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Americans now favor legal cannabis over legal tobacco

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

(The Hill) – More Americans now favor legal cannabis than legal tobacco, surveys show, signaling a sharp societal shift from an era when cigarette-smoking was legal pretty much everywhere and pot-smoking was legal absolutely nowhere. Fifty-seven percent of American adults would support “a policy prohibiting the sale of all tobacco products,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in a research brief last month.  A slightly larger majority, 59 percent, believe marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational use, according to a Pew Research survey conducted in October. Another 30 percent approve of cannabis for medical use alone. Only 10 percent of the American public believes marijuana should not be legal at all. The findings reflect growing public consensus that cannabis is safer than tobacco, which the CDC considers the leading cause of preventable death. Studies have found marijuana less addictive than cigarettes and marijuana smok...

US to relax COVID testing rules for travelers from China

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is preparing to relax COVID-19 testing restrictions for travelers from China as soon as Friday, according to two people familiar with the decision.The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the administration has decided to roll back the testing requirements as cases, hospitalizations and deaths are declining in China and the U.S. has gathered better information about the surge.The restrictions were put in place on Dec. 28 and took effect on Jan. 5 amid a surge in infections in China after the nation sharply eased pandemic restrictions and as U.S. health officials expressed concerns that their Chinese counterparts were not being truthful to the world about the true number of infections and deaths. The Washington Post was first to report on Tuesday about the expected administration move.At the time, U.S. officials also said the restriction was necessary to protect...

Dean's Home Video: History of the World: Part II

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

CHICAGO - Over 40 years later, Mel Brooks is giving fans of one of his most popular movies a sequel. "History of the World: Part II" is being released as a series on Hulu after Part I was released as a film back in 1981. This time fans will have the chance to watch the sketch comedy on historic times in human history over the course of eight episodes.This is one of a few new programs that is featured in "Dean's Home Video" this week as Dean Richards looks at some of the streaming releases over the next few days.He also previewed "UnPrisoned," "School Spirits," season 4, part 2 of "You," "Faraway," and more.You can watch "Dean's Home Video" from the March 8 WGN Morning News in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

US investigating Tesla over reports of steering wheels falling off while driving

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla's Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year.The agency says in both cases the Model Ys were delivered to customers with a missing bolt that holds the wheel to the steering column. A friction fit held the steering wheels on, but they separated when force was exerted while the SUVs were being driven.The agency says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that both incidents happened while the SUVs had low mileage on them.Messages were left seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.In one complaint filed with NHTSA, an owner said he was driving with his family on Route 1 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, when the steering wheel suddenly came off on Jan. 29, five days after the ve...

Thirst for rare bourbon brands breeds arrests

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Buttery, smooth, oaky. These are characteristics of the best bourbons, and a growing cult of aficionados is willing to pay an astonishing amount of money for these increasingly scarce premium American spirits — and even bend or break laws.Premium spirits have always been expensive and sought-after. But a surge in interest in high-end bourbon has made finding that elusive bottle even more difficult. Distillers have upped production to try to meet increased demand, but before the whiskey reaches stores and bars, it must age for years and even decades. Scarcity has changed what some fans are willing to do to obtain the most sought-after bourbon.A collection of bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbons are seen on the top shelf right, among other fine whiskies at the "Far Bar," located in the historic Far East Building in the heart of Little Tokyo in Los Angeles on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Buttery, smooth, oaky. These are characteristics of the best bourbons, and a growin...

Tucker Carlson texted he hates Trump 'passionately': legal filings

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

(The Hill) - Fox News host Tucker Carlson privately expressed contempt for former President Trump in text messages revealed in court filings as part of the network's ongoing legal fight with Dominion Voting Systems. "We are very very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can't wait," Carlson wrote in one text to an unidentified Fox employee on Jan. 4, 2021, according to the filing. "I hate him passionately, I blew up at Peter Navarro today in frustration. I actually like Peter. But I can't handle much more of this." Carlson's text were included in a series of exhibits contained in new filings made by Dominion as part of its $1.6 billion lawsuit for defamation against Fox. Dominion has accused Fox of knowingly airing false claims about the company being spun by Trump and his allies. Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 footage sparks bipartisan outrage Fox has so far argued to have the case dismissed on First Amendment grounds and accused Dominion of cherry picking quotes fr...

House fire reported in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

CHICAGO — Injuries are feared following a house fire Tuesday night on Chicago's Northwest Side. WGN News cameras rolled as fire crews worked in the 2550 block of N. Rutherford Ave. in Chicago's Montclare neighborhood.No word on what sparked the blaze or the number of people injured, though initial reports suggest that four people could be hospitalized.SEE ALSO | 6 injured in fiery car crash that leads to house fire in West PullmanWGN News has reached out to Chicago fire personnel for additional information. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

4 dead after 2 planes collide over Florida lake

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Four people are dead after two small planes collided in central Florida on Tuesday. According to the Winter Haven Police Department, search and rescue crews responded to Lake Hartridge, about 50 miles east of Tampa, after the planes collided around 2 p.m.(WFLA image)(WFLA image)(WFLA image)(WFLA image)"It was an in-air collision and both planes immediately went into the water," Polk County Chief Steve Lester said. One plane sank 21 feet under the water.According to investigators, one of the planes was a Piper J-3 Cub seaplane operated by Jack Brown's Seaplane Base in Winter Haven. The other plane was a Cherokee Piper 161 fixed-wing plane operated by Sunrise Aviation in Ormond Beach on behalf of Polk State College.The Polk County Sheriff's Office identified three of the four people who died in the crash. They include pilot Fairth Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven; Polk State College student Zachary Jean Mace, 19; and Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, from Carlisl...

NFL player helped pull man from burning car in Texas

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn said he was in the “right place at the exact right time” to help save a man from a burning car.Osborn was riding in an Uber on an expressway around 2:30 a.m. Monday in Austin, Texas, when the vehicle came upon a wrecked car. Austin police said Tuesday that the car ran into a pole and caught fire. Police said the driver “had already been removed from the vehicle” by the time officers arrived.Police declined to confirm the identities of the rescuers, saying only that the investigation is ongoing. The car’s driver was taken to a hospital with injuries described by police as non-life threatening. The cause of the wreck remains under investigation.Osborn on Monday posted on Twitter a photo of himself and three others who rescued the man “from a vehicle up in flames after a bad crash.”“Most of the time the saying goes ‘wrong place wrong time.’ But this time I believe God had me, us, at the right place at the exact ri...

Warm, wet start to 2023 has continued through the first week of March

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:50:47 GMT

A much cooler period begins Thursday and continues through mid-March. A system with the potential for accumulating snow arrives Thursday night.THROUGH MARCH 7th, THIS HAS BEEN CHICAGO’S 14TH WETTEST START TO A YEAR SINCE 1871 (153 YEARS)THROUGH MARCH 7th, 2023 IS TIED FOR THE 6th WARMEST START TO A YEAR IN CHICAGOTUESDAY SUNSHINE HELPS BRING MARCH AVERAGE CLOSER TO NORMALDAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FORECAST TO REMAIN BELOW NORMAL THROUGH MID-MONTHActual, forecast and normal maximum temperaturesO’Hare Airport for March 1 to March 15MUCH OF LOWER 48, EXCEPT THE DESERT SOUTHWEST, EXPECTING BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH MID-MONTH6-10 day temperature outlook — Monday, March 13 to Friday, March 17WHILE CHICAGO WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT AND EARLY FRIDAY, GENERAL THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE WELL SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST OF NORTHEAST ILLINOISThunderstorm outlook—Thursday morning to Friday morningWINTER STORM WATCH ISSUED NORTHWEST OF CHICAGO FOR THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...