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Joint Chiefs nominee wins over lawmakers but faces uncertain fate because of senator’s hold

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s pick to serve as America’s top military officer warned senators Tuesday of the difficulties posed by any potential conflict in Asia and described how he would use lessons learned from the Ukraine war to help the U.S. military prepare. But Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. may not be able to apply those lessons anytime soon, even after being well-received in a confirmation hearing to serve as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Brown’s nomination is among more than 260 being stalled by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. He is blocking the confirmation of all senior military officers in protest over Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or other reproductive care. A history-making fighter pilot, Brown has a deep knowledge of China and a broad understanding of space, cyber and other technologies. His confirmation would mean that, for the first time, both the P...

Pritzker issues disaster proclamation for Illinois counties impacted by storms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Several counties across Illinois will now have greater access to state resources and emergency personnel as they recover from severe weather. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for Coles, Cook, Edgar, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Sangamon, and Washington counties due to weather occurring on June 29 through July 4. The areas saw heavy rains, flash flooding, hail, and tornadoes.  ‘When he comes to vote I’m gonna look the other way:’ Cicero president ‘mad’ at governor over flooding response “Many Illinois communities suffered extensive damages due to last week’s torrential rain and severe weather,” Pritzker said. “To support those impacted across the state, I have signed a disaster proclamation to mobilize every available resource, accelerating the recovery process and providing relief for our residents. I want to thank (the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security) for their ongoing coordination....

Luis Robert Jr. won't play in MLB All-Star Game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

SEATTLE — As it turns out, a White Sox outfielder will not make his All-Star Game debut on Tuesday - and it has something to do with what happened on Monday.Luis Robert Jr. will not take part in the Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Field in Seattle as he deals with tightness in his right calf. According to the White Sox, this first came up during the first round of the Home Run Derby on Monday, when he defeated Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman 28-27. Despite the tightness, Robert compete in the semifinals, where he lost to the Rays' Randy Arozarena.He's currently listed as "day-to-day" and will be re-evaluated again before the White Sox start the second half of their season against the Braves in Atlanta on Friday.Since Robert was the only member of the team selected to the American League roster, the White Sox will not have a representative in tonight's All-Star Game. Tuesday figured to be one of the highlights of Robert's still young MLB career as he was rewarded with an All-Star selec...

MedWatch Daily Digest: The impact of chemotherapy on the gut — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

For Tuesday, July 11, WGN’s Dina Bair has the latest on new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Chemo affects gut bacteria & weight gain Not only does the cancer treatment wreak havoc on the gut, it can lead to a lifetime of weight struggles. Researchers at the University of Alberta have found a link between chemotherapy-induced changes to gut bacteria and unhealthy post-treatment weight gain. Patients treated with chemotherapy lose muscle mass and gain abdominal fat.  In their study of breast cancer survivors, doctors discovered inflammation in the gut and altered bacteria, both of which correlate to weight gain and unhealthy body fat composition, even when healthy diets and exercise plans are in place.  Knowing the threat, experts say they can work to help survivors avoid obesity-related diseases and manage their weight. Obesity negatively affects leukemia treatment When leukemia patients start with added weight, their treatment is not as effec...

Northern Lights may not be that visible this week, experts warn

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Despite previous forecasting, the Northern Lights may not actually be very visible in the U.S. this week, experts say. Over the weekend, the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks released a forecast calling for auroral activity on Thursday across 17 states spanning the northern U.S. and as far south as Indiana.The anticipated solar storm that was expected to cause the Northern Lights may not live up to the hype, experts warned Tuesday. It may not have existed to begin with, Bill Murtagh, the program coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center, told The Washington Post. A research associate professor from the Geophysical Institute, Don Hampton, said in a statement released Monday that “there are only a few satellites and instruments dedicated to collecting” the data used to forecast auroras.  We could be seeing the northern lights more often: Here’s why He added that while s...

911 call released in apparent murder-suicide of Jimmie Johnson’s in-laws, nephew

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

(WJZY/WGHP) -- The 911 call has been released in connection to an apparent murder-suicide in Oklahoma that involved a NASCAR star’s family.According to reports, Jimmie Johnson’s mother and father-in-law, 68-year-old Terry and 69-year-old Jack Janway, and his 11-year-old nephew, Dalton, died in a fatal shooting on Monday, June 26, and law enforcement sources are investigating it as a murder-suicide.A police report obtained by Nexstar’s KFOR said a 911 dispatcher received a call just after 9 p.m. Monday from a woman reporting “a disturbance” and saying someone had a gun. The caller then hung up.Below is the transcript and audio from the 911 call released Tuesday.911: 911. Police, fire, or ambulance? Caller: Police911: Okay, where at? Caller: [Address removed] 911: What's going on?Caller: There's somebody here with a gun911: Do you know who this person is? Caller: ...911: Do you know who it is? Police searching the home found one body in the hallway inside the front door...

MyPillow auctions off equipment amid 'massive cancellation,' CEO Lindell says 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

MyPillow is auctioning off hundreds of pieces of equipment and subleasing some manufacturing spaces amid what founder and CEO Mike Lindell calls “a massive, massive cancellation."Lindell, in an interview with the Star Tribune, said MyPillow lost $100 million from “attacks by box stores, the shopping networks, the shopping channels, all of them did cancel culture on us.”Several retailers, including Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Kohl’s, pulled MyPillow products from their shelves after Lindell continued to claim the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Trump.   The Chaska-based manufacturing company appears to be using the website K-BID Online Auctions, where they're auctioning items including forklifts, conveyors belts, printers, electronics, commercial supplies and more.  Lindell said he can replace any auctioned items if the retailers "ever came back." Lindell told the Star Tribune that the company is subleasing some of its manu...

Where will the next MLB All-Star Games be held?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Some of the MLB’s brightest stars will take the field Tuesday night for the league’s historic exhibition game — rightly named the MLB All-Star Game — at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. It will be the 80th such game, featuring baseball’s best, like Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves shortstop Ronald Acuña Jr., both contenders for the MVP title in their respective leagues.Winners will walk away with more than just bragging rights, too. Per the MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, they’ll also earn some extra cash. Cha-ching: Here’s how much extra money MLB All-Star, Home Run Derby players get It’s been 22 years since Seattle last hosted the MLB All-Star Game, an event that’s expected to bring in over $50 million in economic activity for the city, the Seattle Times reports. This is the third time the home of the Mariners is serving as the host after a competitive selection process that began in 2020 when the team and the Seattle Sports Commis...

'I Luv Video' revival nonprofit 'We Luv Video' opening soon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Get ready, Austin film fans! The revival of an Austin video shop is close to opening. Austin video library I Luv Video closed in September 2020 after 40 years. At the time, owner Conrad Bejarano said on Facebook he hoped to "pass the torch" to someone who could preserve the video library and open it to the Austin community. PREVIOUS REPORTING: Austin nonprofit reviving I Luv Video’s at-home movie, TV rentals We Luv Video hopes to do just that. The nonprofit's goal is to preserve physical media in Austin, especially for unique films that you can't find on a streaming platform. Beau Harris, a We Luv Video board member, said they hope to open later in July after delays postponed their original July 1 grand opening. We Luv Video is opening in the North Loop neighborhood. (KXAN Photo/Taylor Girtman)We Luv Video is opening in the North Loop neighborhood. (KXAN Photo/Taylor Girtman)We Luv Video is opening in the North Loop neighborhood. (KXAN Photo/Taylor Girtman)We Luv...

Wimberley farmer catches two porcupines that were eating his crop

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:34:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Sky Cutler is the owner and lead farmer at the Dirty Candy Farm in Wimberley. At the beginning of spring, Cutler noticed large bite marks in much of his produce, particularly in some of his heirloom tomatoes. He thought the culprits were raccoons or opossums, which he’s seen before, and set up a trap – which wouldn't harm the animals – to catch them. “I moved [the trap] closer to the tomatoes and put some old tomatoes in there,” Cutler said. A couple of weeks went by until one day he was riding his motorcycle past the traps, “and I just like, skid to a stop,” he said. Inside the traps were two porcupines. “I wasn't really expecting porcupines. I've seen their footprints around the property but never really in the garden,” Culter said. “Just super surprising to catch two of them at the same time.” “I don't blame them. It's hot out… so them going after the tomatoes is totally understandable,” Cutler said. He said the fact they are porcupines and “really ...