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Decline in number of monarch butterflies wintering in Mexico

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The number of monarch butterflies wintering in the mountains of central Mexico dropped by 22% as compared to the previous year, and the number of trees lost from their favored wintering grounds tripled.Frosts and “extreme temperatures” in the United States may have played a role in the butterfly’s decline during the most recent winter season, said Humberto Peña, the director of Mexico’s nature reserves.Monarchs east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada overwinter in the fir forests of the western state of Michoacan, west of Mexico City. The total area they occupied this past winter dropped to 5.4 acres (2.21 hectares), from 7 acres (2.84 hectares) last year.Gloria Tavera, the conservation director of Mexico’s Commission for National Protected Areas, said the area of forest cover appropriate for the butterflies that was lost rose to 145 acres (58.7 hectares), from 46.2 acres (18.8 hectares) last year.More than half the tree loss this year was due ...

WWE wrestler hides signed action figure in Rockford Target

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — WWE wrestler Johnny Gargano left a little something for fans at a Target in Rockford, according to his Twitter account.Gargano posted a video tweet saying he found an action figure of himself at the Target at 6560 E. State Street on March 19th.He then bought it, signed it, and left it hidden in the store, receipt and all. Comedian Andy Kaufman to be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame "It's not very often that I find one of my figures in the wild.. but I saw one at a Target in Rockford, IL (6560 E State St 61108)," he wrote. "So I bought it.. and signed it.. and left it there (receipt and all). Whoever finds it.. it's yours! Happy hunting!"Gargano, known for his time on the NXT brand, became the first wrestler to win the NXT Triple Crown. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand.Twitter user @mellaismone claims she and her sister found the figure later that day."Glad it went to a good home!" Gargano responded.

'Focusing on healing': Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen responds after attack

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

(WJW) – Legendary Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen has opened up on social media after allegedly being attacked by a suburban Cleveland teen in Florida.Allen and his wife, Lauren Monroe, posted a photo of Allen smiling on Instagram with a caption that thanked supporters for their “overwhelming” support. “Your love and prayers are truly helping. My wife Lauren was thankfully not with me at the time of the incident. We are together now, and working on recovering in a safe space,” the post said in part. “We are focusing on healing for everyone involved.” Rapidly spreading fungus already in 28 states presents ‘urgent’ threat, CDC warns Police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, said Allen and Def Leppard were performing at a casino in South Florida the weekend of March 11. Investigators say Allen was standing outside a hotel smoking a cigarette when he was allegedly attacked by Max Hartley, 19, who was visiting Florida on spring break.Allen hit his head on the ground, injuring it during t...

Americans who survived Mexico kidnapping 'continue to recover,' attorneys say

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

LAKE CITY, S.C. (WBTW) - Attorneys released a statement Tuesday on behalf of two Lake City, South Carolina natives who survived being kidnapped in Mexico earlier this month.Four friends who were traveling to Mexico so one member of the party could have cosmetic surgery were caught up in a drug cartel shootout in Matamoros. After a vehicle crashed into their van, men in tactical vests with assault rifles arrived in another vehicle and surrounded them just across the border from Brownsville, Texas. Two of the Americans, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown appeared to have been killed immediately and their bodies were loaded into a truck with the two survivors, Eric Williams and Latavia McGee. Continuing coverage of the Mexico kidnapping of four Americans The bodies and the two living friends were found days later in a shack.In a statement released Tuesday, civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Jason Keith, representing Williams and McGee, thanked everyone for their concern and supp...

LIVE BLOG: Vallas, Johnson face off in WGN's Chicago Mayoral Debate

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

CHICAGO -- The two election runoff candidates for Chicago's Mayoral race will face off in what could be the final debate before the April 4 election.The Your Local Election Headquarters: Chicago Mayoral Debate will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. at WGN's studios on Chicago's North Side.You can watch the entire Chicago Mayoral Debate right here in this article.Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson will meet for their third debate since they were announced as the runoff winners from the Feb. 28 election.During the February election, Vallas received 33% of the votes compared to Johnson’s near 22%.Since then, Vallas has been endorsed by at least 20 council members and three of his rival candidates, including Ja'Mal Green, along with the FOP and a number of trade unions.Johnson’s endorsements include national leaders, like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, Illinois' Attorney General Kwame Raoul, as well as the Chicago Teachers Union and several public sector unions. Finalists...

YCLUB.io Attends The Palm Beach International Boat Show

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

Project Connect debuts 5 scaled down light rail options

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin residents are getting their first look at the future of light rail in the city, with five scaled-down proposals on the table for Project Connect's mass transit system. The new options will be on display at an open house at the Austin Public Library's Central location from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday.Voters approved the multi-billion-dollar Project Connect back in November 2020, greenlighting a property tax revenue stream to go toward the expansion of bus transit along with the creation of a light rail system. The conceptual version voters approved highlighted Blue and Orange light rail lines; improvements to CapMetro's existing MetroRail Red regional line; a future MetroRail Green regional line; as well as enhanced MetroRapid bus routes and the Gold Line.Project Connect Initial Investment Service Level MapDownloadWhy Project Connect paused light rail designs last summerAmid rising construction costs, increased real estate valuations and scope changes, Austin Transit Part...

New bills take aim at Texas program blocking driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas program that allows judges to block driver license renewals over unpaid traffic tickets will face possible changes, and even repeal, this legislative session.It comes after a KXAN investigation revealed more than 980,000 current court orders to block drivers from getting their license renewed, as of October 2022. Those were sent to the Texas Department of Public Safety vendor OmniBase.Already, more than 445,000 Texans can’t get their license renewed or replaced if they are flagged under the state’s Failure to Appear and Pay program, according to DPS data. The system, critics say, leaves some of the state’s poorest drivers in debt, without a license for years, and at risk for more charges — and even jail time — if they get on the road. Nearly 1M drivers at risk of losing licenses. Are you one of them? “I think a cynical person can say this just looks like a way for them to make money,” Bernal said. “This is not a street crime. [These are] traffic tickets. ...

Push to protect retail workers against shoplifters

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Experts say more than $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers every year and only one in 48 shoplifters are caught. Our Capitol Correspondent, Amal Tlaige spoke with experts about proposed legislation to strengthen anti-theft laws and protect retail workers here in New York.  Albany Police warn of spike in car thefts citywide "Because we just feel like we have been abandoned. Cops cannot do anything to arrest these people then… what else can we do?" asked Zori Estevez, a head cashier at City Fresh in Brooklyn. She said as much as she enjoys working with her colleagues, her job has put her in some scary scenarios. "People go in to steal, but they’re willing to do whatever they need to do in order to leave with the merchandise, so sometimes we get shoved, we’ve had instances where knives are pulled out, we’ve even had people with guns… so it’s just like, we’re just trying to make a living," said Estevez. Which is why Senator Jessica Scarcella-Span...

Man rents Times Square billboard for $150 to propose to girlfriend

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:56:00 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — A Connecticut man wanted an extra special way to propose to his girlfriend of six years. Jose Negron, of Waterbury, chose to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alicia, in Times Square— beneath a giant billboard reading, "Will You Marry Me?" over a picture the couple and their son. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! People all around stopped and applauded as they realized what was happening with Negron on one knee under the billboard. And Alicia said "yes!""I'm shocked! Very surprised. I looked up and I saw the 'Will you marry me?'" Alicia saidNegron booked his photo on the billboard through Timessquarebillboard.com for $150. Jaime Suarez, owner of the billboard, said he came up with the idea during COVID. Police looking for mother of newborn boy abandoned outside Massachusetts home For individuals like Negron, the image appeared for 15 seconds once per hour for 24 hours. Local businesses can advertise on ...