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Malaria cases confirmed in Florida and Texas. Is Massachusetts at risk?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

After five cases of malaria were confirmed in the U.S. for the first time in 20 years, could the serious and potentially fatal disease from mosquitoes come north to New England?The CDC recently reported one case of malaria in Texas and four cases in the Sarasota, Fla., area that were not linked to travel. Officials believe the U.S. cases were from the bite of an infected local mosquito.The most recent similar cluster was reported in Florida 20 years ago.On Wednesday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health stressed that there has been no evidence of malaria transmission elsewhere in the U.S., and none in the Bay State.“However, mosquito bites in Massachusetts can transmit other infections, such as West Nile virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis,” the state Department of Public Health said in a statement.“People should take steps to avoid being bitten, such as reducing exposed skin by wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks and using an EPA-approved insect...

What led to MLB’s decision to play Tuesday’s Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in ‘very unhealthy’ air quality conditions?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

Baseball fans have been inundated by new stats over the years, from WAR to wRC+ and exit velocity to barrels.Welcome to the club, AQI.Air Quality Index, the latest addition to the baseball glossary, has been picking up speed since early June, when the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals had games postponed due to poor air quality from the wildfires in Canada.The Chicago Cubs were the latest team to deal with air quality issues Tuesday when the AQI in Chicago reached a level deemed “very unhealthy.” MLB had several discussions with the Players Association before gametime, but ultimately opted not to postpone it, which resulted in Philadelphia’s 5-1 win in a smoky haze.Ian Happ, the Cubs player representative, said afterward the union was consulted on the decision, adding “the league felt the levels were playable” and “there wasn’t going to be any harm” if they played.“You smell it, you taste it, but yo...

Shootout outside US consulate in Saudi port city leaves assailant and security guard dead, US says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said a gunman who opened fire on the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and a local security guard working at the consulate were killed in an exchange of fire on Wednesday.The motive for the attack was not immediately clear, the department said. The consulate went into lockdown as the shooting took place and no Americans or American staff were injured, it said.The assailant was killed by Saudi security forces, the State Department said, referring questions to the Saudi authorities, who it said were investigating. Saudi Arabia’s state news agency, citing Saudi police, said the man had gotten out of a vehicle outside the consulate carrying a gun. “Authorities took the initiative to deal with him as required by the situation,” the press agency said. It said the slain consulate security worker was Nepalese.The Associated Press

2 more Connecticut officers fired for mistreating Randy Cox after he was paralyzed in a police van

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Two more Connecticut police officers were fired Wednesday for what officials called their misconduct and lack of compassion in how they treated Richard “Randy” Cox after he was paralyzed in the back of a police van last year.New Haven police commissioners voted 5-0 to fire Officer Oscar Diaz, the van driver, and Sgt. Betsy Segui, the detention area supervisor, at the recommendation of Chief Karl Jacobson.Of the five officers who were criminally charged, commissioners have now fired four of them after an internal affairs investigation. The fifth officer, Ronald Pressley, avoided department disciplinary proceedings by retiring in January.“I hope that these decisions … with this being concluded we can now start to heal as a police department and as a community,” said Evelise Ribeiro, chair of the commissioners. “The treatment of Mr. Cox was appalling and is not the way that we would want our officers to treat any of our citizens in the city of New Hav...

Boys, 14 and 17, arrested in armed robbery of automotive equipment in Mississauga

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

Two teenagers, including a 14-year-old boy, were arrested and charged after the pair robbed a Mississauga retailer at gunpoint this week.Peel Regional Police said three suspects attended a retailer that sells automotive diagnostic equipment in the Dixie Road and Dundas Street area on Monday.It’s alleged the suspects entered the store armed with a handgun and stole electronic equipment to enable future vehicle thefts. None of the employees at the retailer were injured, police said.Two of the suspects were tracked down by investigators and, on Tuesday, were arrested in Toronto. A replica firearm used to commit the robbery was seized, police said.Police said a 17-year-old male from Toronto was charged with robbery, wearing a disguise with intent, using an imitation firearm and obstructing a peace officer.A 14-year-old boy from Toronto was charged with two counts of robbery, two counts of wearing a disguise with intent, using an imitation firearm and obstructing a peace officer.In...

North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard drafted first overall by Chicago in NHL Draft

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

Not to anyone’s surprise, North Vancouver’s Connor Bedard was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks.The Windy City has been waiting for you, Connor Bedard! #NHLDraft | @NHLBlackhawks pic.twitter.com/IL7NYqcLl8— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 28, 2023Bedard — a self-proclaimed Vancouver Canucks fan — has long been the consensus first-overall pick and is being touted as a generational talent by scouts. His hockey journey began on the North Shore as a member of the West Vancouver Academy. In two seasons with the prep school, Bedard racked up 172 points in 66 games.From there, he was drafted to the Regina Pats, where he finished his final season with 143 points in 57 games. He won a gold medal for Canada at this past year’s World Junior Hockey Championship, also winning MVP."I can't wait to get to work."Connor Bedard joins @SNCaroline to describe the feelings from the moment of being drafted first overall. pic.twitter.com/UhBii9XXYe— Sportsn...

Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee block portions of transgender youth care bans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Federal judges in Kentucky and Tennessee blocked portions of bans on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, handing down the rulings just days before the statutes were set to go into effect.The ruling is similar to roadblocks that federal courts have thrown up against Republican-dominant states in their pursuit to prevent young people from receiving transgender health care.THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A federal judge temporarily blocked Kentucky’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youths on Wednesday, taking the action shortly before the measure was set to take effect.In issuing the preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge David Hale sided with seven transgender minors and their parents, who sued the state officials responsible for enforcing the provisions banning the use of puberty blockers and hormones.“Justice is served today as the most egregious parts of Kentucky’s anti-trans l...

NYC’s ex-school food chief convicted in bribery case tied to icky chicken tenders

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who oversaw food service for New York City schools was convicted Wednesday in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were served for months in the nation’s biggest public school system. Former city Department of Education official Eric Goldstein and three men who founded a school food vendor — Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey — were found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and other charges after a monthlong trial. It delved into school menus, from yogurt parfait to ravioli. And the trial gave jurors a stomach-churning look at what some students and school staffers encountered when a brand called Chickentopia turned up on their plates in 2016 and 2017. “Our children depended on nutritious meals served in schools and, instead, got substandard food products containing pieces of plastic, metal and bones,” Brooklyn-based U.S. Attorney Breon Peace said in a statement Wednesday. He called the case “a text...

Tennessee State ready to make history as the 1st HBCU to add ice hockey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee State University for so long has been best known in athletics as the place where Olympic gold medalist Wilma Rudolph and the Tigerbelles made track history and produced NFL talent like Super Bowl champ Ed “Too Tall” Jones.Now the university that’s also the alma mater of Oprah Winfrey is taking a big step as the first historically Black college and university to introduce ice hockey.The school on Wednesday announced plans to have a men’s team playing at the club level in 2024, with a goal of fielding Division I men’s and women’s teams “in the near future.”“It is our hope that while TSU is the first HBCU to start an ice hockey program, we certainly won’t be the last,” university president Glenda Glover said at a news conference before the NHL draft.The Tennessee State program has been created in partnership with the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and the Nashville Predators. NHL Commissioner Gary Be...

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

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:46:14 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...