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French police counter protest violence; garbage strike ends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Bolstered French police forces clashed with demonstrators in numerous cities Tuesday as hundred of thousands of marchers protested President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular retirement reform.Security was ramped up for the 10th round of protest marches since January after the government warned that some demonstrators intended “to destroy, to injure and to kill.” The Interior Ministry put the number of demonstrators nationwide at 740,000, down from more than 1 million five days ago when protesters voiced their rage at Macron’s order to ram the bill raising France’s legal retirement age from 62 to 64 through parliament without a vote. The Paris police counted 93,000 in Paris compared with 119,000 last Thursday, when violence reached a peak.In a bid to keep up pressure on the government to simply withdraw its retirement measure, unions organizing the protests called for new strikes and marches on April 6.In a sign that protests may be losing a little steam, sa...

Police: Aaron Hernandez’s brother arrested in ESPN incident

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) — The brother of the late New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez is facing criminal and motor vehicle charges in Connecticut, accused of throwing a brick onto the ESPN headquarters campus and eluding police during brief pursuits in other towns.Dennis John Hernandez, 36, who also has been known as D.J. and Jonathan, was given a misdemeanor summons for breach of peace Thursday by Bristol police in connection with the ESPN incident, according to a police report.Hernandez, who played quarterback and wide receiver at UConn in the mid-2000s, went to ESPN in a car, possibly an Uber, and threw a bag containing a brick and a note onto the property, police said. He then left.The note said: “To all media outlets, It’s about time you all realeyes the affect media has on all family members. Since you’re a world wide leader maybe you could lead how media and messages are delivered brick by brick. Clean it up! Yours truly, Dennis J. Hernandez,” according to police.He...

Court reinstates Adnan Syed's conviction in 'Serial' case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland court did not give the family of the murder victim in the case chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial” enough time to attend a court hearing in person that led to Adnan Syed's release, a Maryland appellate court ruled Tuesday, and it ordered a new hearing to be held.Though Syed's conviction has been reinstated, he will not be taken back into custody.In a 2-1 decision, the Appellate Court of Maryland ruled the state's law provides victims with the right to prior notice of the hearing on a motion to vacate convictions, and that right was violated in the case of the family of Hae Min Lee, Syed's ex-girlfriend and high school classmate who died more than two decades ago.The court ruled that giving her brother, Young Lee, only one business day before the hearing was “insufficient time to reasonably allow Mr. Lee, who lived in California, to attend the hearing in person,” and required him to attend the hearing remotely."Allowing a victim entitled to attend ...

'Tranq dope': Xylazine continues to rip through area as DEA issues nationwide alert

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

CHICAGO — The DEA locally and across the nation are concerned over a rise in xylazine — an animal tranquillizer street dealers are mixing with fentanyl and other drugs.Nationwide, the agency issued an alert last week warning the public that xylazine "is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier."Known as "tranq" on the street, DEA Chicago spokesperson Luis Agostini said his office is very concerned on what they're seeing around Chicago, Wisconsin and in Indiana."Street dealers are looking to create a more powerful high," Agostini said. "They're looking to extend the shelf life of drugs like fentanyl, heroin and cocaine."Two issues surrounding the rise is that xylazine is readily-available online for the veterinarian world and it's not a federally-scheduled narcotic.Xylazine was virtually unknown to law enforcement prior to 2017. Data below shows the number of DEA drug seizures containing the drug in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.State2017...

85-cent Blizzards at Dairy Queen? Here's how to get 'em

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

(WTAJ) – Spring is underway, but Dairy Queen is already gearing up for summer with new Blizzards — and the chain is giving customers the chance to get their hands on one for just 85 cents.(Dairy Queen)In honor of the year the Blizzard debuted — 1985 — Dairy Queen is offering its signature frozen treat for only 85 cents between April 10–23. Blizzards. The deal, however, is available exclusively through the DQ mobile app. Best-selling Thin Mints Girl Scout cookies now a seasoning blend Restaurants and fast-food outlets frequently cycle their seasonal or limited-time-only items, often to much fanfare but also to jeers, depending on what's leaving the menu. DQ is no exception. Returning to the summer lineup is the "sweet, chocolatey, gooey, marshmallow-ey" graham cracker-filled S'mores Blizzard, which will be featured as April's Blizzard of the Month. The Cotton Candy and Choco Dipped Strawberry Blizzards are also coming back to the menu.The new Peanut Butter Puppy Chow Blizzard was ...

How does Apple Pay Later work?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you're currently a user of Apple Pay — the technology giant's mobile payment system — you may notice a new feature in your Apple Wallet. The company says some randomly selected users will begin seeing the option to "Apple Pay Later" on Tuesday, with a wider release of its flexible payment system coming in the next few months.Here's how it works, according to Apple:(Courtesy of Apple)Users can apply for loans valued between $50 to $1,000 via their Apple WalletIf you're wondering: Does Apple Pay Later affect my credit score? The answer, according to Apple, is that application for one of these loans will have "no impact." Instead, a soft credit pull will be performed to determine your eligibilityIf you're approved, you'll see the option to Pay Later when you use Apple Pay at checkout online or at participating in-person retailersApple splits purchases into four payments with 0% interest and no fees, the company says“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to ...

Water found in glass beads on moon's surface, lunar samples show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have discovered a new and renewable source of water on the moon for future explorers in lunar samples from a Chinese mission.Water was embedded in tiny glass beads in the lunar dirt where meteorite impacts occur. These shiny, multicolored glass beads were in samples returned from the moon by China in 2020.The beads range in size from the width of one hair to several hairs; the water content was just a miniscule fraction of that, said Hejiu Hui of Nanjing University, who took part in the study. Can you bring your own alcohol and drink it on a flight? Since there are billions if not trillions of these impact beads, that could amount to substantial amounts of water, but mining it would be tough, according to the team.“Yes, it will require lots and lots of glass beads,” Hui said in an email. “On the other hand, there are lots and lots of beads on the moon."FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 photo provided by China's Xinhua News Agency, techni...

Wind Advisory in effect through 7 p.m.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The cold front that passed south this morning left a strong north wind that gusts into the 30s during the morning. One of the peak gusts was 40 mph at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Camp Mabry's peak gust so far has been 37 mph shortly before 11 a.m.Gusty winds will stir up the tree pollen this afternoon so allergy sufferers should be prepared. A Wind Advisory is in effect through 7 p.m.The north wind will keep our highs below today's normal of 77°. Most of our maximum temperatures this afternoon will peak in the middle/upper 60s. Some low 70s will be felt in some of Caldwell, Fayette, and Giddings Counties.Limited moisture will keep our rain chances low this afternoon and tonight.A few may get some rain late this afternoon and tonightAnother upper-level low coming through the Pacific today heads to the southern Colorado/northern New Mexico by Thursday night/Friday morning. Based on future trends it looks like the upper energy will stay far enough to our no...

Texas lawmakers discuss bill that could levy $10K fine for schools, teachers celebrating Pride week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Texas House discussed a bill Tuesday that would fine teachers and school officials up to $10,000 for celebrating or providing special instruction on sexual preference, including events like Pride week.The bill, authored by Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, also would allow the State Board of Educator Certification to revoke or suspend a teaching certificate if an educator violates the law.“I think having sexually oriented celebrations at school for all grades is teaching a sexual ideology no matter who is doing it,” King said. “I think when you are teaching first graders your world view of sexuality that is an inappropriate relationship.” ‘Y’all means all!’ Advocates, celebrities rally for LGBTQ rights at Texas Capitol King did not provide examples of this happening in any Texas school districts. But Austin Independent School District celebrated Pride week in late March.The district’s website lists themes for each day, including “All are Welcome,” “Differences are Awe...

Nearly 40 more pediatric hospital beds coming soon to Williamson County

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:26 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) — As low availability for pediatric hospital beds persist in Texas, Dell Children's Medical Center North in Williamson County will add 36 pediatric hospital beds next month.The 187,000 square foot facility will host emergency and trauma services, operating rooms and a fourth floor for future expansion.That floor, if further developed, would add 36 more pediatric hospital beds.According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, as of March 15, out of the 135 pediatric ICU beds available in the entire state, only two were available in the Austin area.