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Growing wildfire destroys structures in southwestern Washington near Columbia River Gorge

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

UNDERWOOD, Wash. (AP) — A weekend wildfire along the Columbia River in southwestern Washington continued growing on Monday to 546 acres (221 hectares), prompting evacuations and burning structures, according to authorities.Skamania County firefighters responded to reports of the wildfire on Sunday at 11:19 a.m. near Highway 14 in Underwood, an unincorporated community across the river from Hood River, Oregon, and about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) west of White Salmon, Washington.Hot, windy conditions caused the Tunnel 5 fire to spread rapidly in what authorities called extreme terrain through Sunday afternoon. Authorities have issued an evacuation notice for everyone in a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) radius around Cook Underhill Road, where crews are engaged in active firefighting. A shelter has been set up at Skamania County Fairgrounds in Stevenson, Washington. About 1,000 residents have been affected by the fire and evacuation orders, Heather Appelhof, a Southeast Washington Interagency I...

US judge blocks portions of new Florida elections law

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday blocked Florida from enforcing part of a new elections law that bans non-citizens from handling or or collecting voter registration forms, saying the state can’t restrict individual rights and gave no proof it was necessary to do so.The ruling also blocks a ban on third-party voter registration groups retaining personal information collected when registering new voters. The NAACP and other groups that register voters sued the state over provisions in a larger elections bill Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on the same day he announced he is running for president. Opponents say it makes registering voters in marginalized communities more difficult, while Republicans said they were making elections more secure.“The State of Florida is correct to seek integrity in our electoral system,” Judge Mark Walker wrote. “Here, however, Florida’s solutions for preserving election integrity are too far removed from the problems it has pu...

Hawaii State Capitol to get metal detectors after lawmakers and aides say they don’t feel safe

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii State Capitol will have metal detectors installed at three entrances starting July 10, state agencies said Monday.The detectors will be in place at two street-level elevator entrances to the building and at one basement entrance. The building will remain open to the public. The metal detectors are an “added layer of security” that will make the Capitol a safer place, the director of the state Department of Public Safety said in a statement.House Speaker Scott Saiki said he supports the enhanced security because people “feel unsafe” in the building. “For many years, we have received concerns not just from legislative members, but also from legislative staff and visitors to the building, about the need for more security,” the Democrat said in a brief phone interview. Saiki credited Keith Regan, the head of the Department of Accounting and General Services, the agency that manages state buildings, for the new equipment. He said lawmakers have appropriated mon...

Tips to keep your pet safe this July 4th

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Experts are advising pet owners to leave their four-legged loved ones at home this Fourth of July."I think that most people want to have their pets with them all the time and they assume if they're celebrating, they want their pets to celebrate as well," Dr. Anna Portnoy with Riverside Animal Hospital said."Unfortunately, being in large crowds, places, where it could be really hot, where there are very loud noises, can be very frightening to animals," she added. List: What stores, restaurants will be open for July 4, 2023? Fireworks and the Fourth go hand in hand, but it's easy for pets to get spooked by loud bangs, which may cause them to bolt."There have been pets that have got out of the house or ran out of the yard or got out of their collar, which is why it's so important not to take them to places where there are many people around, where, if they get away, they could get hit by a car," Portnoy explained.If your pet is at home but still might g...

Twins expect to lose Royce Lewis for at least six weeks

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

The major leagues have agreed with Royce Lewis, the infielder the Twins selected No. 1 overall in the 2017 amateur draft. So, it’s no surprise that an oblique injury interrupted a hot streak.Lewis, 24, is expected to miss about six weeks after leaving Saturday’s 1-0 victory in Baltimore early. That’s better, he noted, than an entire year — which was the result of his past two injuries, ligament tears in his right knee.“Every other time I was on the (injured list), basically, it was a whole year and I had no control over how I could come back or not,” Lewis said before Monday night’s 7:10 p.m. first pitch against Kansas City at Target Field. “So, it makes it a lot easier. I actually don’t even know what the deal is yet. I’m waiting to talk to the doctor.”Lewis and the Twins were waiting for team doctor Christopher Camp to see the results of an MRI exam but no one was expecting the third baseman back anytime soon.“As a rough reference point, probably six weeks is something that we wou...

State Department releases report on Afghanistan withdrawal; Biden, Trump administrations bear some failures

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) -- In a recently released State Department report, significant shortcomings were highlighted in the planning and execution of the Afghanistan War under both the Trump and Biden administrations. The report sheds light on critical aspects of the conflict, including the repercussions of a deal struck with the Taliban and the handover of Bagram Air Base to the Afghan government.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the report's findings reflect the administration's responsibility in the matter."This is a state department report. Clearly, it is part of the administration. If that's what it lays out, that's what it lays out," she said.One key revelation is that the Department failed to adequately plan for the war's conclusion, even after President Biden decided to proceed with a deal reached by President Trump and the Taliban. The report also emphasizes the impact of handing over Bagram Air Base to the Afghan government early on in the conflict. This dec...

Fewer incarcerated women report infections due to free tampons, pads

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The state is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on feminine hygiene products for incarcerated women after a survey showed a good portion of the women behind bars were using homemade products. Before feminine hygiene products were provided for free at Missouri prisons, roughly 80% of incarcerated women reported they were using homemade tampons and pads, leading to infections After signing the budget into law Friday, Gov. Mike Parson gave the okay for the state to keep providing these products. "It's really not that much to improve women's health and give them dignity," Liza Weiss, executive director of the Missouri Appleseed Foundation, said. "It's really just a healthcare product, and it's something that shouldn't be taboo. It's something all women need, and it's important." Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News ...

Jesús Ferreira 1st American with back-to-back international hat tricks as U.S. advances in Gold Cup

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jesús Ferreira became the first American to score international hat tricks in consecutive games, and the United States advanced to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals with a 6-0 rout of Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night.Ferreira scored in the 14th and 38th minutes against 101st-ranked Trinidad, then converted a penalty kick in the third minute of first-half stoppage time.“That intensity that the team is going out with is helping me get in the box,” Ferreira said. “We’re all working together. We’re all defending together. We’re all attacking together,” Cade Cowell scored in the 66th, four minutes after entering, and Gianluca Busio in the 79th — the first international goal for both. Brandon Vázquez added his third goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time as the No. 11 Americans won by six goals for the second straight game.A 22-year-old son of former Colombian midfielder David Ferreira, Jesús Ferreira joined Landon Donovan as the only Americans with t...

Authorities call off search for possible bear attack victim near Mt. Baldy

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

Authorities searched the rugged terrain near Mt. Baldy late Monday afternoon after receiving a report of a bear attack that was likely a false alarm, authorities said.Crews responded to Mountain Avenue and Shinn Road, near Angeles Forest Station 25 just before 5 p.m. “Aviation assets have visual of possible victim with bear still in the area,” San Bernardino County Fire tweeted. First responders in the Angeles National Forest after a reported bear attack on July 3, 2023. (KTLA)Sky5 footage showed emergency crews searching the rugged and heavily-wooded terrain. Shortly before 6 p.m., crews were called off after failing to locate any sign of a victim. "Rescuers have searched the area by ground and air. While bears were seen in the area, no evidence of a victim or struggle were located. Units being released," the department tweeted.By all accounts, bear attacks on humans are extremely rare in California. In June 2022, a wild black bear was put down after it clawed a woman on ...

At-risk 57-year-old woman missing out of Long Beach located

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 01:12:26 GMT

Authorities located an at-risk 57-year-old woman missing out of the Long Beach area Monday.  La Tran had last been seen at 6 a.m. Monday in her room at a living facility in the 3500 block of Cedar Avenue. When staff at the facility checked her room later, the 57-year-old was gone, a Long Beach Police Department missing person bulletin said. Tran was described as an Asian female, 5 feet tall, weighing 124 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.  La Tran, 57, was last seen in her room at a living facility in the 3500 block of Cedar Avenue. (LBPD)Tran, who suffers from mental and cognitive conditions, was found at an undisclosed location at around 3:45 p.m., officials with the California Highway Patrol told City News Service. No details about her condition were provided. An at-risk or critical missing person is defined by some of the following: The missing person is the victim of a crime or foul play. The missing person is in critical need of medical attention.&nbs...