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AP Interview: US aims to create nuclear fusion facility within 10 years, Energy chief Granholm says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

VIENNA (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to create a commercial nuclear fusion facility within 10 years as part of the nation’s transition to clean energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Monday.Calling nuclear fusion a pioneering technology, Granholm said President Joe Biden wants to harness fusion as a carbon-free energy source that can power homes and businesses.“It’s not out of the realm of possibility” that the U.S. could achieve Biden’s “decadal vision of commercial fusion,” Granholm said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press in Vienna.Fusion works by pressing hydrogen atoms into each other with such force that they combine into helium, releasing enormous amounts of energy and heat. Unlike other nuclear reactions, it doesn’t create radioactive waste. Proponents of nuclear fusion hope it could one day displace fossil fuels and other traditional energy sources. But producing carbon-free energy that powers homes and businesses from fus...

8 hospitalized after 'sudden severe turbulence' on Florida-bound flight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) -- Eight people were hospitalized Monday after being injured during rough skies on a flight to Florida. Passengers and crew aboard the JetBlue flight experienced "sudden severe turbulence" as the plane approached Florida from Guayaquil, Ecuador, according to a statement from the airline.Medical crews responded to the plane after it landed at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Seven passengers and one flight crew member were taken to the hospital. In a statement, a JetBlue spokesperson said the airline is working to support their customers and crew members. The plane involved in the incident is out of service pending an inspection. Flying soon? Airplane turbulence may be worse than usual. Here’s why The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating, the agency told ABC.Last month, 11 people were hospitalized after their Delta Air Lines flight encountered turbulence. The flight from Milan, Italy was traveling to Atlanta when t...

Megan Rapinoe has her soccer farewell in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Fans in the "Windy City" were witness to the end of a remarkable international career in the sport of soccer from one of the greatest players in the history of the United States women's national team. Megan Rapinoe made the most of her final match in the place where he professional career began. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)The midfielder took the pitch for the last time at Soldier Field on Sunday as the USWNT faced South Africa in an international friendly. It was her 203rd and final appearance for the United States, completing a career where she helped the team to two Women's World Cup titles.Rapinoe will end her overall soccer career when her season with the OL Reign of the National Women's Soccer League concludes.(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Before the match, she was honored with a ceremony that included the presentation of a jersey in tribute to her time with the national team from 2006-2023. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)Rapinoe was in the ...

Feds draft rule to remove medical debt from credit reports

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTSAR) — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is drafting a rule that would remove nearly all medical debt from credit reports, a practice the federal agency says unfairly harms 1 in 5 Americans."Credit decisions should be based on somebody's ability to repay a debt, not based on an unexpected medical emergency," CFPB senior counsel Kiren Gopal said.The CFPB says nearly $90 billion in medical bills is currently in collections. The three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Equifax and Experian— recently took steps to voluntarily remove some medical debt from credit reports. The new rule from the feds would remove virtually all of it."A lot of this information is just junk data. It's not accurate," Gopal said.Christine Hines of the nonprofit National Association of Consumer Advocates said the proposal would benefit millions of low-income households."It affected their ability to get credit, get jobs, affected their interest rates and housing, so it's just going to mak...

When your favorite show may return as writers strike is on the verge of ending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A tentative agreement between striking screenwriters and Hollywood studios offers some hope that the industry's dual walkouts may soon be over. But when will your favorite shows return?Well, it's complicated. First, the agreement needs to pass two key votes — one involving the boards of the screenwriters union, followed by a vote by the 11,500 members themselves.Then there's the fact that 65,000 film and television actors remain on strike. That work stoppage will prevent many projects from returning to normal. Certain paused productions such as “Deadpool 3," “Yellowjackets” and the next film from Quentin Tarantino will still have to wait on actors to reach a deal with studios.WHEN IS ‘JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE’ COMING BACK?Once the contract is approved, work will resume more quickly for some writers than others. Late-night talk shows were the first to be affected when the strike began, and they may be among the first to re...

Police search for vehicle after man injured in hit-and-run crash in Garfield Ridge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

CHICAGO — Police are asking for help from the public as officers search for a vehicle involved hit-and-run crash in Garfield Ridge that left a man with serious injuries. According to Chicago police, the crash, which left a 19-year-old man badly injured, happened just before 2:30 a.m. on Sunday morning in the 5000 block of South Cicero Avenue.Officers provided a photo of the wanted vehicle and details about the crash in a news release sent out on Monday afternoon.Police say the crash involved a 2016 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with a black hood that could have three possible Illinois license plates attached to it. The vehicle could have a blue and white "Land of Lincoln" plate with the number "DN54367," a black and white White Sox themed plate with the number "FK12-WS," or a yellow temporary tag with the number "444AB314." Police: 17-year-old laying in Niles road dies after being struck by vehicle Officers have not identified the man who was hit or provided details on what led to ...

'We are not going away': Paxton whistleblowers announce next steps in legal fight

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN/Nexstar) -- Former top deputies who were fired by Attorney General Ken Paxton after reporting him to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced plans to move forward with their lawsuit on Monday, vowing to continue their legal battle in a "real court" after the attorney general was acquitted on impeachment charges in the Senate.The employees were fired by Paxton after making "good faith" reports to the FBI about alleged actions taken by Paxton for the benefit of Austin-area real estate developer Nate Paul. What happens with whistleblower settlement, money promised following Paxton trial? The announcement comes after Paxton was acquitted on Sept. 16 in a Texas Senate impeachment trial. Whistleblowers testified during that trial.Former top deputies who were fired by Attorney General Ken Paxton after reporting him to the FBI announced plans to continue their lawsuit on Monday. | Frank Martinez/KXAN NewsFormer top deputies who were fired by Attorney General Ken P...

Barton Springs bridge adding new traffic requirement to extend shelf life

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- As of Monday, heavy vehicles and buses are only allowed to use the right lane when traveling eastbound across the Barton Springs Road bridge, city officials said in a memo.The decision followed an inspection and recommendation made by the city's bridge consultant, AECOM Engineering. AECOM suggested it "as a pre-emptive measure to extend the life of the bridge and delay or avoid more significant measures like load posting (i.e., limiting the weight of vehicles crossing the bridge)," per the memo.Westbound traffic will continue as normal under the current lane configuration, city officials added.The bridge was first built in 1925 before it was later expanded in 1945. City officials said it undergoes biennial inspections via the Texas Department of Transportation and was most recently reviewed in 2022, when it earned a "satisfactory" overall rating. OTHER BARTON SPRINGS ROAD PROJECTS: 1-year safety pilot slated for late fall launch AECOM's assessment did note the ad...

CapMetro OKs $753M contract for new bus operator amid union concerns

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The CapMetro board of directors approved Monday a nearly $753.7 million contract with Keolis Transit Services, LLC for bus maintenance and operations, following concerns voiced by union members. Keolis will oversee CapMetro's fixed-route bus operations and maintenance -- specifically, its MetroRapid and MetroBus services. The contractor will also manage the transit agency's current 1,212 bargaining employees along with its 36 operations, safety and general management personnel.MV Transportation, Inc. had been CapMetro's fixed-route contractor, working with the Austin transit authority for more than a decade. On Monday, MV's chief customer success officer, Gary Coles, expressed his gratitude for more than a decade of service to Austin alongside disappointment over the contract's awarding to Keolis. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CapMetro moves closer to OKing $753M fixed-route contractor agreement He said as a "minority-started, Texas-based, American-owned company," the decisi...

Building trades, property companies form coalition to back St. Paul City Council candidates against rent control

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:21 GMT

Frustrated by St. Paul’s rent control policy and rhetoric they’ve described as anti-policing, a coalition of labor unions and businesses with ties to the real estate community say they’re on track to raise more than $300,000 in advance of the city’s Nov. 7 elections.The funding is being used a variety of ways — from backing particular candidates for St. Paul City Council to focus-group style surveys and polling, as well as general issue-oriented advertising around the need for more affordable housing and public safety.The “Service St. Paul” political coalition held its first public speak-out Monday at the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters offices on Olive Street in St. Paul, where they issued their first endorsement for city council — Isaac Russell in Ward 3. They said they expect to be active in additional races.The coalition was represented Monday by Jason George, business manager for the mechanics, heavy equipment operators an...