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$2M insurance policy in effect for Hawaii coral reefs in time for hurricane season

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — An environmental group has a $2 million insurance policy on Hawaii’s coral reefs, which is in effect in time for a busier hurricane season that could damage the vital natural resources that are increasingly under threat from climate change. In announcing the policy purchase last year, The Nature Conservancy said it was the first-ever coral reef insurance policy in the United States. The policy, issued by insurance firm Munich Re, is triggered at windspeeds of 57 mph (92 kph) if sufficiently close to reefs and can provide payouts up to a maximum of $2 million to allow rapid reef repair and restoration after storm damage. The warmer Pacific has forecasters expecting a “near-to-above normal” hurricane season from June to November for waters around Hawaii, according to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. That amounts to four to seven tropical cyclones in the region, but fewer could actually come ashore in the islands.The cost of the insurance policy is roughly $1...

‘We lost too many children’: Ukrainian heart doctor says admission to NATO is urgent

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine — A Ukrainian doctor who was forced to treat open-heart surgery patients in a bomb shelter last year says he’s grateful for the assistance his country has received from Canada.But Dr. Igor Mokryk, the head of cardiac surgery at the Heart Institute of Kyiv, says the best medicine would be to have Canada’s backing on Ukraine joining NATO. In an interview with The Canadian Press at his office in Kyiv on Monday, he said he would have loved to have spoken with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau when he made a surprise visit to the city on the weekend.During his visit, Trudeau promised more weapons and fighter-pilot training but stopped short of fully supporting Ukraine becoming a NATO member.“In the conversations around NATO, we’ve always been very, very clear that we absolutely think Ukraine should join NATO when the conditions are right for it,” the prime minister said.But Mokryk, 49, said the conditions are already right and it should have happen...

Trump traveling to Florida as court appearance approaches in classified docs case

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

 Donald Trump traveled to Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance this week on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get them back.Trump’s Tuesday afternoon appearance in Miami will mark his second time since April facing a judge on criminal charges. But unlike a New York case some legal analysts derided as relatively trivial, the Justice Department’s first prosecution of a former president concerns conduct that prosecutors say jeopardized national security, with Espionage Act charges carrying the prospect of a significant prison sentence.Ahead of his court date, he and his allies have been escalating efforts to undermine the criminal case against him and drum up protests. He's ratcheted up the rhetoric against the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, calling Jack Smith “deranged" as he repeated without an...

Just after returning, Liam Hendriks will be out of the White Sox bullpen for a bit

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

CHICAGO — It was a difficult weekend for the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, and it was equally frustrating for their team's closer.Just two weeks after his return to the club after beating cancer, Liam Hendriks won't be taking the field for a couple of weeks. The White Sox announce that closer Liam Hendriks has been placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation after pitching in five games since his return to the team after beating cancer..Pitcher Tanner Banks has been recalled from Charlotte..@WGNNews pic.twitter.com/C0c3IRVgDA— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) June 11, 2023The pitcher, who beat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the first half of 2023, was placed on the 15-day IL on Sunday as he deals with right elbow inflammation. This came just two days after he picked up the victory in the White Sox 2-1 triumph over the Marlins on Friday. General manager Rick Hahn told reporters on Sunday that Hendriks's injury is similar to one that landed him on the IL in June & Jul...

Ride Metra to and from Ravinia this summer for free

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

CHICAGO — Need a ride to Ravinia this summer? Metra has you covered.For the third year in a row, a concert ticket for the music venue will cover your travel costs on the Metra Union Pacific North Line.According to Metra, all concertgoers need to do is show the conductor their ticket or e-ticket and their rides to and from Ravinia Music Festival are free.“This partnership is just one more way we can serve our customers,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. Ravinia Festival tickets for 2023 concerts on sale Monday Metra said it will increase the number of trains stopping at the Ravinia gates for weekend shows starting June 17.The Ravinia 2023 concert lineup includes over 50 artists and over 100 concerts including the annual summer residency of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Chief Conductor Marin Alsop.Charlie Puth, Ne-Yo, Natalia Lafourcade, Boyz II Men, Maria Schneider Orchestra are among the many artists making their debut at this year’s festival.The festival's ...

First non-binary actors win Tony Awards 

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

(The Hill) -- Broadway performs Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee became the first openly nonbinary actors to win Tony Awards on Sunday evening.  “Thank you for seeing me, Broadway. I should not be up here as a queer, nonbinary, fat, Black little baby from Massachusetts,” Newell said in their acceptance speech for best featured actor in a musical. “And to anyone that thinks that they can’t do it, I’m going to look you dead in your face that you can do anything you put your mind to.” Newell won for their performance as Lulu in the musical “Shucked,” a comedy that hit the stage in March. Ghee later won the award for best leading actor in “Some Like it Hot,” a musical that is based on the famous 1959 film.   Tonys presenter mocks DeSantis: ‘The current grand wizard’ of Florida Composer Toby Marlow of “Six” became the first nonbinary person to receive a Tony Award last year.  Like other award shows, the Tonys uses gendered categories for best actor and best actress awa...

Fox News's Turley: Trump could face 'terminal sentence' if DOJ proves even one count

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

(The Hill) – Fox News legal analyst Jonathan Turley says former President Trump could die in prison if convicted on just one count after being indicted by the Justice Department last week on dozens of charges related to his handling of classified documents. “The problem is, he's got to run the table — he's 76 years old,” Turley, a former opinion contributor for The Hill, said of Trump during an appearance on Fox News. “All the government has to do is stick the landing on one count, and he could have a terminal sentence. You're talking about crimes that have a 10- or 20-year period as a maximum.”Turley said the evidence laid out against Trump in the indictment revealed last week is "quite strong." Trump tops DeSantis by 38 points in new poll after news of indictment "Now, we have not heard their other side. Generally, the indictments are a lot stronger on the day they are issued than on the next day, so they may be able to knock down some of these issues,” Turley said. “But some ...

Acid poured on slides at Massachusetts park, children report injuries

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

LONGMEADOW, Mass. (WWLP) - A hazardous material found on the playground at a park in Massachusetts Sunday has been identified as muriatic acid. After two children reported having burn-like injuries, crews were called to the park in Longmeadow. They found a "suspicious substance" on three slides at the playground, the fire department said. During the investigation, it was discovered that the pump room in the basement of the pool building had been broken into. Two of the fences were climbed over and a ventilation shaft was torn off. The suspects had gotten into the pool room through the ventilation shaft, investigators said. The pool room contained the acidic chemicals that were poured onto the slides. USPS investigating after $28 check altered to $4,200, cashed Muriatic acid is a diluted solution of hydrochloric acid. New England Disposal Technologies, a hazardous product collection center, describes muriatic acid as a "powerful and dangerous cleaner.""Extremely corrosive, this cl...

No more paper license plates: new law tears up old system

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

Rep. Craig Goldman holds a metal license plate honoring his bill, HB 718. (KXAN Photo/Matt Grant)Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 12, 2023. Watch Matt Grant's story on KXAN at 6 p.m.AUSTIN (KXAN) — Say goodbye to paper license plates — just not yet.Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law Monday that puts the brakes on Texas' paper license plate problem by tearing up the current system. The new law replaces all paper tags with metal ones. It goes into effect July 1, 2025."Feel relieved and, no, didn't feel this day would come," said Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth, who introduced HB 718, which will eliminate all paper license plates in the state. "Bills this big, that make fundamental change in this state, don’t normally pass the very first session that you file them. So, huge relief."The move caps more than six years of KXAN's "Risky Rides" investigations, and an equally-long fight spearheaded by law enforcement in Central Texas to stop ...

Man who went missing in Lake Travis located

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:49:41 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for June 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The body of a man who went missing in Lake Travis over the weekend was located Monday morning. The Wake: Secrets of Lake Travis The Travis County Sheriff's Office said it responded to a call around 7:28 p.m. Sunday to help EMS find a man who was last seen near Mansfield Dam Park. Authorities searched the area where he was last seen on Sunday night, and paused searching overnight. Search efforts continued Monday morning. The man's body was located around 8:30 a.m. A dive team was still working to recover the body as of 12:30 p.m. The man has not been identified, but TCSO said he was in his 20s. It's unclear how he ended up in the water. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. The Wake: Secrets of Lake TravisFor the past four months, KXAN has been examining the number of deaths on Lake Travis, Central Texas’ most popular lake. We discovered a multitude of factors are co...