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There's good news for beach towns threatened by massive seaweed bloom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Many late summer vacationers to Florida, the Caribbean and parts of Mexico will have cleaner beaches to look forward to, thanks to a shrinking seaweed mass that threatened to overwhelm coastal communities. University of South Florida researchers said Monday the quantity of seaweed in the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt "decreased substantially" between June and July. The seaweed belt remains huge – there's an estimated 6 million tons of sargassum still floating around – but it's down several million tons in just a few months. That's good news for residents, visitors and workers of beach areas of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Massive sargassum seaweed bloom takes surprising turn The problem with this type of seaweed, sargassum, isn't with it floating out in the ocean. The issues start when it comes on land and starts to rot. As it decays, sargassum lets off hydrogen sulfide and smells like rotten eggs, explains the Florida Department of Health.It can irritate people’...

MedWatch Daily Digest: Maternal mental health is being neglected in most states

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

For Tuesday, Aug 1, WGN's Lourdes Duarte has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Most states neglect maternal mental health According to a new report released by the nonprofit Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, maternal mental health is neglected in most states. All but 10 states received either a "D" or "F" grade on policies and access to care, including therapists and treatment programs. Illinois was among the states to score a "C," but it's also one of the few states that require OB-GYN'sto conduct maternal mental health screenings before and after birth. California was the only state to earn a "B" grade. No state made an "A." "Long Covid" possible treatment trialsIf you are experiencing so-called "Long Covid," possible treatments may be coming. The National Institutes of Health is launching some studies to test potential care. One of the first two trials will examine brain fog and other cognitive problems. Two more studies will begin ...

Why the winner of the $1.1B Mega Millions jackpot would take home way less

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — Mega Millions players are likely well aware of the record-setting prize that's up for grabs Tuesday night. After going without a winner yet again last week, the jackpot has reached an estimated $1.1 billion. Even if you beat the jackpot odds (1 in 302.6 million) to win the grand prize, you won't be an instant billionaire. It's all thanks to how a jackpot winner claims their prize, and where they live. Mega Millions jackpot winners can receive their payout in one of two ways: as an annuity, which is one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that grow by 5% each time, or as a lump sum cash payment. These are the best, worst states to win the lottery in Regardless of the payment method selected, state lotteries are required to immediately withhold 24% in federal taxes. With additional taxes, about 37% of the prize money will be taken out in total.Certain states also withhold taxes on winnings, while others, like California, don’t withhold any. E...

'Scared to stop': Google Maps car leads Indiana police on 100-mph chase, crashes into creek

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

MIDDLETOWN, Ind. (WXIN) — Google Maps Street View could soon feature breakneck snapshots of an in-progress police pursuit in Indiana.A Florida man, who claimed to work for the mapping tech giant, is accused of leading Middletown police officers on a high-speed chase while a 360-degree camera was mounted to the roof of his car. Coleman Ferguson was being held in the Henry County Jail on Tuesday, facing one count of resisiting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony. Indiana abortion clinics stop providing abortions ahead of near-total abortion ban taking effect According to the Middletown Police Department, a car with "Google Maps Street View" printed on its side was clocked driving past a high school on U.S. 36 at speeds in excess of 100 mph Monday evening. The posted speed limit on that stretch of road is 55 mph and 40 mph when the school zone lights are flashing. The Middletown officer said the Google car was passing several other vehicles while traveling westbound on U...

Home evacuations underway due to Bastrop wildfire

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) — First responders said they're working Tuesday afternoon to evacuate homes as a "precautionary measure" because of a wildfire burning near Bastrop State Park. According to the Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management, the houses affected are located between Harmon Road and Pine Hill Loop in Bastrop. It's unclear how many homes are impacted at this time. Neighbors are advised to contact the county hotline at (512) 303-4300 for more information. Initial reports had the fire's location listed as the area of Hwy. 71 and Harmon Road. The size of the fire, which is now called the Powder Keg Pine Fire, is estimated to be one acre at this time and is zero percent contained. Emergency management officials said there are no reports yet of injuries or damage to any homes or buildings. Crews are currently working to extinguish the wildfire, and they're asking people to please avoid the area. KXAN will keep working to update this developing story, as more information ...

Calls re-emerge for passenger rail connecting Austin, San Antonio

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A new grassroots organization is renewing years-old efforts to revitalize passenger rail services connecting the Austin and San Antonio metros.RESTART Lone Star Rail District launched in May to renew calls for a regional rail system linking the two major cities and their surrounding suburban communities. Clay Anderson, a transportation planner and the campaign's founder, was drawn to the prospect of a new system that helped reduce congestion while expanding transit access between the two regions. TRANSPORTATION NEWS: When will I-35 road construction start in downtown Austin? "In my mind, this is a service that people who do not use transportation or public transportation in their regular lives would consider using because of how difficult the drive is between the two cities," he said. "A train just makes sense. It's a no brainer, and I feel like it is a low-hanging fruit. If we can get this done, then we can get so many other things done, both within San Antonio a...

Austin FC's Diego Fagundez traded to LA Galaxy for Memo Rodriguez, cash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC winger Diego Fagundez has been traded.The club sent Fagundez to the LA Galaxy for midfielder Memo Rodriguez plus up to $900,000 in general allocation money, $300,000 of it guaranteed for 2023 with an additional $600,000 possible.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersThe Galaxy could also receive up to $150,000 in general allocation money from Austin FC is Rodriguez meets "certain performance criteria," the club said. "We are happy to have Memo return to his home state of Texas to join Austin FC," said Rodolfo Borrell, Austin FC's sporting director. "He is a talented midfielder who is going to help the team and knows the league well, and we wish him and his family a warm welcome to the community here in Austin."The news was first reported by The Athletic's Tom Bogert.Fagundez signed a 3-year contract with Austin FC in February with a club option thro...

1,200-acre nature preserve to open in Williamson County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- The Hill Country Conservancy is poised to open a 1,205-acre nature preserve in Williamson County, following a donation from an anonymous landowner.The land is described as "ecologically sensitive" and was given to the nonprofit conservancy "to be used for conservation, research, educational outreach and public recreation," per a Tuesday release. Named the Pecan Springs Karst Preserve, the land sits within the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone at the onset of the Texas Hill Country, located five miles east of Jarrell.The Hill Country Conservancy is poised to open a 1,205-acre nature preserve in Williamson County, following a donation from an anonymous landowner. (Courtesy: Rich Kostecke)The Hill Country Conservancy is poised to open a 1,205-acre nature preserve in Williamson County, following a donation from an anonymous landowner. (Courtesy: Rachael Lindsey)The Hill Country Conservancy is poised to open a 1,205-acre nature preserve in Williamson County...

Lizzo accused of weight-shaming and harassing former tour dancers. Now they’re suing.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

Three former dancers have accused Lizzo of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment in a lawsuit filed in California, NBC News first reported.The lawsuit was filed Tuesday, Aug. 1, in Los Angeles Superior Court, a spokesperson told McClatchy News in an email.Former dancers Arianna Davis, Crystal Williams and Noelle Rodriguez accused Melissa Viviane Jefferson (professionally known as Lizzo), her production company Big Grrrl Big Touring and her dance team captain Shirlene Quigley of creating a hostile work environment through sexual, religious and racial harassment, disability discrimination, assault and false imprisonment, according to the lawsuit.The complaint says Lizzo drew attention to a dancer’s weight after an appearance at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, and pressured dancers to engage with nude dancers at strip clubs in Amsterdam and in Paris.The documents also show accusations against Quigley, including harassing dancers about religio...

Vikings bring offensive lineman Dalton Risner to Minnesota for a visit. Will they sign him?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:57:26 GMT

There could be help on the way for the Vikings’ offensive line.After multiple reports surfaced on Monday that the Vikings were bringing Dalton Risner in for a visit, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed Tuesday that the 28-year-old is indeed in Minnesota.Though it’s unclear if the Vikings will sign Risner, the fact that he’s being considered as an option seems significant.“That group is off to a really good start in training camp,” O’Connell said. “We’re always looking for ways to find good football players when they’re available. We really just wanted to bring him in and get to know him a little bit better, use the process of a visit to do that and see if we can possibly take what we think is a strong group and make it even better.”Logistically, the Vikings haven’t yet seen Risner on the field. The point of the visit was to get to know Risner while also getting him familiar with people around TCO Performance Ce...