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California eases water restrictions, but drought isn’t over

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

DUNNIGAN, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom ended some of the state’s water restrictions on Friday because a winter of relentless rain and snow has replenished the state’s reservoirs and eased fears of a shortage after three years of severe drought. Newsom was careful not to declare the drought to be over, noting water shortages remain in the Klamath River basin along the California-Oregon line and in densely populated Southern California, which relies heavily on the struggling Colorado River system to supply millions of people.But Newsom did say he would stop asking people to voluntarily cut their water use by 15%, a request he first made nearly two years ago while standing at the edge of a nearly dry Lopez Lake in the state’s Central Coast region — a lake that today is so full from recent storms it is almost spilling over.“None of us could have imagined … a few months ago that we’d be where we are today,” Newsom said Friday from a farm northw...

Federal government, B.C. and Indigenous nation sign care co-ordination deal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

The delivery of child and family services grounded in Indigenous culture and community was celebrated Friday in British Columbia’s north Okanagan with the signing of the province’s first care co-ordination services agreement. Indigenous children thrive when they can stay with their families and communities and are surrounded by their culture and language, federal Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu said in an interview after the ceremony.The agreement between the federal, B.C. and Secwepemc Nation governments provides the legal framework and funding for the co-ordinated care services, she said.“This is an exciting time in the history of our country and the history of the First Nations that are doing this work,” said Hajdu.The minister said governments over the next 10 years will transfer $136.2 million to the Enderby-area Splatsin First Nation to support and continue their long-standing dedication and work on family and child services.“This communi...

Movie filming outside Trump grand jury court buildings

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — If the drama happening inside the court buildings in lower Manhattan where a grand jury is pondering possible charges against former President Donald Trump isn’t enough, there’s going to be some outside as well this weekend — the filming of some movie scenes.Notices went up around the buildings on Centre Street this week, saying parking was forbidden and certain streets would be closed off on Saturday and Sunday for filming connected to a Warner Bros. feature film called “Juliet.”On Friday, tents went up and cranes for movie equipment were put in place along the street.The area had already become somewhat of a media circus as the outcome of a grand jury investigation into hush money paid on Trump’s behalf in 2016 is awaited.Neither Warner Bros. nor the city office that oversees filming would comment on details of what was planned for the movie shoot. The Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment said it was working with the New York Police Department on p...

A look at the US military mission in Syria and its dangers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — When an Iranian drone struck a U.S. base in northeastern Syria, killing a contractor and wounding several U.S. troops, it was just the latest in a growing number of attacks on American forces in Syria. But its lethality was rare. In most recent cases, no U.S. forces have been hurt in such attacks.The strike on Thursday — by a small, suicide drone — set off a series of retaliatory bombings, and the top U.S. commander for the Middle East, Gen. Erik Kurilla, quickly warned that the U.S. was prepared to launch more attacks if needed.American troops have been in Syria since 2015, but the latest casualties highlight what has been a consistent, but often quiet, U.S. counterterrorism mission, aimed at countering Iranian-backed militias and preventing the resurgence of the Islamic State group.A look at the U.S. troop presence in Syria.IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUPOn any given day there are at least 900 U.S. forces in Syria, along with an undisclosed number of co...

Alek Manoah named Opening Day starter for Blue Jays, rotation finalized

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

It’s funny how quickly things can change in the world of sports. That couldn’t be more true for the Toronto Blue Jays and starter Alek Manoah, named the Opening Day starter against the St. Louis Cardinals.The 25-year-old will get the assignment only in his third full season in the majors after Manoah impressed in the spring of 2021, eventually leading to a promotion and big-league debut on May 27, 2021.Fast forward to now, Manoah has established himself as Toronto’s ace and as one of baseball’s best young starting pitchers.“I was super-excited to hear that,” Manoah told Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith after being named Opening Day starter.“It’s pretty amazing. A couple of years ago, I was coming (into) camp, just doing everything I can to make it hard on them not to send me down to the minor leagues, you know? And a couple of years later, they named me the Opening Day starter. I’m super-blessed for the opportunity.”Th...

Chicago mayoral candidates' push for voters intensifies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

CHICAGO — Chicago's mayoral candidates were busy hitting the campaign trails as they work to gain voters and endorsements ahead of the April 4 run-off election. Recent polling suggests the race between Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson remains close.Johnson expressed confidence Friday as he traveled across the city meeting with Jewish community leaders, veterans and seniors. The Cook County commissioner has promised safety, jobs and more funding for schools.  Vallas, Johnson face off in WGN’s Chicago Mayoral Debate "As mayor of the city of Chicago, I am going to double the amount of young people we hire, not just for summer jobs, but for year-round jobs, because that's violence prevention," Johnson said. "Funding our schools, funding our parks and recreation, making sure that we have good paying jobs and making sure that our seniors can walk the block without fear." As Johnson bumped shoulders with voters, opponent Vallas gained another city councilmember endorsement:...

Biden, Trudeau say 'inseparable' nations won't fail Ukraine

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

OTTAWA, ONTARIO (AP) — President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday celebrated the close, “inseparable” U.S.-Canada relationship and vowed that the two nations remain committed to defending Ukraine as it tries to repel a Russian invasion that has no end in sight.Biden and Trudeau met just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks for the first time since the start of the war. The Chinese and Russian leader agreed to deepen economic bonds between their two countries. But Biden argued that Western resolve remains stronger and warned Russia that the U.S., Canada and their allies would defend “every inch of NATO territory."The president also bristled at the notion that Russia has managed to expand a partnership with Beijing that is allowing Moscow to sustain its economy and war effort despite the U.S. lining up an international coalition to economically isolate Russia with a barrage of sanctions. China, however, thus far h...

WATCH: NASCAR driver Ross Chastain throws watermelons off COTA's 251-foot observation tower

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Ross Chastain won NASCAR's EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix last year at Circuit of the Americas, and as a nod to his family's watermelon-farming roots, he threw a big green melon on the track near the finish line to celebrate his first-ever Cup Series victory.It's a celebration he's continued whenever he wins, but it started in Austin. On Friday, he took smashing fruit to a new level and threw a few off the 251-foot observation tower at COTA ahead of Sunday's race. There was a tarp on the ground with targets he was aiming at, and the aftermath of the gravity-fueled fruit colliding with the ground caused huge holes in the tarp but brought big cheers from fans and other onlookers.March, 24 2023: Ross Chastain (right) throws a watermelon off the observation deck at Circuit of the Americas before EchoPark Automotive Gran Prix practice. Chastain's victory celebration is smashing a melon off the top of his car onto the track, and it started with his first win at Austin last...

Public officials join Meals on Wheels Central Texas for annual campaign

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- On Friday, local public officials teamed up with Meals on Wheels Central Texas to deliver meals as part of the annual March for Meals campaign. According to MOWCTX, the annual campaign is a nationwide effort to generate public awareness about senior hunger and isolation.During the event Friday, State Rep. Lulu Flores, D-Travis County, said, "This is important, because so many folks find themselves isolated in their homes and don't either have the ability, because they live in a food desert, or because they just don't have the appropriate food access at home, or the ability to make their own meals or hot meals. So, this is really important."With one of the country's fastest-growing populations of older adults, the nonprofit said it needs more volunteers to keep up.To learn how to become a volunteer, visit the MOW website for more information.

Look inside a Texas medical cannabis facility as lawmakers move to expand access

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:26 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas lawmakers are one step closer to significantly expanding access to medical cannabis. The Texas House Committee on Public Health this week unanimously approved a bill to increase the THC limits in medical cannabis and expand who is eligible to use it.HB 1805 by State Rep. Stephanie Klick (R-Fort Worth) would change the definition of "low-cannabis THC" to 10 milligrams. Cannabis products are currently limited to 1% THC by weight. It would also expand the list of eligible Texans to anyone with a debilitating medical condition or chronic pain "for which a physician would otherwise prescribe an opioid." Currently, only a limited number of chronic illnesses such as cancer, epilepsy, and PTSD are eligible.Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation, Texas' first licensed medical cannabis distributor, said the changes would allow thousands more Texans to access critical pain relief in a safe way."Medical cannabis is a life-saving medicine for people with multiple condi...