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Outbreak linked to eyedrops leaves 68 infected, 8 blind and 3 dead, CDC says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

(WFLA) — U.S. officials are reporting two more deaths and additional cases of vision loss linked to eyedrops tainted with a drug-resistant bacteria.The outbreak has infected 68 people in 16 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria has now caused a total of three deaths and eight cases of people losing their vision, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. That's up from one death and five cases of permanent vision loss reported last month.The CDC said four people have undergone surgery to remove an eyeball due to the infections.The CDC said it is investigating the outbreak of an extensively drug-resistant strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Health officials said the stain, called VIM-GES-CRPA, had never been reported in the United States prior to the outbreak."Most patients reported using artificial tears," the CDC said. "Patients reported over 10 different brands of artificial tears and so...

Utah mom dresses as traffic cone to keep drivers alert: 'Every day I see people distracted'

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

WEST VALLEY, Utah (KTVX) – Motorists driving through West Valley, Utah, may have noticed a an especially large traffic cone in the intersection near Gearld L. Wright Elementary School on Tuesday morning.That's Whitney Durfee. Durfee, a crossing guard from nearby Vineyard, Utah, was turning heads and stopping cars Tuesday while dressed as a traffic cone, all in an effort to share a message about safety.“Just to remind people that I'm here and they need to slow down," Durfee told Nexstar's KTVX. "People react really differently, a lot of smiles, a lot of laughter, and it’s been fun." Terrifying Video: Kids in NC nearly hit at bus stop, alleged driver arrested “Every day I see people distracted. A lot of times it's the parents," she added. "They're worried about getting their kids to and from school and don't check their surroundings."Durfee said she sees close calls near the school almost weekly, including a recent incident where a car stopped just a foot away from her. Diana H...

80s make a return ahead of isolated severe risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Less rain and more warmth expected today compared to the gray weather that took hold of most of the area yesterday.Cloudy skies to start the afternoon will gave way to increasing sun late in the afternoon. High temperatures will return to the 80s with noticeable winds gusting 20-25 mph, both of which will combine to bring the warmth.Tomorrow will look and feel about the same - morning clouds with a few pockets of drizzle followed by some afternoon sunshine and 80s.Timing of our next cold front looks to get pushed a little later into the morning Friday, meaning less of a threat overnight but more impacts to Friday's morning commute.A cold front will move into the Hill Country in the pre-dawn hours on Friday and push southeast through early afternoon. A few isolated strong to severe storms are possible - mainly in the Hill Country - in the early morning hours on Friday.Line of storms expected to move in early Friday morningLow risk of strong to severe storms overnigh...

90-year-old critically endangered Houston Zoo turtle becomes first-time dad

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) -- At 90 years young, Mr. Pickles is the oldest animal at the Houston Zoo and the newest father after three radiated tortoise eggs hatched. These little Pickles are a big deal (big dill?) for radiated tortoise genetics as their father, Mr. Pickles, is the most genetically valuable radiated tortoise in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP).Mr. Pickles has been at our local zoo for 36 years and has been with his companion, Mrs. Pickles, since she arrived in 1996. The pair have only had one little Pickle previously in 1997. The new tortoises have been named Dill, Gherkin and Jalapeño and will remain behind the scenes in the Reptile & Amphibian House until they are big enough to safely join their parents.The Houston said the new hatchlings came as a surprise when a herpetology keeper happened upon Mrs. Pickles as the tortoise was laying her eggs at closing time. The animal care team quickly went to work uncovering the eggs and gettin...

At new women-owned Minneapolis art gallery, an exhibition explores emotion and abstraction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

A new gallery show in Northeast Minneapolis aims to showcase movement and emotion in abstract art.The exhibition, called “Abstract Vibes,” is on display at Goza Gallery, inside the Northrup King Building artists’ complex, until mid-April. Goza Gallery was launched last fall by four women painters; their artist-in-residence is St. Paul-based collage artist Kristi Abbott.“As observers, we often see or feel (abstract art) differently,” said Sue Mooney, one of the co-owners of the gallery, via email. “When we talk about a particular piece, your experience may be totally different than mine. It can really expand your imagination, as what you see is not stating the obvious, like in realism.”The show opens Friday, March 24, with a free opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. with light snacks and beverages. A $5 VIP ticket grants first-look access to the show from 5 to 6 p.m., along with the opportunity to purchase any of the artworks in the show before it opens to the public.Abstract Vibes, wh...

More statesmanship needed from Poilievre

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

Dear Editor:I am a supportive member of the Conservative Party of Canada. However, I disapprove of the tactics the leader and his advisers have designed in their attempts to bring down the Liberals/NDP and elevate the Conservatives.As Pierre Poilievre is the leader and mouthpiece of the Conservatives we look to him for direction and strategy in strengthening our position for a convincing win in the next election. His major and often his only tactic seems to be that of attack and attack. When Mr. Poilievre is asked a question about his own party’s doings, he turns on Mr. Trudeau and points out him and his party’s failures. If this were to happen once and a while, we could understand, but when it is constant, it begins to grind upon us and we begin to wonder if we chose the right leader from among the candidates that earlier vied for the leadership.Why doesn’t he cordially answer the questions presented to him instead of turning on his opponents and accuse them of some weakness or fai...

Common ingredient substitutions for smarter baking

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsAs costs have risen dramatically over the past few years for groceries and other commodities, I have become more and more aware of the importance of buying and and cooking smarter.As mentioned in previous columns, part of this has to do with reducing overall waste by buying less of what you know will not be used up before its expiration. In the past, I’ve given tips on how to repurpose food scraps and other kitchen consumables, but it occurred to me recently that many people have a tendency to hit a mental block when it comes to improvising in the kitchen. However, in the spirit of reduc-ing overall food waste and saving a bit of money and/or time, I have compiled a list of some of the most common and useful substitutions in baking.Knowing when you can simply swap out an ingredient is really useful. It can encourage you to use up the last of an ingredient that’s on the verge of spoil-ing by using it in a recipe.Rather than looking at substitutions as ...

Are Canadians ready to ‘ditch the switch’ with Daylight Saving Time?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

Quite honestly, why do we still have daylight saving time? We can’t think of any rational purpose that it still serves in a modern society today. Now most people still think that daylight saving time is useful for farmers and we should keep it for their benefit, but much like the myth about school summer holidays being for the benefit of farmers, this is not entirely true. Logically the animals and plants that farmers are growing and taking care of as part of their job do not care, or even comprehend our human concept of time regardless of it being spring forward, or fall back. Daylight saving time was only implemented back during the second year of World War I by Germany. This was to conserve power for the war effort, which makes sense, but with our current technology, and not being directly involved in any wars, should we still continue to follow daylight saving time?Nowadays, daylight saving time has the exact opposite effect on power consumption compared to the time of World War...

Barons donates equipment to Ukraine following fire department closure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsIt has been nearly one year since Barons was forced to disband their Fire Department due to a lack of volunteers and resources to support career firefighters.Although much of the equipment was transferred to nearby stations in Nobleford and Picture Butte, there was some fire and rescue equipment that no longer met the rigid safety standards in Canada. It was music to the Village’s ears when they learned the supplies could be donated to Firefighter Aid Ukraine (FFAU), a volunteer-run not for profit in Alberta that charters cargo jets to get needed medical and rescue supplies over to Ukraine.Established in 2014, Firefighter Aid Ukraine has utilized a wide network of volunteers to administer critical aid to Ukraine. In the week following the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, the organization successfully collected 14 tons of life rescue equipment, medical supplies and PPE, before departing from Edmonton in a chartered cargo plane on March 10, 2...

Lethbridge County Council March 16 meeting – selected briefs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:35:47 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsBursary offerings expandedNoting increases to tuition and cost of living, County Council has passed a motion to increase the number of bursary award recipients to three, and has upped the bursary amount to $1,500.In previous years, the County awarded two bursaries worth $1,000 each. The additional funding will come from the Council Discretionary Reserve.Deficit transfer approvedAdministration made the recommendation for council to approve the reallocation of funds from Restricted Surplus (Reserves) to Unrestricted Surplus be transferred from the Tax Equalization Reserve in the amount of $395,000 to offset the 2022 deficit.Administration’s report noted, “while there are some significant department deficits due to operational changes, inflation, fuel and supply cost increases, there were some annual budget and year-end transaction entries that contributed to the bottom line,” as well.“Although it is a significant number, it is approximately 2.5 per cent...