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States clamp down on freight trains, fearing derailments and federal gridlock

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Spurred on by train derailments, some states with busy criss-crossing freight railroads are pursuing their own safety remedies rather than wait for federal action amid industry opposition and questions about whether they even have authority to make the changes.The activity comes after a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed on Feb. 3 along the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, prompting new legislation and reviving long-stalled efforts as backers voice skepticism that the federal government is capable of helping.Legislatures in at least a dozen states have advanced measures in recent weeks, including some in states such as Minnesota that have witnessed disruptive derailments.Some of the new requirements include provisions long resisted by the railroad industry. It contends it’s capable of making improvements and that its growing efficiency — including significantly longer trains and a much smaller workforce — doesn’t compromise safety.In large part, stat...

A scientist’s 4-decade quest to save the biggest monkey in the Americas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

CARATINGA, Brasil (AP) — The emerald-green canopy shifts and rustles as a troop of willowy, golden-gray monkeys slides through a tropical ecosystem more threatened than the Amazon.Karen Strier started studying the biggest monkey in the Americas four decades ago, when there were just 50 of the animals left in this swath of the Atlantic forest, in southeastern Brazil’s Minas Gerais state. Strier immediately fell in love with the northern muriqui, dedicating her life to saving it and launching one of the world’s longest-running primate studies.“I love everything about them; they’re beautiful animals, they’re graceful, they even smell good, like cinnamon,” the American primatologist told The Associated Press on a recent field trip. “It was a complete and total sensory experience that appealed to my mind as a scientist, and to my mind as a person.”Scientists then knew almost nothing of the species, except that it was on the verge of extinction. Rampant deforestation had drama...

US cautious on Russian rebellion to avoid creating an opening for Putin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the surface, the turmoil in Russia would seem like something for the U.S. to celebrate: a powerful mercenary group engaging in a short-lived clash with Russia’s military at the very moment that Ukraine is trying to gain momentum in a critical counteroffensive.But the public response by Washington has been decidedly cautious. Officials say the U.S. had no role in the conflict, insist this was an internal matter for Russia and decline to comment on whether it could affect the war in Ukraine. The reason: to avoid creating an opening for Russian President Vladimir Putin to seize on the rhetoric of American officials and rally Russians by blaming his Western adversaries.Even President Joe Biden, known for straying from talking points, has stayed on script.Biden told reporters Monday that the United States and NATO weren’t involved. Biden said he held a video call with allies over the weekend and they are all in sync in working to ensure that they give Putin “no excus...

Some Cardinals fans using Wainwright as scapegoat for team's poor season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - When going down the list of the greatest Cardinals it will not take long to get to Adam Wainwright's name. The big league has spent all 18 years of his career in the gateway city."This is a career that should be celebrated,” said 101 ESPNs Randy Karraker.Uncle Charlie’s been both an ace for the Cardinals on the mound and in the community for nearly 20 years. In 2020, Wainwright was awarded the Roberto Clemente Award. It’s given to the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, and community involvement.“There couldn't be a more fan-friendly or community-friendly athlete than Adam Wainwright,” Karraker said.On Sunday, the only thing that mattered for some fans were the 11 hits and seven earned runs given up by Wainwright against the Cubs with some taking to Twitter to express their frustration, leading to the pitcher deactivating his account. Crews investigating home explosion in Granite City, Illinois "It's amazing to me there are enough people ou...

Local officials call extended hours at rec center a success despite low turnout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The first weekend of late hours at St. Louis recreation centers wrapped up with a low turnout. City officials said around 50 teens were out at Wohl and Marquette for the extended hours."It's always good for them to have them something to do cause when they're just sitting at the house, there is more stuff to get into that's negative instead of something positive to do," said Lauren Cooney.She's a parent and knows firsthand the benefits of youth summer programs at the city's recreation centers. Her kids are enrolled in daytime activities, but she is unsure about letting them stay late on the weekends."It's a lot of things that have been going around in our city, and they're even discussing should they have a curfew," Cooney said. "And I kind of agree with that. So I don't know if I like the 1 a.m. or 12 a.m. because that's when they get into things." Half-off meal deals at local restaurants City officials said over the weekend, 40 teens went out to Marquette, and Wohl s...

Kitten takes a wild ride underneath Orange County woman’s SUV

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

A kitten in Orange County wasted no time cashing in one of its nine lives.A Buena Park woman was driving on Knott Avenue last week when, according to the Orange County Fire Authority, she saw the kitten sitting in the middle of the road.She stopped her SUV to move the furball out of harm’s way, but by the time she got out it had already disappeared, so she continued on with her day.“When she stopped at her destination she heard a kitten meowing, then heard it again when she got home later that day,” O.C. Fire Authority posted on Instagram.The woman knew the kitten was hiding somewhere in the car, but she couldn’t figure out exactly where. So, she decided to stop by Fire Station 61 and ask for help.The frightened kitten was found hiding in the underbody of the woman's SUV. June 2023. (OCFA)Firefighters jacked up the SUV and got to work removing parts of the underbody. Sure enough, they found the terrified kitten and removed it.“Happy to report the kitten was not injured and has alrea...

Yucca Valley man arrested for DUI after hitting motorcyclist

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

San Bernardino County police arrested a man for driving under the influence after he slammed into a motorcyclist on Sunday in Yucca Valley. At approximately 5 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a traffic collision with reported injuries near Emerson Avenue and Arcadia Trail. According to a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department news release, 35-year-old Brian Holdren was driving his motorcycle eastbound on Arcadia Trail, when he was struck by  26-year-old Latee Ison, who was driving the other vehicle. Holdren was transported to High Desert Medical Center to be treated for his injuries. Ison was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and DUI traffic collision with injuries. He was booked at the Central Detention on a $250,000 bail. 

L.A. Councilmembers Arrested In Hospitality Workers Strike

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

City of Los Angeles council members Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martinez were among those arrested after failing to disperse during a hospitality worker protest.The June 22 protest near LAX saw hundreds of demonstrators sitting on Century Boulevard and holding signs that read, “I have the right to live where I work,” and “One job should be enough.”I’m proud to stand in solidarity with @UNITEHERE11 and tourism workers across the city. Because people who work in LA should be able to afford to live in LA. pic.twitter.com/Og4NlhWAvf— Hugo Soto-Martínez (@HugoForCD13) June 23, 2023LAPD gave a dispersal order, but many of the protesters stayed put, along with Councilmembers Raman, Soto-Martinez and Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo.“People are being priced out of their homes and have to commute for hours to work,” Soto-Martinez said in a statement. “A single mother who works as a housekeeper has to work 17 hours a day to afford housing in this ci...

Casi 45 millones de personas están bajo alerta por calor, mientras ola de calor del sur se intensifica

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

(CNN) — Casi 45 millones de personas, desde el sur de Arizona hasta la península de Florida, están bajo aviso o advertencia de calor excesivo para este martes.En Texas, San Angelo (44,4 grados centígrados) y Del Rio (43,8º C) volvieron a batir récords diarios este lunes. Para Del Rio, es su noveno día consecutivo de récord de temperatura máxima, según el Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (NWS, por sus siglas en inglés). Ambas localidades también registraron temperaturas máximas récord durante esta ola de calor: Del Rio alcanzó los 46 grados centígrados el 21 de junio y San Angelo los 45,5º C el 20 y 21 de junio.Aunque Texas lleva más de una semana experimentando la ola de calor, las temperaturas abrasadoras se extenderán esta semana. Hay avisos de calor excesivo en Dallas, Houston y Nueva Orleans.Casi 40 millones de personas están bajo alertas en todo el sur de EE.UU. y se espera que la ola de calor dure toda la semanaSe espera que Dallas alcance los 40º C este martes, mientras ...

Gray scores 25, Wilson 24 to lead Aces past Fever 88-80 to sweep season series 3-0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:42 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray combined for 49 points and the Las Vegas Aces pulled away late for an 88-80 win over the Indiana Fever on Monday night to sweep the season-series 3-0.Wilson cleaned up against Indiana for the third time with 24 points and 10 rebounds, plus three steals, three blocks and three assists. She had 28 points when the Aces won 101-88 on Saturday and 27 in an 84-80 win earlier in the month.Gray, who had eight points in the winning 11-0 run before the Fever made two closing free throws, had 25 points on her bobblehead night. She also had five assists to reach 1,300 for her career.Kelsey Plum added 17 points for the Aces (13-1) and Jackie Young, who was named an all-star game starter with Wilson and Gray on Sunday, had 16.Aliyah Boston, the sixth rookie named all-star starter, and Erica Wheeler both had 20 for Indiana (5-9), Kelsey Mitchell added 14 and Nalyssa Smith 13. Boston and Smith both had 14 rebounds.Plum drilled a 3-pointer in the m...