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Is it time to bring back the COVID mask? We asked 3 doctors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – The COVID-19 public health emergency may be over, but the spread of the virus sure isn't. COVID hospital admissions jumped another 21% last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The summer surge has some people – who haven't donned a COVID mask in months – wondering if they should dust off their N95s. We asked three medical doctors if they thought the rising cases and hospitalizations meant masks are needed now. For Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, the rationale hasn't really changed. "Masking remains an inexpensive and portable way to reduce risk as always," he said. As COVID surge continues, is the booster still working against new variants? Given the amount of the virus circulating now, Dr. Sherif Mossad, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic, said those who are 65 and older or immunocompromised should consider masking in large crowds, especially when indoors. Dr. Anand Parekh, chief medical advisor a...

NASCAR driver 'awake, alert and mobile' following terrifying crash at Daytona

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — NASCAR driver Ryan Preece is “awake, alert and mobile” after his car rolled about a dozen times during a terrifying crash at Daytona International Speedway.Stewart-Haas Racing said Sunday morning that Preece “has been communicating with family and friends." He was hospitalized overnight.The 32-year-old Preece was able to climb out of his mangled No. 41 Ford on Saturday night with help before emergency workers put him on a gurney and into an ambulance. He initially went to the track's infield care center before being transported to Halifax Health Medical Center for continued observation.He will be evaluated by medical personnel again Sunday, the team said, adding that another update is expected in the afternoon. What are NFL players wearing on their necks? Preece tweeted about two hours after the race, posting: “If you want to be a race car driver, you better be tough. ... I’m coming back.”Preece and SHR teammate Chase Briscoe made con...

Map: Air quality is the worst in these counties, study finds

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

(NEXSTAR) - Air quality has been a frequently discussed topic this summer as Canadian wildfire smoke has continued to affect portions of the U.S., and could worsen as wildfires spring up in the West. Other states have suffered poor air quality amid hot and humid weather conditions. Smoke and humid conditions aside, some areas of the U.S. frequently find themselves with poor air quality. Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released its 2023 County Health Rankings and Roadmaps report, which is meant to raise awareness about factors that can impact health outcomes and disparities nationwide.Researchers use numerous data points to determine the length and quality of life on a state-by-state basis. Among those factors is the physical environment of communities throughout the U.S., including air quality.  Map: These states, counties home to the most excessive drinkers To determine the air quality of states and counties, researchers r...

Former Navy SEAL who claims he killed Osama bin Laden arrested: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

FRISCO, Texas (NewsNation) — The former Navy SEAL who claims to have killed Osama bin Laden was arrested in Texas.Robert J. O’Neill, 47, was booked Wednesday in Frisco and charged with a Class A misdemeanor of assault causing bodily injury and a Class C misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, The Dallas Morning News reported, although jail records listed only the assault charge.Frisco police have not yet released any further details about the arrest.O’Neill was released the same day on a $3,500 bond.He had been in town to record a podcast at a local cigar lounge, the New York Post reported.In 2016, O'Neill was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in Montana after authorities said they found him sleeping in the driver seat of a car, which was still running. He entered a not guilty plea, saying that he had taken "a prescribed sleep aide to help with long-standing severe insomnia."Prosecutors later dropped the charge against O'Neill after both sides in the case deter...

Paved paradise: Maps show how much of US cities are parking lots

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

SALT LAKE CITY (KTVX) -- Nearly one-third of downtown Salt Lake City is dedicated solely to car parking, according to data released by a nonprofit last week. And Salt Lake is far from alone. In Wichita, it's 35%. In Las Vegas, it's 32%. In San Bernardino, it's even worse: 49% of the central city is composed of parking.The data comes from the Parking Reform Network, an organization that works to inform people about the impact of parking on climate change, housing, traffic and more. The group has published 86 maps of cities across the United States, highlighting the space dedicated to parking lots in city centers. On average, in U.S. cities with over 1 million people, 22% of land in the city center is used for parking. Take a look at Salt Lake City, for example. About 29% of downtown is highlighted red, which represents an area that is a designated parking lot. The city even has a few parking structures that span entire blocks.Many of the maps created by Parking Reform Network look si...

REPORT: Austin ranks as one of the best cities for soccer fans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A 2023 list ranked Austin as one of the best cities for soccer fans in America.WalletHub, a personal finance website, released a report on 2023's best cities for soccer fans Wednesday.Austin took the No. 20 spot on the list, following right behind Dallas at No. 19.The report compared nearly 300 U.S. cities with at least one college or professional soccer team across five divisions comprising 52 key metrics. WalletHub said the data set ranged from minimum season-ticket price for a game to stadium accessibility to the number of championship wins.Austin FC is the city's professional men's soccer club, which competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the Western Conference. The team was founded in 2018, and its home stadium is Q2 Stadium in north Austin.“Americans finally have found their own soft spot for the world’s most beloved professional sport. After what seemed an eternity of low popularity among U.S. fans, soccer — better known as “football” to the internatio...

Real World Economics: BRICS expansion and the dollar’s vulnerability

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

Edward LottermanA French president once asserted, to much acclaim, that the U.S. dollar’s status as a “reserve currency” conferred an exorbitant privilege on our nation.As I write this, members of the six-nation BRICS bloc are meeting in South Africa. The ways in which the dollar’s status harms these nations is a central topic and measures to reduce its influence will be announced.Six other nations are joining the bloc. Many others, including other aspirants to membership, have sent observers. China has held bilateral talks with Brazil, Mexico and Nigeria, among others, on how a greater fraction of their bilateral trade should be settled in their own currencies, not dollars.At the same time, respected and obscure pundits both regularly proclaim how this imminent “downfall” of the dollar will cripple the U.S. economy. There is a particularly silly one by Bethann Moorcraft, on the Moneywise site, asserting that India paying rupees for 100 million barrels of oil from the United Arab Em...

2 arrested, including armed teen, after large brawl at prep football game in Aurora

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

One adult and one teenager have been arrested after a large brawl broke out during a high school football game in Aurora, according to the Aurora Police Department.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Cherry Creek rolls Ralston Valley, 35-9, as Bruins overcome key injuries to open quest for Class 5A five-peat Crime and Public Safety | Colorado high school football: How Post Preps Top 10 teams fared in Week 1 Crime and Public Safety | Broomfield begins Class 4A title defense with blowout of Longmont Crime and Public Safety | Colorado high school football scoreboard: Week 1 Crime and Public Safety | Keeler: What do CU Buffs’ Deion Sanders and CSU Rams’ Jay Norvell have in common? Neither is locking gates to keep Colorado prep football recruits at home. Officials said multiple fights broke out Friday night during a game between Ridgeview and Vista Prep high schools at the APS Stadium.“...

Band members wounded in Cook's Corner shooting discharged from hospital 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

Two members of the band that was performing when Wednesday's mass shooting occurred in Orange County have been released from the hospital.The M Street Band was on stage at Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon when authorities say retired Ventura Police Department Sgt. John Snowling opened fire on his wife and other patrons in the crowded restaurant. A picture posted to Instagram by the band shows all five members smiling in front of “get well soon” bouquets and sharing food together. "First M Street get together since Cook's Corner felt so good," the post's caption read. "Such a wonderful outpouring of support from all our friends with flowers, food, cards and well wishes. We are so grateful to you all."A picture posted to Instagram by the band shows all five members smiling in front of “get well soon” bouquets and sharing food together. (Instagram/@mstband)The two injured band members, Dave Stretch and Ed Means, sustained gunshot wounds during the shooting.  Other members of...

Excessive heat warnings issued for Southern California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:30:56 GMT

Summer is not over just yet as excessive heat warnings and watches will be in effect across Southern California this week. The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for Monday and Tuesday for:-L.A. and Ventura County Valleys-L.A. and Ventura coastal plains-Mountains in San Bernardino, Ventura, L.A. and San Luis Obispo counties-Santa Ynez Valley and Cuyama ValleyHigh temperatures will reach anywhere from 8-16 degrees above normal, paired with gusty winds and hot, dry conditions, the NWS said.Some areas will see temps hitting the 90s and even triple digits across inland, valley and desert communities. Overnight temps will also be very warm.The high heat will create an elevated fire risk as gusty winds, dry conditions and excessive heat cover the Southland, an area that already houses the most fire-threatened homes in the state.An excessive heat warning will be in effect across Southern California on Aug. 28-29. (KTLA)An excessive heat warning will be in effect across Sou...