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A salty problem for people near the mouth of the Mississippi is a wakeup call for New Orleans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The heating element removed from Monique Plaisance’s water heater in September was disintegrating, streaked with rust and covered in a dry crust. She blamed the corrosion on the water piped in from the area’s longtime drinking water source: the Mississippi River. It was a similar story not far away at the Black Velvet Oyster Bar and Grill. “We’re draining the hot water heater every few days to get most, or a good bit, of the salt out of that,” owner Byron Marinovich said. “The ice machine has been off since the third week of April.” Plaisance’s home and Marinovich’s restaurant are in the Buras community of rural Plaquemines Parish, roughly 60 miles (about 96 kilometers) southeast of New Orleans and 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 kilometers) upriver from where the Mississippi flows into the Gulf of Mexico. As in New Orleans, drinking water in the parish is drawn from the river. But this year, the gulf pushed back. A wedge of salt water slipp...

From Stalin to Putin, abortion has had a complicated history in Russia

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — They were banned under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin but commonplace under later Kremlin leaders. Now, after less than a century, official attitudes about abortion in Russia are changing once again.Although abortion is still legal and widely available, new restrictions are being considered as President Vladimir Putin takes an increasingly socially conservative turn and seeks to reverse Russia’s declining population. Having embraced the Russian Orthodox Church, he is stressing “traditional family values” — often used as code words to differentiate his country from Western social attitudes toward LGBTQ+ rights and other policies.Some see it as a throwback to the Stalinist era, when abortion was outlawed in 1936, and women ending unwanted pregnancies often turned to illegal and unsafe procedures.“My grandmother worked as a teacher in a vocational school. She was telling me stories about abortions being performed with wardrobe hangers in the dormitories,” sa...

Commission reports on EU policy initiatives to promote investments in clean technologies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

In a Communication adopted on 24 October, the Commission is setting out what the EU has done to promote and support the development and deployment of clean technologies, by reinforcing the Single Market, ensuring a level-playing field, supporting research and innovation, expanding its network of trade agreements, and mitigating the impact of external developments. It also looks at first results materialising from the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), as requested by the European Council. Additionally, the Communication acknowledges that other actors, notably China, also have active public support programmes in place that are likely to affect the investment environment for clean technologies in the EU.  Clean technologies play a key role in our green transition and in tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. Under the overall umbrella of the European Green Deal, and through a smart policy mix, the EU has built a regulatory framework and business environment that enhances growth...

During manhunt for suspect in Maine shooting that killed 18, authorities twice converge on his last known residence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

Bowdoin, Maine (CNN) — A manhunt for a suspect accused of killing 18 people in a bowling alley and a restaurant in Maine surpassed 24 hours Thursday evening – on a day that saw law enforcement twice converge on the suspect’s last known address for searches.The second time authorities massed at Robert Card’s residence in Bowdoin on Thursday brought tense moments in the evening, as law enforcement officials surrounded the home and one officer could be heard saying “come out with your hands up.”But that episode appeared to end uneventfully, with authorities leaving the scene two hours later and Maine State Police saying they were done there for the night. Investigators had thought they detected something inside or near the home, which prompted the activity, a law enforcement official said.Authorities were simply doing their due diligence while trying to execute search warrants, Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss told CNN Thur...

Bay Area Hells Angels members arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO – Four members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club were arrested Tuesday in the Bay Area on suspicion of shooting a man earlier this year in Sacramento County, authorities said.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | East Bay woman arrested in connection to Capitola bank holdup Crime and Public Safety | Former 49er Aldon Smith is out of jail, says he’s done with football Crime and Public Safety | Woman claims her water at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay hotel ‘defiled’ by ‘criminal deviant’ worker Crime and Public Safety | Inmate found dead in his cell at San Mateo County jail — the second death in two days Crime and Public Safety | San Mateo County inmate found dead in jail cell The shooting happened July 8 in Fair Oaks, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived to find a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound to his stoma...

'Night Ministry' tends to San Francisco's dark streets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Many prefer to avoid the streets of San Francisco at night, but that is when the Night Ministry comes alive. The group has been walking through areas like the Tenderloin, North Beach, Mission and Castro since 1964. KRON4 made a documentary on the Night Ministry back in 1966, and now we're checking back in 57 years later. "For a lot of people, nighttime is a scary time," said Reverend Trent Thornley. "It’s when the demons come out. It’s when loneliness sets in, isolation sets in. At night it’s when we need connection.”The Night Ministry tends to people who inhabit these dark streets -- the unhoused, the drugged and distressed, and down and out. The idea is to comfort, not convert. In fact, night ministers are Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and other faiths. To learn more about it, click HERE and watch the video using the player above.

LeBron James keys Lakers’ 4th-quarter rally for 100-95 win over Kevin Durant’s short-handed Suns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 30 points and 13 rebounds, LeBron James scored 10 of his 21 points while playing the entire fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Lakers blew past Phoenix in the final minutes for a 100-95 victory over the short-handed Suns on Thursday night.James made the tiebreaking layup with 1:11 to play for the Lakers, who rallied from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth to get their first victory of the new season in the home opener of James’ 21st NBA campaign.Kevin Durant had 39 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who played without injured stars Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The Suns led 84-72 entering the fourth, but missed 13 of their next 14 shots and committed 10 turnovers in the next 10 minutes.Durant still tied it at 91 with 1:28 to play by scoring on two straight possessions, and he passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th place on the NBA’s career scoring list in the process.But James replied with back-to-back layups sandwiching a missed 3-p...

After Biden meeting, new Speaker Johnson says GOP won’t abandon Ukraine but will aid Israel first

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries at the White House on Thursday to discuss his request for nearly $106 billion for Israel, Ukraine and other national security needs.Johnson, a staunch conservative allied with Donald Trump, has shown little interest in providing additional money from Congress to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. Later, the new Republican speaker insisted Congress is “not going to abandon” Ukraine. Instead, Johnson said House Republicans would first bring a separate bill to provide $14.5 billion in aid to Israel, but they need more information about the Biden administration’s Ukraine strategy.“We can’t allow Vladimir Putin to prevail in Ukraine because I don’t believe it would stop there,” Johnson said on Fox News’ “Hannity,” referring to the Russian president. But he said, “We must stand with our important ally in the Middle East and that’s Israel.” The...

Fox and Schneider get a goal and an assist each, Quick posts shutout, Rangers top Oilers 3-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Adam Fox and Braden Schneider each had a goal and an assist, Jonathan Quick made 29 saves and the New York Rangers beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-0 on Thursday night.Alexis Lafreniere also scored for the Rangers (5-2-0), who have won three games in a row. Quick earned his 59th career shutout.The Rangers broke a scoreless deadlock on the power play 3:32 into the second period as Fox took a feed from Vincent Trocheck and sent a slapshot that eluded Stuart Skinner, who finished with 29 saves.Schneider added to the lead at 12:03 when he managed to keep a back pass in at the blue line before unleashing a long shot that beat Skinner high to the stick side.After hitting a pair of posts, the Rangers extended their lead with less than two minutes to play in the second period.Artemi Panarin picked up his second assist of the contest and pushed his scoring streak to seven games with a long pass to Lafreniere, who unleashed a one-timer before the Oilers goalie could get acr...

AP PHOTOS: Pan American Games bring together Olympic hopefuls from 41 nations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:54:42 GMT

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Athletes from 41 nations are competing at The Pan American Games in the capital of Chile, Santiago, and many are looking to qualify for the Olympics. The Games are the largest multi-sport event in the Americas and are held every four years, preceding the Olympics by a year.This gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made of competitions this week. Read more of AP’s coverage of The Pan American Games.Follow AP visual journalism:AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnewsX: http://twitter.com/AP_ImagesSource