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First lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19, but President Biden’s results negative so far

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Monday but is experiencing only mild symptoms, her spokeswoman said.President Joe Biden was tested for the virus following his wife’s positive test, but his results were negative. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would continue testing regularly and would be monitored for symptoms.Jill Biden will remain at the couple’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the time being, communications director Elizabeth Alexander said. The first lady had planned to start the new school year Tuesday at Northern Virginia Community College, where she teaches English and writing.Due to her condition, she was working with school officials to arrange substitute teachers for her classes, Alexander said.The first lady had traveled with her husband to Florida on Saturday to inspect the damage from Hurricane Idalia. President Biden then spent part of the Labor Day weekend at the Delaware beach h...

Dozens displaced after fire damages multiple buildings in Dorchester

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

More than thirty-five people were displaced Monday after a fire broke out in Dorchester, drawing a large emergency response and ultimately impacting five buildings. The Boston Fire Department said crews were first called to 37 Holiday St. where flames burned through the back of a house and extended to a building next door on Monday afternoon.On the department’s Twitter account, officials said several rear porches in the back of the home at 37 Holiday Street collapsed as a result of the fire.Authorities also shared photos from the scene, including an image of crews spraying down the back of the house, which appeared to be burnt out with remnants of the porches and back wall visible.At least 15 ladder trucks were spotted on scene at one point during the emergency response.In an update just before 4:15 p.m., the Boston Fire Department said the fire was knocked down.Later speaking with reporters, fire officials said two buildings were considered total losses as a result of th...

Person hit and killed by train in Bourne

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

An investigation got underway in Bourne Monday after a person was hit and killed by a train, police said. Bourne police in a statement said the collision happened in the area of Aptucxet Trading Post and Perry Avenue. Police said officers were investigating the incident as of around 7:45 p.m. and asked community members to avoid the area.Video from the scene showed numerous emergency vehicles and a train stopped in the area.No further information was immediately available.

San Diego has more fleas than any other city in country: SDHS

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Fleas are wingless insects that jump and feed on the blood of animals and humans. With over 2,500 flea species worldwide, there are more than 300 species in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).But did you know that in San Diego, there are more fleas here than in any other city in the country? Dr. Zarah Hedge, chief medical officer with the San Diego Humane Society, joined FOX 5 to discuss why that is the case."The climate here is just great year-round, so we do see a peak in the summertime, but we see fleas and ticks year-round in this climate just because of the warm weather that we have," she said.Fleas and ticks can carry a lot of different diseases such as Anaplasmosis, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Santee Drive-In Theatre set to close after over half a century in business "These are things that can also affect humans, so not only can we get sick from those, our dogs and cats can also get sick," H...

Activists protest outside SeaWorld, renewing calls to free Corky the orca whale

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- A small group of animal rights activists protested outside SeaWorld San Diego Monday afternoon to call on the park to free its whales and dolphins.The protesters held up signs along the sidewalks along Sea World Drive and Sea World Way to urge the park to release the largest animals that are in their captivity to seaside sanctuaries, as well as dissuade other San Diegans from purchasing a ticket to the theme park."Even though it's Labor Day and most people have today off, there are no holidays for any of the animals at SeaWorld," one of the protestors, Ellen Ericksen, told FOX 5. "The eight orcas that are held in captivity here never get a day off." SeaWorld expands ticket protections for extreme weather conditions According to organizers of the protest, more than 40 orca whales and over 500 other dolphins have died in SeaWorld's facilities -- many of whom reportedly fell short of their natural life expectancy due to complications with captivity.They say one of the cu...

Protesters decry tribute for victims of leftist groups in Argentina’s 1970s political violence

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Human rights activists surrounded the Buenos Aires City Legislature on Monday to denounce an event honoring victims of armed leftist groups during the 1970s, when Argentina was engulfed by political violence.The tribute was arranged by Victoria Villaruel, the running-mate of right-wing populist presidential candidate Javier Milei, and demonstrators called it an attempt to change the narrative about crimes against humanity perpetrated by the country’s last military dictatorship.Villaruel, a lawmaker, has long defended military officers convicted of crimes against humanity during the bloody 1976-1983 dictatorship.“For 40 years, the victims of terrorism were erased from memory, swept under the rug of history,” Villaruel said at the event, where attendance was tightly controlled.Police set up barriers around the City Legislature to keep back hundreds of demonstrators who said the event sought to reinstall the idea that the military dictatorship carried out...

First lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19; President Biden tests negative for virus

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Monday but is experiencing only mild symptoms currently, her spokeswoman said.President Joe Biden was tested for the virus following his wife’s positive test, but his results were negative. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would continue testing regularly and would be monitored for symptoms.Jill Biden will remain at the couple’s home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for the time being, communications director Elizabeth Alexander said.The Associated Press

Aryna Sabalenka is about to be No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She could be the new U.S. Open champ, too

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka is going to be the No. 1 player in the WTA rankings next week, replacing Iga Swiatek there. That much is certain. They way Sabalenka is playing at the moment, she might very well supplant Swiatek as the U.S. Open champion, too.In Sabalenka’s first match since being assured of rising to the top of women’s tennis, she showed off the power-based game that allows her to dominate so many opponents, overwhelming No. 13 seed Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3 on Monday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to her fifth consecutive major quarterfinal.“All this year, I’ve been pushing myself so hard to reach this goal,” Sabalenka said about getting to No. 1. “It really means a lot for me. It means a lot for my family. It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable.”After the top-seeded Swiatek lost in the fourth round on Sunday night, hours after No. 4 Elena Rybakina bowed out, No. 3 Jessica Pegula and No. 5 Ons Jabeur — who was the runner-up in New York ...

Japan announces emergency relief for seafood exporters hit by China’s ban over Fukushima water

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Monday a 20.7 billion yen ($141 million) emergency fund to help exporters hit by China’s ban on Japanese seafood over the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.The discharge of the wastewater into the ocean began Aug. 24 and is expected to continue for decades. Japanese fishing associations and groups in neighboring countries have strongly opposed the release. In addition to China’s ban on all Japanese seafood imports, Hong Kong has banned Japanese seafood from Fukushima and nine other prefectures.Chinese trade restrictions have affected Japanese seafood exporters since even before the release began, with shipments held up at Chinese customs for weeks. Prices of scallops, sea cucumbers and other seafood popular in China have plunged. The ban has affected prices and sales of seafood from places as far away from Fukushima as the northern island of Hokkaido, ho...

Qantas boss retires early after allegations the Australian airline sold tickets for canceled flights

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 08:51:52 GMT

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The boss of Australian airline Qantas said Tuesday he would leave his job immediately — two months earlier than planned — following a series of embarrassing revelations about the company, including allegations it sold tickets for flights that had already been canceled. Chief Executive Alan Joyce said that after 15 years running the national carrier he was bringing forward his planned retirement date. The airline said Vanessa Hudson would take over as managing director and group chief executive from Wednesday.The announcement came after a difficult few weeks for Qantas and Joyce. He was grilled by Australian senators last week on flight delays and costs, while a consumer watchdog group announced Thursday it was taking legal action against Qantas and would seek a penalty that would run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said it was taking the action after Qantas “engaged in false, misleading or dece...