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About 100 letters containing a white powder were sent to public officials across Kansas, officials say

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

(CNN) — Approximately 100 letters containing a white powder have been received by state legislators and public officials across Kansas, officials said, setting off an investigation that includes state and federal agencies.Preliminary tests on a small sample of the letters show “the substance is presumptively negative for common biological agents of concern,” the Kansas Bureau of Investigation said Sunday.“Further and more complete testing will be conducted on this sample, as well as on additional letters that have been collected, in an effort to determine the components of the substance,” the bureau said.No injuries have been reported, the KBI and a spokesperson for state House Speaker Daniel Hawkins said. Hawkins, a Republican, received one of the letters, his spokesperson Carrie Rahfaldt said.Republican state Rep. Stephen Owens said he also received one of the letters and believes the others who received them are fellow Republicans.The letter read, in part, “it’s important not to ...

Weston woman wins $1 million from scratch-off ticket

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

A Broward County woman hit the jackpot when she won $1 million from a scratch-off ticket. Gena Kanov, a 37-year-old resident of Weston, has claimed a $1 million top prize from the GOLD RUSH LIMITED Scratch-Off game, the Florida Lottery said in a news release. Kanov opted to receive her winnings as a lump-sum payment of $795,000.00, disbursed in a one-time transaction.Kanov’s winning ticket was purchased at the Publix store located at 5950 Coral Ridge Drive in Coral Springs. As a result, the retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off ticket.Launched in September 2021, the $20 GOLD RUSH LIMITED Scratch-Off game offers players a chance to win 32 top prizes of $5 million and 100 prizes of $1 million. Additionally, the game features an impressive array of more than 33,000 prizes ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. The overall odds of winning on this ticket are 1-in-2.65.The Florida Lottery emphasizes the significance of Scratch-Off games in the...

Florida woman arrested on drug charges found with raccoon in backpack

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

CLEARWATER,FLA. (WSVN)- A raccoon, possibly just a week old, was discovered in the backpack of a woman who was arrested on drug charges, according to the Clearwater Police Department. The animal has since been transported to Veterinary Emergency Group in Tampa for a thorough examination.Following the shocking find, authorities promptly handed over the young raccoon to the veterinary professionals, who will provide the necessary care. The tiny creature will be kept alongside other young raccoons at the facility in hopes of rehabilitation before being released back into the wild.The Clearwater Police Department has not disclosed further details regarding the nature of the drug charges or the identity of the woman involved.

EU issues muted response to Greek migrant shipwreck

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

BRUSSELS — The European Commission brushed aside pressure from international organizations to launch an independent probe into the conduct of the Greek authorities in what some are calling the worst tragedy ever in the Mediterranean Sea.Public scrutiny turned its focus on the Greek coast guard in the shipwreck last Wednesday off the coast of Pylos, Greece, which officially claimed the lives of almost 80 migrants and left 500 missing, according to the U.N.’s migration and refugee agencies. “We take note that the [Greek] public prosecutor has started an investigation on this incident, and it is very important to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation” by allowing Greece to carry forward its own inquiry, said the EU’s home affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper during a daily media briefing on Monday. The Hellenic Coast Guard defended itself by saying those aboard were refusing assistance.In a statement Friday, The United Nation’s refugee and migration agencies, UNHCR a...

Off-duty firefighters commended for rescuing woman from burning car in East Kingston, NH

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

Both an off-duty firefighter from East Kingston, New Hampshire, and another from Chelmsford, Mass., are being credited with pulling a woman from a burning car shortly before the vehicle exploded.East Kingston Fire Chief Ed Warren said the incident happened Saturday afternoon and involved a Dodge Challenger that crashed into a utility pole and burst into flames sometime before 3:30 p.m.According to a news release, moments before the crash, the Dodge nearly struck a vehicle belonging to off-duty East Kingston firefighter Robert Bishop, who was driving home when he was nearly hit head-on.The fire chief said Bishop snapped into action after witnessing the car crash and immediately left his vehicle to assist the driver. While doing so, Warren said another off-duty firefighter passing by, Josh Abbott of Chelmsford FD, jumped in to assist.Together, the two freed the driver as the car filled with smoke, and were able to remove her before the Dodge “exploded and became fully engulfed.&...

Parents should take children’s stomach pain more seriously, poll suggests

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

(CNN) — One in six parents say their child complains of tummy aches at least once a month, according to a national poll by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at University of Michigan Health.While 1 in 3 parents surveyed are confident that they can identify whether the belly pain is serious, parents do not always seek professional advice when these complaints become regular.Based on 1,081 responses from parents of children ages 3 to 10, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found that 2 in 5 parents who report monthly belly pain for their child have not discussed the issue with a pediatrician.“Our poll suggests that despite benefits of seeking professional help, parents may not always consult with a doctor when determining whether belly pain is a sign of something serious and how to relieve it,” said Dr. Susan Woolford, Mott Poll codirector and Mott pediatrician.It can be difficult to know if stomach pain is a short-term issue or cause for concern as t...

Black bear sightings in Massachusetts: South Shore bear roaming Cohasset, police help ‘furry friend’

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

The black bear sightings continue across eastern Massachusetts, as a South Shore bear roamed through Cohasset on Monday while police helped “our furry friend.”It’s that time of the year when black bears are most active in the region, leading to more reports from the public. Recently, a bear was spotted running through Newton, and a bear was seen in Arlington before heading to a Lexington farm.On Monday, Cohasset Police reported that a well-known regional bear — known as the South Shore bear — was making its way through town.“Interesting day so far…Our officers helped with safe passage through #Cohasset for our furry friend,” police wrote on social media, showing an officer blocking a road with the bear in front of the cruiser.“He made his way through Border St., South Main St., 100 Pond St., Clay Spring, CJC Hwy, Stop and Shop, Chittenden Lane, Fairoaks, #Dunkin Donuts, #CHOPS, Rose Hill, King Street, and was last seen on North M...

Column: Chicago Cubs need to ensure Kyle Hendricks never wears another team’s jersey

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

Starting pitching could be the difference in a division such as the National League Central, in which no team really stands out.And in spite of all their faults, the Chicago Cubs have consistently shown they have a rotation that stacks up with the best, especially if Kyle Hendricks continues to pitch like the Hendricks of old.Hendricks earned his second straight win Friday in a 10-3 romp over the Baltimore Orioles, leaving with a one-run lead after five innings and watching the offense pour it on against the Orioles bullpen.In his first start since taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants, Hendricks allowed two runs on five hits in an 88-pitch outing.“Seeing the results like that definitely builds confidence,” Hendricks said of his no-hit bid. “Before that I’ve been feeling really good, feeling like I’ve been making a lot of pitches. My fastball has been down at the bottom, which is different than the last couple years,...

Yankees know A’s fans are hurting after years spent in Montreal and Oakland

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

Brad Wilkerson remembers feeling “pretty emotional” on Sept. 29, 2004.That day, Major League Baseball announced that the former outfielder and first baseman’s Expos were moving to Washington, D.C. after years of dysfunction. That same night, Wilkerson and teammates played their final game in Montreal in front of 31,395 devastated fans.The Expos, who became the Nationals in 2005, went out with a whimper that evening, losing to the Marlins, 9-1. But the real goodbyes came after the game, when Wilkerson and his peers stayed at Olympic Stadium an extra two hours so that they could thank and interact with the people their franchise was leaving behind.“I think the people in Montreal, they respected me for that,” Wilkerson, now an assistant Yankees hitting coach, told the Daily News. “But it was tough, going around and seeing everybody [and them saying], ‘We wish you could stay,’ that kind of stuff. It was a tough last day.”It appears t...

The future of automated flight may be closer than you think

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 20:35:49 GMT

In Robert Rose’s vision for the future, we are currently on the cusp of a dramatic transformation of human mobility. A veteran of Tesla and Space-X, Rose’s new company, Reliable Robotics, is now working to fully automate flight.A May demonstration at Travis Air Force base, where an automated plane took off and landed without human assistance, is proof that that future may not be so distant.We spoke with Rose about Reliable Robotics’ work, and what comes next.Q: Can you tell us a little about your background?A: I’m a software engineer by training. I worked at a bunch of different places in my career–most notably, I ran the flight software team at SpaceX. I also ran the autopilot program at Tesla Motors back in the early days. I shipped the first version of autopilot on the Model S.I started Reliable Robotics back in 2017 with a former colleague from SpaceX. His background is hardware and electrical systems engineering. We’re trying to bring more advanced levels of automation and safe...