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Biologists in slow and steady race to help North America’s largest and rarest tortoise species

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

ENGLE, N.M. (AP) — While the average lifespan of North America’s largest and most rare tortoise species is unknown, biologists have said it could span upward of a century.So saving the endangered species is a long game — one that got another nudge forward Friday as U.S. wildlife officials finalized an agreement with Ted Turner’s Endangered Species Fund that clears the way for the release of more Bolson tortoises on the media mogul’s ranch in central New Mexico. The “safe harbor agreement” will facilitate the release of captive tortoises on the Armendaris Ranch to establish a free-ranging population. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said the agreement, which offers private landowners protections from regulations, can serve as a model as officials look for more innovative ways to work within the Endangered Species Act.Dozens of people gathered for the release Friday of 20 more adult tortoises on the property, which is already home to 23 of them...

Woman found lying on roadway in Ajax dies from injuries

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

A woman who was rushed to a hospital after being found lying on a roadway in Ajax has died of her injuries, police said on Friday.Durham Regional Police said officers received reports that a woman was found alongside a roadway near the intersection of Kingston Road and Harwood Avenue at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday.Authorities arrived and located a 57-year-old woman suffering from “severe” head trauma. She was rushed to a Toronto hospital, where she died from her injuries.Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage and believe that the woman was struck by a pickup truck in a hit-and-run. There is no current vehicle description.The female victim was not identified. The investigation is ongoing.

Arizona’s sweltering summer could set new record for most heat-associated deaths in big metro

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — America’s hottest metro area is on track to set an annual record for heat-associated deaths after a sweltering summer, particularly in Phoenix. Public health officials in Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and Arizona’s most populous county, said Friday that 289 heat associated deaths were confirmed as of Sept. 16, with another 262 deaths under investigation. By this time last year, there were 80 fewer deaths confirmed to be heat-associated and 46 fewer deaths that were still under investigation.Forensic pathologists say that it can often take weeks and even months of investigation that can include toxicological tests to determine whether heat was a contributing factor in someone’s death. For example, at the end of 2022 the county had confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths, but later, as investigations played out, that number grew to 425.About three-quarters of Maricopa County’s confirmed heat deaths so far this year were outside, including at bus stops,...

Seattle police officer put on leave after newspaper reports alleged off-duty racist comments

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle police officer has been placed on administrative leave after Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said Friday he listened to an audio recording including comments by the officer that led to the filing of a bias/hate complaint.“As I have said from the beginning of my tenure as Chief of Police, racist comments and behavior by department employees will not be tolerated,” Diaz’s statement said.The statement comes after a story Friday in the The Stranger newspaper with audio of Seattle Police Officer Burton Hill calling his Asian American neighbor racist and sexists slurs during an argument in their suburban Seattle condominium complex in 2022. Hill was off duty at the time. A Chinese social services organization filed the complaint recently with the city’s Office of Police Accountability, The Stranger reported. The Associated Press has sent an email to Hill seeking comment. Diaz also said Friday he has directed staff to review Hill’s arrest and inv...

Mexican president wants to meet with Biden in Washington on migration, drug trafficking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s top diplomat, Alicia Bárcena, said Friday that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador wants to travel to Washington D.C. in early November to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden about immigration, development aid and drug trafficking. The statement comes after a surge in migrants moving through Mexico forced the closure of some U.S.-Mexico border crossings and led Mexico’s largest railway company to halt about 60 train runs because so many migrants were hopping aboard freight cars. Most appear to be Venezuelans, and many said they had crossed through the jungle-clad Darien Gap that connects Colombia and Panama.Bárcena told a news conference in New York that migrant shelters in Ciudad Juarez, across from El Paso, Texas, are 95% full and that the Mexican government is “very worried” about the border closures and the migrant surge, especially given Mexico’s rocky relationship with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.In the past, Abbott has tightened border truck inspection...

Police search for Park Forest girl last seen leaving school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

PARK FOREST, Ill. — A search is underway in Park Forest for a missing middle school student who was last seen leaving school on Friday, according to police.Park Forest police say Arianise Ramirez attends Michelle Obama Middle School in the 500 block of Lakewood Boulevard. Ramirez was last seen leaving the school instead of getting on the bus and has not been seen since. Fall arrives in Chicago on a warm note According to police, Ramirez is believed to be with friends.Officers say the missing girl was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt with jeans and black and white gym shoes. Ramirez has dark brown hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Arianise Ramirez is asked to call the Park Forest Police Department at 708-748-4701.

Man walks to all 22 Chicago police districts over 3 days for mental health awareness

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

CHICAGO — The slogan "serve and protect" is emblazoned across countless Chicago police cars. But a local man says he is doing his part to ensure officers know they're supported.Robert Swiderski, Jr. has spent the last three days carrying out what he called "Operation Serve and Protect," a movement that seeks to raise awareness about a growing threat to officers in Chicago.When a criminal takes an officer's life, there is an avalanche of support. But when an officer takes their own life, it's equally somber but less discussed. SEE ALSO: Man running, walking around City Hall for 28 hours to raise awareness for CPD officer mental health"So many of our brothers and sisters in blue have carried the burden on their own," said Swiderski, the son of a retired Chicago police officer.Over the last three days, Swiderski has walked to all 22 police districts — a journey that spans nearly 80 miles. It's not his first time, however. "That's why I'm here at City Hall. To let our mayor and superint...

Central Health wants $56 more a year from you, commissioners push back on services

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Central Health Board of Managers will take another look at its finances in a special called meeting Monday after Travis County Commissioners pushed back on the more than $744 million FY-24 budget proposed to them. The budget breaks down to include the following: Nearly $300 million for healthcare delivery Nearly $30 million for administration $35 million for an agreement with the University of Texas to provide services at Dell SetonAnd more than $379 million for contingency reserves That last bullet was one of the reasons Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea pushed back on the proposed budget Tuesday in what she described as a "stern conversation" with Central Health staff. "They're putting twice the amount of money in their contingency reserve as they list as expenditures on direct health care services," Shea said. "And their main mission is health care services for the poor."Central Health staff say building reserves is part of it's strategic effort to build...

Oklahoma judge arrested in Austin for firing gun, road rage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KFOR) — Long-time Garfield County judge, Brian Lovell, was arrested September 11 in Austin, Texas, and now faces charges of reckless driving and deadly conduct discharge firearm.Lovell, who lives in Waukomis and works at the Garfield County Courthouse in Enid, was nearly 500 miles from his home with the incident occurred. News 4 is unsure why Lovell was in Austin.According to the arrest affidavit, Lovell fired shots into at least five cars at the intersection of Matamoros Street and Santa Maria Street. Several cars were hit. Witnesses at the scene told police a man in a white SUV was seen leaving the area.Austin Police got a second call of a road rage crash that took place about 1.7 miles away near the intersection of East 7th Street and N IH-35 Service Road. According to the report, Lovell slammed his white SUV into the back of a woman’s car. The two reportedly got into an argument then Lovell allegedly “intentionally” hit the woman’s car a second time and attempted to push...

Next rain chance comes with a low severe risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:54:57 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Austin-Bergstrom reached 100° this afternoon, the 58th day of triple digit heat this year (second-most on record). Camp Mabry got close recording a temperature of 99°.A few isolated sea breeze showers will make a run at our extreme eastern counties this evening, but no meaningful rain is expected. We'll likely see another opportunity for isolated rain tomorrow, but this round will favor the far northwest Hill Country. Again, most areas stay dry.Weekend forecastA better chance of showers and thunderstorms comes late in the day Sunday as a cold front approaches from the north. Some thunderstorms late Sunday into Monday could be strong to severe, with a marginal risk (1 out of 5) in place for the majority of the Hill Country and I-35 corridor.Low risk of severe storms late Sunday into MondayMonday still looks to be our wettest day of the next 7 with a 60% chance of rain. These scattered showers and storms could drop enough rain to cause some isolated flooding issues, b...