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City announces opening of first safe sleeping lot for homeless

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

SAN DIEGO — The opening of San Diego's first homeless sleeping site was announced Wednesday as part of the city's new Safe Sleeping Program.Located at the city’s Central Operation Yard at B Street and 20th Street, the site will open Thursday and will have capacity for up to 136 tents.City leaders held a news conference Wednesday morning to announce the opening as crews prepared the site for clients.The program will not only provide a temporary, safe place for people experiencing homelessness to sleep, but also access to supportive services, meals and other amenities. SeaWorld closes ‘Electric Eel’ rollercoaster after reported injury “The Safe Sleeping program is more than just a safe place to sleep; it’s a place for people experiencing homelessness to be connected to the services they need to get back on their feet and to put them on a path toward permanent housing,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “The quickness with which we’ve stood up this site should be the standard for a crisis this...

VIDEO: Dozens of dolphins seen swimming together along San Diego coast

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- It was dolphin-itely a sight to see. Dozens of dolphins were seen Wednesday swimming together in the waters of La Jolla Cove.Around 4:15 p.m., SkyFOX captured what appeared to be a "superpod" of dolphins gracefully popping in and out of the water along the San Diego coast.A superpod consists of a group of 100 or even several thousand dolphins, according to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC). SeaWorld closes ‘Electric Eel’ rollercoaster after reported injury "Superpods usually only last for short periods of time, and may form during times of mating or when prey is particularly abundant in an area," WDC said on its website. "Once they finish participating in the activity, the dolphins will return to their smaller pods with their family and/or friends until they meet up with other dolphins for the next gathering."Smaller groups, anywhere from 2 - 30 dolphins, are known as "pods," per marine officials."Dolphins are social mammals that i...

Man dies after being shot by police at B.C. hospital

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

HOPE, B.C. — British Columbia’s police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who was shot by an RCMP officer in southern British Columbia.Mounties say an “interaction” between the man and officers occurred at the Fraser Canyon Hospital in Hope, B.C., resulting in one officer discharging their firearm.In a statement police say the man received immediate medical attention but was pronounced deceased at the scene.Police say they were initially called to a report of a two-vehicle collision on Highway 5 at the Zopkios off-ramp, where multiple people were identified with non-life-threatening injuries and transported to the hospital.RCMP say an altercation allegedly occurred between two of the injured people that resulted in BC Emergency Health Services personnel requesting police assistance at the hospital.The Fraser Canyon Hospital emergency department is temporarily closed while the Independent Investigations Office of BC investigates.This report by The Canadian...

North Carolina lawmakers give final OK to ban on gender-affirming care for trans children

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina lawmakers finalized legislation on Wednesday that would prohibit certain gender-affirming care for children and prevent state funds from being used to provide such therapies and procedures. The House voted 67-46 to accept a version of the measure approved by the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation would bar any medical professional from providing hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgical gender transition procedures to anyone under 18, with some medical exceptions. Young people who begin treatment before Aug. 1 could continue receiving such care if it’s considered medically necessary and their parents consent.The bill, written by Republicans, now heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, whose veto is likely. Cooper has expressed opposition to bills that target trans youth. The GOP holds narrow veto-proof majorities in both chambers. If the bill is enacted into law, critics have already signaled litigation. Most of the 20 or so states with laws res...

RoseAnne Archibald voted out as Assembly of First Nations national chief

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

OTTAWA — RoseAnne Archibald has been voted out as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations after more than a year of turmoil involving her leadership.The vote took place during a special chiefs assembly that was convened in part to address the implications of a human resources investigation related to complaints that AFN staff had filed against Archibald.The resolution to oust her as national chief, just over two years after she became the first woman to serve in the role, passed with support from about 70 per cent of those who took part in the virtual meeting.The infighting at the national advocacy organization for more than 600 First Nations played out in public last July at a gathering in Vancouver, when Archibald showed up despite having been temporarily suspended.After chiefs voted down an emergency resolution to affirm her suspension, Archibald expressed her gratitude, alleging she was unfairly suspended because she had been trying to investigate corruption within the a...

Salty, gritty tap water has residents of Uruguay’s capital fuming as drought empties reservoir

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Residents of Uruguay’s capital are increasingly exasperated after two months of salty-tasting tap water that has damaged water heaters, boosted demand for bottled water and reportedly caused stomach ailments.The water “comes out saltier and saltier so you can’t drink it, but you’re thirsty and so you need to drink it,” said homemaker Natalia Moreira, 33, who lives in one of Montevideo’s poorer neighborhoods. She added that she and her children have been suffering stomach aches and diarrhea. “Now I have a coffee and go straight to the bathroom. Before, that didn’t happen to me,” Moreira said.People in Uruguay have always been able to safely drink the water that comes from their taps, unlike in some other Latin American countries. But the country is now suffering its most severe drought in 44 years, following decades without investment in freshwater reservoirs. The reservoir behind Uruguay’s largest dam, Paso Severino, is only 2.6% filled. The Sa...

Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, who says he’s innocent, asked for a new trial. A court said no

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — An appeals court on Wednesday denied a new trial request from longtime Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed, whose supporters say there is evidence to back his claims of innocence.The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals accepted a 2021 recommendation from a lower court judge, who had ruled against several claims made by Reed, including that he’s not guilty.Despite the ruling, Reed’s execution is not expected anytime soon. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in April that he should have a chance to argue for testing of crime-scene evidence that he says will exonerate him. The following month, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ordered that additional legal briefs be filed on whether Reed should be granted additional DNA testing.Reed was condemned for the 1996 killing of 19-year-old Stacey Stites. Prosecutors say he raped and strangled Stites as she made her way to work at a supermarket in Bastrop, a rural community about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southe...

More than 50 percent of Americans report facing online harassment, hate: survey 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

(The Hill) - More than half of American respondents said in a new survey that they have faced online harassment and hate.An Anti-Defamation League (ADL) release published Wednesday found that reports of online hate and harassment have reached a record high since 2020. ADL's 2023 research shows 52 percent of respondents have experienced online harassment or hate, a significant increase from the 40 percent recorded in last year's report.“We’re confronted with record levels of hate across the internet, hate that too often turns into real violence and danger in our communities,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement. “The time for talking, and for planning, is long over. It’s time to execute on the priorities set out by the White House and other policymakers, and it’s time for big tech companies to deliver on their promises to reduce hate online.”The ADL also found that the reports increased across all demographics — but especially those in the LGTBQ community, particular...

Have the sun, moon looked different lately? Blame Canadian wildfire smoke

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

GRAFTON, Ohio (WJW) -- Have you noticed the sun and moon have had some unique colors amid hazy skies this summer?The more dramatic hues of orange for the sun and yellow for the moon is due to the current wildfires in Canada, WJW meteorologist Alexis Walters explains.The sun is especially affected during sunset when it's lower on the horizon as the light has to pass through more haze caused by smoke from the wildfires. 16 states, DC currently under poor air quality alerts – here’s when things will change The smoke ultimately acts like a filter on the shorter wavelengths of light created by the sun, WKBN meteorologist Paul Wetzl explains. This lets through only longer wavelengths, which are red and orange on the color spectrum. Sun over Grafton, Ohio. Photographer Ron Jantz said the background appears dark because he adjusted the camera's aperture to focus solely on the true color of the sun as it appeared in the haze Sunday. (Ron Jantz)The smoke can have a similar effect on the mo...

ERCOT announces new board member starting July 1

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:51:39 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Board Selection Committee announced Linda Capuano will serve on the board of directors and will join the agency beginning July 1, ERCOT said in a news release.Capuano is an experienced corporate director and business leader who brings broad commercial, government, and academic experience to the role, having held leadership positions in large and small businesses, startups, universities, and within the U.S. Department of Energy, according to ERCOT."We would like to welcome Ms. Capuano to her new role on the ERCOT Board and look forward to working with her on the important work of overseeing a rapidly growing and changing electric grid. Texas is at the forefront of the global energy transition and Linda’s deep energy expertise will be of great value as we continue to strive towards industry leading reliability and efficient markets," ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas said.Capuano earned a doctorate degr...