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Biden confirms second American hostage released by Hamas

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

(The Hill) — President Biden on Wednesday confirmed that a second American hostage has been released by Hamas amid the fragile pause in fighting in the Middle East.Biden told reporters that Liat Atzili, an Israeli-American, is “safe in Egypt just across the border.” The president added that he has spoken with Atzili’s mother and father.“Things are moving well,” Biden said, adding that Atzili “should be home soon.” The American-Israeli citizen was taken by Hamas following the group’s brutal and deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7. She is a mother of three from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, according to the Times of Israel. Mediators eye Gaza truce extension Her release comes during a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which has been extended to allow for the release of hostages taken by Hamas.Biden earlier this week announced that 4-year-old American Israeli citizen, Abigail Idan, was among the 13 hostages released Sunday from Gaza. The president has p...

Power plants in Texas caused 27K deaths nationwide, UT says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A group of researchers from the University of Texas Austin, along with others from six universities, found that coal-fired power plants have harmed the United States -- causing more than 103,000 deaths nationwide in coal-fired power plants since 1999, according to a news release from UT.The team found that the coal electricity-generating emissions caused approximately 460,000 deaths from 1999 to 2020 in the Medicare population from 480 coal-fired power plants in the U.S., the release said.The highest death rates from coal in 1999 decreased about 95% by 2020, Cory Zigler, senior author and associate professor for UT's Department of Statistics and Data Science noted in the research.Co-author Jessica Roberts, assistant professor in the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, created an online tool that allows comparison of deaths from each power plant. It shows that the power plants in Texas caused 27,000 deaths nationwide during the study, majorit...

Leander ISD parents push back against attendance zone changes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — Leander ISD is considering boundary changes for several of its elementary school campuses. As rezoning discussions continue, parents said they're worried their children will have to start over at a new school once again."Our children have been required to move three times in four years," Leander parent Makenna Burke said.Burke said her neighborhood's attendance zone was adjusted a few years ago and her children were moved to the newly-built North Elementary.She said there were obvious signs from her children that they were saddened by the transition."At first they didn't want to come to school. It was hard for them to connect with new kids, it was hard for them to attach to faculty the way they had done at their previous school," Burke said.Allison Burskind's child was also moved to North Elementary in this rezoning. She said the latest proposal from Leander ISD would also move her child into a new building for a second time."The first year was really about ...

Federal appeals court questions new Texas law targeting 'explicit' books

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (Nexstar) — Federal appellate judges questioned a new Texas law in court on Wednesday, which aims to get rid of "sexually explicit" books in public school libraries. Federal judges inquired about the definitions outlined in House Bill 900, also known as the READER Act, which requires book distributors to rate books based on if they are deemed "sexually explicit," "sexually relevant," or give the book "no rating." How new Texas law restricting some books stacks up nationwide The law broadly defines “sexually explicit” as material that “describes, depicts, or portrays sexual conduct in a way that is patently offensive.” In September, a U.S. District Judge blocked the enforcement of a new Texas law saying it violated free speech. The judge said the court did not dispute the state’s interest in protecting kids, but said the law was unconstitutionally vague. "READER is not a book ban," said Kateland Jackson, Texas's assistant solicitor general. "The new law simply protects ...

F.D. Flam: It’s past time scientists admitted their COVID mistakes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

During the pandemic years, Americans’ trust in scientists fell, according to a Pew poll released this month. In 2019, only 13% of Americans were distrustful enough to say they weren’t confident in scientists to act in the public’s best interest. Now that figure is 27% — despite recent triumphs in astronomy, cancer research, genetics and other fields.It’s reasonable to assume the problem stems from COVID-era public health missteps. Some public health agencies took years to admit what had quickly become obvious: that the virus was airborne. Others suggested precautions, closing playgrounds and beaches, where any benefit would have been minimal. Some promoted policies, like sustained social isolation, that were hard to implement and endure — even for the prominent epidemiologists promoting them.Public health researchers and officials seem to think that rebuilding trust is just a matter of clearer, more persuasive communication. That would help, but i...

Local law proposes public contest for new Albany flag

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Conversations about the removal of stereotypical images of Native Americans have gone from school districts to city council meetings. This Native American Heritage Month one local leader introduced legislation that would remove one prominently placed image.Albany Councilman Owusu Anane feels strongly about the removal of the Native imagery from the city’s flag. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We want a flag that everyone in our community can be proud of,” said Anane. Earlier this month he introduced an ordinance that would create a contest for the public to choose a new flag for the city. He said Albany needs a modern flag that reflects the city’s diverse communities. “So all across our city and county, and across this country, many elected officials and community leaders are calling for ways that we can celebrate diversity,” said Anane.That diversity is being celebrated this month all across ...

The 'center' of Missouri isn't too far from Jefferson City

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

MISSOURI - If you were to point to the middle of Missouri on a map, you might think Columbia, Rolla, or Jefferson City. Oddly enough, it's not any of those three, but it's not too far from the state capitol.At the start of every decade, the U.S. Census Bureau calculates the "population center" point of each state. This is a somewhat loose term that doesn't necessarily represent the geographic center of the state. Rather it represents a theoretical, flat, weightless map of Missouri would balance if it were of uniform density, meaning that residents were distributed evenly within the state. Inspired by a digital report from our friends at WGN, which calculated the population center of Illinois, FOX 2 wanted to find out more about the heart of Missouri. Based on the latest Census report from 2020, Missouri's population center is located at 38° 25′ 59″ N , 92° 14' 06″ W. Google Maps reveals this to be closest to an unincorporated community called Osage Township. The coordinates show a v...

Could Broncos WR Marvin Mims Jr. be on the verge of a breakout? Playing time indicates he might be: “The biggest thing is just being ready”

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

Marvin Mims Jr. had to adjust on the fly.Working across the field on a critical third down Sunday against Cleveland, he had a ball coming his way from Russell Wilson for an easy first down.The ball got tipped, though, and redirected against Mims’ momentum. He reached back, snared it and made sure the Broncos kept the chains moving with a 16-yard gain en route to a second-quarter touchdown.“It was pure reaction, just locked in on the ball,” Mims told The Post. “I haven’t got many chances lately, so I saw it coming and it kind of misdirected. …“We really needed it, too, on a third down. So it was pretty cool.”The trajectory of Mims’ rookie season has taken a similar mid-flight change, and he’s doing his best to make the adjustment as a critical stretch of the season arrives.“It’s just waiting for the opportunity,” Mims said. “It’s kind of tough, especially having success early and then now it’s kind of stalled out, but you’ve got to be ready for your opportunity. Any time your number’...

Officer, suspect killed in a shootout after a traffic stop in Cortez

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

CORTEZ — A police officer and a suspect were killed in a shootout following a traffic stop in southwest Colorado on Wednesday, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man killed by Denver police in Commons Park had assault rifle, more than 400 rounds of ammunition on him Crime and Public Safety | Armed man shot by Denver police after making “threatening motion” Crime and Public Safety | Armed man was chasing people in Denver’s Commons Park before police shooting Crime and Public Safety | Fort Collins police officer kills man holding “edged weapon” after 911 caller reported he was yelling racial slurs Crime and Public Safety | 6 additional Colorado officers charged in fatal police shooting of Christian Glass Police say the officer, whose name has not been released, was shot after pulling over a vehicle shortly before noon in the rural town of Cortez in the Four C...

Man killed by Denver police in Commons Park had AK-47, more than 400 rounds of ammunition on him

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:19:21 GMT

The man shot and killed by Denver police on Nov. 20 after chasing people in Commons Park with an AK-47 semi-automatic rifle and shooting at officers had more than 400 rounds of ammunition on him, Denver Police Department officials said Wednesday.Police responded to calls of a man with a rifle yelling at a group of people and chasing people near 16th and Platte streets at 3:40 p.m. on Nov. 20.Officers located the man, later identified by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner as 42-year-old Joshua Mitchell, sitting on a park bench with the rifle, Cmdr. Matt Clark said at a news conference on Wednesday.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Armed man shot by Denver police after making “threatening motion” Crime and Public Safety | Armed man was chasing people in Denver’s Commons Park before police shooting Crime and Public Safety | Fort Collins police officer kills man holding “edged weapon” after 911 caller reported h...