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Maltese lawmakers to vote on watered-down abortion law as pro-choice coalitions withdraw support

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

VALLETTA, Malta (AP) — Maltese lawmakers are expected to vote later Wednesday on legislation to ease the strictest abortion laws in the European Union, but pro-choice campaigners have withdrawn their support, saying last-minute changes make the legislation “vague, unworkable and even dangerous.”The original bill allowing women access to abortion if a pregnant woman’s life or health was in danger was hailed as a step in the right direction for Malta, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation. It was introduced last fall after an American tourist who miscarried had to be airlifted off the Mediterranean island nation to be treated. Under amendments, however, a woman whose health is at grave risk can receive access to an abortion only after three specialists consent. The legislation being presented for a vote does allow pregnancy to be terminated if the woman’s life is at risk.The Voices for Choice Coalition Malta last week withdrew its support for the bill, calling the amendments “...

UConn introduces Siberian husky pup Jonathan XV as the school’s next mascot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — The University of Connecticut officials welcomed a new celebrity on Wednesday, and they say he’s a very good boy.Jonathan XV is a 2-month old Siberian husky who will take over as the official UConn Husky mascot this fall.The puppy was born in Canada on April 19 and arrived on campus on June 17, school spokeswoman Stephanie Reitz said. He was presented Wednesday morning to the school’s board of trustees.The puppy is living with the same host family as UConn’s current mascot, Jonathan XIV, and being trained for his new duties, which include appearing at sporting and other on-campus events and doing social media promotions.The two dogs will make joint appearances for the time being, with Jonathan XV taking over the mascot duties when the older dog retires in October, Reitz said.Jonathan XIV, who was born in Arkansas, is 9 years old. He was introduced as UConn’s mascot in January 2014, and began his duties in August of that year, taking over for a ...

Vaughan man charged after teen girl sexually assaulted at mall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

A man is facing charges after a teenage girl was sexually assaulted at a Vaughan mall last month.Police in York Region started investigating on May 22 after getting reports a 15-year-old girl was sexually assaulted at a mall near Jane Street and Rutherford Road.Officers located a suspect inside the mall on the same day.Vaughan resident Alexander Simonelli, 27, is facing two charges, including sexual assault and sexual interference of a minor.Investigators say they believe there are more victims and have released photos of Simonelli, encouraging others to come forward.Anyone with additional information is being asked to call the York Regional Police Special Victims Unit or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Former Marine Daniel Penny pleads not guilty in NYC subway chokehold death of Jordan Neely

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. Marine veteran pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the fatal chokehold of a man who was behaving erratically on a New York City subway train.Daniel Penny, 24, pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the May 1 death of Jordan Neely, a former Michael Jackson impersonator who was shouting and begging for money when Penny pinned him to the floor of the moving subway car with the help of two other passengers and held him in a chokehold for more than three minutes.Neely, 30, lost consciousness during the struggle and was pronounced dead at a hospital.A grand jury voted to indict Penny on updated charges earlier this month. Wednesday’s arraignment on the charges lasted mere minutes. Penny, who is free on bond, only uttered the words “not guilty” before he left the courtroom with his lawyers.Penny, who served in the Marines for four years and was discharged in 2021, has said he acted to protect himself and others from Ne...

When will air quality improve? Tom Skilling explains

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

The smoke and poor air quality extends into another day across the Chicago area and much of the Midwest.Chicago's air quality index from the Illinois EPA comes in at 215 as the day gets underway indicated very unhealthy air quality. There's only one level designating poorer air quality on the EPA's air quality scale. Unhealthful air quality readings have persisted continuously in Chicago since 4pm Monday afternoon. More: Wednesday updates on Chicago's Air Quality The question which is front and center: When is improved air quality on the way?As a dome of blazing heat which has broiled an area from Arizona to Texas for well over a week expands northward, the jet stream running around the heat dome's northern periphery shifting northward into the Midwest. This raises the potential for storm clusters to begin organizing and rotating through the Chicago area. The first comes in potentially Wednesday night. Others are likely to follow, no doubt separated by extended rain/storm-free pe...

Millions of Illinois residents drinking forever chemical-contaminated water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

(WTVO) — Recent tests have shown that millions of people in Illinois get their drinking water from sources that have been contaminated with toxic forever chemicals.The tests showed that close to a million get their drinking water from municipal wells containing the chemicals, while another 1.4 million depend on private wells, according to the Chicago Tribune.There is no systematic approach in the state to determine if residents are unknowingly ingesting these chemicals, which can eventually cause cancer. It has instead been up to well owners to decide if they want to test their water, which costs around $500.The Winnebago County Health Department said that it was difficult to persuade residents on the south side of Rockford to get their water tested for free in the one of three times when health officials have stepped in.“These are huge challenges we face in the modern world,” said Dr. Sandra Martell, administrator of the Winnebago County Health Department. “How do we ensure ou...

Even with smoke-filled skies, the Cubs played on at Wrigley Field

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

CHICAGO — There was talk that the game could be postponed, but in the end, the air was just good enough to play on. But it did make for a bit of an eerie night at the Friendly Confines as smoke from the Canadian wildfires made for a hazy return for the Cubs from their trip to London.CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 27: A general view prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on June 27, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. A air quality alert was issued due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 27: Fans arrive prior to the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on June 27, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. A air quality alert was issued due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 27: Jameson Taillon #50 of the Chicago Cubs delivers a pitch to Nick Castellanos #8 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the first i...

Sick sea lions biting people at California beaches

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

DANA POINT, Calif. (KTLA) -- Sea lions have been attacking people who get too close at some California beaches, and marine wildlife experts believe the mammals may be acting aggressively after being sickened by poisonous algal blooms. At the entrance to Dana Strands Beach in Dana Point is a warning to visitors about an aggressive sea lion in the area, one of at least three beaches where people have been bitten in the last several days.  “We’ve actually seen a number of surfers in the water that have been bit by sea lions, and those sea lions are more likely to be sea lions that have had a seizure and are completely unaware of their surroundings, just erratically swimming and then they bump into somebody and bit somebody,” Dr. Alissa Deming, of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, told KTLA.  Deming also said the aggression in the sea lions is likely related to the dramatic increase in sick marine mammals needing rescue because of a toxic algal bloom in Southern Californian wa...

Dean grills for Fourth of July

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

It's grilling season! And the Fourth of July is peak grilling season! Dean Richards shares a few recipes to try on the grill!Watermelon GazpachoIngredients:4 heaping cups cubed seedless watermelon1 English cucumber, diced, reserve half3 medium tomatoes, diced, reserve half1 small red bell pepper, diced, reserve half⅓ cup chopped green onions, diced, reserve half1 garlic clovesmall handful basil3 to 4 tablespoons red wine vinegar3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling1 to 2 teaspoons sea salt, or to taste½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper½ jalapeño pepper, optionaldiced avocado, optionalInstructions:Set aside the reserved half of the chopped cucumber, tomatoes, red pepper and green onions and place the remaining half in a blender. Add the watermelon, garlic, basil, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and jalapeño pepper, if using. Blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings.Pour into a large bowl and stir in the reserved chopped vegetables.Chill for 3 to 4 hou...

UT scientists discover fossils of Jurassic sea creatures that used to swim across Texas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Researchers recently made a major discovery in Texas by finding the state's first known Jurassic vertebrate fossils. A team led by scientists from the University of Texas at Austin discovered the bones in the Malone Mountains of West Texas. The fossils are believed to have belonged to an underwater dinosaur called the plesiosaur. The scientists said this discovery "filled a major gap in the state's fossil record."According to a release from UT, the bone fragments are from the limbs and backbone of a plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile that, around 150 million years ago, would have swum the sea that covered what is now northeastern Mexico and far western Texas. Dinosaurs! Fossils found by UT team could help explain final days Steve May, a research associate at the Jackson School of Geosciences, holds a fossil from a plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile. (Photo Credit: Jackson School of Geosciences/The University of Texas at Austin)The bones were discovered durin...