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Pentagon Requests $36 Million for Havana Syndrome

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt limit bill unveiled Wednesday would slash $130 billion from a broad range of domestic programs, including clean-energy subsidies and student loan forgiveness. But one thing the bill would not cut is the military, which last month requested an $842 billion budget.Buried in the Pentagon’s sprawling budget request is an ask for at least $36 million to respond to Havana syndrome, the mysterious symptoms alleged by U.S. spies and diplomats. Initially blamed on microwave weapons wielded by foreign powers like Russia, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded there is “no credible evidence that a foreign adversary has a weapon or collection device that is causing” the symptoms — opening the possibility that they may be psychogenic in nature.The amount represents an increase of $2.1 million over the previous fiscal year and “ensures that individuals affected by anomalous health incidents receive timely and comprehensive health care and treatment,” accordi...

‘It’s really scary out there’: Parents gather at Alexandria City High School to discuss drug use in kids

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

Parents gathered at Alexandria City High School in Virginia Wednesday night to discuss drug use and overdoses in kids, which is a problem in communities across the nation.Jen Sweeder, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, told parents that almost 300 people die everyday from drug overdoses across the U.S. — most of them from opioids.“Even if you don’t see it in your own home, you probably have a friend, maybe a family member or a friend of a friend that’s been affected by opioids or fentanyl at some point in their lives,” Sweeder said.She added that the fentanyl epidemic is similar to the crack epidemic “because it comes with a lot of violence, a lot of deaths and it’s just really scary that’s doesn’t seem to be going away.”Sweeder provided these following tips to parents:Help is available and it’s OK to ask for itAvoid medications that aren’t prescribed to themDon’t buy drugs online because it’...

BWI Marshall Airport opens new restrooms with extra-private stalls

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

BWI Marshall Airport has opened the first of what will be six new sets of concourse restrooms, which is part of a $55 million project approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works in 2021 to address the airport’s aging restroom facilities. (Courtesy BWI Marshall Airport)BWI Marshall Airport has opened the first of what will be six new sets of concourse restrooms, which is part of a $55 million project approved by the Maryland Board of Public Works in 2021 to address the airport’s aging restroom facilities.The new restrooms are on Concourse B.Both men’s and women’s facilities include stalls with full-length doors for privacy, and occupancy lights above each door that glow green when not in use and red when they are in use. There is also space for stowing roller bags.BWI recently completed an expansion of the airport’s Concourse A, which included new restrooms that served as a design for the current restroom improvement program.The five additional restro...

Sheriff's office trying to identify juveniles repeatedly vandalizing elementary school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- The Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office is trying to identify three juveniles it believes were involved in repeatedly vandalizing an elementary school in Aurora. ACSO school resource officers said three juveniles were caught on surveillance camera vandalizing Dakota Valley Elementary School. Who shot and killed this 18-year-old in West Colfax neighborhood? The sheriff's office said they have thrown rocks and broken windows at the school's mobile unit numerous times. They come back and do it again after the school fixes the windows, ACSO said, and that a total of seven windows were broken by very large rocks.The first incident was in March, the last one occurred on April 16 just after midnight, the sheriff's office said. ACSO asks anyone who recognizes them or sees any suspicious activity around the school, to contact the non-emergency dispatch number (303-795-4711) immediately so it can respond.

Now is your chance to own a weed-themed license plate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — In honor of the unofficial marijuana holiday, 420, the Colorado DMV is auctioning off cannabis-themed license plates.Starting on April 20, the DMV is auctioning off 20 reserved marijuana-themed license plates that you can use as your official Colorado plate. Many of the license plates up for auction were rejected by individuals who applied for a vanity plate. However, the DMV is giving fans of the kush a chance to finally own a weed-themed plate. What you need to know about Denver’s Mile High 420 Festival The following 20 plates are up for auction:420LIFEBUBONICCANABISCHRONICDANKFRTWNTYGROHEMPGROWEEDHASHJOINTLITLUV2PUFMJNUGPUFFREEFERSPLIFFTHCTOKETOWELIEBidding for plates starts between $100 and $420. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Colorado Disability Funding Committee.The auction runs from April 20 to April 27 at 4:20 p.m.

Did you know Denver's minimum wage is different than Colorado's?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The United States Department of Labor says the federal minimum wage for 2023 is currently at $7.25, which has remained unchanged since 2009.However, when you look at the Colorado minimum wage, the number is much higher. Colorado minimum wageThe 2023 Colorado minimum wage rate is at $13.65, which is up from $12.56 in 2022.According to Colorado law, if an employee is covered by federal and Colorado state minimum wage laws, then the employer must pay the higher minimum wage. Push in states for $20 minimum wage as inflation persists Since the Colorado minimum wage is higher than the federal minimum wage, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said covered employers in Colorado will have to pay their employees the higher value of $13.65 per hour.Denver minimum wageMeanwhile, the minimum wage for Denver is actually even higher than the state rate, coming in at $17.29 per hour. Study: Denver’s real minimum wage highest in US According to a Data Desk study ear...

Armed suspects arrested after multi-county police pursuit expected to face judge

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

The dangerous duo that was arrested following a multi-county police pursuit is set to appear in court, Thursday.Edward Foster, 22, and Matthew Geimer Jr., 22, were arrested on Wednesday after they led several police department’s on a chase that led to their ultimate capture.The incident unfolded in North Miami after officers responded to an armed carjacking. Police pursued the stolen vehicle and Geimer led them all the way up to Palm Beach County and back down to Broward.Eventually, Foster attempted to rob another car with a rifle, but he failed when the driver of an Acura refused to open the door for him.Geimer stopped near Northwest 50th Terrace in Doral and managed to steal a white Tesla at gunpoint; he drove away without Foster, leaving him to fend for himself. After hours of terror and mayhem on the streets, Geimer stopped and exited the vehicle, but did not surrender. He took to the water and tried to swim away from authorities.Moments later, he ran into a random homeown...

Tornadoes kill 3 in central US; new storms possible Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

COLE, Okla. (AP) — Strong storms with tornadoes and hail killed at least three people in the central U.S., injuring others, destroying homes and leaving thousands without power Thursday.Two deaths were in the small town of Cole, 25 miles (41 kilometers) south of Oklahoma City, and a third person who was injured by the tornado has died, but it was not clear where the person was injured, said Deputy Sheriff Scott Gibbons of McClain County, Oklahoma.“There are definitely dozens of various injuries, from minor all the way up to fatalities,” Gibbons said.Details of the deaths and names of the victims have not been released.The twister also devastated Shawnee, on the eastern outskirts of Oklahoma City, officials said.“There’s a lot of damage out here,” state Department of Emergency Management Benny Fulkerson said from Shawnee following a visit by Gov. Kevin Stitt. Thursday’s focus was on damage assessment after spending the night looking for victims and survi...

Florida woken up at 4:45 a.m. by test of emergency system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida became the wokest state in the nation on Thursday when a blaring alarm testing the emergency alert system was mistakenly sent to residents’ cell phones at 4:45 a.m.The Florida Division of Emergency Management has apologized for the early morning siren and said the alert was meant to come across on televisions, not cell phones.“The division understands that unexpected 4:45 AM wake-up calls are frustrating and would like to apologize for the early morning text,” a spokeswoman for the agency said. “Each month, we test emergency alerts on a variety of platforms, including radio, television, and text alerts. This particular alert was supposed to be on TV, and not disturb anyone already sleeping.”As one could imagine, the Sunshine State was none too pleased, with many sharing their bleary-eyed dismay on social media.“Everyone should be on time this ...

I’m not racist, Italian agri minister says after white nationalist remarks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:14:54 GMT

Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida on Thursday denied he was a racist as controversy grew over comments he made about “ethnic substitution” — stressing that he respects “ethnic” food and music. Asked if he was aware that his remarks echoed racist rhetoric used in fascist Italy in the early 20th century, the minister said in an interview with Corriere della Sera: “Defining Italians by skin color is a mistake, and anyone who does not understand the difference between ethnicity and race is a fool.”“I respect music or ethnic dishes regardless of the skin color of the person playing or cooking,” he added.Lollobrigida, who is a member of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, sparked a national controversy over comments he made Tuesday in a speech at a trade union conference.Referring to Italy’s population decline, Lollobrigida — who is also Meloni’s brother-in-law — said: “...