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Speeding boats, fishing gear the leading causes of North Atlantic right whale deaths, conservation experts say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

A top ocean conservation group in the country is calling on the feds to enforce boat speed limits along the Atlantic coast and issue stronger protections to prevent more deaths of North Atlantic right whales.The group Oceana released an analysis Thursday that found hundreds of boats had sped through mandatory and voluntary slow zones designed to protect the critically endangered species in the Virginia Beach area in the weeks leading up to a North Atlantic right whale death.There are just 340 right whales left in the world today, a number that has declined by 25% over the past decade, according to conservation scientists.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determined blunt force traumatic injuries as the cause of death of the 20-year-old male right whale. The injuries mirrored those of a boat strike, a leading threat to such whales.“Speeding boats and slow swimming whales are a recipe for disaster, but a preventable one,” said Gib Brogan, campaign director at Oceana....

Heat embrace Lowry return amid stretch run; Martin out, with Robinson in NBA protocols

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

The timing is largely coincidental, with the Miami Heat for over a week having targeted Saturday’s road game against the Orlando Magic as the return date for Kyle Lowry from the knee issue that has had him out since the start of February.The fact that it comes in the wake of the Heat committing 20 or more turnovers in two of their last four games makes it all the more heartening.“That’s my brother,” forward Jimmy Butler said. “I’m glad to have him back. He’s going to change the game in so many ways for this team. He’s going to help us get in a groove, he’s going to help us win some games down the stretch moving into the most important part of the season.”The Heat largely had downplayed the timetable, not confirming until after Friday night’s home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers that Lowry would be traveling, and not upgrading Lowry to questionable until midday Saturday.But even with Lowry, 36, in the midst of an ...

Rob Gronkowksi has thoughts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

Rob Gronkowski has two words of advice for Mac Jones: “Learn defenses.”Gronkowksi, the former New England and Tampa Bay tight end, doesn’t mean just learn defenses during games. He means Jones should learn defenses in practice. Learn defenses in meetings. Learn defenses during off days. And learn defenses in the offseason.“The advice for Mac Jones is just learn the defenses, understand the defenses. When you go to the line of scrimmage, you’re not thinking at all, obviously you got to learn the playbook, the offensive side of the playbook, that’s aspect No. 1. But aspect No. 2 is to learn every single defense out there,” Gronkowski said.And some defenses are more important than others, according to Gronkowski.“Your divisional opponents, study them up, know who the ‘Mike’ linebacker is, the middle linebacker, who you got to point out every single play to help out the offensive line to know who’s blocking who. Understand what’s going on on the defensive side of...

Jehovah’s Witnesses shocked by Hamburg attack, thank police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — The Jehovah’s Witnesses expressed shock Saturday over the deadly shooting at one of the group’s halls in Hamburg, Germany, but thanked German authorities for preventing more bloodshed through their swift intervention during the attack.A gunman shot dead six members of the Hamburg congregation and wounded eight others, including a woman who lost her unborn child, before killing himself late Thursday. The shooting drew widespread condemnation and calls for a tightening of Germany’s firearms laws.In a statement, the Jehovah’s Witnesses in Germany confirmed that the man police identified as the gunman was a former member who left the church voluntarily two years ago.“We do not know the motive for this terrible crime,” it said. “Like the rest of the world, we were shocked and bewildered when we read (…) that the gunman reportedly bore ‘particular anger’ not just toward the Jehovah’s Witnesses but also toward other religious groups and his former empl...

Off-duty cop found dead in North Side home: Police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

CHICAGO — Police have confirmed that an off-duty police officer was found dead inside a Norwood Park home Saturday morning.According to CPD, the 43-year-old man was discovered unresponsive inside a home at the 5700 block of North Ozark Avenue around 7:45 a.m. where he was pronounced dead on the scene. Woman fatally stabbed on CTA platform in Loop: Police Police are still investigating this incident and there is no further information provided.

Trump indictment? Possibility throws wrench into campaign plans

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

(The Hill) – Former President Trump is reportedly on the brink of facing charges related to a hush money payment during the 2016 campaign, throwing a wrench into the nascent 2024 GOP presidential primary. Trump has already said in interviews that he plans to continue his campaign for the presidency even if he is indicted, and he was defiant in posts on Truth Social late Thursday that made clear he was undeterred by the latest specter of criminal charges.But a possible indictment in New York would be another blow for Trump, whose extensive legal woes already have some Republican voters and leaders suggesting it may be time for the party to move on to a candidate with less baggage.“Given all the unknowns right now, it's far too early to know the political impact,” said Alex Conant, who worked on Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) 2016 campaign. “That said, it's hard to see how this is a positive for Trump,” added Conant, who now works with Firehouse Strategies. “At a minimum, it's a dis...

Dateline correspondents talk with KXAN about Austin crimes ahead of their first SXSW appearance at 4 p.m.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Keith Morrison and Josh Mankiewicz of Dateline – which has covered several notorious Austin murders, including Moriah Wilson and Heidi Broussard – will appear at SXSW for their first panel discussion Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. CT at the Austin Convention Center. The two sat down with KXAN’s Sam Stark ahead of their session to talk Dateline, their voyage into podcasting and reporting on Texas crimes. Can you talk about the explosion of the true crime genre in recent years?“I give credit to our boss, frankly, who persuaded us. He saw the zeitgeist and saw what was coming – he recognized that [true crime] were the sorts of stories that most attracted people's attention. Whenever we did a true crime story, back in the 90s, the numbers show a pretty clear indicator that it was what people wanted to watch,” Morrison said. “Most people in their lives will never be the victim of violent crime. But everybody has been in a relationship that did not work out how ...

Suspect disguised as technician robs two Austin businesses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – The Austin Police Department said it was searching for a man suspected of robbing an Austin business March 1.According to police, the suspect entered two Verizon locations attempting to pass himself off as an IT employee.Police said the suspect initially tried the disguise at the Verizon Store at 2401 S. Lamar Blvd. in south Austin but was turned away. However, according to police, the suspect entered the Barton Creek Square Verizon store approximately 30 minutes later, confronted a store employee in the back room and made threats indicating he had a weapon.APD said the suspect then accessed the store’s safe and quickly left with an undisclosed number of devices.The suspect was described as a 6-feet tall white man between 20 and 30 years old with a thin build and short, light brown hair. Police said he was last seen wearing:Red Nike baseball capDark Hoodie with Verizon “V” logo, red zipper, and gray liningBlack pantsWhite sneakersBlack computer bag with silver laptop...

This Louisiana bird is gorgeous, despite binge-eating and whining

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

ATHENS, La. (KTAL/KMSS) - Most people like to associate certain birds with certain seasons, for instance, bluebirds with spring, goldfinch with winter, or bats with Halloween. (I know! - Don’t write me! - Just seeing if you’re paying attention.) Anyhoo, we get one species in winter that regularly becomes more observable in March as it gorges itself on the remaining crops of holly berries or other native goodies to put on extra fat to convert for energy in its upcoming migration, and that species is Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum).The beautiful Cedar Waxwing; Image by Jody CokerCedar Waxwings are among the most beautiful of birds. I always say they look airbrushed.They’re the size of bluebirds and are mostly a smooth, light pinkish brown. The light brownfades into yellow toward the belly, but it transitions into gray along the lower back and rump. They have a black “bandit” mask across their eyes, bordered in white, that's handsomely garnished with a crest. The tips of their tail...

Lockhart man found not guilty of murder, aggravated assault after May 2021 incident

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 12:38:16 GMT

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) — Court documents showed a man accused of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in Caldwell County was found not guilty by a jury Feb. 24.Roberto Cruz, who was 48 at the time the charges were filed, was accused of shooting and killing a 55-year-old man and wounding another. PREVIOUS: Lockhart man faces murder charge following Thursday shooting near city park According to past coverage, the incident occurred around 8:15 p.m. May 6, 2021, in the 900 block of E. Market Street in Lockhart, near Lockhart City Park.