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Louisiana citrus farmers are seeing a mass influx of salt water that could threaten seedlings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Commercial citrus growers have dwindled over the past few decades in south Louisiana, where farmers have had to battle hurricanes, flooding, invasive insects, freezes and drought to keep their groves alive. The latest hurdle comes from a slow-moving threat — a mass influx of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that is creeping up the drought-stricken Mississippi River. Not only is the saltwater intrusion threatening drinking water supplies for communities, but it can also kill citrus seedlings. The issue is forcing farmers to brainstorm other ways to irrigate their crops with fresh water — including storing the little rain water they’ve gotten this summer, hauling in fresh water and establishing makeshift salination treatment facilities. Some are looking into whether they can afford, let alone get their hands on, an expensive reverse-osmosis machine. “They’re going to have something up their sleeve. They know how to survive, but there’s no getting around how d...

As migration surges in Americas, ‘funds simply aren’t there’ for humanitarian response, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Countries in the Americas are reeling as the flow of migrants reaches historic levels, but international “funds simply aren’t there” for humanitarian needs, a United Nations official said.Ugochi Daniels, deputy director of operations for the International Organization for Migration, said a larger and coordinated regional effort is necessary for a longer term solution to the steady movement of vulnerable people toward the United States. But other global crises — among them the war in Ukraine, conflict in Sudan, Morocco’s earthquake — have pulled global funds away, Daniels said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.The U.N. estimated that this year through August, it needed $55.2 billion to take on compounding global crises, but it received funds for only 71% of that.A growing number of countries like Panama and Costa Rica are pleading for international aid in handling the flood of migrants, though Daniels would not say who should pay the tab.“Obviousl...

B.C. mayor sounds alarm over ‘rampant’ crime at local port, as expansion looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

The federal government’s failure to fund a police force dedicated to Canada’s ports is a threat to national security that needs to be dealt with immediately, says Delta, B.C., Mayor George Harvie. Delta is home to the Roberts Bank Terminal, and expansion plans over the coming years will see millions more containers move through the Port of Vancouver annually.Harvie says Canada’s ports are the federal government’s responsibility, but the “total absence” of uniformed police at the facilities makes them obvious targets for criminal elements to set up shop, from Mexican drug cartels to biker gangs.“We’re witnessing a relentless flow of illegal drugs, weapons and contraband into Canada through our ports and that threatens our national security,” Harvie said in an interview Thursday. “They need to recognize this. We have a fentanyl crisis going through our community here in Delta, through Metro Vancouver, through the province, ac...

State of emergency lifted in West Kelowna, B.C., after McDougall Creek wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

WEST KELOWNA, B.C. — Central Okanagan Emergency Operations has lifted the state of local emergency in West Kelowna, B.C., more than a month after the McDougall Creek wildfire devastated the area.It says it has also rescinded all remaining evacuation orders stemming from the blaze.West Kelowna was put under the state of emergency on Aug. 16 as the 139-square-kilometre McDougall Creek fire destroyed or damaged nearly 190 properties.The wildfire forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 properties and put another 10,000 homes on alert, with about 50,000 residents impacted by various orders and advisories.In a statement, the operations centre says the blaze “affected every community” in the region ranging from the Westbank First Nation and the City of Kelowna to the districts of Peachland and Lake Country.About half of the 400 structures or homes destroyed in B.C.’s record-breaking fire season so far have been lost in the Kelowna area.This report by The Canadian Press ...

Zebra euthanized after Illinois traffic stop leads to exploration of over 130 injured animals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

MCLEAN COUNTY, Ill. (WMBD) -- A Pennsylvania man driving an animal hauler was arrested by the McLean County Sheriff's Office after a traffic stop last Sunday. In conducting a traffic stop on I-74 eastbound, near mile marker 144, for traffic violations, the driver was identified as 44-year-old Judah Silker. After further investigation by the deputy, there were injured animals in the hauler including a zebra, six cows, one sheep, and approximately 130 goats, according to the McLean County Sheriff's Office.Silker was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and cruel treatment of animals, as well as cited for a traffic violation, and was booked into the McLean County Detention Facility. He was then released with a notice to appear.Jay Pratte, the director of the Miller Park Zoo of Bloomington was contacted because of his specialty in exotic animals the McLean County Sheriff's Office said. Pratte responded to the scene to examine the zebra. McLean County Animal Control was also contac...

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have an overheating problem, some users say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Days after the latest lineup of Apple products hit stores worldwide, some of the first owners of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are complaining that the phones are overheating.The iPhone 15 Pro Max, rolled out earlier this month, is the priciest phone in the latest generation at $1,200, nearly 10% more than last year's top-of-the-line iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro is one step down, selling for $1,000.While not all owners appear to be affected, a number of posts surfaced in the iPhone subreddit in recent days complaining of painfully hot devices."Just had this issue now weirdly enough," wrote one person. "Haven't had any problems charging the 15 Pro before. All of a sudden it became one with the sun. Weirdest part was the WHOLE phone was hot. No localized heat spots." How would a government shutdown affect national parks? Another iPhone 15 Pro owner claimed to have returned the device saying that, after charging at night, the phone became "downright dangerous" by the morning...

Wild blue liner Brock Faber has more up his sleeve

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

Before he made his NHL debut last spring, Brock Faber had played in the Olympics, won multiple international gold medals on his way up the Team USA ladder and had been a key part of the Gophers team that advanced to the NCAA championship game.So, no stranger to the big stage.Still, joining the Wild just before the playoffs began was a little intimidating for the defenseman from Maple Grove. It didn’t look like it, but Faber acknowledged the obvious before his preseason debut Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.Asked if he felt able to really play his game or if he held back a little bit, he said, “A little bit of both.”“Coming into a high-pressure situation in the playoffs as a young kid, I mean, you’re playing a little bit more tentative,” Faber said after a morning skate at TRIA Rink. “Trying not to make a mistake, trying not to be on the bad side of things.”And he never was. He joined the Wild after Minnesota’s last-minute loss to Quinnipiac in the NCAA championship game and was never...

St. Paul breaks ground on new Bruce Vento Elementary School

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

St. Paul Public Schools has begun work to merge two elementary schools in a project that will last until 2025.The new Bruce Vento Elementary School will house nearly 700 K-5 students from the existing Bruce Vento and John A. Johnson schools in a single building along with an additional 120 preschool children and Early Childhood and Community Hub programs.The new building will combine indoor and outdoor learning environments using a discovery trail that will connect to give students different opportunities to learn and play.Bruce Vento Principal Nicole Napierala called the project an innovative way to give kids a better, more modern learning experience.“We know how important the positive impact early learning has on our children, all this extra space also means that we will be able to welcome families with children as young as infants through early childhood family education programs,” Napierala said. “I know the finished product will be well worth the weight and th...

Missouri's bravest: Awards ceremony honors 18 first responders, including fallen heroes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe awarded Missouri Public Safety Medals on Thursday to honor heroic and life-saving actions of 18 first responders last year. The awards – the Medal of Valor, and the Red, White and Blue Heart Award – are Missouri’s highest recognitions for first responders acting during critical incidents. Among the 18 honored on Thursday, six first responders were recognized with awards posthumously. Source: Majority of St. Louis cops in police district call in sick “I was honored today to present these awards to civilians, first responders and the surviving family members of Missouri first responders who laid down their lives in order to protect their fellow citizens,” said Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. “The courage and valiant actions by these heroes show the tremendous debt we owe to first responders. They hit the streets each day never knowing the challenges they will face, but determined to bravely serve the people of Missouri, no matter the personal ...

Cardinals drop final road series to Brewers, fall 3-0 in finale

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:44:23 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Garrett Mitchell doubled, walked twice and scored in his first big league game since April, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 3-0 on Thursday.Corbin Burnes, Julio Teheran (3-5) and Ethan Small combined on a six-hitter for the NL Central champions. Burnes struck out four and walked one in four innings in his final tuneup for the postseason, throwing 39 of his 66 pitches for strikes.The Brewers reinstated Mitchell from the 60-day injured list. The 24-year-old Mitchell, a 2020 first-round pick, hurt his left shoulder on a slide into third base on April 18. He had surgery in May to repair a torn labrum, and it was thought at that time that a return at any point this season would be improbable.Mitchell led off the third with a double off the wall in left on Dakota Hudson's first pitch of the inning. Christian Yelich then hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.St. Louis lost its 90th game for the first time since going 70-92 in 1990. In addition to that 199...