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Biden angers climate activists by approving controversial oil, gas project in Alaska

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Joe Biden, a vocal champion of combating climate change, is angering environmental allies by approving a controversial oil and gas project in Alaska. The Willow project, as it’s known, will allow energy giant ConocoPhillips to develop three drill sites in Alaska’s petroleum-rich North Slope region. The Department of the Interior is framing today’s announcement as “substantially” reducing the scope of the project, which originally called for five well sites. The decision also requires ConocoPhillips to relinquish drilling rights on roughly 275 square kilometres of land in the region, known as the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. That hasn’t quelled criticism from climate activists who consider the project a “carbon bomb” that could produce 300 million tonnes of pollution and foster fossil fuel dependence. Sierra Club executive director Ben Jealous says it’s impossible to overstate the negative impact ...

Ole Miss hires former Texas coach Chris Beard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi has hired Chris Beard as its basketball coach five weeks after his firing from Texas following a domestic violence arrest.The Rebels announced Beard’s hiring on Monday and will introduce him Tuesday in a public event at the SBJ Pavilion. Beard is a four-time conference coach of the year and was AP’s national coach of the year in 2019.But his two-year tenure at alma mater Texas ended abruptly in January, though felony domestic charges were ultimately dismissed on Feb. 15. A prosecutor said his office determined that the charge of assault by strangulation/suffocation-family violence could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.Texas suspended Beard after his Dec. 12 arrest and fired him three weeks later when Texas officials told Beard’s attorney he was “unfit” to lead the program. Beard was arrested when his fiancée, Randi Trew, called 911 and told officers that Beard strangled, bit and hit her during a confrontation in his home.She later...

New England, upstate New York, bracing for winter storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

Parts of New England, upstate New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey were bracing Monday for a winter storm that could drop more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) of heavy, wet snow.The National Weather Service says the storm was supposed to begin late Monday and last into Wednesday.The storm was also expected to bring high winds, and power outages were possible. Utilities across the region say they will have crews ready to respond. Snowfall in the western part of Massachusetts could exceed 18 inches (45 centimeters), but along the coast where the storm is expected to begin as rain, the snow totals could be 3 or 4 inches (7.5 centimeters to 10 centimeters), Bill Simpson, a spokesman for the National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts, said. “I’m not quite sure of the exact track,” Simpson said. “That makes all the difference in the world.”A winter storm warning was due to take effect Monday evening and last through Wednesday morning for pa...

Manitoba opens access to death certificates of children at residential schools

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government has signed an agreement to open access to death certificates of Indigenous children who died at residential schools. The agreement allows the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to request the documents from the provincial Vital Statistics Branch and build a fuller understanding of what happened at the schools.Stephanie Scoot, the centre’s executive director, says every bit of information about former students helps show the truth. Grand Chief Cathy Merrick of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs says it’s important for people to learn and talk about the children who attended the schools. Government Services Minister James Teitsma says the memorandum responds to one of the calls to action in the report from the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission eight years ago. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend residential schools over a century in Canada, and the commission’s report detailed that many experienced a...

Bears to sign linebacker T.J. Edwards, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

LAKE FOREST - To start free agency, the Bears are adding to their defense with a player with local ties. Per numerous reports, the first from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Bears will sign former Eagles linebacker and Lake Villa native T.J. Edwards to a three-year, $19.5 million deal.The Bears were able to begin negotiating with players who will become unrestricted free agents on Monday morning but cannot officially sign the players until the start of the new league year on Wednesday. Edwards is expected to be a starter at middle linebacker as he takes a lead role on the defense and is the likely long-term replacement for Roquan Smith, who was traded to the Ravens last season. He could play alongside another Chicago area native who also played at Wisconsin - Lake Zurich's Jack Sanborn.A former standout at Lakes Community High School, Edwards just completed his fourth season in the NFL with the Eagles, helping the team to the NFC Championship this past season. In 61 career regu...

'Gender equity' across Chicago's city workforce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Mayor Lori Lightfoot plans to announce changes for the city's employees at a Monday morning press conference.Details of the announcement have not been provided as of this article's writing. A press release from Lightfoot's office states "Mayor Lightfoot will join community and City leaders for announcements related to gender equity across the City workforce." Biden tells U.S. to have confidence in banks after collapse The event is scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. from the mayor's press briefing room.This story will be updated - check back later for additional details.

Chris Beard hired at Ole Miss 2 months after Texas firing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

Editor's Note: The above video is of Texas basketball's reaction to earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.(KXAN) — Former Texas Longhorns basketball coach Chris Beard has a new head coaching job just two months after he was fired at Texas.Beard was officially named the head basketball coach at the University of Mississippi Monday morning, the school announced. SCHEDULE: How to watch/stream the NCAA Tournament Beard was fired by UT after he was arrested and accused of domestic violence in December.Beard was charged with assault by strangulation/suffocation – family violence, a third-degree felony, after being accused of choking and hitting his fiancée.UT initially suspended Beard while it conducted an investigation into the situation. On Jan. 5, the school announced it had fired Beard. The termination letter from UT claims Beard was fired “for cause.”In late December, Beard's fiancee Randi Trew released a statement through her attorney, stating she didn't want to pr...

Officials arrest 4 teens suspected of multiple crimes in Hays County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A joint investigation in Hays County led to the arrests of four teens suspected of multiple vehicle burglaries, vehicle thefts, thefts of firearms and credit/debit card abuse, according to a release.The Hays County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation with the Kyle Police Department began in December 2022 when several suspects from Austin traveled to the Kyle/Buda area in Hays County and committed multiple burglaries and thefts.Officials said approximately 21 unlocked vehicles were burglarized, where firearms and credit/debit cards were taken. Some of the vehicles were also stolen due to keys being left inside, but HCSO said the vehicles were later recovered in Austin.An HCSO report identified two of the teens arrested in connection to the burglary spree as 17-year-old Eduardo Steven Telule-Oviedo and 18-year-old Naomi Davis. The other two arrests were juveniles who were also charged but not identified.On Jan. 4, deputies with HCSO tried to stop a vehicle for spee...

Report: 5 ways to keep people with mental health disorders out of Travis County's jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Travis County Commissioners could vote to move forward with recommendations from a forensic mental health project conducted by Dell Medical School next week. The project report -- which was released last week -- identified five "high priority" recommendations made at the end of the 10-month project, which looked at people in Travis County's jail with mental health and substance use disorders. The recommendations were: Make data sharing easier and update the county's "technology platform" Create a mental health diversion centerPilot housing programs and establish permanent housing solutionsIncrease the number of peer specialists where people would intersect with the mental health and criminal legal systemReinstate the counsel at first appearance program "These recommendations fill several critical gaps and remove existing barriers to optimal outcomes that, if implemented, will lead to a dramatic shift in how individuals with mental health disorders who ...

Travis County court documents detail information on woman practicing unlicensed midwifery

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:50:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KAMR/KCIT) — More information has been released as to why an Amarillo woman has been officially prohibited by a Travis County District Court Judge from practicing midwifery without a license.According to previous reports, a Travis County Judge signed a Temporary Restraining Order for Leah Hernandez, preventing her from practicing midwifery without a license and publicly representing herself as a midwife. According to documents obtained by MyHighPlains.com, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filed a civil enforcement action in Travis County District Court on Feb. 23 regarding the matter surrounding Hernandez. In the "Original Petition and Application for Injunctive Relief" document, the TDLR claim that Hernandez operated and threatened to operate as a midwife "contrary to the requirements of state law," and failed to comply with state law and regulations "regarding her conduct as a midwife apart from her failure to maintain licensure." Citing the Texas Mi...