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Heading to a beach this summer? Here’s how to keep harmful algae blooms from spoiling your trip

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

(The Conversation) - Plunging into the ocean or a lake is one of the great joys of summer. But arriving at the beach to find water that’s green, red or brown, and possibly foul-smelling, can instantly spoil the party.As a toxicologist, I study health risks from both synthetic and natural substances. I’ve conducted research into early detection of harmful algal blooms, or HABs, which are an increasing threat to humans, animals and the environment.Toxins produced during these blooms have been implicated in human and animal illnesses in at least 43 states. Scientists have estimated that in the U.S. alone, freshwater HABs cause more than US$4.6 billion in damage yearly. Here’s what to know about them if you’re bound for the water’s edge this summer.Harmful algal blooms have become a regular occurrence along large stretches of Florida’s coast in recent years.Tiny organisms, big impactsAlgae and cyanobacteria – often called blue-green algae – are simple, plantlike organisms...

California task force votes in favor of reparation proposals for Black residents

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

(The Hill) – The California Reparations Task Force voted on Saturday to recommend a series of proposals that could see Black residents in the state receive billions of dollars in reparations, according to The Associated Press.If approved by the California legislature and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), the proposals would provide eligible Black residents with varying payments for the state’s discriminatory policies, including mass incarceration and over policing, housing discrimination, and health care inequalities and environmental injustices.Economists on the panel have said that the reparations could cost the state more than $800 million.   Here’s what the USPS does with lost mail — and how you might get it back "Reparations are not only morally justifiable, but they have the potential to address longstanding racial disparities and inequalities,” Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said at Saturday's meeting, according to the AP.Newsom signed a law creating the task force to...

Most of the '50 Best Bars' in North America are in the US, according to new ranking

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – This gives us an idea for the most expensive bar crawl of all time.Fifty of North America’s best bars were honored in Mexico last week during a beverage-industry ceremony presented by William Reed Ltd., a U.K.-based multimedia firm specializing in the food and drink sector. Ranked by the firm’s 50 Best brand, this year’s list of the “50 Best Bars” in North America includes speakeasies, pubs and cozy cocktail lounges across the continent — but the U.S. is especially well-represented. The best dive bar in every state, according to Yelp Coming in at No. 1 is NYC’s Double Chicken Please, a relatively new cocktail bar serving its take of classic low-ABV cocktails in a front room, and more experimental cocktails “designed to represent a drinkable meal” in the back room, according to 50 Best.“The Back Room at Double Chicken Please offers inventive craft cocktails that deconstruct, redefine and rebuild iconic dishes into liquid form such as the Japanese Cold Noodle, Cold Pizza...

Texas outlet mall shooter kills 8, injures 7: police

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

ALLEN, Texas (KETK) – Hundreds of terrified shoppers fled in panic after a gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and opened fire at a Dallas-area outlet mall, killing eight and wounding seven before being killed by a police officer who happened to be nearby, authorities said.The shooting in Allen, Texas, on Saturday was the latest eruption of what has been an unprecedented pace of mass killings in the U.S. Barely a week before, authorities say, a man fatally shot five people in Cleveland, Texas, after a neighbor asked him to stop firing his weapon while a baby slept.Police did not immediately provide details about the victims at Allen Premium Outlets, a sprawling outdoor shopping center, but witnesses reported seeing children among them. Some said they also saw what appeared to be a police officer and a mall security guard unconscious on the ground.A 16-year-old pretzel stand employee, Maxwell Gum, described a virtual stampede of shoppers. He and others sheltered in a ...

Sunday Forecast: Warm and muggy, chance of thunderstorms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

Sunday's forecast shows decreasing clouds, warmer & muggier. Chance of afternoon thunderstorms. WSW 5-10 mphHigh 85, record is 87.Sunday night's forecast shows showers and possible thunderstorms. NE 5-10 mph. Low mid 50s Monday: Mostly cloudy & cooler, especially lakeside. Chance of iso. showers/thunderstorms. NE 10-15 mph. High near 70, mid 60s lakeside. Chicago Weather | Tom Skilling and the WGN Weather Center's Forecast (wgntv.com)Extended outlook calls for mostly sunny skies that return for the middle of the week. NE winds off the chilly lake waters deliver temps in the seasonal upper 60 and maybe a few 70s inland. More clouds and warmer for Friday and Saturday with highs back in the mid to upper 70s with a chance of showers and t'storms both days. 

Austin city staff vacancy levels decrease to 2,400 openings in April

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it was making progress in its staffing shortages, which have been higher than normal since the start of the pandemic. On Friday, the city said its vacancy rate is 15.3%—the lowest it has been since February 2022. Vacancies have dropped from 2,537 in January to 2,401 openings in April. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Austin job campaign aims to fill city vacancies The city said this decrease is thanks to a new hiring campaign for hard-to-fill roles and to address shortages. In addition, 29 sworn personnel graduated and joined the Austin-Travis County EMS department. The campaign highlighted 911 call takers and police dispatchers. The city said there was an application uptick in February and March. PREVIOUS: Austin street takeovers highlight persistent problem: Staffing shortages Austin Energy has filled 108 openings in the current fiscal year, the city said, with 71 internal promotions and 37 outside hires. Current critical vacancies are for power sys...

Storms leave Lago Vista marina with 'severe damage'

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Friday night storms caused "severe damage" to a Lago Vista marina, impacting 37 boats. The Lago Vista Property Owners' Association marina said they received reports of damage soon after the storms hit between 10 p.m. and midnight. The association's rangers and management, law enforcement and the Lower Colorado River Authority responded to the marina to check for injuries, chemical leaks and downed electric lines, but no significant spills or leaks were found so far. A statement from the board of directors said the LCRA police and emergency management office will help with the oversight of recovery efforts. They will also monitor for environmental hazards from damaged vehicles. From the marina's 137 wet slips, 37 boats were severely impacted, according to the property owners' association.KXAN viewer photos showed the damage to the marina Saturday. Some boats were overturned on shore. Lago Vista marina damage (Courtesy Stephanie Arnold)Lago Vista marina damage (Courtes...

1,200+ housing units coming to Bastrop in new mixed-use development

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 348-acre mixed-use community is headed to Bastrop with hundreds of new housing units planned in the growing Central Texas city. The community, called Adelton, is in its first phase of construction with 90 single-family homes and two commercial projects. The first homes are expected to be ready this summer, according to a release.The more than 1,200 housing units will include single-family and multi-family units. Homes prices will start in the low $300,000s with two-bedroom to four-bedroom floor plans. The developer, West Bastrop Village LTD, is also planning four miles of trails, 50 acres of parks, greenbelts and open space throughout the community. Adelton phase one construction plan (Courtesy Benchmark Land Development)The developer said new Bastrop economic development projects led to the timing of Adelton construction. These include SpaceX's Project Echo, a new film studio and Tesla. The community's grand opening is Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. at 126 Adelton Blv...

Real World Economics: In econ, one must be patient

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

Edward LottermanGreat confusion results from the widespread failure of people to understand that much time often passes between the implementation of an economic action and its results.The Federal Reserve expands the money supply to goose economic activity and we may see near-immediate drops in interest rates. Yet the positive effects on output or consumption may not occur for a year. Ditto for the resulting rise in consumer inflation.Respond to a pandemic by raising government spending and we might see immediate relief effects of businesses keeping people on payroll despite falling sales. Yet broader secondary and tertiary effects on prices of more disposable income sloshing around the general economy won’t show up until later.Economists refer to these delays as “lags.”Moreover, in the memorable phrase of Nobelist Milton Friedman, these lags are “long and variable.” As the high priest of the effects of money on economic activity and  prices, the lags Friedman had in mind were of mo...

Wisconsin deputy shot and killed on Saturday night. Suspect later found dead.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:45:53 GMT

A St. Croix County Sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed Saturday night, authorities said. A suspect in the case was later found dead.The shooting occurred at about 6:15 p.m. when the deputy responded to a report of a drunk driver in a ditch, according to a Wisconsin Department of Justice press release. The deputy reported shots fired at the scene.The deputy sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to a local hospital, and died there.“The involved individual fled and was later found deceased in a wooded area with a gunshot wound,” the press release said. There is no threat to the community.At about midnight Saturday, a law enforcement procession that included Minnesota and Wisconsin agencies transported the deputy’s body to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to the Minneapolis Police Department’s Facebook page.The justice department’s Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating, assisted by the Wisconsin State Patro...