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Rare lizard found in major US oil patch proposed as endangered species

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — U.S. wildlife managers on Friday proposed federal protections for a rare lizard found only in parts of one of the world’s most lucrative oil and natural gas basins.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said the dunes sagebrush lizard should be listed as an endangered species due to the ongoing threats of energy development, mining and climate change in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The agency will be collecting public comments on the proposed listing through Sept. 1.Environmentalists have been pushing for protections for the reptile for decades, resulting in petitions and lawsuits. There have also been conservation agreements, but some groups have criticized them for not doing enough to protect the lizard’s habitat.The Center for Biological Diversity sued in 2022, accusing the agency of stalling on issuing a decision. The Fish and Wildlife Service, as part of a court-approved agreement, faced a June 29 deadline for making a determination o...

First smoke, now aphids. New Yorkers deal with their latest natural invasion

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — By the time Martin DuPain got back home from a short walk Thursday afternoon, he was covered with a smattering of tiny flying critters. They were in his hair, on his shirt and in his nose.When he sneezed, the bugs came flying out.As if the smoke and haze sweeping in from wildfires in Canada weren’t enough, New York City has been invaded in recent days with plumes of flying insects that have become both a nuisance and a source of fascination — what were they, where’d they come from and will they ever go away? Another unwanted Canadian export?At first, DuPain, who lives in Queens, thought it might have been wind-driven ash, but he soon found out otherwise. Some were alive and flying. He quickly jumped in the shower.The startling scene was nothing short of a “gnatural disaster,” quipped a post on Twitter, which has been abuzz with reports of swarms in some neighborhoods, while others remain bug-free.As they entered clouds of bugs, some people tried to ...

Biden pushing ahead with new student debt relief plan after Supreme Court ruling

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is moving forward on a new student debt relief plan after the Supreme Court struck down his original initiative to provide relief to 43 million borrowers.President Joe Biden insisted Friday that “this fight is not over” and blamed Republican opposition for the demise of his original plan.The plan would have helped the president keep a campaign promise and is seen as key to helping win over young voters in next year’s presidential race — a vital demographic to his reelection bid.The White House said Biden’s chief of staff, Jeff Zients, has been holding meetings about once a week to prepare for the Supreme Court ruling, and administration officials also have met and spoken with dozens of advocates and allies in the congressional community,, so they would have a fully formed response once the court had ruled.Biden was briefed after Friday’s ruling and met with senior staff to push ahead with an alternative plan given its implications, the Whit...

Geraldo Rivera salutes affirmative action in final Fox News appearance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

(The Hill) – Geraldo Rivera used his final appearance on Fox News to praise affirmative action, which was struck down by the Supreme Court as it relates to college admissions this week. Noting the court's decision was "a very controversial decision that will impact many people of color," Rivera said, "I was a product of affirmative action over a half a century ago." "When the Ford Foundation and Columbia Journalism School got together to integrate the local news teams in New York, there were no black reporters, no Hispanic reporters, no women. And it was shocking. And that was as late as 1968, '69," Rivera, 79, said Friday during an appearance on "Fox and Friends," the network's flagship morning talk program. "So I was selected, I was making news representing a group of Puerto Rican activists, the Young Lords, who had taken over some buildings up in the Spanish Harlem, and I was their lawyer and their negotiator," he continued. "And I made a lot of news as their spokesperson. And so...

Inmate dies Friday morning at TDCJ prison in Gatesville

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- A 37-year-old woman died Friday morning while incarcerated at the Lane Murray Unit in Gatesville, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed.The department identified the deceased woman as Elizabeth Hagerty. Staff found her unresponsive and initiated life-saving measures before she was pronounced dead at 12:48 a.m., according to a department spokesperson.The cause of death is still pending and an investigation is underway.Hagerty is one of at least three people in their 30s to die suddenly in the last week at a prison without full air conditioning.On June 26, 33-year-old Antonio Ishmon died at the Memorial Unit near Houston. Last Friday, 35-year-old Tommy McCullough died of cardiac arrest while mowing a field at a Huntsville unit.At least 32 inmates died in TDCJ prisons in total during the month of June. The department has not reported a heat-related death since 2012, but the last deadly week has reignited concerns of heat illness and dangerous conditions...

Real estate group says use of eminent domain at state park site sets 'dangerous precedent'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The state's largest group of real estate professionals has called upon Parks and Wildlife leaders to reverse its decision to use eminent domain to take over a state park, saying the decision sets a "dangerous precedent."The Real Estate Council, which calls itself the largest commercial real estate organization in Texas, sent a letter to the state's Parks and Wildlife Commission Tuesday, urging it to reconsider the planned use of eminent domain at Fairfield Lake State Park.The Parks and Wildlife Commission voted June 10 to condemn the 5,000-acre property, which includes the 1,460-acre state park. The park, about 70 miles east of Waco, was leased to TPWD by Vistra Energy, which formerly owned a power plant on the lake, for about 50 years. The company sold the land to Todd Interests as of June 1, after years of failed negotiations with the state to purchase the property. From state park to private development: The twisting timeline of Fairfield Lake "Pursuing emi...

The NFL is addressing gambling suspensions with training and conversations with the players’ union

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

By KYLE HIGHTOWER (AP Sports Writer)NFL chief compliance officer Sabrina Perel has been busy this spring.As the leader of the NFL’s efforts to educate the approximately 17,000 players, coaches, team personnel and others about the league’s gambling policies, she’s in the middle of an annual pilgrimage of sorts.With training camps opening in less than a month, she’s already visited with more than a dozen NFL teams, and leaves them with the same parting message: “You need to follow the policy at all times. … because this truly does impact the entire team.”The reason the NFL has been motivated to get its personnel on the same page was again in the spotlight Thursday when the league suspended four more players for violations of its gambling policy. Three received at least yearlong bans for betting on NFL games and one a six-game suspension for wagering on non-NFL games.It brings the total to 10 players disciplined over the past two years as the l...

A new pro women’s hockey league is set to launch in January with 6 teams in North America

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

By JOHN WAWROW and STEPHEN WHYNO (AP Hockey Writers)Organizers announced plans Friday to launch a new women’s professional hockey league in January that they hope will provide a stable, economically sustainable home for the sport’s top players for years to come.The North American league is expected to start with six teams — three in the U.S. and three in Canada — according to a person with knowledge of the league’s plans. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details were not made public.There are still unanswered questions — where exactly teams will play, will the economic model work after earlier leagues fell short, will there be a broadcast deal — but an initial framework is in place as the new league prepares to join a crowded sports landscape. The effort also has deep pockets behind it: Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter and wife Kimbra, team President Stan Kasten and tennis legend Billie J...

Doubt crept in but Loons defender Bakaye Dibassy made it through long leg rehab

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

A handful of Minnesota United players glad-handed with special guests from club sponsor Allianz Life after Friday’s training session. Only Bakaye Dibassy received an introduction to the small group.“Not many players can come back from this injury,” Loons Chief Soccer Officer Manny Lagos said of Dibassy needing nearly 10 months to recover from a surgical repair to a ruptured quadriceps tendon suffered last August.The Loons had doubts Dibassy would return at all this season, but the center back came back into full training in late May and made his season debut as a late substitute in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Real Salt Lake. He then played the second half of MNUFC’s 2-1 victory over FC Kaiserslautern in an international friendly Wednesday.MNUFC brought in Micky Tapias from Mexico to fill Dibassy’s starting spot at left-sided center back. Tapias has become a mainstay and will keep his spot for Saturday’s game against Portland Timbers at Allianz Field.“At one stage, we thought we...

Albany Rural Cemetery hosting free concert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:38:27 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Rural Cemetery announced they will be hosting a concert by the Colonie Town Band. The performance is scheduled for July 24 at 7 p.m. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The event will feature a lively program by the band, which is composed of an intergenerational assortment of amateur musicians. Attendees are invited to bring a chair or a blanket to claim their spot on the lawn, and snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. The concert will be held at the 1899 Marcus T. Reynolds House within the cemetery, which is located at 3 Cemetery Avenue in Albany. This event is free and open to the public.