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In unusual orca sighting, tour spots at least 20 killer whales off San Francisco

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An uncommonly large grouping of orcas for Northern California — roughly two dozen killer whales — were spotted by a whale watching tour off the coast of San Francisco last month, likely gathered together to celebrate a successful hunt for sea lions or seals.“I screamed ‘orca!’” recalled Michael Pierson, a Oceanic Society naturalist leading the tour, after noticing “those distinct dorsal finds poking out of the water.”“It was really, really special,” Pearson said in an interview Wednesday. The big group of whales was seen on May 7 near the Farallon Islands, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) west of San Francisco. Killer whales are more commonly found around the deep ocean canyon beneath Monterey Bay — about 75 miles south of the city — and can be spotted anywhere from the coastline to just 5 miles off shore, according to Nancy Black, a marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch.It’s easier for whale-watching tours to see them in Monterey Bay becaus...

Workers at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan’s Union Square vote to unionize, continuing trend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Workers at the Barnes & Noble in Manhattan’s Union Square, one of the retail chain’s signature stores and home to its corporate offices, have voted to unionize. They join employees at a handful of other Barnes & Noble stores in the Northeast who have affiliated with unions in recent weeks, following a wave of union activity over the past few years at independent booksellers.The Union Square employees are now part of the the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which also represents workers at McNally Jackson, Greenlight Bookstore and other independents. In an announcement Wednesday, the RWDSU cited issues at the Union Square store ranging from workplace harassment to “unstable scheduling practices” and “favoritism by management.” “Together, with their colleagues in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and just across the water in Brooklyn, Barnes & Noble workers in Union Square have sent a message all across the nation — the bookstore industry ...

Cooler Wednesday night before a sunny Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Clear, cool, comfortable. Local upper 40s/near 50 normally cooler outlying areas. Low: 55 Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog THURSDAY:  Unlimited sunshine, comfortable temperatures and humidity levels. Lake breezes continue to cool areas near Lake Michigan where low to mid 60s are expected.

Lincoln MKC recalled for engine fire risk while parked

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

(The Car Connection) -- Owners of certain Lincoln MKC crossover SUVs have been advised to park outside away from other buildings and vehicles due to an increased risk of engine fire, the NHTSA disclosed Monday. The known fires have occurred when the vehicle is off and parked.The recall encompasses 142,734 Lincoln MKCs from the 2015-2019 model year. Related to the Ford Escape, the Lincoln MKC existed for one generation before being rebranded as the Lincoln Corsair in 2020.Parent company Ford is unsure what has caused the fires, but believes it originates from or near the 12-volt battery in the MKC. Specifically, the battery monitor sensor could short-circuit and overheat, triggering a fire in the engine bay.Ford is aware of 19 instances of fire globally while the vehicle was parked and the engine shut off. The majority of those reports happened in the U.S., while seven occurred in China and one in Canada.Related Articles2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV earns To...

Should you run your air conditioner when it's smoky outside?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – When smoke from wildfires turns the outside air unhealthy, is it safe to run the air conditioner?An oppressive blanket of smoke from over 100 Canadian wildfires rolled over the East Coast and Midwest Wednesday, leaving many residents concerned about the air quality.Dr. Brian Christman, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University told Nexstar's WJW that running the air conditioning is fine, so long as the right settings are used.Most air conditioners operate by cooling the air inside the house and recirculating it, not pulling in air from outside. Some units, however, are equipped with a fresh air function, which should not be used.“I wouldn’t spend a lot of time outside," Christman said. "I would try to set your air conditioning on recirculate so that you’re not breathing in as much of the outdoor air and if you have good level filters on your air conditioner, make sure that they’re in place and that you’re using them.” The Environmental Protection Agency has t...

Boy, 7, finds Kansas tortoise lost for nine months

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

LENEXA, Kan. (WDAF) -- A runaway tortoise has found its way back home, all thanks to a 7-year-old Kansas boy.Fredericka, a 17-year-old Russian tortoise, had been gone for nine months, owner Jan Langton told Nexstar's WDAF, noting that it's incredible that she survived through the winter.For eight years, Langton kept her pet tortoise in a pen."And I thought, gosh, she could have the whole backyard," Langton said. "So, I took her, and I tried to put her through every banister, sideways and that way - she couldn't get out - not possible." Taco Bell launches vegan option of an iconic item at select locations Fredericka took her newfound freedom too far and traveled outside the fence."I got that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach," Langton recounted.She took to Facebook and posted flyers throughout the neighborhood. Lots of people offered help, but couldn't put their finger on the right reptile."And they go, is this her? And they're holding a snapping turtle and I'm like, no, you ca...

Lionel Messi is going to play in MLS

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

MIAMI — The greatest player in soccer is going to be making his way to America for his next professional stop in the sport. Lionel Messi confirmed that he will play for Major League Soccer's Inter Miami CF after his contract with Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain expires in June. He was also weighing a major offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad of Saudi Professional League.This makes Messi, a seven-time Ballon d'Or winner for world's best soccer player and 2022 World Cup champion with Argentina, arguably the most high-profile signing by an MLS club since play began in 1996.He joins an Inter Miami CF club that started play in 2020 and is co-owned by former superstar David Beckham, who is also the team's president. Beckham himself joined MLS after a successful European soccer career in 2007 when he signed with the LA Galaxy.Messi spent the majority of his professional soccer career with FC Barcelona of La Liga in Spain, taking the pitch for their top-level club from 2004 through 2021. ...

Federal rule could gut $8.6B from Texas Medicaid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A bipartisan group of state senators stood with faith leaders at the Texas Capitol Wednesday to push back on looming changes to Medicaid that could strip almost $9 billion out of the system and leave hundreds of thousands more Texans uninsured.The concern followed a February memo from the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that sought to end certain payment agreements between Texas and its hospitals. Texas taxes hospitals to cover the state's portion of Medicaid costs, and in return the state receives federal funds and the hospitals recover their taxes with state Medicaid funding. Texas hospitals also share their Medicaid funds to help hospitals that care for a higher proportion of low-income patients. The federal memo targets this arrangement as illegal."For forty years, we've had a good system where the state and the federal government cooperate with health care providers to provide care. This has been settled law for a long time. And Texas...

Free HIV tests at Walgreens: most adults below 64 have never tested

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A pharmacy chain is offering free HIV testing on June 27, when tests will be available for customers at more than 400 locations across the nation.Walgreens has partnered with the Kaiser Family Foundation to give anyone who wants to know their HIV status a free HIV test.The Centers for Disease Control recommends that adults be tested at least once a year, but the majority of adults below age 64 have never been tested for HIV. One out of every eight people who have HIV in the United States were not aware they have it.The CDC says you can take medicine to treat the virus if you know you have it. If you know that you don’t have HIV, you can take precautions to prevent HIV.It’s important to get an HIV test before you have sex with a new partner.Risk factors for HIV include having sex with someone whose sexual history you don’t know, being treated for hepatitis or tuberculosis in the past, being diagnosed with or treated for a different sexually transmitted d...

2 arrested, charged with evading police after south Austin shooting incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A Travis County arrest affidavit revealed additional details surrounding a police pursuit through south Austin Monday night after reports of a shooting.The affidavit said 27-year-old Raymond Anthony Valdez, the driver of the vehicle, was charged with evading detention in a motor vehicle. Travis County jail records showed he was booked on the charge and held on a $10,000 bond.According to the affidavit, Austin Police officers responded to a shoot/stab hotshot call in the 400 block of West Alpine Road at approximately 9:40 p.m. The 911 caller said a man was shot, and there was a possible home invasion. The caller also said there were three suspects wearing hoodies. PAST COVERAGE: Police: Person shot in south Austin Monday night At the scene, police saw a vehicle quickly leaving the parking lot with its headlights and taillights off. The affidavit said police shined a spotlight into the vehicle and saw three occupants.“Based on there being 3 occupants and the vehicle ...