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President Joe Biden says he will request more funding for a new coronavirus vaccine

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that he is planning to request more money from Congress to develop another new coronavirus vaccine, as scientists track new waves and hospitalizations rise, though not like before. Officials are already expecting updated COVID-19 vaccines that contain one version of the omicron strain, called XBB.1.5. It’s an important change from today’s combination shots, which mix the original coronavirus strain with last year’s most common omicron variants. But there will always be a need for updated vaccines as the virus continues to mutate. It’s not clear exactly when people can start rolling up their sleeves for what officials hope is an annual fall COVID-19 shot. Pfizer, Moderna and smaller manufacturer Novavax all are brewing doses of the XBB update but the Food and Drug Administration will have to sign off on each, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must then issue recommendations for their use.“I sign...

Man accused of ‘hate-motivated’ stabbing at Univ. of Waterloo charged with attempted murder

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

A 24-year-old man is facing an additional charge of attempted murder in the stabbing of three individuals at the University of Waterloo in June.Geovanny Villalba-Aleman appeared via video link Friday for a scheduled bail hearing at the Waterloo Regional Courthouse. Dressed in orange prison garb, he spoke only to provide his name, his birth date, and to clarify his next court appearance.During the hearing, a charge of attempted murder was laid in what police say was a “hate-motivated incident related to gender expression and gender identity.”Villalba-Aleman was initially facing 10 charges including three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief under $5,000.A 38-year-old female professor, a 20-year-old woman and a 19-year-old man – both students, were stabbed inside a classroom at the university’s Hagey Hall on June 28. All three suffered non-life-threatening injuries.Villalba-Aleman...

See which states are poised to rule next on transgender health care restrictions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Courts nationwide are delivering a mixed verdict on the future of state laws restricting gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, as legal battles ramp up over the historic wave of bans enacted this year.Judges temporarily blocked bans in Georgia and Texas this week, while Alabama and Missouri can move forward with their restrictions. A ruling on whether to block a Florida law that goes beyond young people and restricts the care for trans adults could also come in the next week. Here’s a look at recent developments in the cases and where laws on transgender health care stand: THE LATEST RULINGSA Texas judge on Friday blocked the state from enforcing its ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which was set to take effect Sept. 1. Texas would have become the most populous state to restrict its care for youth. The ruling came the same day a state judge in Missouri ruled that state’s ban can take effect on Monday as scheduled. Missouri&...

Despite uptick in hospitalizations, COVID risk level remains low in Chicago

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

CHICAGO — COVID-19 cases across Chicago are rising, albeit slightly, as health officials monitor a surge in hospitalizations. Massimo Pacilli, Chicago Department of Public Health's deputy commissioner for disease control, noted that the news is not surprising. "It is a good reminder that COVID-19 is not gone and will cause periodic waves of illness," he said. CDC, FDA gearing up for fall vaccine campaign with US in ‘strongest position yet’ With kids heading back to school and people spending more time indoors during the coming fall and winter months, Pacilli said respiratory viral activity is expected to increase, which means more cases of flu, RSV, and COVID-19. City data shows that while the COVID risk level is low, hospitalizations and laboratory-confirmed cases have risen in recent weeks. "It is important to remember that we're in a different place than we were a couple of years ago," Pacilli said. "Nearly all of us have some acquired antibodies to the virus due to either vac...

RUSH University first year medical students participate in life-saving training

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

CHICAGO -- RUSH University Medical Center is looking to save lives in Chicago’s underserved communities with the help of their incoming medical students.On their very first day of class, RUSH University medical students are already making an impact.The concept is remarkably simple: take first year medical students the minute they walk thru the door and immediately teach them how to administer CPR or a live-saving dose of “Narcan.” Instantly deploying a hundred highly motivated life savers on the streets of Chicago.  “From my time here in Chicago I’ve seen that violence is a real thing and stopping the bleed could be an important thing that I have to do one day," RUSH University medical student Zoe Bilello said. “Time is Life” .. their instructors say .. when somebody is suffering from an opioid overdose.  “someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds.”As an advanced EMT in Houston, Texas .. Sam Shuman saw a glaring need.   Developing an educational outreach program .. ...

'Rich Men North of Richmond' singer blasts 'aggravating' conservatives

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

(The Hill) — The singer behind “Rich Men North of Richmond,” which has become such a hit with a conservatives that it was featured at the beginning of this week's 2024 GOP primary debate, is seeking distance from the "aggravating" Republican embrace."It was funny seeing my song ... at the presidential debate. 'Cause it's like, I wrote that song about those people," musician Oliver Anthony said in a video on his YouTube channel.The No. 1, which points the finger at the powerful elite of Washington, has become an anthem among Republicans, who see it as a criticism of Democrats such as President Biden. Biden chimes in on Trump mug shot: ‘Handsome guy’ "That song has nothing to do with Joe Biden. It's a lot bigger than Joe Biden. That song was written about the people on that stage ... Not just them, but definitely them," Anthony said. Fox News debate moderator Martha MacCaullum said Wednesday, "His lyrics speak of alienation, of deep frustration with the state of government and of t...

Gun found in kindergartener's backpack at Cicero school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

CICERO, Ill. — Cicero police are investigating after a kindergarten student brought a gun to school.The superintendent of District 99 said in a statement the gun was found Friday morning at Columbus West Elementary.According to the statement, a classroom assistant was helping the student look for their ID when the gun was discovered in the child's backpack.The superintendent said at no time was any student or staff in imminent danger.“In conjunction with the Cicero Police Department and Columbus West Administration, the situation was immediately contained and no one was hurt.  As always, the safety of our staff and students is our priority,” the statement said.  No additional details were provided.

Judge issues temporary injunction blocking transgender youth health care ban from going into effect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (Nexstar) — A Travis County district judge issued a temporary injunction Friday, blocking Texas' ban on transgender health care for minors from going into effect next week. Parents, doctors sue Texas to block transgender minor health care ban A group of Texas families with transgender children and doctors sued the state over Senate Bill 14, a bill passed this legislative session that prohibits transgender minors from getting health care to assist in their gender transition. The bill cites puberty-blocking medication, hormone therapy or surgery — although surgical procedures are rarely performed on minors seeking gender-affirming care. Texas doctors who provide this type of care could also lose their medical licenses.The judge's ruling pauses SB 14 from going into effect on Sept. 1. The state is expected to appeal the case, but the court ordered that the injunction will stand until a judgment in this case is entered or the lawsuit is otherwise dismiss...

Nixta Taqueria asking for community's help after city permitting issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A well-loved taqueria in east Austin is asking for financial help after the owners say the City of Austin shut them down temporarily over permitting issues. The city says the building the couple were operating out of was dangerous. Sara Mardanbigi and Edgar Rico, a husband and wife, opened Nixta Taqueria in 2019, according to a post from the owners. The future of that restaurant is now in question and the owners have started a GoFundMe to finance steps forward. "A cross-departmental team is currently working on a path forward to allow the restaurant to continue limited operations while critical electrical and safety issues are addressed," a City of Austin spokesperson told KXAN. The city said Austin Energy was alerted through a software it uses to "protect life and property" that there was an overload at the restaurant's meter. Nixta owners said in a GoFundMe post that its electricity was cut on August 16 as a result. When city crews showed up to check on the issue,...

Stage 4 drought on Barton Springs not imminent this month, officials say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:33 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A move to Stage IV Exceptional Drought is no longer imminent, after the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District found a discrepancy between direct flow data collected while assessing the drought, indicating low flow levels, according to officials. The district, the City of Austin and the U.S. Geological Survey Oklahoma-Texas Water Science Center took manual measurements of the flow at Barton Creek Thursday morning, just below the pool, the general manager of the district said in an email. Barton Springs flow is low, officials preparing for next level of drought "What we discovered is that there is a discrepancy between direct flow data collected today and flow that is derived from a statistical relationship with stage," the general manager said. "The latter is what the USGS gauge generates every 15 minutes. Apparently, at these low flows, the statistical relationship needs to be recalibrated and the new flow measurements generated by the stilling wel...