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Plague killed Colorado resident, health officials confirm

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

An Archuleta County resident died from the plague, health officials announced Monday.The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, alongside San Juan Basin Public Health, is investigating after laboratory testing confirmed the unidentified resident died from plague.“While this disease is very rare, it is important to be aware of how you can be exposed and the symptoms it can cause,” said Tiffany Switzer, interim executive director of SJBPH. “If you think you have symptoms consistent with plague, seek health care immediately and let them know you may have been exposed.”Plague is caused by bacteria that can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas or by direct contact with infected animals, according to a Monday news release from San Juan Basin Public Health.According to the release, plague is frequently detected in rock squirrels, prairie dogs, wood rats and other species of ground squirrels and chipmunks. Residents should not eradicate or kill prairie...

Oregon man arrested for homicide of Vallejo child after cold case review

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

(KRON) -- An Oregon man was arrested last week in connection to a 1987 homicide of a 6-year-old Vallejo child, the Solano County District Attorney’s Office announced.Solano County DA investigators arrested the suspect, identified as Fred Cain III, at his Central Point, Oregon, home on Sept. 18 with the assistance of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Solano County DA officials said advances in DNA technology linked Cain to the death of the child.In 1987, a 6-year-old child was abducted near his home in Vallejo. The child's body was recovered four days later on Sherman Island in Sacramento County, the DA’s office said. An autopsy showed signs that the child was sexually assaulted.That same year, a suspect was named in the case. Shawn Melton was charged with murder and kidnapping after investigators said he had knowledge that only the person responsible for the death would know. The case would later be dismissed due to the jury not reaching a verdict. SF daycare worker gets 25 yea...

SMART awarded $32 million grant from the Biden administration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

(KRON) – The Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District (SMART) has been awarded a $32 million grant in Federal Railroad Administration, Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement funds from the Biden Administration.  According to U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, he assisted in securing the funds from the Department of Transportation through the federal government’s annual spending legislation.“SMART is a vital artery in our communities, connecting people and commerce throughout the North Bay, said Rep. Huffman. “They have been a leader in innovative infrastructure improvements, like this project that will cut greenhouse gas emissions and provide a reliable public transportation alternative." President Biden visiting the Bay Area for campaign events This grant has two significant components: $28M for the implementation of Positive Train Control Systems for SMART's 5.5-mile passenger and freight rail line between Windsor and Healdsburg and $4M for the replacement o...

DC Water to tackle sewage flowing into Potomac River; Georgetown tunnel to begin

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

Now that DC Water has completed the Northeast Boundary Tunnel, which is expected to divert 98% of combined sewer overflow away from the Anacostia River, it’s shifting its attention to the Potomac River.“Now, we’re turning to the Potomac,” said Moussa Wone, vice president of DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project — the long-term plan to deal with the antiquated sewer system that runs through older portions of the District, including Georgetown.The Potomac River Tunnel is the next major phase of the project to mitigate the District’s combined sewer overflow system — built before 1900 — which carries both sewage and stormwater in a single pipe.During dry conditions, the sewage diverts to the Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant.However, during heavy rain, the overwhelmed pipes can’t carry all of the sewer water to Blue Plains, and a substantial amount flowed out of pipes into the Anacostia and Potomac rivers.The newly-completed Northeast Boundary Tunnel —...

Canada’s government calls on House speaker to resign over inviting a man who fought for a Nazi unit

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ‘s government urged the speaker of the House of Commons to resign Tuesday for inviting a man who fought for a Nazi military unit during World War II to attend a speech by the Ukrainian president. Just after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address in the House of Commons on Friday, Canadian lawmakers gave 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunka a standing ovation when Speaker Anthony Rota drew attention to him. Rota introduced Hunka as a war hero who fought for the First Ukrainian Division.Rota is meeting with the House of Commons’ party leaders later Tuesday. Two opposition parties called for Rota to step down on Monday, and government House leader Karina Gould said Tuesday that she believes lawmakers have lost confidence in Rota. Gould said Rota invited and recognized Hunka without informing the government or the delegation from Ukraine. “It is time for him to do the honorable thing,” Gould said. Foreign Mini...

More money pledged from Michigan for a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant after Ford pauses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

DETROIT (AP) — More money is being pledged in Michigan for the development of a $3.5 billion electric vehicle battery plant after Ford Motor Co. said it would pause construction until it’s sure it can run the factory competitively.Ford announced the delay Monday and is in the midst of national contract talks with the United Auto Workers union, which wants to represent workers at battery factories and win them top wages.On Tuesday, a Michigan economic development board voted to send an additional $65 million to the megasite that will be used for “assistance for site readiness activities,” according to a board memo. “We fully expect that Ford will continue to develop the BlueOval Battery Park Michigan site and we need to allow the Ford Motor Company and UAW to continue their negotiations,” Quentin Messier, president of Michigan Economic Development Corp., said during Tuesday’s meeting.The UAW went on strike against Ford and the other two Detroit automakers, General Motors and St...

Lynn Whitfield reflects on career from ‘Eve’s Bayou’ to ‘Greenleaf’ ahead of Prince George’s Film Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

Hear our full chat on my podcast “Beyond the Fame with Jason Fraley.” toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley chats with Lynn Whitfield (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); The Prince George’s Film Festival returns this week with the star power of a true Hollywood legend as Lynn Whitfield headlines a Q&A with journalist Harriet Cole at Sunday’s closing ceremony at MGM National Harbor.Whitfield joined WTOP ...

Samoa shakes up back row and midfield for must-win Japan game at the Rugby World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

TOULOUSE, France (AP) — Samoa shook up its back row and midfield for the must-win Rugby World Cup match against Japan on Thursday.Japan limited its changes to two backs after losing to England 34-12 last week in Nice.After falling to Argentina 19-10 last week, Samoa gave starts on Tuesday to New South Wales flanker Taleni Seu and Lyon No. 8 Jordan Taufua in place of Theo McFarland, who was moved to the second row, and Steven Luatua, who was dropped to the reserves.D’Angelo Leuila will partner Tumua Manu in midfield. The only other time they combined was in July last year against Tonga.Ed Fidow takes over from Nigel Ah-Wong on the right wing.Japan promoted outside center Dylan Riley and fullback Lomano Lemeki from the bench. They replaced Tomoki Osada, who dropped to the reserves, and Semisi Masirewa, who suffered a tournament-ending leg injury against England.The winner of the Japan-Samoa match will stay in contention for the quarterfinals while the loser’s chances of ad...

BWI Marshall Airport has busiest single day in 4 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

BWI Marshall Airport has been busy lately, and it recently hit a milestone for single-day passengers.TSA screened 34,745 passengers at BWI checkpoints on Friday, Sept. 22 — the highest daily count since late 2019, before the pandemic.By another measure, the airport is now actually much busier than pre-pandemic travel levels.BWI Marshall reports airline seat capacity for the fourth quarter of 2023 is up 17% from the fourth quarter of 2022 and is 3% higher than the fourth quarter of 2019.BWI Marshall is not only benefiting from an increase in air travel, but also from the addition of several new routes, including new international destinations.Copa Airlines recently began nonstop flights to Panama City, joining other international carriers that have added new service or resumed previous flights dropped during the pandemic. That includes PLAY Airlines, Icelandair, Avelo Airlines, Condor, Air Canada and British Airways.Southwest Airlines adds nonstop service from BWI to Belize starting ...

Aurora police warn of card-tapping scam

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:07:30 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Aurora Police Department's Economic Crimes Unit is warning the public about a scam involving contactless payment at gas stations.APD said scammers are drilling holes into the sensor where customers tap their debit and credit cards to pay. Damaging the tap-to-pay option forces customers to swipe their card for payment. Study: Colorado in top 10 for the most identity theft and scams The thieves are stealing card information with skimming devices placed where customers swipe cards.APD is reminding customers to check for a hole drilled in the contactless payment sensor and notify gas station employees if they notice one.