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UN investigators compiling evidence on chemical weapons use by Islamic State extremists in Iraq

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. investigators are compiling evidence on the development and use of chemical weapons by Islamic State extremists in Iraq after they seized about a third of the country in 2014, and are advancing work on the militant group’s gender-based violence and crimes against children, Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and Yazidis, the head of the investigative team said Wednesday.Christian Ritscher told the U.N. Security Council that survivors of a March 2016 chemical attack against Taza Khurmatu, a mainly Shia Turkmen town south of Kirkuk in northeast Iraq, were still deeply impacted when he visited earlier this year.He said he has prioritized the investigation of chemical weapons used by the Islamic State, also known as ISIL.“ISIL weaponized several chemical agents and deployed these as chemical rockets and mortars, as well as improvised explosive devices, in the vicinity of Taza Khurmatu” which hit residential neighborhoods and agricultural fields, Ritscher said...

Autopsy finds North Carolina man died of ‘sudden cardiac arrest’ during police confrontation

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 GMT

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A man who died after police officers in North Carolina’s capital city repeatedly used stun guns on him died from “sudden cardiac arrest” related to cocaine intoxication and the police confrontation, according to the state’s autopsy released on Wednesday. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner also labeled the Jan. 17 death of 32-year-old Darryl Tyree Williams a homicide.The autopsy report listed Williams’ death “as sudden cardiac arrest in the setting of cocaine intoxication, physical exertion, conducted energy weapon use, and physical restraint.” A toxicology analysis detected cocaine and a chemical contained in marijuana among others in his blood, the report said.The State Bureau of Investigation has been looking into the death and the role of Raleigh Police Department officers who said they were trying to arrest Williams for possession of a controlled substance. Several officers were placed on leave as part of the investigation. Will...

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

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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 Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:10:02 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...