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Drones replacing fireworks at Fourth of July celebrations across Los Angeles area

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

About 25,000 people are expected to attend the July 4 fireworks show at Grand Park in Downtown Los Angeles, but the show will be noticeably absent of fireworks. Hundreds of lit up, synchronized drones will take to the sky on Tuesday night to replace the colorful explosives amid environmental concerns and increased wildfire risks. The drones will arrange themselves in different 3D texts, logos and shapes to put a new spin on the way Americans celebrate Independence Day.   Where to see fireworks in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties on July 4th Celebrants who spoke with KTLA 5’s Sandra Mitchell said that while it does break tradition, they are not unhappy with the city’s decision to replace the fireworks show with drones. “Fireworks are something that a lot of us grew up with,” said LeAnn Chapman, who was celebrating the Fourth of July in Grand Park. “But [the drones] definitely help us out with our pollution situation.” Fireworks shows i...

Federal judge blocks Biden administration officials from communicating with social media companies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

(CNN) — A federal judge on Tuesday ordered some Biden administration agencies and top officials not to communicate with social media companies about certain content, handing a win to GOP states in a lawsuit accusing the government of going too far in its effort to combat Covid-19 disinformation. In a preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty, the judge ordered a slew of federal agencies and more than a dozen top officials not to communicate with social media companies about taking down “content containing protected free speech” that’s posted on the platforms. The injunction notes that the government can still communicate with the companies as part of efforts to curb illegal activity and address national security threats. The order applies to agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Justice Department a...

Left fielder Ian Happ saves Cubs with 2 late throws to plate in wild 7-6 win over Brewers in 11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Left fielder Ian Happ threw out two runners at the plate in extra innings, and the Chicago Cubs pulled out a wild 7-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in 11 innings Tuesday after squandering a late lead for the second consecutive game.Dansby Swanson homered and Miguel Amaya hit a two-run double to help the Cubs build a 6-2 cushion. But the Brewers scored twice in the eighth and twice more in the ninth to tie it.In the bottom of the 10th, pinch-runner Andruw Monasterio was placed at second base as the automatic runner. He tried to score the winning run on Owen Miller’s one-out single to left but was cut down at home by Happ on a call that stood following a replay review.Miller was thrown out trying to advance to second, ending the inning.Chicago went ahead in the 11th. Automatic runner Cody Bellinger moved to third with one out on a wild pitch by Clayton Andrews (0-1). After Amaya struck out, Nico Hoerner beat out an infield single to put the Cubs up by a run. Wi...

White Sox recall top prospect Oscar Colás from Triple-A, confident he’ll perform better this time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox recalled top prospect Oscar Colás from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, confident the Cuban outfielder will perform better than he did at the start of the season.The 24-year-old rookie made the opening day roster, only to get sent down after struggling. He hit .211 with a homer and seven RBIs in 25 games in his first stint in the majors.Colás had been excelling at Charlotte, with a .293 average, nine home runs and 29 RBIs in 48 games. He was on a tear with an eight-game hitting streak, going 13 of 33 with six homers in that stretch.General manager Rick Hahn said it wasn’t just the production. His work ethic also impressed the organization.“His pregame prep, his preparing for the pitchers, really just having a purposeful workday that has put him in a better position to succeed both offensively and defensively has been what has really stood out the most,” Hahn said. “It’s translated to him doing more damage at the plate recently and also ...

Breaking down the Blueprint: The challenges school districts face in meeting students’ behavioral health needs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

This content was republished with permission from WTOP’s news partners at Maryland Matters. Sign up for Maryland Matters’ free email subscription today.Lori Morrow says for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan to work effectively, schools must ensure students receive the mental health services they need.Morrow, the mother of two children and education advocate from Prince George’s County, said school-based health centers should be created and staffed with mental health professionals accessible for students and their families, especially in rural and underserved communities.“We want kids to be in school. It’s a lot easier to be in school when you’re healthy,” said Morrow, who served her last day Friday as a member of the state Board of Education. “COVID has taken a toll on everybody. We need to have the right mental health…support so that our teachers can focus on education and teaching curriculum.”As part of the Blueprint process, education officials in all of M...

Young man died after fall at a Rocky Mountain waterfall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

ESTES PARK, Colo. (AP) — A 25-year-old Rhode Island man died after falling and being pulled underwater at a waterfall in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park on Sunday, according to the National Park Service. The man from Providence has not yet been publicly identified and his body was recovered Sunday evening, officials said. Rocky Mountain National Park covers over 400 square miles (1,036 square kilometers) of rugged mountains and high tundra, drawing typically over 4 million hikers annually. The deceased man fell at West Creek Falls, on the east side of the park. The body was moved to the Larimer County Coroner, on the northern edge of Colorado, who will determine the cause of death. At this time of year, rivers, streams and waterfalls are dangerous cold and swift, said the National Park Service, warning visitors to stay a safe distance from quick-flowing waters. Source

Instalan en Guatemala las primeras audiencias de revisión de las votaciones ordenadas por la Corte de Constitucionalidad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

(CNN Español) — Las Juntas Electorales Departamentales y la Junta Electoral del Distrito Central de Guatemala instalaron este martes las primeras audiencias de revisión de los escrutinios y las actas finales de los comicios del pasado 25 de junio. Al evento asistieron los fiscales electorales de los partidos políticos que participaron en las votaciones generales.Las audiencias de revisión las ordenó el sábado la Corte de Constitucionalidad tras analizar un recurso de amparo que interpusieron nueve partidos políticos ––incluidos el de la candidata Sandra Torres y el del presidente Alejandro Giammattei–– por supuestas irregularidades en el proceso.El Tribunal Supremo Electoral de Guatemala (TSE) dio plazo hasta este jueves para que se lleven a cabo las audiencias de revisión, aunque defendió el proceso. Mientras tanto, la Corte de Constitucionalidad mantiene la suspensión de la oficialización de resultados.La OEA enviará una misión de observación al proceso de revisión de los re...

Kaylee Ramos: Senior at St.Thomas Aquinas High School discovers her voice to be opera-level

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

When you think about beautiful voices: Adele, Beyonce, Ariana, and Mariah come to mind.But after meeting one senior at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.I’m adding Kaylee to my list, her family and now school have all discovered she has an opera-level voice.Just like Shireen, there are voicesKaylee Ramos: [Sings] “That thing”And then there’s a voice.17-year-old, St. Thomas Aquinas High School senior, Kaylee Ramos, has the latter, to say the least. Not like it’s hard or anything.Kaylee Ramos: “I lift my diaphragm, that’s what my teachers have always taught me but for me, it’s like comfortable for me, like it just comes out.”Alex Miranda: “Do you surprise yourself sometimes, like, what was that?!”Kaylee Ramos: “It does happen.”Alex Miranda: “Who me??”Enter theater director Ms. Garrard.Elizabeth Garrard: “She came in her sophomore year. First audition: Addams family and just ...

Smoke billows over downtown Hartford after fire erupts in building

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

HARTFORD, CT. (AP) — Thick, gray smoke billowed from downtown Hartford, Connecticut, Tuesday as firefighters tried to quickly douse a fire in the city’s Frontier building.The fire erupted around 3 p.m. at the 10-story building, amid flash-flood warnings prompted by thunderstorms sweeping through the area.By late afternoon, crews extinguished the blaze at the building, which houses a telecommunications company.The cause of the fire was still under investigation, but officials said it started in a storage unit.Photos from the scene showed smoke streaming out of grates on the outside of the building’s bottom floor.There were no injuries, officials said.

Kremlin open to talks over potential prisoner swap

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:57:38 GMT

MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Tuesday held the door open for contacts with the U.S. regarding a possible prisoner exchange that could potentially involve jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, but reaffirmed that such talks must be held out of the public eye.Asked whether Monday’s consular visits to Gershkovich, who has been held behind bars in Moscow since March on charges of espionage, and Vladimir Dunaev, a Russian citizen in U.S. custody on cybercrime charges, could potentially herald a prisoner swap, Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov said that Moscow and Washington have touched on the issue.“We have said that there have been certain contacts on the subject, but we don’t want them to be discussed in public,” Peskov said in a conference call with reporters. “They must be carried out and continue in complete silence.”He didn’t offer any further details, but added that “the lawful right to consular contacts must be ensured on bo...