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Farm laborers to receive greater protections under Biden administration proposal

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Immigrant farm workers would receive a raft of new protections under a Biden administration proposal to be announced Tuesday, which would boost safety requirements on farms and raise transparency around how such workers are brought to the U.S., to combat human trafficking. The proposal would reform the H-2A visa program, under which hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly from Mexico, take on seasonal jobs in the U.S. agriculture industry. The number of people admitted under the program has soared in recent years, as rapid hiring after the pandemic and a low unemployment rate has left many farmers scrambling for workers. Last year, about 370,000 people were admitted with H-2A visas, double the number in 2016 and five times as many as in 2005, Labor Department officials said. Yet as the popularity of the program has grown, so have concerns about abuses. Reports of overcrowded farm vehicles and fatalities have increased as the numbers have risen, senior departmen...

Google has new ad tracking settings: How to alter yours

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — If you use Google Chrome, you may have received a new pop-up in recent weeks, warning you about its new “enhanced ad privacy.” However, without a little effort on your end, your data isn’t exactly getting any privacy protection. It's part of Google's parting ways with online cookies, instead assigning certain topics to users based on their Chrome activity that can then be used to provide personalized ads. Some of the information can also be shared with sites so they can show you personalized ads and track the performance of their own ads.“We’re launching new privacy features that give you more choice over the ads you see,” the notification that some users are receiving reads. It then goes on to explain how Google Chrome tracks your interests “based on your recent browsing history.” Sites can later “ask for this information” in order to offer you personalized ads.  Google makes it easier to remove personal info Like other Chrome privacy settings we’ve seen bef...

Hurricane Lee whips up waves along northern Caribbean as it churns through open waters

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (WFLA) — Hurricane Lee whipped up waves of more than 15 feet on Monday as the Category 3 storm cranked through open waters just north of the Caribbean region.The storm is not expected to make landfall this week, although forecasters said residents of New England and nearby areas should keep a close eye on Lee, which was predicted to slowly turn northward later in the coming days. Hurricane Margot forms in Atlantic The storm was located about 575 miles south of Bermuda, according to the National Hurricane Center. It had maximum sustained winds of 115 mphand was moving northwest at 7 mph.The center said Lee is likely to pass just west of Bermuda late Thursday and Friday and be located offshore of the mid-Atlantic states and New England by the end of the week.(NOAA)“Although Lee is expected to weaken later in the week, it is expected to significantly increase in size and hazards will extend well away from the storm center,” the agency said.Bermuda could experien...

APD investigating after body found at park

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police launched an investigation Monday night after a passerby found a body at a park in far east Austin. According to APD, the person called 911 just after 9:30 p.m. to say they found what appeared to be a body at the John Trevino Jr. Metropolitan Park off FM 969. That is just half-a-mile east of Decker Lane. Police said detectives found the body in a woodline on the border of the park. An APD spokesperson did not how long the body had been there but said any life-saving measures would not have saved the person. Police did not classify the death as suspicious and said they were investigating further.

Cooler days ahead with rain likely by Friday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A few isolated showers or storms will be possible today (10%) after seeing some good soaking overnight rain and storms once again in the Hill Country. Mason and San Saba counties received the most; averaging between a quarter up to an inch of rain. Expect mainly cloudy skies for your Tuesday with high temperatures a few degrees cooler. NEW BLOG: Peak Atlantic hurricane season is here, what’s next? A few spotty storms will be possible again Wednesday as a cold front hangs to our north, but better rainfall chances look to arrive Thursday through Saturday. Rainfall totals for the next 7-days still appear to bring most of us 1.0"-2.0" of rain with localized amounts up to 3.0" in our northwestern counties.Potential rainfall through SaturdayAfter 78 days of triple digit heat this summer, our temperatures finally look to fall short of the century mark the next 7+ days. Afternoon high temps through the next 7 daysAfternoon highs will warm into the low to mid-90s daily, a ...

David French: Elon Musk’s antisemitism problem isn’t about free speech

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

Despite his loud and frequent protestations, Elon Musk may be the worst ambassador for free speech in America. To understand why, it’s necessary to look at X, the website formerly known as Twitter, which he owns and rules over like the generalissimo of a banana republic. The past several days are of particular relevance.Since the end of last month, the site has hosted a tsunami of vile antisemitic speech. While it’s difficult to peg the cause of any given trend on X, it appears that this latest wave of bigotry might have been sparked by an Aug. 29 meeting between the Anti-Defamation League chief executive, Jonathan Greenblatt, and the new X chief executive, Linda Yaccarino. As Greenblatt posted, the purpose of the meeting was to “address hate” on the platform.What happened next was extraordinary. Almost immediately, a number of notorious antisemitic accounts posted under the hashtag #BanTheADL. Musk boosted the campaign by liking a post by a far-right activist that called for bannin...

Social Dilemma: Is It Wrong to Keep My Husband From His Dying Former Mistress?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma is the most serious one we've ever had. Here's the email: Get the latest news, weather, and sports delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. My husband had an affair ten years ago. His infidelity almost destroyed our marriage. We had two young daughters at the time, and it took a separation and years of therapy for us to save what we had. I feel like I made the right choice and for eight years I feel like I have the husband and family that I have always dreamed of. Just last week, my husband shares with me a social media message from his former mistress. She is in hospice and will likely pass in a week. She asked to see my husband. At first, I said absolutely not. But then I had a change of heart. I gave my husband one hour to go and see her. When he came back, he shared that she was all alone, as her parents are both gone and so is her only sibling. He said it was really sad. He asked if he could go back and visit her until ...

Off the Beaten Path: Queen Bee Bakery

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

FULTONVILLE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The buzz is growing about a bakery in Montgomery County that serves up sweet treats with a dash of love! Queen Bee Bakery started in 2017 as a home bakery and in March they moved into their first storefront. Queen Bee Bakery opens in Fultonville “My mom named it. My dad used to call her the 'Queen Bee,' so that's where the name came from,” said Katie Cope, the owner.Queen Bee Bakery is located at 21 Main Street in Fultonville. For their current hours of operation and to learn more about their cookie decorating classes, visit their Facebook. You contact the owner, Katie, via email at [email protected] or by calling 518-853-2079.

Ask Amy: Parents normalize teen’s drinking at home

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

Dear Amy: My daughter and son-in-law allow their 17-year-old son to drink alcohol in their home — and not just a sip of wine.They believe that he will become normalized to drinking and not consider it “forbidden fruit” when he goes away to college.Since there is a history of alcoholism in our family, I’m not convinced this is wise.Am I wrong?— Concerned GrandmaDear Grandma: I’m wondering why any parent would want their teen to become normalized to drinking.Surely these parents don’t imagine that their son will enter the binge-drinking atmosphere of the typical college campus limiting his own excess due to the sophistication he’s acquired by being a social drinker at home.(“Sorry, Delta Tau Chi brothers, I’ll pass on that kegger as I slowly sip my fine Merlot.”)If these parents drink at home with their son, that’s their business. But if they think doing this will make him less vulnerable to problems with alcohol outside the home, they’re mistaken.There are very few campus...

What is the EU doing to reduce air pollution?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:41:06 GMT

Air quality affects people’s health. Parliament is fighting for stricter rules to regulate pollution.Poor air quality can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. But its devastating effects also extend to biodiversity, as it poisons crops and forests, causing significant economic losses.As part of the zero pollution ambition set out in the EU's European Green Deal, the European Parliament has proposed setting stricter air quality standards by 2030 with targets for particulate pollutants. The health cost of air pollutionAir has been polluted for decades by nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter, with higher concentrations in populated urban areas.Particulate matterParticulate matter refers to tiny particles or droplets.  Being smaller than a hair, they can pass into the bloodstream through respiration. They can include organic chemicals, dust, soot and metals.Chronic exposure can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases that may be leth...