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Severe storms lead to unprecedented $34 billion in US insured losses so far this year, Swiss Re says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

Waves of severe thunderstorms in the U.S. during the first half of this year led to $34 billion in insured losses, an unprecedented level of financial damage in such a short time, according to Swiss Re Group, as climate change contributes to the frequency and severity of violent meteorological events. Damages from convective storms in the U.S., those that can come with hail, lightning, heavy rain and high winds, accounted for nearly 70% of the $50 billion in global catastrophic damages so far this year, the reinsurer said Wednesday. Those global figure includes earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. The storms in the U.S. were so severe, there were 10 that resulted in damages of $1 billion or more, almost double the average recorded over the past decade, according to Swiss Re, and Texas was the state most severely effected. “The effects of climate change can already be seen in certain perils like heatwaves, droughts, floods and extreme precipitation,” Swiss Re Group Chief Economist Jérôme...

Hollywood strike matches the 100-day mark of the last writers’ strike in 2007-2008

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The Hollywood writers strike reached the 100-day mark on Wednesday, matching the length of the landmark 2007-2008 strike. The milestone comes as the U.S. film and television industries remain paralyzed by dual strikes by its actors and screenwriters.There’s no foreseeable end — a negotiating session last week involving Hollywood studios and streamers and the striking workers ended with little progress. Special Writers Guild of America pickets calling attention to the 100th day are being held in New York and Los Angeles.Television networks are a month away from starting a new fall season, and broadcasters have already put contingency plans in place for programming that excludes their most popular scripted series.The Associated Press

Montana clinic files for bankruptcy following $6 million judgment over false asbestos claims

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A health clinic in a Montana town plagued by deadly asbestos contamination has filed for bankruptcy protection after a judge ordered it to pay the government almost $6 million in penalties and damages for submitting false medical claims.The federal bankruptcy filing, submitted Tuesday, will allow the Center for Asbestos Related Disease clinic in the small town of Libby to continue operating while it appeals last month’s judgment, said clinic director Tracy McNew.A seven-person jury in June found the clinic submitted 337 false claims that made patients eligible for Medicare and other benefits they shouldn’t have received. The federally-funded clinic has been at the forefront of the medical response to deadly pollution from mining near Libby that left the town and the surrounding area contaminated with toxic asbestos dust.The $6 million judgment against it came in a federal case filed by BNSF Railway under the False Claims Act, which allows private parties...

Armenians face genocide in Azerbaijan, former ICC prosecutor warns

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

KORNIDZOR, Armenia (AP) — The former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court warned that Azerbaijan is preparing genocide against ethnic Armenians in its Nagorno-Karabakh region and called for the U.N. Security Council to bring the matter before the international tribunal.A report by Luis Moreno Ocampo issued Tuesday said Azerbaijan’s blockade of the only road leading from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh seriously impedes food, medical supplies and other essentials to the region of about 120,000 people.“There is a reasonable basis to believe that a genocide is being committed,” Ocampo’s report said, noting that a U.N. convention defines genocide as including “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction.”“There are no crematories and there are no machete attacks. Starvation is the invisible genocide weapon. Without immediate dramatic change, this group of Armenians will be destroyed in a few wee...

At least 1 dead after shooting in Crystal Lake home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

UNINCORPORATED CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill — A death investigation is underway after a shooting inside a home in Unincorporated Crystal Lake.The shooting happened around 4 a.m. Wednesday on the 5800 block of Wild Plum Road.Upon arrival, deputies and police found four gunshot victims inside a house. At least one of those victims has died, according to the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.At this time, it is unknown if the gunman is among the four discovered. It is also unknown if any of the victims lived in the house or their ages. Subway, customers robbed at gunpoint on Chicago’s Southwest Side According to authorities, this is an isolated incident and there is no danger to the public.The McHenry County Sheriff's Office has opened a death investigation.This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Restaurant driver shot during struggle with gunman in Ashburn

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

CHICAGO — A restaurant driver was shot Tuesday night during an armed robbery inside a Ashburn establishment.Just before 9 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 3800 block of West 79th Street on the report of a shooting.Police said a man armed with a handgun entered the restaurant and announced a robbery. Subway, customers robbed at gunpoint on Chicago’s Southwest Side A driver for the restaurant, a 35-year-old man, struggled with the gunman and was shot in the right leg. He was transported to Christ Hospital in fair condition.No one is in custody.

Elmhurst baseball team on the brink of Little League World Series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

WHITESTOWN, IN — A special season for a group of young athletes from the Chicago area is one step away from being historic. One of the parents for the Elmhurst Youth Baseball 12U team could see it early in 2023."We knew from the beginning this team was good and was going to get far. We all had confidence in our boys," said Margaret Wente. "These group of boys are so good, they work so hard, they play so well together. That has shown as the Elmhurst team is now just one win away from Little League World Series after an impressive season & run through the Great Lakes tournament. They'll face Ohio for the regional championship in Whitestown, Indiana at 4 p.m. time and will be televised nationally on ESPN.A win advances them to the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the tournament that runs August 16-27. "I'm nervous and very excited for it," said Elmhurst 12U player Michael Wente of the chance to play for a berth in the Little League World Series. T...

When is Starbucks bringing back the Pumpkin Spice Latte?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details.We’re more than a week into August. Some schools are already starting back up. While sweltering summer temperatures are still bearing down on most of the U.S., we’re all waiting for that first chill in the air that signals that fall is coming. And what does fall bring, other than crunchy leaves, sweaters and spooky season? Pumpkin spice lattes, of course. Those of us who start to get a serious PSL craving this time of year are starting to wonder: When is Starbucks bringing back the Pumpkin Spice Latte? Here’s everything we know so far.Some possible pumpkin spice snacks leaked onlinesrcset="https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/starbucks_psl_inline.jpg?w=160 160w, https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/starbucks_psl_inline.jpg?w=256 256w, https://cdn.bestreviews.com/images/v4desktop/image-full-page-cb/starbucks_psl_inline.jpg?w=320 ...

Charges dropped against former CPD officer in 2021 North Ave beach incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

CHICAGO — A former Chicago police officer who was involved in a racially charged incident at North Avenue Beach in 2021 is no longer facing charges.Last June, Bruce Dyker plead not guilty to the charges against which stem from an August 2021 incident in which he restrained a Black woman who was walking her dog near the lakefront. Dyker was indicted on one count of aggravated battery and two counts of official misconduct — all felonies.On Wednesday, the Cook County State's Attorney confirmed to WGN News in a statement that the charges have been dropped. Previous Coverage: Former CPD officer charged in North Beach incident pleads not guilty, released on own recognizance "After consultation with the victim and her attorney, the Cook County State's Attorney's Office will not be proceeding with the criminal charges against former CPD Officer Bruce Dyker. There is a civil matter pending that will be proceeding forward," the statement read.Video footage of Dyker’s encounte...

What else might be heating Earth?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:52:40 GMT

Scientists are wondering if global warming and El Nino have an accomplice in fueling this summer’s record-shattering heat.The European climate agency Copernicus reported that July was one-third of a degree Celsius (six-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit) hotter than the old record. That’s a bump in heat that is so recent and so big, especially in the oceans and even more so in the North Atlantic, that scientists are split on whether something else could be at work.Scientists agree that by far the biggest cause of the recent extreme warming is climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas that has triggered a long upward trend in temperatures. A natural El Nino, a temporary warming of parts of the Pacific that changes weather worldwide, adds a smaller boost. But some researchers say another factor must be present.“What we are seeing is more than just El Nino on top of climate change,” Copernicus Director Carlo Buontempo said.One surprising source of added warmth could be cl...