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Louisiana was open to Cancer Alley concessions. Then EPA dropped its investigation

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

For more than a year, the Environmental Protection Agency investigated whether Louisiana officials discriminated against Black residents by putting them at increased cancer risk. Federal officials said they had found evidence of discrimination and were pressuring the state to strengthen oversight of air pollution from industrial plants.Now, a draft agreement obtained by The Associated Press shows that Louisiana health officials were open to stronger oversight, including looking at how new industrial plants could harm Black residents.But the federal government dropped its investigation in June before it got any firm commitments from Louisiana. Advocates said it was a missed opportunity to improve the lives of people who live near refineries and chemical plants in an industrial stretch of the state commonly called “Cancer Alley.”Experts say the Biden administration, facing a federal court challenge to the investigation, may have worried that a loss would limit its investigative power....

Pope presses theologians to be in tune with challenges of daily life and talk with non-believers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is pressing Catholic theologians to be more in tune with the challenges of ordinary people and urging them to dialogue with non-believers as well as believers of various religions.In a document, he signed on Wednesday and which was made public by the Vatican, the pontiff noted that he was updating statutes for the Pontifical Academy of Theology, since the last revision was issued nearly 25 years ago by one of his predecessors in the papacy, John Paul II.“The moment has come to revise these norms, to make them more adaptable to the mission that our time imposes on theology,” Francis wrote in the document, known as an Apostolic Letter.Francis said that theologians must “confront themselves with profound cultural transformations.” He didn’t mention specific issues. Instead, the pope urged them to adopt “openness to the world, to man, in the concreteness of his existential situation, with its issues, its wounds, its challenges, its pote...

Renowned glass artist and the making of a football field-sized church window featured in new film

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

VALLE DE BRAVO, Mexico (AP) — It’s as if Narcissus Quagliata is painting with light.He sprinkles the crushed, colorful glass onto a template of his own design before baking the powder-coated pane at nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit for almost an entire day. Once cooled, a translucent, stained-glass image emerges.“The light, with the glass, moves you to the core,” said Quagliata, an 81-year-old master of his craft, on a recent day at his studio in Valle de Bravo, near Mexico City. “It’s profound.”Over the last five decades, Quagliata has created these stained-glass artworks for sacred spaces, private homes and public exhibitions, using a fusible glass technique he considers his most precious legacy.The scope of Quagliata’s invention can be seen in “Holy Frit,” a documentary recently released in U.S. In the film, the Italian artist serves as a mentor-like figure for Tim Carey, a young American colleague who found himself facing the greatest challenge of his artistic career.In 2015, Car...

Crews work to rescue 2 trapped after collapse of Kentucky plant being demolished at abandoned mine

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

INEZ, Ky. (AP) — Crews worked Wednesday to rescue two men trapped after the collapse of a more than 10-story coal preparation plant that was being demolished at an abandoned mine site in eastern Kentucky, officials said.The collapse was reported around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Martin County Sheriff John Kirk said first responders were able to find and make contact with one of the two men, news outlets reported. Officials didn’t know the extent of their injuries.In a social media post Wednesday morning, Gov. Andy Beshear said he had declared a state of emergency in the county — mobilizing state resources to help with the rescue. The governor asked for prayers for the safety of the workers and the rescue teams.“Kentucky, keep praying — but the scene is bad and we should be prepared for tough news out of Martin County,” Beshear said in a post about two hours later.The workers were trapped under multiple floors of concrete and steel while working to demolish the building at the abandoned m...

Another Bears assistant coach is out, reports say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — For a second time during the 2023 regular season, a change is coming to the Bears' coaching staff.This time, it's the firing of their running backs coach.Per a report from Kevin Fishbain and Adam Jahns of The Athletic, the Bears have let go of David Walker after a year-and-a-half with the team. According to the report, the team's human resources department was involved in the dismissal process.The team has yet to confirm the move, which comes ahead of the team's Week 9 game against the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday at Noon.This move occurred a month and a half after defensive coordinator Alan Williams abruptly resigned on September 20. Per a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, he left the team, in part, due to "inappropriate activity."Walker joined the Bears' coaching staff shortly after the hiring of head coach Matt Eberflus in February 2022. This came after he was out of the NFL for a few years following a stint as the Lions' running backs coach from 2016-2018...

Lite FM to go all Christmas music Thursday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

CHICAGO — Christmas music is coming back to Chicago radio!The Halloween candy is far from gone, but we’ve already seen our first snowflakes of the season, so what better time to turn on the radio for the sounds of the season.iHeartMedia Chicago’s 93.9 LITE FM announced Wednesday that holiday music will return Thursday, November 2.It all starts at 4 p.m. with a two-hour commercial free block of Christmas music. Tickets for Metra Holiday Trains go on sale Wednesday The station has been playing holiday hits for Chicagoland for the last 23 years.“Our listeners will find amazing contests to play and a few new surprises along with the Yuletide cheer that we bring to Chicagoland every year,” said Mick Lee, iHeartMedia Chicago’s 93.9 LITE FM Program Director and Afternoon Show Host.Fans can listen to the merry music on air at 93.9 LITE FM, on their website 939lifefm.com, on the iHeartRadio app or on iHeartRadio.com.

See the first 'Dean's Home Video' of November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

CHICAGO — During a chilly beginning to November, there are plenty of things for fans of movies or shows to watch in the comfort of their own home."Dean's Home Video" on Wednesday had a few things for people to check out this week as a new month begins across a few streaming services. That includes "Nyad," "Quiz Lady," "Locked In," "All The Light We Cannot See," season 2 of "Invincible," "Lawmen: Bass Reeves," a documentary on Sylvester Stallone, "Love Island Games," and more during the segment.You can watch this week's edition of "Dean's Home Video" from the November 1 show in the video above.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Maryland veteran who was 2nd person to have pig heart transplant dies: hospital

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The second person to receive a transplanted heart from a pig has died, nearly six weeks after the highly experimental surgery, his Maryland doctors announced Tuesday.Lawrence Faucette, 58, was dying from heart failure and ineligible for a traditional heart transplant when he received the genetically modified pig heart on Sept. 20.According to the University of Maryland School of Medicine, the heart had seemed healthy for the first month but began showing signs of rejection in recent days. Faucette died Monday.In a statement released by the hospital, Faucette’s wife, Ann, said her husband “knew his time with us was short and this was his last chance to do for others. He never imagined he would survive as long as he did."The Maryland team last year performed the world’s first transplant of a heart from a genetically altered pig into another dying man. David Bennett survived two months before that heart failed, for reasons that aren’t completely cl...

LIVE: Watch opening statements of Kaitlin Armstrong murder trial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The murder trial for Kaitlin Armstrong is set to begin Wednesday at 9 a.m. Armstrong is accused of shooting and killing up-and-coming professional cyclist Anna Moriah "Mo" Wilson in May 2022. TIMELINE: Ahead of Kaitlin Armstrong’s trial, a look back at pro-cyclist murder case Cameras are allowed inside the courtroom for opening statements, closing arguments and the verdict, but not during witness testimony. People can watch the live stream of the opening statements in this story and on the KXAN News Facebook page. Even though cameras are not allowed inside during testimony, KXAN's Brianna Hollis will be inside the courtroom and will update this story throughout the trial with the latest information.History of the caseOn May 11, 2022, Austin police found Wilson with a gunshot wound at an east Austin home. She ultimately died at the scene. Wilson, originally from Vermont, was in town for a race in Texas. ‘They must be devastated’: Expert asks public to consider ...

Minnesota DNR approves Twin Metals plan for mineral exploration in shadow of Boundary Waters

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:24:34 GMT

BABBITT, Minn. — Minnesota regulators on Monday approved a copper-nickel mining company’s exploratory drilling plan along the shore of Birch Lake and in proximity to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Franconia Minerals, the exploration subsidiary of Twin Metals, could drill at six sites on state leases along and near the south shore of Birch Lake near Babbitt.The plan is only for exploration, not mining, but environmental groups fear the activity could spur a larger mine plan in the same watershed as the BWCAW, posing a pollution threat to the downstream wilderness. Birch Lake flows into the Boundary Waters via the Kawishiwi River.“The DNR’s approval does not authorize bulk sampling or mining and the DNR does not currently have any proposal before it for mining within the Rainy River Headwaters Watershed,” said Erik Evans, a DNR spokesperson. “Franconia holds valid state mineral leases for the proposed exploration locations ...