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Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

On the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus is still spreading and the death toll is nearing 7 million worldwide. Yet most people have resumed their normal lives, thanks to a wall of immunity built from infections and vaccines.The virus appears here to stay, along with the threat of a more dangerous version sweeping the planet.“New variants emerging anywhere threaten us everywhere,” said virus researcher Thomas Friedrich of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Maybe that will help people to understand how connected we are.”With information sources drying up, it has become harder to keep tabs on the pandemic. Johns Hopkins University on Friday shut down its trusted tracker, which it started soon after the virus emerged in China and spread worldwide.Saturday marks three years since the World Health Organization first called the outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020, and the United Nation's health organization says it's not yet ready ...

Schumer wants DEA team deployed to tri-state area to fight rising threat of 'tranq'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

NEW YORK (WPIX) -- Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer is calling on the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to send a specialized team of experts to the tri-state area to address the increasing threat of xylazine, also known as "tranq." The veterinary sedative has started to saturate street drugs in New York City and on Long Island. “Xylazine is dangerous, it’s deadly, and it’s here,” said Schumer. "It’s a deadly, skin-rotting zombie drug that evil drug dealers are now mixing with fentanyl, heroin and other drugs." Last week, the DEA issued a rare public safety alert about the widespread threat of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, which places users at a higher risk of a deadly overdose. The administration claims Mexican cartels source the drug from China and then bring it into the United States.Schumer is proposing a two-part plan. The first part asks for more federal dollars to help fund law enforcement, substance abuse treatment and mental health services. ‘Tranq’ turns ...

Greenland staying in daylight saving time permanently

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Residents of Greenland have switched to daylight saving time and moved their clocks one hour forward this weekend for the very last time.Unlike most of Europe, Greenlanders will leave their clocks untouched come autumn when daylight saving time ends. While Europe and the U.S. debate whether to stick to the twice-yearly practice, Greenland -- a vast Danish semi-independent territory in the Arctic -- has resolved to perennially remain only three hours behind Copenhagen and most other European countries instead of four.Greenland's parliament, Inatsisartut, voted to stick to daylight saving time year-round on Nov. 24 last year. Officials say it will give Greenlanders another hour of daylight in the afternoons and more time to do business with Europe and farther afield.“The shift of time zone marks an exciting new beginning, an equal connection to North America and Europe, and an opportunity to slow down in a fast-paced world,” Visit Greenland, the local govern...

1 migrant found dead in train boxcar, 3 hospitalized

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

(The Hill) -- One migrant was found dead and three others were taken to a nearby medical facility after being found train boxcar in Eagle Pass, Texas over the weekend. It was the second time in two days that authorities discovered migrants trapped in a train car in the Lone Star state. Two migrants died and ten others were hospitalized on Friday after police in Uvalde responded to a tip about numerous undocumented immigrants suffocating inside of a train car. On Saturday, U.S. Border Patrol agents searched a boxcar in a Union Pacific railyard in Eagle Pass after one of the individuals in the car called 911.  As US fentanyl deaths jump, GOP casts blame at the border In a statement to The Hill, Union Pacific said that the U.S. Border Patrol notified them that it found 12 individuals in a company boxcar.“Union Pacific is deeply saddened by this incident. Our commitment to safety and to guarding human life is central to who we are as a company and as people,” the company s...

Georgetown collects over 120,000 cubic yards of tree debris

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

GEORGETOWN (KXAN) — It’s been almost two months since the 2023 ice storm swept through Central Texas.Many residents in the region were stuck without electricity for several days, as the severe storm tore apart tons of trees and power lines.In Georgetown, the cleanup effort is still underway every day. City officials say they’ve collected nearly 120,000 cubic yards of tree debris.Jack Daly, assistant public works director for the City of Georgetown, says the magnitude of damage from this storm is much more than what they witnessed in 2021. How Williamson County is paying for ice storm cleanup “During the winter storm of 2021, we had 30,000 cubic yards of debris from that storm,” he said. “We think we'll have five to six times as much debris from this storm.”All the tree debris has been placed into large piles at the TDS Georgetown Transfer Station.It’s been a month since the City of Georgetown hired a third-party contractor, Global Emergency Services, to assist with the curbside co...

Traffic: How to get around CMT Awards in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Giddy up, the 2023 CMT Music Awards are in Austin this week! Country music fans and artists will be in the capital city for the 2023 award show. The show will air live from the Moody Center on Sunday, April 2. If you're planning to attend the show or the events leading up, or want to avoid event traffic, here are the traffic closures you'll want to look out for.10th Street closed from Colorado Street to Brazos StreetStarting Monday, March 27 at 12:01 a.m., set to reopen Monday, April 3 at 6 a.m.Congress Avenue closed from 8th Street to 11th StreetStarting Monday, March 27 at 12:01 a.m., set to reopen Monday, April 3 at 6 a.m.Colorado Street closed from 9th Street to 10th StreetStarting Monday, March 27 at 12:01 a.m., set to reopen Monday, April 3 at 6 a.m.9th Street closed from Colorado Street to Brazos Street Starting Monday, March 27 at 12:01 a.m., set to reopen Monday, April 3 at 6 a.m.11th Street closed from Colorado Street to San Jacinto BoulvardStarting Wednesd...

At 100, St. Paul WWII vet Gordon Kirk ‘still trying to be of assistance to others’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

There were four generations of Gordon Kirks at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Sunday morning.The eldest Gordon Kirk celebrated his 100th birthday last week, and his grandson, great-grandson and great-great-grandson joined about two dozen parishioners in the church’s basement after the 10 a.m. service to mark their namesake’s milestone.“I guess I’m just one of the lucky ones,” Kirk said of his longevity. “I’ve been blessed. I mean, I’m the first Kirk to ever reach 100 years old. Dad died at 99, mother died at 94.”St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz both issued proclamations last week recognizing the World War II veteran’s service to his city and state.Kirk has spent much of his long life helping others. Holy Trinity parishioner Paula Mitchell described Kirk as a pillar of the community.“We could always depend on him,” she said Sunday. “At 100 years old, he’s still trying to be of assi...

Troy man accused of storage unit burglary

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

MALTA, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Troy man was arrested for allegedly burglarizing a storage unit in Malta. Michael Fox, 37, is charged with third-degree burglary. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! On February 14, New York State Police got a complaint about a storage unit in Malta that was broken into and had multiple items stolen. Through investigation, police identified Fox as a suspect and found he was one of a few that entered the storage facility without being authorized, broke the lock on the unit, and took items that weren't his.Fox was arrested on a warrant. On Thursday, he was taken from the Saratoga County Correctional Facility, where he was being held on unrelated matters, and processed at Saratoga State Police. He was arraigned at the Malta Town Court and taken back to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility without bail.

5 things to know this Monday, March 27

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- "Monday is the day that opens up the week for many opportunities," - R.K. Narayan. To start the week, we're starting off with a clear and chilly morning. But, come afternoon, we'll be seeing some rain and more cloud coverage with temperatures climbing into the 50s, according to Meteorologist Jill Szwed. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Overnight, a pedestrian was killed in an auto/pedestrian crash on I-787. Police at the time shut down all lanes to investigate, diverting traffic. The crash is still under investigation. Also, police are investigating two separate shots fired incidents that happened in Troy Sunday evening. Police are still looking to determine if the shootings are related. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Monday morning. 1. Police investigating pedestrian fatality on I-787Police are investigating an auto/pedestrian crash that happened overnight Sun...

Family seeks justice for Jacque, man charged due in court this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:17:58 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The family of a missing woman found dead last week in Maryland Heights are planning to lay her to rest.Jacquelyn Mitchell's sister, Tiffany, said her family is processing this devastating loss one day at a time. She wants “Jacque” to be remembered as a good person and a friend to everyone."She loved everybody. She was the life of the party. You could be at the end of a family event, she'd be the last one there,” Tiffany said. “She was such a sweet and caring person, would not hurt a soul. So this whole thing is just, it's tragic. It's horrific, and I don't wish that upon anybody, and nobody deserves this, especially Jacque."Mitchell’s family made a memorial with flowers and stuffed animals near the apartment complex where she took her last breath.“It’s a horrible place where (the memorial is) at, as far as it being where she was found at the apartment,” Tiffany shared. “But she loved her nieces and nephews and would always give them little things. My son gave me s...