waves” of up to 35 feet along Oregon’s southern coast by night, creating hazardous conditions and the potential for significant beach erosion. In Hawaii, the agency expected high surf between roughly 20 and 30 feet and powerful rip currents to affect the northern and western shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai and the north shore of Maui. It warned of ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches and potentially damaging roadways and coastal infrastructure.The high surf warning was set to be in place until Thursday night in southern Oregon...

A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic is ordered to pay $298,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has ordered a woman who set fire to Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, the full amount sought by prosecutors.Lorna Green is serving five years in prison for burning Wellspring Health Access weeks before the clinic was set to open in Casper in 2022. The fire gutted the building while it was being renovated for the new clinic and delayed its opening by almost a year.After opening this past April, Wellspring is now the only abortion clinic in Wyoming. A clinic in Jackson that provided pill abortions closed Dec. 15 due to rising costs.On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson ordered Green, 22, to pay about $298,000 in restitution including $240,000 to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the clinic’s insurer.Green must also pay $33,500 to the building’s owner, Christine Lichtenfels, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access. Burkhart expressed satis...

No injuries reported in 2-alarm Scarborough fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

No injuries have been reported after a two-alarm fire at a home in Scarborough Wednesday.Toronto fire crews were called to Knockbolt Crescent near Midland and Finch Avenues to a heavy fire. The fire has been knocked down, but crews remain on the scene at this time.Toronto Fire Service say the fire started in the garage where it was mostly contained to and did not spread to the rest of the house. There were people in the home at the time, but they evacuated from the home.There’s no word on the cause of the fire at this point.

On Christmas Day, the work went on for overdose prevention society in Vancouver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

VANCOUVER — On Christmas Day, Trey Helten and colleagues at Vancouver’s Overdose Prevention Society were still at work, dealing with the latest victim of what Helten says is a seasonal spike in the drug toxicity crisis. Helten shared a photo and a story on social media on Monday describing how he and colleagues administered Naloxone to a man who had overdosed and stopped breathing on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.“At a time of the year when it’s supposed to be family togetherness, you lose someone that you care about. It can be extremely devastating,” said Helten in an interview. “So, the reason I posted it was just to bring awareness to it. It wasn’t to be exploitive or anything … at least we prevented one family from getting a call that their loved one is deceased,” he added. Helten’s photo, shared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, shows a man lying on the street and being tended to.A plastic bag decorated with Santa Claus logos, th...

Illinois workers can begin earning time off under Paid Leave for All Workers Act starting Jan. 1

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Workers in Illinois will begin earning paid time off on Jan. 1 under the Paid Leave for All Workers Act.The new law allows workers to earn up to 40 hours of paid leave over a 12-month period. Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked.Gov. JB Pritzker signed the legislation in March, making Illinois the third state in the nation and first in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason.“Illinois is the most pro-worker state in the nation, and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act is a prime example of those values translating into action,” Pritzker said in a news release issued Wednesday. “Starting Jan. 1, I couldn’t be prouder that Illinois is officially becoming the first state in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason. "From raising the minimum wage to enshrining the right to collective bargaining in our state constitution, my administration will continue to support and protect Illinois’ workforce at every turn.""The Paid Leave ...

The cities, states with the most expensive utility bills in the US: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

(KTLA) — Utility bills are a big part of every household budget and can vary from month to month based on factors like the weather, wholesale energy prices, and, of course, how much water, electricity and natural gas you use.A new report from doxoINSIGHTS has ranked every U.S. state and major city based on the average cost of utility bills.After reviewing the utility bills of users at Doxo.com (the service helps users pay and manage their bills in one location), the report determined the average U.S. household pays $351 each month in utilities, or $3,327 a year. While high, there are three other categories Americans spend more on: mortgage payments, rent, and auto loans. Heating your home this winter: Where will it cost the most? The report found residents in Hawaii spent the most on their utility bills, on average, at $633 per month. That was followed by Maine ($500/month), New Jersey ($467/month), Connecticut ($463/month) and Vermont ($428/month).On the opposite end of the list,...

New treatment for food allergies in kids moves closer to finish line

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

(The Hill) – An existing asthma treatment shows promise for reducing food allergies in children and is one step closer to approval that could come by the end of March.  Early data from a federally funded clinical trial showed children who received injections of the monoclonal antibody omalizumab could consume higher doses of peanut, egg, milk and cashew without allergic reactions compared to those who received a placebo. Omalizumab, marketed as Xolair and developed by Genentech and Novartis, has been on the market since 2003 as a treatment for allergy-induced asthma, chronic hives and an inflammatory sinus disease called chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.  More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch The companies last week announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing an application on a priority review basis for Xolair to be used to reduce reactions, including anaphylaxis, in cases of accidental exposure to foods. If approved, Xolair would b...

Coaldale Connection newsletter keeping citizens up to speed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

By Heather CameronSouthern Alberta NewspapersLocal Journalism Initiative ReporterThe Coaldale Connection is a newsletter that connects the people with government in Coaldale.“The purpose of the newsletter is to inform the community about upcoming events, what’s happening with Council, and educate residents about municipal issues affecting Coaldale,” said Jonathan Wensveen, Manager of Government Relations for the Town of Coaldale. “It gets published once a month.”Wensveen says that various Town staff, including himself, contribute to the newsletter each month by submitting content to him and then he assembles it. The newsletter’s target audience is Coaldale residents, Wensveen says, and the response has been generally positive, with more and more residents joining the newsletter mailing list each month.“It has had the impact of keeping Town residents informed about issues and/or community events they may not otherwise know about,” said Wensveen. “The newsletter is just one way, among...

Southern Alberta man jailed for recent crime spree

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

By Delon ShurtzSouthern Alberta NewspapersA 51-year-old southern Alberta man who went on a crime spree earlier this year, is a menace to society, a judge said on Dec. 20.Justice Gregory Maxwell made the comment after Peter Conrad Bissonette pleaded guilty in Lethbridge court of justice to nearly a dozen criminal offences, primarily business thefts occurring around southern Alberta between August and October.Maxwell agreed with a recommendation by the Crown and defence for a seven-month jail sentence, but did so hesitantly given the offences and Bissonette’s lengthy criminal record.“We’re not talking about simple thefts, we’re talking about sophisticated, thought-out thefts, often that require some preparation in bringing tools,” Maxwell said.“The reality is, Mr. Bissonette represents a menace to society and these commercial businesses, and we’re not talking about insignificant thefts. Multiple thefts over a thousand dollars in total value, none of which is recovered and none of whic...

Peace on Earth…how?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:00:40 GMT

Dear Editor: With the daily destruction and devastation on the nightly news, it’s hard to envision the “Peace on Earth” we see on greeting cards. Centre stage is the war between Israel and Hamas. The war in Ukraine still rages. Almost forgotten is the Syrian conflict now more than a decade old. In fact, doesn’t it seem that the number and scope of conflicts is growing rather than shrinking? The prevailing loss of humanity we see in high definition seems in stark contrast to the prospect of peace.It is is easy to feel overwhelmed and powerless as we see this. In truth, there are very few “at the table” to be a peacemaker directly. Yet, I submit there are multiple ways we can meaningfully respond. You see, we aren’t as removed as we think.Here are a few suggestions:1) Hire, house or help a local refugee in getting established. Invariably, these refugees in turn help those who remain in a war zone. If you don’t have funds, give your time to help direct refugees to resources.2) Advocate...