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Report: Florida officials cut key data from vaccine study

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — An analysis that was the basis of a highly criticized recommendation from Florida’s surgeon general cautioning young men against getting the COVID-19 vaccine omitted information that showed catching the virus could increase the risk of a cardiac-related death much more than getting the mRNA shot, according to drafts of the analysis obtained by the Tampa Bay Times.The nonbinding recommendation made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo last fall ran counter to the advice provided by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ladapo, a Harvard-trained medical doctor who was appointed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021 to head the Florida Department of Health, has drawn intense scrutiny over his shared resistance with the Republican governor to COVID-19 mandates for vaccines and masks and other health policies endorsed by the federal government.The early drafts of the analysis obtained by the Times through a records request showed that catchin...

Man claiming to be a roofer wanted in mischief investigation in Riverdale

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

Toronto police are looking for a man who posed as a roofer and damaged a home in Riverdale. Police say a man went to a home in the area of Langley and Logan avenues around 8 a.m. on March 25. He told the homeowner he was a roofer and offered to insepct the roof of the house. The homeowner alleges he heard loud banging on the roof and when the man returned, he told him that they had a hole in their roof and gave them a quote to repair it before leaving the home. The homeowner claims that when he went up to the roof he noticed it had been damaged. The suspect is described as being in his early 20s, five-foot-11 to six-feet tall, with a medium build. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and overalls and he spoke with an Irish accent. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

Estonia PM’s party clinches new coalition government deal

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said Saturday that her center-right Reform Party has clinched a deal with two other parties to form a coalition government, five weeks after a general election in the Baltic country.The party councils of Kallas’ pro-business Reform Party, which overwhelmingly won Estonia’s March 5 parliamentary election with 31.2% of the vote, the centrist Estonia 200 party and the Social Democratic Party said they would form the coalition after agreeing on government programs for the nex four years following lengthy talks.“This agreement ensures that Estonia is protected, that we can continue as an independent and self-sustaining country,” Kallas, who will remain as prime minister, said during a news conference.Kallas has held the premiership of Estonia — a European Union and NATO member — since January 2021, when she became the first female head of government in the nation of 1.3 million.The Reform Party was also the senior partner in th...

Afghan religious scholars criticize girls’ education ban

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghan religious scholars Saturday criticized a ban on female education, as a key Taliban minister warned clerics not to rebel against the government on the controversial issue.Girls cannot go to school beyond sixth grade in Afghanistan, with the education ban extending to universities. Women are barred from public spaces, including parks, and most forms of employment. Last week, Afghan women were barred from working at the U.N., according to the global body, although the Taliban have yet to make a public announcement. Authorities present the education restrictions as temporary suspensions rather than bans, but universities and schools reopened in March without their female students.The bans have raised fierce international uproar, increasing the country’s isolation at a time when its economy has collapsed and worsenied a humanitarian crisis. Two religious scholars who are well-known within Afghanistan said Saturday that authorities should reconsi...

Berlusconi’s doctor says he’s responding well to treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

ROME (AP) — Silvio Berlusconi’s doctor, who is treating him for a lung infection, said Saturday that the former Italian premier is responding well to treatment in an intensive care unit at a Milan hospital, an Italian news agency reported.Alberto Zangrillo, who also heads the ICU at San Raffaele hospital where the Italian media mogul was admitted on Wednesday, said Berlusconi “is used to responding with his best” and that despite the “grave illness in a truly difficult situation, he’s responding well to the treatments,” ANSA reported.Zangrillo revealed earlier in the week that Berlusconi, 86, has had a chronic form of leukemia for some time. On Saturday, Berlusconi was visited by a longtime advisor, Gianni Letta, who said, “I found him better than what I thought” and eager to rebound.“You know how every time he sets an aim, he reaches it,” Letta told reporters outside the hospital.In remarks to reporters, Zangrillo referred to the infection as a “complication,” giv...

Texas' 10 best barbecue restaurants, according to Yelp

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – It’s almost an understatement to say that barbecue is beloved in Texas. Platters of tender, slow-cooked brisket, ribs and sausage can be found at some of the state’s most popular restaurants, while regional delicacies — like East Texas-style chopped barbecue, or the South Texas barbacoa influenced by Mexican cuisine — are widely embraced, as well.Some of Texas’ top barbecue joints, however, are clearly a cut above the rest. Viral TikTok reveals H-E-B seafood ‘hack’ In what will likely result in a heated debate between diehard fans of Texas barbecue, the analysts at Yelp have pored over thousands of user-generated reviews, rankings and recommendations to compile a list of the 10 “best” barbecue restaurants in the Lone Star State.As seen in Yelp’s rankings below, barbecue joints in greater Austin, Dallas and Houston dominate the list, with only one well-reviewed outlier — in Amarillo — securing a sweet spot near the top.Have a look at the complete rankings below, or visi...

Academy Sports + Outdoors building Hutto store

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) — Another company is planning to expand to fast-growing Hutto. The city announced this week Academy Sports + Outdoors will build a new Hutto store on Hwy. 79.The store is expected to open in late 2023 or early 2024 as an anchor in Townwest Commons, near U.S. Hwy. 79 and SH 130. RELATED: Hutto ISD tries to keep up with rapid growth The sporting goods store will be the eighth Academy Sports + Outdoors in the Austin area. The store will open with $15 million in sales per year and grow to $20 million annually, according to the city. This will bring at least $225,000 per year in sales tax revenue. Academy is the latest announced company coming to the Hutto development. EVO Entertainment Group said in January that it would open a Hutto movie theater in early 2024 with a bowling alley, gaming complex and more. Townwest Commons currently has a Lowe's, Walgreens and the Hutto YMCA. PREVIOUS: EVO movie theater coming to Hutto Construction is expected to begin in April...

APD seeking leads in January fatal hit-and-run

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police Department said its Vehicular Homicide unit was searching for leads in a fatal January hit-and-run crash.APD said the crash happened at 1:58 a.m. Jan. 10 in the 2000 block of East Oltorf Street. The pedestrian involved was identified as 63-year-old Floyd Elem. He later died at the hospital. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Police looking for driver after deadly hit-and-run in south Austin Detectives said they believe a woman who was driving a teal-colored Jeep may have information that could help with the investigation.Anyone with any information regarding this incident was asked to contact APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

Pugh and Freeman pair perfectly in "A Good Person"

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- "A Good Person," directed and written by Zach Braff is an emotional and tragic story centered around loss and addiction. The realistic story will have you laughing, crying, and angry as our protagonist overcomes her obstacles. I didn't have any expectations going into this movie but I was hoping Pugh and Freeman would give credible performances as they always do. I can confidently say Braff elaborated on a difficult story that I'd certainly watch again. Evolve through 1920s Hollywood in “Babylon” You can't seem to escape Florence Pugh as she's been seen in notable films for the last couple of years. From "Black Widow," to "Little Women," "Midsommar," and of course "Don't Worry Darling," Pugh has been busy sending out hit performances. Pugh delivers incredible acting as our main character trying to overcome a painkiller pill addiction. Her moments of despair had me crying with her, and wondering how those who've experienced such trauma, gain the strength to...

Alhambra slaying under investigation by police, Sheriff's Department

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:45 GMT

A man died after being found in his car suffering from gunshot wounds in Alhambra Friday night, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is working with the Alhambra Police Department to investigate the killing.The unidentified man, who is believed to be between 40 and 45 years old, was discovered sitting in the driver's seat of his vehicle at Almansor and Bay streets a few minutes before 9:30 p.m., the Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Suffering from multiple wounds to his upper torso, he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation is ongoing, and no information about the shooter or shooters has been released.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.