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2 endangered Florida panthers struck and killed by vehicles, officials say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (AP) — Two endangered Florida panthers struck by vehicles in the same area have died.They’re the fifth and sixth panther deaths attributed to fatal collisions, out of six total deaths this year, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.The remains of a 5-month-old female panther were found last Friday along a rural road in Collier County, and then a 3-year-old female panther was found dead on Monday, less than a mile away from the first, wildlife officials said. Officials won’t know whether the cats are related until genetic analysis is performed.Florida panthers once roamed the entire southeast, but now their habitat is mostly confined to a small region of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico.Up to 230 Florida panthers remain in the wild.

Biden announces Live Nation and Ticketmaster will allow consumers to see all fees up front

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

(CNN) — President Joe Biden announced from a White House roundtable on Thursday that entertainment giant Live Nation (LYV) and ticketing behemoth Ticketmaster have pledged to give US consumers the ability to see the full price of tickets up front, minimizing the frequently frustrating experience of watching additional fees add up late in the checkout process when buying online.The announcement came amid increased pressure on the industry from debacles over exorbitant ticketing fees and as the president has urged Congress to pass legislation targeting other hidden costs paid by consumers throughout the economy. It marked Biden’s latest effort to address kitchen-table issues as economic concerns remain top of mind for voters heading into the 2024 election.“The solution is what is called ‘all-in pricing’ and that’s where companies fully disclose their fees up front, when you start shopping, so you’re not surprised at the end when you check out,” Biden said at the White House event.“Pre...

Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified documents indicted on several charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking highly classified military documents has been indicted on federal felony charges, the Justice Department said Thursday.Jack Teixeira faces six counts in the indictment of willful retention and transmission of national defense information.He was arrested in April on charges of sharing highly classified military documents about Russia’s war in Ukraine and other top national security issues in a chat room on Discord, a social media platform that started as a hangout for gamers. The stunning breach exposed to the world unvarnished secret assessments of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the capabilities and geopolitical interests of other nations and other national security issues.A judge last month ordered him to remain jailed as he awaits trial, saying that releasing Teixeira would pose a risk that he would attempt to flee the country or obstruct justice.His family has expressed support for hi...

Domingo German credits recent success to offseason workouts with new trainer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

If all had gone according to plan, Domingo German wouldn’t have been in the Yankees’ season-opening rotation.But injuries to Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas created multiple opportunities, and German has seized his. With Gerrit Cole leading the staff, German has been the Yankees’ second-best starter, taking a 3.49 ERA into Friday’s start against Boston. The right-hander has been even better over his last seven games, pitching to the tune of a 2.20 ERA while totaling 41 innings, 12 walks and 31 strikeouts.German did miss 10 games due to a sticky stuff suspension, but he’s otherwise been a reliable presence for a rotation that has had three starters on the injured list all season.According to German, his recent success stems from his desire to remain healthy. He began last season on the IL with shoulder impingement syndrome, so he knew he wanted to focus on strengthening his shoulder this past offseason.“I was able to put myself in re...

Cheeky climate protest stops Senate after activists bare butts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

The moon was out, or moons, during the state Senate’s session.Several climate protesters entered the chamber and dropped their drawers in an attempt to convince lawmakers there should be no new fossil fuel infrastructure.Eight self-proclaimed members of the “extinction rebellion” movement, who say they were also responsible for a sit-in at Gov. Maura Healey’s office in February, were arrested after they stopped the work of the Senate because the upper chamber was discussing their tax cut package and, they reason, therefore not working to stop “the ongoing crisis precipitated by lawmaker inaction.”“You can look away if you like, but just like the climate crisis, we’ll get more inconvenient until proper action is taken,” protesters shouted from the Senate Gallery over Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, before warning the gathered lawmakers they would shortly see several butts.Protesters then stood, dropped their pants, and mooned the full Senate, revealing pink thongs sand...

Hope dims for missing migrants amid questions about Greece’s actions in deadly sinking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

By DEREK GATOPOULOS and NICHOLAS PAPHITIS (Associated Press)KALAMATA, Greece (AP) — Nine survivors of a migrant boat sinking were arrested Thursday on suspicion of smuggling as hope faded for hundreds of other passengers who were missing and attention turned to Greece’s failure to act before the overcrowded ship capsized.The trawler may have carried as many as 750 passengers, including women and children who were likely trapped in the hold as the vessel overturned and went down early Wednesday. That could make the sinking one of the deadliest ever in the central Mediterranean Sea.A huge search-and-rescue operation initially recovered 78 bodies and picked up 104 survivors — all men and boys. But no more have been found.Meanwhile, Greek authorities were criticized for not acting to rescue the migrants, even though a coast guard vessel escorted the trawler for hours and watched helplessly as it sank in minutes. Greek officials argued that the migrants repeatedly refus...

Accused military secrets leaker Jack Teixeira formally indicted on the charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guard member accused of sharing highly classified military secrets with gaming buddies online, has been formally indicted on the charges.Teixeira, 21, of North Dighton, was on April 13 arrested and charged by criminal complaint with retention and transmission of national defense information and unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or materials. U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy on May 19 formally ordered Teixeira held.Now, on Thursday, a federal grand jury has indicted Teixeira with six counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information relating to national defense.“The unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified information jeopardizes our nation’s security. Individuals granted access to classified materials have a fundamental duty to safeguard the information for the safety of the United States, our active service members, its citizens and its allies,” sa...

Conor McGregor accused of raping woman at NBA finals game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Miami after an NBA game where he earlier sent a mascot to the hospital with a swift combination of punches.McGregor denies he “violently” attacked the alleged victim on June 9, according to TMZ. His accuser told police the incident occurred in a men’s bathroom at the Kaseya Center, shortly after the Denver Nuggets defeated the hometown Miami Heat.A lawyer for McGregor’s accuser claims the fighter’s security team helped keep the alleged victim in the stadium bathroom, refusing to “let [the woman] exit or allow anyone else, including her friend, inside the bathroom” as the 34-year-old fighter forced himself on her.McGregor “shoved his tongue in the victim’s mouth and aggressively kissed her,” the woman’s attorney claims.The woman stalled McGregor by telling him she had to urinate, her legal letter claims. He’s accused of then fo...

Bud Light is no longer America’s top beer following anti-LGBTQ+ pushback

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

By DEE-ANN DURBIN (AP Business Writer)After more than two decades as America’s best-selling beer, Bud Light has slipped into second place.Modelo Especial, a Mexican lager, overtook Bud Light in U.S. retail dollar sales in the month ending June 3, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Bump Williams Consulting. Modelo controlled 8.4% of U.S. grocery, convenience and liquor store sales; Bud Light fell to 7.3%. Grupo Modelo, the Mexican brewer, is owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev, the same parent company of Bud Light.It’s a milestone in Bud Light’s months-long sales decline since early April, when critics who were angered by the brewer sending a commemorative can to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney vowed to boycott the brand. Bud Light has also faced backlash from Mulvaney’s fans, who think the brand didn’t do enough to support her.Dave William, Bump Williams’ vice president of analytics and insights, said Bud Light has been the top-selling U.S. bee...

Ticker: Jobless claims up, again; FDA panel recommends COVID vax update

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:45:13 GMT

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits remained elevated last week, a possible sign that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes over the past year may taking hold in what’s proved to be a resilient job market.U.S. applications for jobless claims were 262,000 for the week ending June 10, the Labor Department reported Thursday, more than analysts were expecting. This week’s number mirrors last week’s, which was revised up by 1,000. The claims numbers for the past two weeks are the highest since October of 2021.The four-week moving average of claims, which flattens some of the week-to-week fluctuations, rose by by more than 9,000 to 246,750. That’s the highest level since November of 2021.U.S. employers have added jobs at a furious rate since more than 20 million jobs disappeared during the pandemic purge in the spring of 2020. Americans have enjoyed unusual job security, despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive campaign to coo...