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Gov. Abbott signs bill banning transgender health care for minors into law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Friday the controversial Senate Bill 14 that bans gender transition care for Texas minors. The law will go into effect Sept. 1. The law will prohibit minors from receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transition the gender they identify with. Texas kids already accessing these types of treatments will have to “wean” off of the medication over a period of time that minimizes risk and in a manner that is “medically appropriate,” per the bill text. MORE: Texas House gallery cleared after protests against bill to ban gender-affirming care Texas now joins 18 other U.S. states that have also banned medication and surgical care for transgender youth. Ten U.S. states have “shied” laws protecting access to transgender health care. It’s important to note that examples of children under the age of 18 having transition-related surgeries are exceedingly rare across the country, per Politifact. Politifact was not able to find...

Counties with the worst droughts in Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

STACKER — Nearly a fifth of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing moderate to exceptional drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.While the West is currently experiencing a brief reprieve from its driest period of the last 1,200 years—other parts of the country, like the Central U.S., are experiencing spells of unusual dryness.In periods of drought, levels of major reservoirs and rivers can fall dramatically. Groundwater systems to feel the effects, and shrinking water supplies impact agriculture, hydropower generation, and wildfire risk.Periods of drought have intensified and become more frequent in recent years due to climate change. Scientists predict that even in low emissions scenarios, much of the U.S. will be drier by the end of the century.Stacker cited data from U.S. Drought Monitor to identify the counties in Texas with the worst droughts in the week leading up to May 23, 2023. Counties are ranked by percent of the area in drought conditions....

Movie review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ a stunning blend of art with gleefully disruptive attitude

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

It’s a bit of an overused and hyperbolic phrase online, but in retrospect, it seems that 2018’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” was a true cultural reset, especially when it comes to comic book movies. The dazzling Oscar-winning animated feature evolved what a comic book movie could be, both visually and narratively, using the medium of animation to create an immersive cinematic experience that felt like jumping into the rapidly flipping pages of a comic book, with an addictively propulsive rhythm that only digital technology could create.The film also pushed mainstream animation style into something more sophisticated and artful, drawing on the style of traditional comic book illustration and melding it with digital aesthetics and modern art to create a wholly unique piece of work that still managed to center the story of Spider-Man Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) while self-reflexively satirizing the long and rich lore of the many other Spider-People.The sequel, “Spider-Man: Acr...

Denver weather: Wet weather will hang around this weekend; flash flood warning issued for burn scar areas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

Widespread showers with possible locally heavy rain is expected in northeastern Colorado and the weather will bring a limited threat of flash flooding to wildfire scar areas including Cameron Peak.In Denver showers and thunderstorms are likely Saturday and the high temperature will hit about 64 degrees, according to the National Weather Service forecast. The chance for precipitation is 80%.“There will be widespread and persistent showers and there is a marginal risk of excessive rainfall” in northeastern Colorado Saturday, according to the weather service. “Widespread impacts are not expected, but locally heavy rainfall will probably result in localized impacts around burn, urban, and poor drainage areas.”There’s a limited threat of flooding to burn areas, with an elevated threat to Cameron Peak. Thunderstorms may unleash “marginal” hail and gusty winds, but the primary concern Saturday will be “locally heavy rainfall.”Overnight ...

In a market where opportunities favor the quick, Steller makes a complex senior move happen fast

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

The Steller Group Senior Solutions DivisionWhat: The Steller Group, Inc., agents specialized in downsizing moves: listing, selling, improving to increase salability, handling discards, low-maintenance living, purchase & rental.FREE SEMINARS INCLUDING REFRESHMENTS:Where: Wed, June 7, ‘Simplifying Your Life: Dealing With a Lifetime Worth of Stuff,’ 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Parkside Village Retirement Resort, 14501 E. Crestline Dr., AuroraWhere: Tues, June 13, ‘Simplifying Your Life,’ 10:30 a.m.-noon, Arvada Elks Lodge, 5700 Yukon St, ArvadaWhere: Tues, June 20, ‘Simplifying Your Life,’ 10 to 11:30 a.m., ACOYA Cherry Creek, 301 S. Harrison St., DenverPhone: 720-593-9355SIGN UP AT: DenverSeniorSeminars.comJen Carroll with The Steller Group Senior Solutions Division likes to think of her job as a real estate specialist as both a problem solver and coordinator, making things run smoothly for people in complex circumstances. But she rarely gets a chance to deal with more crises tha...

EU-Central Asia summit looks for ways to further deepen relations

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

High level efforts to strengthen the increasingly important relationship between the European Union and the the five Central Asian states continued at a summit in Kyrgyzstan. Leaders met with European Council President Charles Michel and agreed that their foreign ministers would work with the EU’s High Representative to formalise and advance the implementation of the Joint Road Map for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.In the midst of geopolitical turmoil, both the EU and the states of Central Asia have recognised that they have much to offer one another by building a close relationship that offers stability and certainty in a world where reliability is in short supply. Trade in oil, gas and essential raw materials and the safe transit of goods between Asia and Europe are cornerstones of the relationship.The task now is to create a deeper political partnership. The largest Central Asian state, Kazakhstan, has been leading the way wit...

MEPs call for the EU to adopt the Swedish harm reduction model

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

On World No Tobacco Day, Members of the European Parliament expressed their concern with the EU’s approach towards smoking cessation and emphasised the need for a sensible, risk-based approach, following the Swedish smoke-free policies. MEPs Charlie Weimers and Johan Nissinen called for a more open approach towards harm reduction in the EU at the press conference in Brussels, hosted by the World Vapers’ Alliance.“The Swedish case presents the third and final determining pillar in the pro-harm reduction argument. The science, the experience of the consumers, and now the Swedish example are prove that harm reduction works in achieving a smoke-free society. Now we have an undeniable case that the EU-wide regulation must be risk-based and evidence-supported,” said Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance."Policy should be evidence based. WHO will soon classify Sweden as Europe’s first smoke-free country because of harm reduction policies and widespread use of snus. Sweden h...

1 stabbed in Hollywood early Saturday morning, LAPD says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

A person was stabbed in Hollywood early Saturday morning, police said. The attack in the 6500 block of Yucca Street was reported around 4 a.m., the Los Angeles Police Department said. The ages and genders of assailant and victim are unknown.The attacker was arrested on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.No further information was available. Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.

Woman dead after hit-and-run crash in Sun Valley, police say

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

A woman is dead after she was involved in a hit-and-run crash in Sun Valley early Saturday morning.Just before 4 a.m., two cars traveling north on Lankershim Boulevard near Cayuga Avenue collided, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.The first car overturned after striking the back of another vehicle, which then fled the scene, police said.The driver of that first car, a 27-year-old woman, was declared dead at the scene.Footage shared to the Citizen app shows a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a mid-sized SUV, overturned at the scene.No description of the second vehicle has been released.Luis Zuniga contributed to this report.

Pride Month: One Market restaurant specials

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:17:44 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- KRON4 continues to celebrate Pride Month. Restaurants across the Bay Area are offering Pride specials. Mark Dommen, a chef at One Market in San Francisco, shares more about this month's specials and how to make delicious dishes with KRON4's Stephanie Lin.