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Compensation for New Mexico wildfire victims tops $14 million and is climbing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — More victims of a devastating wildfire sparked last year by the U.S. Forest Service in northern New Mexico are getting compensated, with payouts to landowners totaling more than $14 million as of early next week, federal emergency managers said.Congress set aside nearly $4 billion at the end of last year to pay claims resulting from the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. Officials have acknowledged that the recovery process would be long and challenging, but many residents and some lawmakers have been frustrated with the pace.Angela Gladwell, the director of the claims office, said more than 1,600 notices of loss have been filed so far and that her office has around $50 million worth of claims that are currently being processed. She estimated her office would be operational for the next five to six years to ensure that “everyone gets every penny that they are due.”“We’re excited because this funding will begin to provide some much needed relief to our claimants ...

3 new offshore wind power projects proposed for New Jersey Shore; 2 would be far out to sea

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey would see the number of wind power projects built off its coast double if three new projects proposed Friday are approved by regulators.Two of them are more than twice as far out to sea than others that have drawn the ire of residents who don’t want to see windmills on the horizon. These two would not be visible from the beach, the companies proposing them say.They would join three wind farms already approved by New Jersey regulators as the state races to become the East Coast capital of the fast-growing offshore wind industry.The deadline for applications was 5 p.m. EST on Friday, and it was not immediately clear whether any additional applications were received by the state Board of Public Utilities before then.In the first project to be made public Friday by the companies proposing it, Essen, Germany-based RWE and New York-based National Grid applied for permission to build a wind farm in the waters off Long Beach Island. Their joint ve...

Swimmers warned about risks of floaties on open water as long weekend looms

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

Anyone heading out on the water this long weekend is being urged to leave their floaties on the shore. The Ontario chapter of the Lifesaving Society said floaties, or inflatables that come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, pose a risk when taken out by swimmers in waterways. Stephanie Bakalar, spokesperson for the organization that works to prevent drowning, said inflatables may be popular but are meant for pools or to be secured firmly to a dock. “They’ve really done a good job marketing these floaties and creating them to look fun, and that’s fine for a pool environment,” Bakalar said. “But what people don’t realize is that when you take those into an open water environment you’re going to get pulled by the wind very quickly.”The majority of drownings in Ontario happen in open water settings and people can overestimate their ability to swim to safety, she said.Based on the most recent data from the office of Ontario’s Chief Coroner, the Lifesaving ...

Remote volcano in Alaska spews new ash cloud, prompting aviation warnings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A remote volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands that has been active in recent weeks spewed an ash cloud up to 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) in the sky on Friday, prompting warnings to pilots.“Significant ash emissions” were possible for several hours following the unrest on Shishaldin Volcano, according to the Alaska Volcano Observatory.Volcanic ash is angular and sharp enough for use as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down.The volcano is 679 miles (1,093 kilometers) southwest of Anchorage, near the center of Unimak Island, the largest island in the Aleutians.About 40 people live in False Pass on the island’s east side, and the National Weather Service issued a statement saying trace ashfall was possible around the village.The Associated Press

‘Cuddling’ is just what the doctor ordered for a 200-pound walrus calf rescued this week in Alaska

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A 200-pound (90 kilogram) walrus calf found alone and miles from the ocean on Alaska’s North Slope is being bottle fed and receiving round-the-clock “cuddling” from doting animal welfare workers who are trying to keep the 1-month-old baby alive.The male Pacific walrus — who, so far, doesn’t have a name — was found Monday and flown a day later from the North Slope to Seward, where the Alaska SeaLife Center is based, a journey of at least 700 miles (1,126 kilometers). Staff with the nonprofit research facility and public aquarium are caring for the gigantic, brown, wrinkly-skinned baby, which was dehydrated and possibly fighting an infection. In an effort to mimic the near-constant care a calf would get from its mom, the walrus is receiving “round the clock ‘cuddling’” to keep him calm and aid in his development and is being fed every three hours, the center said. It described the cuddling as trained staff giving the walrus “the option to have a warm body t...

Texas man who threatened poll workers and Arizona officials is sentenced to 3 1/2 years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A Texas man who advocated for a mass shooting of poll workers and threatened two Arizona officials and their children has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in federal prison, prosecutors said Friday.Frederick Francis Goltz, 52, of Lubbock, pleaded guilty earlier this year to interstate threatening communications. Goltz was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, who also ordered three years of supervised release following the prison term.The U.S. saw a proliferation of threats against elections officials after former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Such threats contributed to an exodus of election officials across the country, and made recruiting poll workers difficult. Trump, a Republican, was indicted on felony charges earlier this week for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent U.S. Capitol riot by his supporters.Prosecutors say court documents s...

Family of missing Gary father seeks public's help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

GARY, Ind. — Family of a Gary, Indiana man is asking for the public’s help after he was last seen a week ago.Bremen Campbell Jr. was last seen Sunday July 30. His family said he left home without his keys and phone. He is 44-years-old, 5 feet 4 inches, 165 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.His father, Bremen Campbell Sr. said he has never done anything like this before.“We want him know if he is out there, we just want him to know that we love him and we just want him to come back home,” he said.Campbell  Jr is a father of four and a graduate of Thornridge High School who went on to the Army and developed a career in IT and real estate. More news from Northwest Indiana Family, friends and neighbors have performed a search of the area including looking into abandoned homes nearby. His phone has been searched too looking for anything out of the ordinary. The Campbells have filed a missing person's report and a detective has been assigned. Anyone with inf...

Is it legal to smoke weed at Lollapalooza?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

CHICAGO -- Chicago marijuana sales are expected to be high this Lollapalooza weekend, but festival-goers should be aware of the laws in Illinois.While the drug might now be legal in the state, there are still limits on where a person can smoke marijuana in Illinois. Can I share weed in Illinois? WGN-TV Christine Flores spoke with some festival attendees who were in line waiting to stock up on their marijuana products for the Lollapalooza weekend.Sunnside Dispensary, the closest marijuana dispensary to Grant Park, anticipates to serve 5,000 people this Lollapalooza weekend. Many of which are from out of town. Can you bring marijuana on a plane through a TSA checkpoint? Like alcohol, the legal age to partake in Illinois is 21 or older. This is the same for marijuana in the state, according to the EarthMed.While residents can share the recreational drug if the person is 21, they may not accept any payment for gifting marijuana.Questions arise of how much marijuana a person can...

Skilling: Possible showers, thunderstorms this Lollapalooza weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

Another beautiful summer day with 94% of the day's possible sunshine as well as moderate air quality and humidities. The high reached 86 at O'Hare and 85 at Midway.  Dew points were in the low and mid 60s—except closer to 70 in surrounding agricultural areas where crops were transpiring added moisture into the atmosphere.  The haze is a combination of some moisture in the air—but also a some wildfire smoke sweeping into the area from the Western U.S. and Canada where fires are burning.Every day this week has featured highs in the mid 80s with the exception of Tuesday with its high of 90.  The week (the 7day period ending midnight Sat night) will post a modest 1-deg surplus.Easterly winds as high as 20 mph produced 2 to 4 ft. waves on Lake Michigan and prompted a BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT which continues into Saturday morning.The weekend is to see a number of rain-free hours (more Saturday than Sunday). But there are  several weather challenges which are to arise and will hav...

Insomnia Cookies giving away free cookies this weekend

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:53 GMT

(KTVI) — Free cookies just seem to taste better. Starting Friday, which is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Insomnia Cookies is celebrating by giving some of them away. The chain is known for serving warm cookies and other treats all day and late into the night.Customers can get a free classic cookie with any in-store or local delivery purchase of $5 or more. This deal is good at all 240 locations nationwide through Sunday, August 6. RECALL: Baby monitors sold at Walmart, Toys ‘R’ Us pose fire risk National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day pays homage to a sweet treat that's beloved around the world. Observed on August 4, this day indulges our taste buds with the combination of soft, chewy dough and the rich sweetness of chocolate chips. Whether enjoyed with a glass of milk, shared among friends, or savored in solitary bliss, the chocolate chip cookie holds a special place in the hearts of dessert enthusiasts everywhere.