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Colorado marijuana tax revenue higher than alcohol, cigarettes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Marijuana was officially the state's most lucrative "vice tax" last year. Marijuana legalization advocates leaned heavily on marijuana's possibilities as a state revenue generator in order to gain support for statewide legalization. Nearly a decade later, their predictions have come true, according to an analysis of state tax data from the Colorado General Assembly Legislative Council Staff. Bright orange iguana found in Cherry Creek State Park Colorado made more in tax revenue from marijuana in the 2022-23 fiscal year than from either alcohol or cigarettes, and nearly as much as the two combined. The state collected $282.3 million in tax revenue from marijuana, nearly $50 million more than it collected from cigarettes and over $226 million more than it collected from alcohol. Together, cigarettes and alcohol taxes totaled $290 million in tax revenue. Marijuana tax revenue has gone towards school funding more than any other tax obligation, followed by drug program...

Colorado reports highest seat belt use in state history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — More Coloradans are buckling up than ever before, according to a new study set to be released by the Colorado Department of Transportation on Friday afternoon. The statewide survey conducted by CDOT this summer revealed that 88.6% of Colorado drivers were wearing a seat belt, up from 87% in 2022.  Traffic-related deaths climb in Aurora, statewide The number still trails behind the national average of 91.6% but continues on an upward trend of seat belt use in recent years.FOX31 highlighted the problem last month after speaking with a Parker woman who lost her daughter in an unrestrained crash.Christy Schultz has been visiting schools across the state, hoping her daughter's story can convince others to buckle up.“I’ve had several kids tell me, ‘I was in an accident and because of Sammie’s story, all my friends had their seat belts on, and they buckled up,’” Schultz said. “Her story is living on, and we’re helping to save other kids and families from going through suc...

Miami Seaquarium announces death of beloved orca Lolita

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Lolita, the beloved orca who has spent over 50 years at the Miami Seaquarium, has died. The killer whale, also known as Toki, died following a battle with a suspected renal condition, according to a social media post from Miami Seaquarium on Friday afternoon.https://twitter.com/MiamiSeaquarium/status/1692648250589798467?s=20According to the Miami Seaquarium, over the last two days, Toki displayed severe discomfort, prompting the dedicated medical team from Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki to provide immediate and intensive treatment. Despite their efforts, Lolita passed away on Friday afternoon. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this breaking story.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has new tool to help save lives of trauma and accident victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Life and death can hang in the balance after a serious accident. But Broward first responders say they have the key to buying more time for patients, and saving their lives. Karen Hensel has today’s 7 Spotlight.Whether on the ground, or in the air, emergency medical technicians are trained to help save lives. Now, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has a new tool they say will save even more.Broward Sheriff EMT’s are the first in Florida to carry and administer blood to trauma victims at accident scenes.Chief Medical Officer James Roach came up with the idea after a family member was involved in a bus accident and didn’t survive.James Roach, Chief Medical Officer, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue: “What tools do we provide for our rescues? Because currently, what we do is, we think about stopping the bleed, but we don’t really have a way to resuscitate.”Now they do, and the blood can help keep patients stable enough to make it the hospital.James Roach: “...

Deputy saves stranded manatee and cub in Florida Keys waters

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Responding to reports of a stranded manatee and its cub, Marine Deputy Willie Guerra sprang into action. With determination, he leapt from his boat into the water, where the manatee and its cub were trapped due to the shallowness of the area.Guerra’s decisive move to join them in the water allowed him to guide the marine mammals to deeper waters. He splashed water onto the manatee to help regulate its body temperature and keep it cool.The efforts proved successful as both the manatee and its cub managed to break free from their shallow confinement.

Tornado confirmed in Weymouth after storm downs power lines, trees

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Families in Weymouth faced extensive damage as Friday morning’s storm uprooted trees and destroyed fences. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touchdown in Weymouth, where more damage was visible. â€œI couldn’t believe what I saw when I pulled in my driveway,” said Katie Mahoney. “It’s a disaster zone.”https://twitter.com/NWSBoston/status/1692624722771480684?s=20“Her cars are crushed over there, their yard is destroyed,” Mahoney said.Mahoney’s 21-year-old daughter Julianna was asleep in their Park Avenue home when a giant tree crashed through the roof, narrowly missing her face.“I couldn’t even process it,” Juliana said. “My heart was just racing so fast.”Around the corner on Torrey Street, trees took down power lines and interrupted electricity ...

Marcus Stroman doesn’t have answers for mysterious rib injury: ‘I’m still trying to process it,’ the Chicago Cubs pitcher says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Rest is both Marcus Stroman’s friend and enemy right now.The schedule is working against Stroman and any hopes the Chicago Cubs right-hander will get back on the mound in the near future. Stroman on Friday spoke for the first time since the Cubs announced his right rib cartilage fracture diagnosis Tuesday. He has been prescribed rest and can’t be too active as he heals.Stroman described barely being able to turn his body and struggling to breathe at some points. Even sleeping or sitting for long periods of time is difficult because of the fracture. But just as President Jed Hoyer expressed Wednesday uncertainty about what caused the injury, Stroman did not have any insight either Friday as to the source of the rib cartilage fracture.“I mean, I don’t have an answer, man,” Stroman said during the Cubs’ 4-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field. “I don’t have any answers as far as how I got it.”Stroman said he felt a littl...

Powerful Hurricane Hilary heads for Mexico’s Baja as rare tropical storm watch issued for California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

By MARK STEVENSON and JULIE WATSON (Associated Press)MEXICO CITY (AP) — Hurricane Hilary churned off Mexico’s Pacific coast Friday as a powerful Category 4 storm threatening to unleash torrential rains on the mudslide-prone border city of Tijuana before heading into Southern California as the first tropical storm there in 84 years. Forecasters warned the storm could cause extreme flooding, mudslides and even tornadoes across the region.Hillary grew rapidly in strength early Friday before losing some steam in the afternoon, with sustained winds falling from 145 mph (230 kph) to 130 mph (215 kph). Nevertheless, it was forecast to still be a hurricane when approaching Mexico’s Baja California peninsula on Saturday night and a tropical storm when approaching Southern California on Sunday.No tropical storm has made landfall in Southern California since Sept. 25, 1939, according to the National Weather Service.A tropical storm watch was posted for much of Southern Califo...

A two-tornado day with rainfall pushing past 17 inches for the summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

Two tornadoes touched down and the rain pelted the region — again — as the soggy summer remains stuck in a loop.The National Weather Service confirmed two twisters — one on the North Attleboro-Mansfield line and another in Weymouth. Both did minimal damage and another tornado whipped across the highway in Rhode Island, too.The rain hit all over pushing the total since June 1 past 17 inches, based on records kept for Boston. Rainfall this time last year was a parched 3.22 inches, according to the Weather Service.The total precipitation this year, which includes snowmelt, is 32.31 inches, the Weather Service added.All the rain is not necessarily bad news, said one Cape Cod farmer.“Compared to a drought, we’re doing OK,” said Ron Smolowitz, owner of Falmouth’s Coonamesset Farm. “The rain has not been a problem unless it pours on a busy Saturday.”That won’t be the case this weekend with clear skies in the forecast.Since his far...

Tropical Storm Watch in effect for San Diego County for first time in history

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:36:12 GMT

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) -- A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for San Diego County as Hurricane Hilary rotates north from the coast of Mexico.This is the first time in history that the National Hurricane Center has made this type of advisory for the region.The areas affected include Borrego Springs, Julian, Pine Valley, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, San Diego, Escondido, El Cajon, Lakeside and Poway.The Tropical Storm Watch -- which also includes portions of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties -- went into effect Friday at 8:29 a.m.A full list of specific areas for each county can be found here. What is a Tropical Storm Watch?The National Weather Service says this means tropical storm-force winds are possible somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours. To put that in perspective, peak winds from Hilary could reach 30-40 mph with gusts to 55 mph after making landfall. According to weather officials, Hilary's window for tropical storm force winds is expecte...