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Plaintiffs in voting rights case urge judges to toss Alabama’s new congressional map

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Voting rights activists are returning to court to fight Alabama’s redrawn congressional districts, saying state Republicans failed to follow federal court orders to create a district that is fair to Black voters.Plaintiffs in the high-profile redistricting case filed a written objection Friday to oppose Alabama’s new redistricting plan. They accused state Republicans of flouting a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district or “something quite close to it” and enacting a map that continues to discriminate against Black voters in the state. A special three-judge panel in 2022 blocked use of the the state’s existing districts and said any new congressional map should include two districts where “Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority” or something close. That panel’s decision was appealed by the state but upheld in June in a surprise ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which concurred that having only one Black-...

Brain-eating amoeba: Will the warming climate bring more cases?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Infections of brain-eating amoeba are on the rise — and the warming climate may only exacerbate the problem, according to one of the world’s preeminent experts on the subject.“Yes, we are experiencing warmer temperatures, and these amoeba are thermal-tolerant … so the numbers of amoeba will be higher,” explains Dr. Dennis Kyle, the head of the cellular biology department at the University of Georgia and the scholar chair of antiparasitic drug discovery with the Georgia Research Alliance.“Warmer climates means, yes, more exposure and more cases,” he added.Kyle, speaking with Nexstar, confirmed that reported cases of Naegleria fowleri infection — more commonly known as an infection of brain-eating amoeba — have “significantly increased” over the past four to five years. But he warned that increased cases cannot be linked solely to warmer waters, but rather more awareness and fewer misdiagnoses than in previous years.“There’s more recognition that these amoeba are poss...

Elderly couple bound, held at gunpoint during North Carolina home invasion; FBI investigating

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) -- The FBI has issued arrest warrants and released disturbing details in the armed home invasion and kidnapping of an elderly North Carolina couple and the theft of more than $150,000 of their cryptocurrency in April.The incident took place at gunpoint at the couple's home the morning of April 12 after thieves allegedly posed as construction workers and forced their way into the home, according to the Durham Police Department and the FBI.According to an FBI criminal complaint obtained by Nexstar's WNCN, the incident began when two men, dressed as construction workers, came to the victims' home around 7:30 a.m. The duo claimed they would be inspecting pipes for damage and told the husband they would be "walking around the house." Armed home invaders posing as workers tied up elderly victims in Durham, stole money, police say After a few minutes, the pair knocked on the door again and the wife answered the door. The suspects, who allegedly both had guns, then pus...

Man dies at Disney resort, deputies investigating

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A man died at a Disney Resort in Orlando on Wednesday.According to the Orange County Sheriff's Office, deputies received a call around 5:30 a.m. regarding an unresponsive person at Disney's Contemporary Resort near Magic Kingdom.The man, identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Vanden Boom of Greendale, Wisconsin, was pronounced dead on the scene.The Orange County Medical Examiner determined Vanden Boom fell from a hotel room balcony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. The fall was ruled as accidental. Walt Disney World did not immediately respond to Nexstar's request for comment. The death remains an ongoing investigation.Last fall, an 83-year-old man died after riding the Tomorrowland Authority PeopleMover at Disney World. Authorities said he experienced a "cardiac event," and his death was "deemed natural" by medical officials. Earlier this year, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against Disneyland, accusing park employees of laughing at a 66-year-old disable...

Business People: Andrea Nordaune promoted at Andersen Corp.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

OF NOTEAndrea NordauneAndersen Corp., a Bayport-based maker of windows and doors for the residential market, announced the promotion of Andrea Nordaune as senior vice president, chief legal officer, and corporate secretary. Nordaune most recently was vice president, general counsel, and assistant corporate secretary.DEVELOPMENTDoran Cos., a Bloomington-based property developer, announced the appointment of Chris Keenan to senior vice president of development. Previously, Keenan was director of real estate acquisitions and capital markets at Olympus Ventures. … Kraus-Anderson, Minneapolis, announced the following personnel moves: Nick Slauson hired as director of lean and process; Jessica Swanson, senior manager of total rewards; Megan Hannon, corporate and community engagement coordinator; at Kraus-Anderson Construction, Randy Winger, senior project manager; Alex Hoffman, Gary Lackey, Rich Mickschl, Dan Schauer, Tim Sweet, Ed Lebak and Mark Opsal as project superintendents; Ky...

Lake Champlain celebrates bicentennial with 200 paddlers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

FORT EDWARD, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Organizers have been holding paddling events for the last four years, but paddlers at Fort Edward were excited to celebrate the bicentennial of the Champlain Canal.“It’s wonderful to have all this energy out on the water, and it’s a beautiful day,” Mona Kulkarni-Caron, Program Manager of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, said.A beautiful day to bring kayaks and canoes to celebrate 200 years of the canal’s history. Heather Streeter says this is something her husband loves to do. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “My husband is from this area and likes to kayak,” Streeter said. “And he’s done the challenge on the Eerie. So we saw this and said, ‘Oh yeah, let’s sign up!’”Lydia Scheeren ended up bringing a bunch of family members- all for the first time.“When I found out that it was going to be 200 hundred people, I thought, how awesome is it that you can go onto a canal with 200 other people,”...

Catastrophic winds ripping trees from roots, crushing into ceilings in St. Charles County

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - Thousands of residents are at a lack of power, trying to clean up the damage caused from Saturday’s severe storm. Ameren says, they’ve restored more than half of the 90,000 residents without power since the catastrophic winds hit. Now, after severe storms have left, many residents in St. Paul are with no power, and lots of storm damage.“We had trees that were this big around that busted off like toothpicks, and were going across the street,” explained 15-year local, James Lambert.Those massive trees ripped at the roots, is something that plagued more than one street in St. Charles County.“Everybody was blocked, every which way,” said Lambert as many streets sat with downed limbs, making it difficult to get anywhere.It was a result of wind hitting nearly 80 miles per hour during the severe storm on Saturday afternoon. For Lambert, there was one thought clouding his mind as those winds tore through the area for about fifteen minutes.“The house is gonna go,” L...

Hot weather Sunday, but cooler temps — and monsoon rain — are on the way this week

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

Denver and the Front Range will see highs in the 90s again on Sunday, but cooler temperatures — along with monsoon moisture — are coming this week, the National Weather Service says.High temperatures are forecast to reach the low 90s in Denver on Sunday, with a chance of scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms that could bring bursts of heavy rain. Hot weather is expected to continue Monday, with highs in the low 90s.But a slight cooling pattern is expected to begin Tuesday, with temperatures falling to the low 80s by Thursday, according to the weather service.More showers and storms forecast today, with more significant chances of rainfall Monday through Wednesday as monsoon moisture returns. #cowx pic.twitter.com/W3gRgXe62d— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder) July 30, 2023That will come along with a monsoon weather system that could bring heavy rain both to the mountains and the Eastern Plains. Chances of rain are forecast to increase each day from Monday through We...

Dodgers relaunching Christian Faith and Family Day 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

The Los Angeles Dodgers are set to host their first Christian Faith and Family Day since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and some see it as a direct response to the controversial Pride Night the team hosted last month. Star pitcher Clayton Kershaw announced the event on Twitter back in May, and recently posted a video alongside his wife to tell Dodgers fans of the team’s plans to make the day “bigger and better” than it was before the pandemic. The festivities include pre- and post-game performances by Christian musician Jeremy Camp, player interviews and chances to win exclusive merchandise. There will also be time for several players – including Kershaw – to hold conversations about their faith with fans after the game.  Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly are heading to the NL West-leading Dodgers in a trade with the White Sox Sunday night’s Christian Faith and Family Day follows the controversial Pride Night festivities that the Dodgers hosted in June, where the team invited, un-i...

85-year-old pedestrian killed by a vehicle in Santa Clara

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:01:13 GMT

An 85-year-old man was killed after being struck by a car in Santa Clara around 8:45 p.m. on Friday night.The pedestrian, a Santa Clara resident, was walking in a crosswalk at the intersection of Homestead Road and Maryann Drive when he was hit by a Toyota pick-up truck. Santa Clara fire and police officials performed CPR on the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene.Related ArticlesCrashes and Disasters | Highway 13 in Oakland closed after fatal crash involving pedestrian Crashes and Disasters | Head-on collision kills suspected DUI driver, passenger on I-280 in Los Altos Hills Crashes and Disasters | Alameda County DA gives early release to Oakland man convicted of murder in 2003 crash during police chase Crashes and Disasters | Pittsburg man killed when his RV crashes into Delta ditch Crashes and Disasters | Crash on Highway 9 near Boulder Creek kills driver Drugs and alcohol did not appear to be...