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Italian researchers reach the edge of space flying aboard Virgin Galactic’s rocket-powered plane

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A team of Italian researchers reached the edge of space Thursday morning, flying aboard a rocket-powered plane piloted by Virgin Galactic as the space tourism company prepares for monthly commercial flights.The flight launched from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, with two Italian Air Force officers and an engineer with the National Research Council of Italy focusing on a series of microgravity experiments during their few minutes of weightlessness. One wore a special suit that measured biometric data and physiological responses while another conducted tests using sensors to track heart rate, brain function and other metrics while in microgravity. The third studied how certain liquids and solids mix in that very weak gravity.Virgin Galactic livestreamed the flight on its website, showing the moment when the ship released from its carrier plane and the rocket was ignited. The entire trip — from lifting off at Spaceport America to gliding back down ...

NFL suspends 3 players indefinitely for violating the gambling policy, a fourth gets 6 games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers Sr. lost the biggest bet of his life Thursday.He was waived by the Indianapolis Colts shortly after the NFL suspended Rodgers and two other players indefinitely for gambling on NFL games last season.The Colts also cut backup defensive end Rashod Berry after Berry and free agent defensive tackle Demetrius Taylor received the same punishment for the same infraction. None of the three can seek reinstatement until after next season.Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere received a six-game suspension for betting on non-NFL sports at the team’s facility, though he can participate in all of the team’s offseason and preseason activities including preseason games.For the Colts, the decision came swiftly and decisively — even for a potential starter like Rodgers.“We have made the following roster moves as a consequence of the determination that these players violated the league’s gambling policy,” Colts general manager Chris Bal...

What Google’s move to block news in Canada means for your next search

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

TORONTO — Google said Thursday that it will strip Canadian news from its services in response to a new federal law that forces tech giants to pay publishers for news they share through their services.The move stands to alter how Canadians access, read and even stumble across news stories.Here’s what it means for Canadians.Where is Google removing Canadian news from?Google is removing links to Canadian news publications from its search engine, news aggregator and discovery product.Will Canadians be able to access any news through Google?Canadian users will still be able to access news content about the country from international outlets such as BBC, New York Times and the Guardian, which Google is not blocking links to.When will the changes take effect?Google says it will stop linking to news from Canadian publishers as soon as the Online News Act comes into effect. The law passed last week but isn’t expected to come into effect until the end of the year.Why is Google doi...

Toronto needs to do more for vulnerable residents during air quality alerts: advocate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

Air quality alerts have become more frequent in Ontario as the country deals with widespread forest fires. At one point on Wednesday, Toronto had the worst air quality of any city in the world. Its expected to remain a concern throughout the summer and Toronto Public Health has warned spending time outdoors could pose various health risks if conditions are bad.But outreach worker, Lorraine Lam, tells CityNews the city has failed to accommodate vulnerable and unhoused populations when issuing alerts.“The reality is there are no options for people to go, and once again, we’re seeing the city is really inadequately prepared for this.”Lam said the city should be providing 24/7 low-barrier respite spaces for people who are vulnerable.“For a lot of people I work with, they also have underlying conditions around cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses as well that we know are exacerbated in these air quality conditions,” said Lam.This will lead to more people...

Anti-2SLGBTQ+ flyer passed out at Oshawa church

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

WARNING: This story contains details some readers may find disturbing.A priest at an Oshawa Catholic church allowed an insert containing anti-2SLGBTQ+ messaging to be distributed in a weekly bulletin.A flyer was passed around at St. Gertrude’s Parish church on Sunday, the same day as many annual Pride events took place in the GTA and Durham region.A Reddit user posted in the r/Oshawa forum photos of the flyer titled “On Pride Month and Flying the Rainbow Flag over our Catholic Schools”.The letter writes inaccuracies about the 2SLGBTQ+ community, including commenting on the colours of the flag as different “agendas” of the community.Further, under a section headlined “here are some Catholic facts to keep in mind,” the author writes that the green stripe of the flag “normalizes demonic behaviour” and finishes with “this insanity has gone too far.”At the end of the letter the author writes, “remove the ungodly Prid...

Anti-gang community defense activist Hipólito Mora killed in Mexico

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The leader of an armed civilian movement that once kicked a drug cartel out of the western Mexico state of Michoacan has been killed, authorities confirmed Thursday. Tributes quickly rolled in for slain “self defense” leader Hipólito Mora. He was one of the last surviving leaders of Michoacan’s armed vigilante movement, in which farmers and ranchers banded together to expel the Knights Templar cartel from the state between 2013 and 2014. Mora was one of the few fighters to reman in his hometown after the struggle, tending to his lime groves. But Mora complained in recent years that many vigilante forces were later infiltrated by the cartels, and that gang violence was worse than ever.“He was a man who could not be corrupted, a natural leader, an authentic voice,” said Rev. Gregorio López, a Catholic priest who accompanied and participated in the self-defense movement of that time. All the leaders of the movement were in constant danger, and López was known for wea...

DuPage County shelter waiving adoption fees for large dogs due to overcrowding crisis

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

DUPAGE COUNTY, Ill. — After nearly 50 dogs were taken in earlier this week, DuPage County Animal Services is waiving adoption fees for large dogs due to overcrowding.On Tuesday, the shelter, located at 120 N. County Farm Rd. in Wheaton, received 47 dogs in addition to some cats and chickens.WGN News has been reporting on the crisis area shelters are facing since the pandemic, with more animals coming in then being adopted and fostered out, and DuPage County Animal Services is no different.While many animals call these shelters home longer than they would want to, large dogs are particularly affected."We are seeing large breed dogs having a large length of stay," Operations Manager Laura Flamion said. "They are harder to place with landlords placing size restrictions on dogs over 40 lbs."So in an effort to help clear their kennels, the shelter is waiving adoption fees for the time being for large dogs — which they consider over 40 lbs.It's a dire situation at the shelter."We only hav...

Commerce Department launches pilot program to bolster jobs, distressed economies

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – The U.S. Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for a grant program to help communities create jobs and better economies.The new pilot program aims at investing hundreds of millions of dollars in communities with distressed economies and job markets.“There's a lot of communities that need to transition but they need investment to transition,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said.Raimondo says the grants will create opportunities in people's hometowns.“Maybe a coal community or maybe a rural community where they're just stuck, and they need an investment,” Raimondo said. “We have $200 million in total.  We will be selecting somewhere between four and eight communities, so each community will receive tens of millions of dollars.”Secretary Raimondo says the flexible funds can be used for different types of programs like job training or opening up new office buildings.“The recompete pilot program is really exciting because this is meant to be a...

Arkansas judge modifies Hunter Biden’s child support terms, settling dispute

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK) – An order issued in Independence County on Thursday modifies the conditions of presidential son Hunter Biden’s child support.The order, signed by Circuit Judge Holley Meyer, changes the terms of Biden’s child support payments, the specific dollar amount being sealed by court order, and puts an end to a long-running legal struggle for both sides. Hunter Biden sits for deposition in Arkansas child support case Other than the monthly child support, the order also requires Biden to assign a number of his paintings to the child. The specific number, like the financial terms, are sealed, with the sale of the paintings going to Lunden Roberts, the mother of the child and the person who filed the original suit for child support.The order also has Biden paying a monthly fee to the Lancaster Law Firm, which represented Roberts in this case. The monthly payment amount is also sealed.Roberts had originally asked her child to be allowed to change his last name to Bide...

4th of July traffic: These should be the best and worst times to drive

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:11:19 GMT

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Fourth of July weekend is always a popular time to travel, but AAA believes this will be a record-setting year, with more than 50 million Americans expected to drive at least 50 miles. On July 4, 2022, the national average for gas prices was $4.80 per gallon, according to AAA. Currently, the average is below $3.60 per gallon, which is a big reason why AAA predicts an additional 2 million people on the road relative to last year. Still, if you don't want to spend your gas money idling in traffic, you may want to time your drive to avoid sharing lanes with millions of other Americans. AAA projects these hours as the best and worst hours to jump behind the wheel:DateBest TimeWorst TimeThursday, June 29Before 12 p.m.4 p.m. – 6 p.m.Friday, June 30Before 10 a.m., After 6 p.m.10 a.m. – 5 p.m.Saturday, July 1Before 12 p.m.1 p.m.Sunday, July 2Minimal traffic expectedMinimal traffic expectedMonday, July 3Minimal traffic expectedMinimal traffic expectedTuesday, July 4...