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A massive seaweed blob is headed to Florida — rotten stench included

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

A blob of sargassum seaweed thousands of miles long is headed to Florida, the Caribbean and eventually the Gulf of Mexico, scientists say.Dubbed the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt by scientists, the swath of tendrilled, somewhat rubbery seaweed has become an annual, often stinky occurrence in the last few years, swamping beaches and resorts from South Florida, through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico with mats of the macroalgae, which then decomposes, releasing hydrogen sulfide. The gas has an odor reminiscent of rotten eggs, and can cause respiratory problems.Early chunks of the grass mats may start arriving in South Florida in the coming weeks, but the belt is so long the mats are expected to pile up and waft their stench over local beaches through October.Though common for centuries — Christopher Columbus spotted sargassum floating in the middle of the Atlantic on his way to the Americas in the 15th century — 2011 saw a surge in the algae’s surface area that has continued...

Aaron Rodgers plans to play for Jets in 2023, awaits Packers’ move

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

Aaron Rodgers said Wednesday he intends to play for the New York Jets in 2023 after 18 seasons in Green Bay as the four-time NFL MVP quarterback waits for the Packers to trade him.Rodgers made his comments during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on YouTube and Sirius XM. The 39-year-old Rodgers said he believes the Packers want to move on and make 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love their starting quarterback.“At this point, as I sit here, I think since Friday I’ve made it clear that my intention was to play and my intention was to play for the New York Jets,” Rodgers said. “I haven’t been holding anything up at this point. It’s been compensation the Packers are trying to get for me, kind of digging their heels in.”Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy has acknowledged the team granted the Jets permission to talk to Rodgers. The Jets sent a contingent that reportedly included owner Woody Johnson, coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas to Rodgers’ home in Southern Cal...

MN Supreme Court allows for more cameras in trial courts in 2024, at judges’ discretion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

Defendants and attorneys no longer will have the power to keep news cameras out of courtrooms during criminal trials and pretrial hearings under new rules adopted Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court.Instead, it largely will be up to the judge in each case to decide when audio and visual coverage is allowed.Chief Justice Lorie Gildea wrote that the new rules for the state’s trial courts, which take effect Jan. 1, “will promote transparency and confidence in the basic fairness that is an essential component of our system of justice in Minnesota.”In June 2021, during a pandemic that made the court system more comfortable with cameras, the justices began a review of the 5-year-old rules governing audio-visual coverage of criminal proceedings.The old rules allowed cameras during criminal trials only “with the consent of all parties;” they also contained a presumption that sentencing hearings would be open to cameras unless the judge had good reason to block them.In the first s...

Town of Colonie receives $12K grant to improve firefighter safety

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

COLONIE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- On Wednesday, the Town of Colonie was awarded a $12,000 Fire Prevention & Safety Grant to purchase specialized equipment to keep the Fire Investigations Units safe during investigations. The federal grant was made possible by the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! “We in our Capital Region are fortunate to have such hardworking local firefighters who risk their lives every day to keep our communities safe," said Congressman Paul Tonko."We owe it to these brave men and women to provide them with the training, equipment, and other resources they need to continue to do their work safely.”“The grant will provide the members of our office with protective gear and a decontamination kit," said Benjamin Stevens, Senior Fire Protection Specialist at Town of Colonie Fire Services. "These will be used to protect our members during fire and arson investigations t...

New York doctor/firefighter saves family of 14 from CO poisoning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (WPIX) — A Long Island pediatrician is being hailed as a hero for keeping 14 people from potentially being poisoned to death in a carbon monoxide (CO) gas leak. He helped to dispatch his own fire department to the family's home. Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Dr. John Zaso, who doubles as a volunteer firefighter in the Long Island hamlet of East Meadow, used his skills from both jobs to diagnose that the family of one of his young patients was actively suffering carbon monoxide poisoning. “First thing I said immediately was, 'Open your windows get out of the house and call 911,'” he recalled.Zaso said he got an urgent call from the mother of a 3-week-old infant patient of his late Monday night. She said her baby appeared sick and mentioned that a number of the family members in their house had started feel...

St. Louis police hope to return dozens of stolen items to rightful owners

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is hoping to return dozens of stolen vehicles, tools and items to rightful owners, all recovered from investigations within the last two years. From Dec. 2021 to Dec. 2022, St. Louis police has recovered the following pieces of stolen property that remain unclaimed to date. 8 stolen trucks/SUVs5 stolen trailers30 suspected stolen and stolen motorcycles5 stolen golf carts/ATV/UTVsLarge quantity of suspected stolen tools Trending: Daughter roasts Alton dad in sweet and funny obit Thirteen people are accused in these large-scale thefts. Prosecutors have charged five on a state and federal level. Eight others face pending charges. Officers seized the stolen items after many warrants and searches around St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Jefferson County and St. Francois County. SLMPD believes that most of the recovered items were stolen during various thefts last year, including but not limited to burglaries, trailer thefts, cons...

Woman charged in downtown St. Louis shooting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A woman has been charged for a shooting in downtown St. Louis, in which she allegedly fired shots at three people, including a child. According to Sgt. Charles Wall, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened just before 8 p.m. on Friday, March 10, in the 1500 block of Washington Avenue.Officers responded to calls about a shooting at an apartment building. When police arrived, they found a 35-year-old man suffering from a gunshot wound to his face. Police claim to have spotted the alleged shooter, Ariel McNeil, in the lobby. McNeil ran from police but was apprehended in the 1200 block of Locust Street. Top story: Kim Gardner files response to attorney general suit Wall said investigators learned McNeil and the victim were in an argument over personal matters earlier in the evening at his apartment. McNeil began destroying property belonging to the victim.A 45-year-old woman attempted to intervene on behalf of the 35-year-old man...

St. Louis man admits assaulting U.S. Marshals, selling meth

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A St. Louis man appeared in federal court Monday and admitted to assaulting two deputy U.S. marshals and selling methamphetamine.Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Emilio Sandoval, 34, stored and sold meth from his home on Dewey Avenue in St. Louis. The DEA began investigating Sandoval's sales operation in Dec. 2019.In October 2020, Sandoval sold two ounces of meth for $1,000, prompting a search of his home by law enforcement. Authorities discovered five baggies containing 545 grams of meth. Three guns and more than $11,000 in cash were found in a safe. Top story: Kim Gardner files response to attorney general suit Sandoval was indicted on federal charges in August 2021. U.S. Marshals were assigned with looking and arresting him.On Nov. 10, 2021, marshals eventually located Sandoval at his residence. Prosecutors said Sandoval and his significant other got into a vehicle and tried to escape, with Sandoval ramming the ma...

Garcetti's India envoy nomination passes Senate test vote

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti appeared headed for confirmation Wednesday as the next U.S. ambassador to India, 20 months after he was initially selected for the post and amid fallout from a sexual harassment scandal involving a onetime top adviser.The nomination cleared a key test vote in the Democratic-controlled Senate, 52-42, with a final vote expected late Wednesday. The session began with uncertain prospects for Garcetti, a two-term, progressive Democrat first nominated to the prominent diplomatic post by President Joe Biden in July 2021. With several Democratic defections, Garcetti's fate rested with enlisting Republicans in a chamber often divided along partisan line. He secured seven GOP votes to advance the nomination to a final vote. Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine said, “I met with him personally. He clearly has an enormous amount of expertise about India. India’s been two years without an ambassador, and that is far too long. And I am go...

Leon Hughes, founding member of The Coasters, dies at 92

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:33:24 GMT

Leon Hughes, the last original member of the 1950s rhythm and blues hitmaker, The Coasters, has died at age 92.Hughes died peacefully at his home in Watts on March 1 from natural causes, family members tell KTLA 5 News.The Coasters formed in Los Angeles in 1955 with Hughes, Carl Gardner, Bobby Nunn and Billy Guy comprising the original lineup. In a span of three years, they released a series of hits including “Yakety Yak,” “Down in Mexico,” “Poison Ivy” and “Charlie Brown.”“Yakety Yak” enjoyed a resurgence in 1986 when it was featured on the soundtrack for Rob Reiner’s coming-of-age film, “Stand by Me,” along with other R&B/Doo Wop classics “Stand By Me,” “Lollipop” and “Rockin’ Robin.”In 1987, The Coasters were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Hughes’ tenure with the original lineup was relatively short-lived. He left the band in 1957 after a bout with illness that compromised his singing voice, his daughter said. Later in life, he fronted several variations of The ...