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New national wildlife refuges in Tennessee, Wyoming created to protect toads, bats, salamanders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two newly created national wildlife refuges in Tennessee and Wyoming will help protect habitats for threatened and endangered species such as toads, bats, shrimp and salamanders, federal officials say. The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and the Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge in Tennessee are the result of “decades-long, locally led efforts to conserve habitat for species while maintaining recreational access,” the U.S. Department of Interior said Tuesday in a news release.The two refuges are the latest additions to the National Wildlife Refuge System, a collection of 570 refuges and 38 wetland districts managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area is in the Laramie Plains of the Wyoming Basin and will provide public access to the Laramie River. Officials say it will help protect the Wyoming toad, an endangered amphibian, while also helping conserve other species including the white-tailed prairie dog and migratory...

2nd former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice advises Republican leader against impeachment

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A second former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice asked to investigate taking the unprecedented step of impeaching a liberal justice came out Wednesday against it.Former Justice Jon Wilcox told The Associated Press that there was nothing to justify impeaching Justice Janet Protasiewicz, as some Republican lawmakers have floated because of comments she made during the campaign about redistricting and donations she accepted from the Wisconsin Democratic Party.“I do not favor impeachment,” Wilcox told AP in a telephone interview.Wilcox, along with former justices David Prosser and Patience Roggensack, were tapped by Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to look into possible impeachment. Prosser on Friday emailed Vos telling him that he was also against impeachment.Roggensack has not returned numerous messages seeking comment, including Wednesday.Vos floated impeaching Protasiewicz if she did not recuse from a redistricting lawsuit seeking to toss GOP-drawn legislati...

Finland police investigate undersea gas pipeline leak as possible sabotage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finnish police said Wednesday they have launched a criminal investigation into possible sabotage of an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia that was shut down over the weekend following a leak.Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, or NBI, says it has started gathering evidence at the location of the leak, which was detected in Finland’s economic zone Sunday on the Balticconector pipeline connecting the two NATO allies. A telecommunications cable also was damaged.The purpose of the probe is to establish whether the Balticconector pipeline was damaged intentionally or by accident and by whom. Finnish authorities have already ruled out an operational mishap, saying the damage resulted from “external activity.”Noting that the analysis was still in an early stage, NBI said “traces have been detected in the seabed” near the leak but didn’t give details.Outside analysts have speculated on everything from a ship’s anchor hitting the pipeline to an ex...

London’s Luton Airport reopens after major disruption caused by a parking garage fire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

LONDON (AP) — London’s Luton Airport reopened Wednesday after a vehicle fire spread through a newly built parking garage, causing the partial collapse of the structure and major disruption for tens of thousands of passengers.Dozens of flights were canceled, diverted or delayed at Luton, located about 56 kilometers (35 miles) north of central London, after the blaze erupted late Tuesday. Four firefighters and an airport employee were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation after the fire.Officials at the airport, which is a hub for easyJet, Ryanair and other budget airlines running flights to destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe, said flights began to arrive and take off again Wednesday afternoon. Investigators believe the fire started with a diesel vehicle, according to Chief Fire Officer Andrew Hopkinson of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. The recently opened parking garage didn’t appear to have sprinklers, he said. “And then that fire has quickly ...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 60s with storms possible by evening

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Frost Advisory until 8 a.m. Wednesday (not for central/north Cook or Lake IL). Increasing clouds, afternoon rain and storms expected. Winds: SW 0-5. High: 63. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Mostly cloudy tonight with showers and storms. Winds: E 5-10. Low: 53.Thursday Forecast: Mostly cloudy, rain and storms, wide temp range, E 10-15 G25. High: 59.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

D.J. Moore gets an NFL award after a unique performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — One of the better performances by a wide receiver in Chicago Bears history has earned some NFL recognition.It certainly was a unique game for D.J. Moore both in terms of his team and the league over the last few years. Bears WR D.J. Moore has been named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week after his 8 catch, 230 yard, 3 touchdown effort against the Commanders..It’s the 1st player of the week honor of Moore’s career, 1st for the Bears since Justin Fields, Week 9, 2022..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/7q8wPBEbel— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) October 11, 2023The receiver was named the NFC's Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Commanders last Thursday in which he had eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a 40-20 win in Landover, Maryland. That ended a franchise-record 14-game losing streak for the Bears and marked the first time the team has scored 40 points in a game since Week 16 of the 2020 season. Moore's 230 catches were...

Vikings officially place star receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

In a move that has been expected for the past 24 hours, the Vikings officially placed star receiver Justin Jefferson on injured reserve Wednesday afternoon. Under NFL rules, Jefferson, 24, must miss at least the next four games, although he could miss more depending on how his hamstring injury responds.The Vikings also placed backup quarterback Nick Mullens on injured reserve. He has been dealing with a back injury that kept him out last weekend when the Vikings lost, 27-20, to the Kansas City Chiefs.In a pair of corresponding moves, the Vikings have signed receivers N’Keal Harry and Trishton Jackson to the active roster. They have also signed quarterback Sean Mannion, receiver Dan Chisena and tight end Troy Fumagalli to the practice squad and designated running back Kene Nwangwu for return from injured reserve.Related ArticlesMinnesota Vikings | The Loop Fantasy Football Report Week 6: How can you replace Justin Jefferson? Minnesota Vikings | Report...

Election 2023: Roseville School Board (Elect 3)

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

ROSEVILLE SCHOOL BOARDOn Nov, 7 Roseville voters will elect three school board members from a pool of seven candidates.General information about the Nov. 7 election is online at twincities.com/tag/elections. In addition, twincities.com/news/politics/elections will have a full voters guide with candidates for Ramsey, Dakota and Washington county races online this month. To find out where to vote, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s online polling place finder at pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us.Alan HolasekAge: 32What qualifies you to hold this position? As someone who was diagnosed with autism, I understand the value of Special Ed and holding our students to high standards. I worked as a high school theatre director for seven years, and my wife worked as a reading tutor for RAS. I understand and appreciate what our teachers do for our students every day. Everyone benefits from good schools.What would your top priorities be if elected? -Academic achievement. We must get our stud...

St. Paul high school student with gun in bag tussled with officers, security, charges say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

Prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old with having a gun at a St. Paul high school last week.Officers went to Como Park Senior High School at 10:05 a.m. Oct. 4 to arrest the student because police had issued a pick-up and hold for him in connection to a previous shooting.School security personnel escorted the student outside of the building. Officers told him why they were there, that they were bringing him to police headquarters, and that he needed to remove his crossbody satchel and put it in a squad car’s trunk.The teen “immediately put both hands on the bag and stated he was not consenting to a search,” according to a juvenile petition. “Immediately concerned that (the student) had a weapon,” an officer grabbed him and tried to remove the bag. He tried to kick officers and get away, the petition said.“Multiple officers and security personnel were necessary to gain control of (the teen),” the petition said. They removed the satchel. Insid...

Suspect accused of shooting a CDTA bus pleads guilty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:24:30 GMT

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The man accused of shooting at a CDTA bus in February has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Deion Austin, 31, of Troy, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police investigating the case said a CDTA bus carrying passengers was struck by gunfire. No one was injured during the incident.Austin was charged for possessing a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun in the area of 547 2nd Avenue. In addition to the prison sentencing, Austin will serve five years of post-release supervision.The conviction was made under the GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative) program.