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From urchin crushing to lab-grown kelp, efforts to save California’s kelp forests show promise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

CASPAR BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A welding hammer strapped to her wrist, Joy Hollenback slipped on blue fins and swam into the churning, chilly Pacific surf one fall morning to do her part to save Northern California’s vanishing kelp forests.Hollenback floated on the swaying surface to regulate her breathing before free diving into the murky depths toward the seafloor. There, she spotted her target: voracious, kelp-devouring purple urchins. Within seconds she smashed 20 to smithereens. “If you’re angry, it’s a cathartic way to get it all out,” Hollenback joked. “It’s ecologically sanctioned mayhem.”The veterinarian who lives in Berkeley, California is part of a crew of volunteers who swim, snorkel and dive armed with pick axes and hammers on a sole mission: To crush purple urchins that largely destroyed 96% of California’s iconic bull kelp forests between 2014 and 2020, and with it harmed red abalone and other sea life they supported.The pilot project off th...

With Putin’s reelection all but assured, Russia’s opposition still vows to undermine his image

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Behind bars in penal colonies or in self-exile abroad, Russian opposition figures vow they will still put up a fight against President Vladimir Putin as he seeks yet another term in office in an election in March.Although they believe Putin will be declared the winner no matter how voters cast their ballots, they say they hope to undermine the widespread public support he enjoys, turn popular opinion against the devastating war he unleashed on Ukraine, and show those who oppose it already that they are not alone.“No one but us will step into this battle for the hearts and the minds of our fellow citizens. So we need to do it and win,” imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said in an online statement relayed from behind bars.Putin, 71, announced Friday that he will run for president again, to pile another six years onto his two dozen in power. He could even run again in 2030.The vote is scheduled for March 15-17, with his victory all but assured....

Voters to choose between US Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire for Houston mayor

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Two of Houston’s most powerful and longest serving political titans are facing off in a mayoral runoff election Saturday to see who will lead the nation’s fourth largest city, a young and diverse metro area facing challenges including crime, crumbling infrastructure and potential budget shortfalls.U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire, both Democrats, made it to Saturday’s runoff after breezing past a crowded field of nearly 20 candidates in the Nov. 7 general election.If elected, Jackson Lee, 73, would be Houston’s first Black female mayor. Since 1995, she has represented Houston in Congress and before that served on Houston’s City Council.Whitmire, 74, is one of Texas’ most powerful Democratic lawmakers in the state Legislature, where he has helped drive tough-on-crime policies while also casting himself as a reformer during his 50 years in office.His campaign focused on reducing crime, improving streets and reaching across the political aisle.“I...

Tensions are soaring between Guyana and Venezuela over century-old territorial dispute

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A century-old territorial dispute deepened by the discovery of oil is boiling over between neighbors Guyana and Venezuela. Steeped in patriotism, the Venezuelan government is seizing on the fight to boost support ahead of a presidential election among a population fed up with a decade-long crisis that has pushed many into poverty.Venezuelans on Sunday approved a referendum to claim sovereignty over Essequibo, a mineral-rich territory that accounts for two-thirds of Guyana and lies near big offshore oil deposits. Military confrontation appears unlikely for now, but several countries have echoed Guyana’s concerns over an annexation by its neighbor to the west.These are some of the key aspects of the growing dispute:WHY IS THE BORDER UNDER DISPUTE?Venezuela says it was the victim of a land theft conspiracy in 1899, when Guyana was a British colony and arbitrators from Britain, Russia and the United States decided the boundary. The U.S. represented Venezuela in...

Temps trend lower Saturday after some early showers; a cold Sunday may include few flurries for the Bear's game, but warming returns later next week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

WGN WEATHER HEADLINESTOM SKILLING: "AN HONOR WHICH IS BEYOND WORDS. THANK YOU!""I have to thank the faculty and staff at NIU and all of the incredible Northern Illinois University meteorology interns who have worked with over the years here in our WGN weather office. I understand a number of you played a major role in making this happen. To each of you — and to Dr. Victor Gensini and all of his colleagues in NIU's meteorology department — THANK YOU! Anyone who knows me knows I'm not often beyond words — but I'm there right now! Never expected this recognition."NIU-trained meteorologists play an incredible role across the the meteorological profession — so to be recognized in this manner by NIU is an honor which is beyond words. THANK YOU!"Friday GOES EAST satellite view of the warm air flooding into the country from the Pacific and the GulfFRIDAY’S ABNORMALLY MILD TEMPS — A RESULT OF AN EL NIÑO WINTER?Friday's abnormally mild temps and weather pattern across the central U.S. has El ...

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass renders first aid to injured news photographer

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass lept into action when a KCAL television news photographer collapsed while covering a press event on Thursday.The incident unfolded at the L.A. Police Department's training academy in Elysian Park where Bass joined LAPD Chief Michel Moore in congratulating the graduating class of recruits.According to KNX News Radio reporter Craig Fiegener, who witnessed the incident, the photographer collapsed and hit his head on the ground."The very first person to run to his rescue was the mayor," Fiegener said.KNX shared cell phone footage on X, formerly Twitter, that shows Bass, an LAPD officer and another person tending to the injured man.L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is seen assisting a news photographer who collapsed at a press event on Dec. 7, 2023. (KNX News)"A couple of people who, I don’t know if they were medics but they had some medical equipment, helped wrap his head up from the bleeding ... but the mayor was the one who was in charge," Fiegener said.Bass, who work...

CA couple prints Kobe Bryant grass mural using only air

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

More than three years after the death of basketball star, Kobe Bryant, fans continue finding creative ways to honor his legacy. A California couple used their own special technology to print a 115-foot by 92-foot Kobe Bryant mural on grass using only air. The image features Bryant in his Los Angeles Lakers jersey holding a basketball.Using a lawn mower, the grass image was printed at a park in Pleasanton using AirPrint technology from the couple’s company, New Ground Technology, which gently bends the grass towards or away from the viewer to make the dark and light contrast to create the grass imagery. According to USA Today, Kelli Pearson created the design by using several pictures of Bryant, and her husband, Pete Davis, loaded the image into a specialized lawn mower as he brought it to life.CA couple prints Kobe Bryant grass mural using only air (New Ground Technology)The couple posted a video of the image creation process on their company’s YouTube channel on Wednesday. "Th...

4 arrested after ransacking Highland Park shoe store

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

Four people were arrested after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from a Highland Park shoe store on Wednesday.The suspects were identified as:-Traveon Dunn, 19-Leon McCall, 21-Jeydy Salcedo, 21-Travon Nelson, 22Los Angeles police responded to a robbery at a store in the 6200 block of York Boulevard around noontime.Employees said the suspects had grabbed over $5,000 worth of shoes and clothing in the store without paying. They exited the shop and fled in a getaway car.Store security guards provided officers with a detailed description of the suspects’ vehicle. Officers on the ground, along with an LAPD helicopter, tracked the suspects’ car to a home on the 200 Block of East 102nd Street in Watts.Police spotted the suspects as they were bringing the stolen items into the residence. The four suspects were taken into custody. While searching the home, officers discovered a large amount of stolen merchandise. Southern California home targeted by armed burgla...

LIST: Bay Area bars showing Haney-Prograis pay-per-view fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

(KRON) -- Saturday night's fight between Devin Haney and Regis Prograis will be the first championship boxing event in San Francisco in over a decade. Locals are excited to watch the two fight for the WBC super lightweight title as the Chase Center has sold out.For those not in the arena interested in watching the fight, the event will be shown on DAZN pay-per-view ($59.99 for DAZN subscribers and $74.99 for non-subscribers). Would rather watch it at a bar nearby? KRON4 compiled a list of establishments showing the Haney-Prograis match. ‘F*** the Haneys!’: Tensions rise at weigh-in as Haney, Prograis prepare for world title fight in SF The Abbey Tavern (San Francisco)Condor Club (San Francisco)Gold Club (San Francisco)The Athletic Club (Oakland)Smokin Woods BBQ (Oakland)Rickey's Sports Lounge (San Leandro)Dave and Buster's (Concord, Milpitas, Fairfield and Daly City)Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster. As of Friday evening, the cheapest ticket is $37.50 -- cheaper than the co...

‘You never know until the last step if it’s some kind of scam’: DC Police urge caution after online marketplace robberies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:58 GMT

A Northeast D.C. man has been arrested for robbing multiple victims he met through Facebook Marketplace.D.C. police Fifth District Commander Sylvan Altieri says police arrested 19-year-old Elijah Porter without incident after he robbed four separate victims who fell for digital selling scams.“Sometimes he posed as a seller, sometimes he posed as a buyer,” Altieri explained. “If he was a seller, he’d rob victims of their money. If he was a buyer, he’d rob them of their items.”Altieri said the first robbery occurred in Northeast D.C. back in early November. Then, another happened close by, just a week later.“Once we got two — once it was in the same block, and it was Facebook Marketplace both times — we realized it was probably going to be a pattern,” Altieri told WTOP.Two more robberies and a partial photo snapped by a victim led police to execute a search warrant and take Porter in.“We were able to uncover evidence from the last robbery,” Altieri said. ...