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Rare solar eclipse to cross remote Australia, Indonesia

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

A rare solar eclipse will cross over remote parts of Australia, Indonesia and East Timor on Thursday. The lucky few in the path of the hybrid solar eclipse will either get plunged into the darkness of a total eclipse or they’ll see a “ring of fire” as the sun peeks out from behind the moon.The eclipse path will swoop from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, mostly over water. For those viewing the total eclipse, it will last a little over a minute.Such celestial events happen about once every decade: The last one was in 2013 and the next one isn’t until 2031. They occur when Earth is in the “sweet spot” so the moon and the sun are almost the exact same size in the sky, said NASA solar expert Michael Kirk.At some points, the moon is a little closer and blocks out the sun in a total eclipse. But when the moon is a little farther away, it lets some of the sun’s light peek out in an annular eclipse.“It’s a crazy phenomenon,” Kirk said. “You’re actually watching the moon get lar...

Severe storms with tornados move through central U.S.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

COLE, Okla. (AP) — Strong storms including tornadoes, strong winds and hail are moving through parts of the Central U.S. The National Weather Service began issuing tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings Wednesday evening in Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa with forecasters warning people to find shelter. Central Oklahoma was seeing multiple tornadoes with damage reported. KFOR-TV reports residents south of Oklahoma City have reported being trapped in their shelters underground, mailboxes have been blown away and emergency crews are having to use GPS to find addresses, according to the McClain County sheriff.Two people in the town of Cole rode out the storm in a manhole and were not hurt, the television station reported.The National Weather Service was warning just before 10 p.m. that a storm with a tornado was moving toward the city of Shawnee. The storm was showing erratic behavior, and the weather service said people should take cover.Storms this spring have spawned tornadoes in the So...

Takeaways of AP report on watchdog probe into DEA hiring

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal watchdog is investigating whether the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration under chief Anne Milgram improperly awarded millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to hire her past associates. That’s according to several people familiar with the widening probe who spoke to The Associated Press.Here are the key takeaways: WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION?The Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General is scrutinizing $4.7 million the DEA spent for “strategic planning and communication” and other contracts to help bring in people Milgram knew from her days as New Jersey’s attorney general and as a New York University law professor. Some of the contract hires make up Milgram’s inner circle, handling intelligence, data analytics, community outreach and public relations — at costs far exceeding pay for government officials. Investigators are also homing in on a $1.4 million contract awarded to a Washington law firm to review the DEA’s scandal-plagued foreign operati...

Missing Navy sailor recovered from Lake Michigan in Waukegan

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

WAUKEGAN, Ill. — The body of a missing U.S. Navy sailor was recovered Wednesday evening from Lake Michigan in Waukegan, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office and police.Waukegan police said the body and clothing description matches that of U.S. Navy Sailor Seamus Gray, who went missing on March 18. The coroner's office later confirmed Wednesday evening was identified as Seamus Gray. NCIS, rescue canines join search in Waukegan for missing Navy sailor Police said an autopsy is scheduled for Thursday. Waukegan Police Department Chief Edgardo Navarro said ComEd workers were doing routine work around 7 p.m. near the harbor when they found the body and flagged down officers. Officer Roscoe went into the water and brought the body back to shore, Chastain said.Gray was reported missing from Ibiza bar on North Genessee Street in downtown Waukegan following St. Patricks Day. Police said he and his friends were escorted out of the bar because they were intoxicated. Video showed Gray...

New study on long COVID from Northwestern Medicine

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

CHICAGO — A long-time study is revealing new information about the ailments that plague a third of COVID survivors.The findings on long COVID are very different depending on whether patients were hospitalized or recovered at home. Chicago hospital training ground for military medics Dr. Igor Koralnik, a neurologist with Northwestern Medicine, said nearly 2,000 patients from 31 states have traveled to the clinic in search of answers. "Patients complain of brain fog, headache, muscle pain, trouble with smell and taste, numbness tingling, blurry vision and ringing in ears," Koralnik said. In the 100 study, patients who were hospitalized and placed on ventilators, many with co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity prior to a COVID infection, the researchers noted broader, more serve lasting neurological symptoms. What is mifepristone and how does it work? "When people are older, had other diseases before COVID, seriously affected by COVID-19, pneumonia, maybe go t...

Another bomb threat reported at same residence as previous night, RRPD says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) -- On Wednesday, another bomb threat was reported at a residence in Round Round, which is the same residence as Tuesday's bomb threat, the Round Police Police Department said on Twitter.At approximately 9:15 p.m., RRPD said officers were responding to the residence. On Tuesday, officers responded to the same residence at approximately 8:30 p.m., the tweet said. RRPD: Reported threat at Round Rock residence determined not to be bomb Furthermore, RRPD said Tuesday's incident turned out to be a hoax. However, for the safety of everyone involved, officers treat every threat as credible until proven otherwise. The Austin Police bomb squad also assisted RRPD Wednesday, the tweet said.Nearby residences were evacuated as a precaution.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

'We can't afford it': Property appraisal values up 24% in Hays County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - Thousands of Hays County residents should be getting their appraisal notices any day now, and they likely will be higher than last year. The Hays Central Appraisal District said it mailed out 121,500 appraisal notices on Tuesday. They said property appraisal values in the county have gone up by 24% this year. The overall market value of Hays County's 2023 preliminary appraisal roll increased to $69.89 billion.'It's dragging us down badly'Charie Valois and her husband have lived in their Buda home for seven years now. In that time, she said their property value has nearly doubled from less than $300,000 to $550,000. It's a growing price she said she and her husband aren't sure they can afford for much longer. "It's kind of hard. I just don't know where it's gonna stop," Valois said. While Valois hasn't received her property appraisal just yet, she said she's already dreading it. "One more day of waiting to see what we're gonna have to pay," Valois said. Wh...

Texas baseball thrashes Abilene Christian, scores highest run total of the season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — No. 14 Texas baseball left absolutely no doubt in their midweek game with against Abilene Christian, beating the Wildcats 20-0 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Texas (27-12 overall, 8-4 in Big 12) started the scoring with a Garrett Guillemette two-run home run and a Porter Brown solo shot in the first.The second inning is where the Longhorns blew the game wide open, scoring eight runs. The lead continued to climb as Texas scored four runs in the third, and five runs in the fifth. The large margin Texas allowed Texas to work several pitchers. Kobe Minchey got the start and pitched three scoreless innings only allowing one hit. Zane Morehouse, Charlie Hurley and Andre Duplantier all took the mound after Minchey's time was done, and the three of them allowed no runs and one hit in relief. The 20 runs Texas scored is the most they've scored this season, three more than their total in their 17-11 win over Incarnate Word back on March 21st. Texas will return to Big 12 play to beg...

Minnesotans will soon have an eighth area code to dial: the 924

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

Residents of southern Minnesota will soon have a second area code option, in addition to the longstanding 507.With 507 numbers poised to run out in the next few years, the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved 924 as an additional area code for the region that includes Rochester, Austin, Winona, Mankato, Worthington and Marshall.There’ll be no change for people who currently have 507 numbers. But starting soon, any new or additional lines in southern Minnesota may be assigned the new 924 area code in what’s called an area code overlay.It’ll be the state’s eighth area code, and the first new area code in Minnesota since 763 and 952 were introduced in the Twin Cities suburbs back in 2000.And it may not be the last. A PUC document said the 218 area code in northern Minnesota is poised to run out of numbers by the end of 2026, though the commission hasn’t announced plans for addressing that shortage.Minnesota’s other area codes are forecast to have enough numbers for at lea...

Albany police car involved in crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:57:12 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Three people were sent to the hospital after a crash involving an Albany police car Wednesday night. The crash took place on Hudson Avenue. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Officials said a police car and another vehicle collided. Two officers sustained minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle also complained of minor leg pain.All three were taken to the hospital for evaluations. The investigation is ongoing.