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Asia-Pacific needs disaster warning systems to counter rising climate change risks, report says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

BANGKOK (AP) — Countries in the Asia-Pacific region need to drastically increase their investments in disaster warning systems and other tools to counter rising risks from climate change, a United Nations report said Tuesday. The report issued Tuesday by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, or ESCAP, says nearly $145 billion is needed to set up systems to minimize deaths and damage from floods, earthquakes, drought and other disasters. Artificial intelligence, satellites, remote sensing and other technologies can aid in forecasting, notifying the public in times of emergency and providing other services, but telecommunications systems must be fortified to ensure that vulnerable communities will get that information, said the report, which was released to mark the U.N.’s Disaster Resilience Week. Most countries have failed to spend even 10% of what is needed, the report said. Half of all countries lack early warning systems and even fewer have systems that are...

Ties with far-right hinder Spain’s Popular Party forming a government despite election win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Chances to form a government have dwindled for Spain’s conservative Popular Party after its election win after two small regional parties refused to lend their support due to the potential presence of the far-right Vox party in the cabinet.Alberto Nuñez Feijóo’s right-of-center Popular Party, or PP, won the most votes in Sunday´s ballot and finished with 133 seats, far short of the 176 majority figure in the 350-seat Spanish parliament.Feijóo tried garnering support from other parties but the numbers do not add up. As of Tuesday, he only has the support of ultra-nationalist Vox, with 33 seats and the tiny conservative UPN party, which has only one seat.On Monday, two small conservative parties — the Basque region’s PNV with five seats and the Canary Coalition with one — dealt Feijóo a blow by saying they would not support any government with Vox party members in it. Meanwhile, focus has shifted toward the radical Catalan secessionist party, Junts (Tog...

Climate change fingerprints found on heat waves around the world: Study

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

The fingerprints of climate change are all over the intense heat waves gripping the globe this month, a new study finds. Researchers say the deadly hot spells in the American Southwest and Southern Europe could not have happened without the continuing buildup of warming gases in the air.These unusually strong heat waves are becoming more common, Tuesday's study said. The same research found the increase in heat-trapping gases, largely from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas has made another heat wave — the one in China — 50 times more likely with the potential to occur every five years or so.A stagnant atmosphere, warmed by carbon dioxide and other gases, also made the European heat wave 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit (2.5 degrees Celsius) hotter, the one in the United States and Mexico 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) warmer and the one in China one 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) toastier, the study found.Several climate scienti...

Gov. Greg Abbott signs $18 billion tax cut package for Texas property owners

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) – Gov. Greg Abbott has signed an $18 billion tax cut for Texas property owners, sending the proposals to voters for their approval later this year.The package puts $12.6 billion of the state’s historic budget surplus toward making cuts to school taxes for all property owners, dropping property taxes an average of more than 40% for some 5.7 million Texas homeowners and offering brand-new tax savings for smaller businesses and other commercial and nonhomesteaded properties. $18 billion deal reached: Texans to get biggest property tax cut in state’s history On Saturday, Abbott added his signature to Senate Bill 2, the property tax cuts bill, and Senate Bill 3, a franchise tax relief bill, which were passed by Texas lawmakers two weeks ago after months of negotiations between the state’s top Republicans.A third measure, House Joint Resolution 2, will go before voters in a constitutional election in November. Voters wo...

Man with warrants in custody after southeast Austin SWAT callout, APD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said a man was taken into custody Monday night after refusing to come out of an apartment complex in southeast Austin. According to APD, the man had three felony warrants. Police said investigators had been looking for the man for two days before finding him around 7:30 p.m. at the Douglas Landing Apartments on Douglas Street. That is located off East Oltorf Street just west of Pleasant Valley Road. Police said the man ran into an apartment and they called in SWAT around 9:25 p.m. APD took the man into custody around 11 p.m. According to APD, there were others in the apartment with the man. Police said they were taken out as well. According to police, officers evacuated nearby apartments around the time they called SWAT. APD said Austin Travis County-EMS checked out six people but no one was hurt. According to APD, Department of Public Safety troopers were on scene helping by blocking and directing traffic.

Town hall on future of mental health diversion program in Travis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Travis County leaders will be holding a town hall Tuesday night to look at the finer details of what a mental health diversion center could look like in Austin, and what services it can provide. County Judge Andy Brown and commissioner Ann Howard will be meeting with the public at the town hall at 6 p.m. at the Travis County administration building. Judge Brown is hoping to get feedback from the community. "There are a lot of different ideas of how a good mental health diversion center could work," Judge Brown said. "There's a lot of different ideas about what mental health needs our community has. The best way for me and the other commissioners to find out what the community wants to see in a mental health diversion center is for people to come."Diversion center programIn March, the Travis County commissioners approved a resolution to develop a behavioral health diversion center. Judge Brown said a federally-funded diversion pilot program will begin in the next cou...

Off the Beaten Path: Herman Melville House

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

LANSINGBURGH, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The author known most famously for writing, Moby Dick, once called the Capital Region home. From 1838 to 1847, a young Herman Melville began his writing career while he lived in a house in Lansingburgh. Off the Beaten Path: The Farm Store at Tiashoke The property is preserved and maintained by the Lansingburgh Historical Society. Two areas of the house are occupied by private residents, including the author's bedroom where he did a majority of his writing.He wrote his first two novels, Omoo and Typee, while he lived here. He also wrote poetry during the same period of time.The property is preserved and maintained by the Lansingburgh Historical Society. Off the Beaten Path: Robert Frost Stone House Museum The Herman Melville House and Museum is located at 114th Street and 1st Avenue in Lansingburgh. The author's birthday is on August 1. The Lansingburgh Historical Society is holding a special event on August 12 to recognize the milestone. The event...

Two dead in Mendon head-on crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

MENDON, Vt. (NEWS10) -- Vermont State Police responded to a head-on crash on US RT 4 near Woodward Road in Mendon on Monday. Police say John Panoushek, 79, and Jean Panoushek, 74, both of South Woodstock, Vermont, died as a result of the crash. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Police responded around 10:19 a.m. on Monday to US RT 4 near Woodward Road in Mendon for a report of a two-car head-on crash. Upon arrival, both John and Jean Panoushek were pronounced dead. They were both in a 2017 Toyota RAV 4.Police say two occupants of the second car involved, a 2015 Toyota Sienna, were extricated from the car with life-threatening injuries. Both were taken to a nearby hospital. Police investigate fatal New Scotland crash Law enforcement says a preliminary investigation revealed the RAV 4 was driving westbound on US RT 4 when the driver crossed the center line, striking the Sienna head-on. The circumstances of the crash are still un...

Andre Jackson Jr. returns home to throw out first pitch at Mohawks game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

AMSTERDAM, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Amsterdam native Andre Jackson Jr. returned to his hometown to throw the first pitch in the Amsterdam Mohawks game against the Albany Dutchmen on Monday. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Look who’s home! Andre Jackson Jr. is getting ready to throw out the first pitch before the @MohawksBaseball take on the @DutchmenPGCBL Tune into @FOX23News & @WTEN tonight for the story! pic.twitter.com/U9la2FDbbY— Brandon A. Williams (@bwillmedia) July 24, 2023The game was postponed in the fourth inning due to inclement weather. The Mohawks were leading 2-1.

Ask Amy: Vietnam War casts long shadow over family

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:51:00 GMT

Dear Amy: More than 50 years ago, my sister married a guy who skipped the States after being drafted into the US Army (it was during the Vietnam War).I was also drafted and served, including going to Vietnam.My mother was totally against my sister marrying this guy because he was on the lam.I was asked to meet with his parents when they came to my Mom’s house, with instructions from my parents to make it very clear that they were totally against this marriage, making me the bad guy in this scenario.My sister told our mom that if I wanted to attend the wedding, the invitation was left on top of my mom’s refrigerator. I took it personally because I was married and living with my wife and son and the invitation should have been sent to our home address.I did not attend the ceremony.They still live outside the country, but their children — my nephews and nieces — are American citizens and live here. They are grown and have kids of their own.They greet me with respect a...