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Struggle to certify results of Guatemala’s June 25 presidential vote suffers another setback

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The struggle to certify the results of Guatemala’s first-round presidential election has suffered another reverse after the chief justice of the Supreme Court issued an order blocking the certification. Chief Justice Silvia Valdés Quezada issued the unusual order late Friday. She stipulated the process could not go forward until the electoral authorities that conducted a review of vote tally sheets from the June 25 election reported back to her on their methods and any inconsistencies found. Valdés Quezada said they had to do that within 12 hours.The reviews witnessed by the AP found improperly marked or counted votes amounted to less than 1% of the total, not enough to change the results.Experts said Saturday that Valdés Quezada’s order was strange because she was the only justice to sign it. According to normal procedure, it should have been signed by all 13 justices.“She alone is suspending the electoral process,” said constitutional lawyer Aleja...

Tennessee can enforce ban on transgender care for minors, court says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth can go into effect — at least for now — after a federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily reversed a lower court ruling.Late last month a district court judge in Tennessee found that the state’s new law banning transgender therapies like hormone blockers and surgeries for transgender youth was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sex. The judge blocked large swaths of the law from taking effect.On Saturday, however, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati granted an emergency appeal from Tennessee. In a 2-1 ruling, the majority wrote that decisions on emerging policy issues like transgender care are generally better left to legislatures rather than judges.“Given the high stakes of these nascent policy deliberations — the long-term health of children facing gender dysphoria — sound government usually benefits from more rather than less debate,” wr...

Militants in southeast Iran attack a police station and kill 2 security forces, state TV says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Four militants attacked a police station in southeastern Iran and killed two security forces, state TV reported Saturday.The assault took place in Zahedan, a city in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border with Pakistan. It triggered a shootout that left two security forces were killed, the report said.Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard said in a statement that the four militants were killed. The report quoted Alireza Marhamati, the province’s deputy governor, as saying the militants were trying to gain access to the police station and were equipped with grenades, but did not elaborate.The state-run IRNA news agency on its Telegram channel said a Sunni separatist group affiliated with al-Qaida and known as Jeish al-Adl, or Army of Justice, claimed responsibility for the attack.IRNA also reported that authorities Saturday hanged two men involved in the October 26 deadly attack on Shah Cheragh mosque in the city...

Does a higher SPF really provide more skin protection?

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Wednesday marked an unofficial heat record as the average global temperature reached 62.9 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Associated Press.With over 38 million Americans facing some kind of heat watch in recent days, staying safe from the warm weather is on the minds of many.But although the high temperatures might seem like the main focus when it comes to avoiding harm from extreme conditions, your skin is a lot more concerned with the high UV ratings — something sunscreen is crucial in protecting from.Does sunscreen really matter?The answer is a resounding "yes."Sunscreen is a daily essential in protecting yourself from skin cancer and other forms of skin damage, said the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.That includes both the recent record-hot days and those when you aren't even going outside — even during the wintertime.If you spend time next to a sunny window or drive during the daytime hours, you're still likely exposed to rays that can ...

It was a popular national monument, until it was robbed to extinction

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — For decades, national parks have served to protect sites with some sort of natural or cultural significance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go smoothly. That’s especially true for one former site. In the late 1800s, ranchers in South Dakota’s Black Hills, near Minnekahta, stumbled upon fossilized prehistoric plants from the Cretaceous period — and lots of them. It wasn’t long before scientists from institutions nationwide caught wind of the discoveries and came to the area to buy up the fossils, Atlas Obscura explains.Among the scientists was Yale University paleontology student George Reber Wieland, who had already gained recognition for discovering the largest marine turtle ever documented, the Achelon ischyros.  A national park site can lose NPS status: Here’s how that happens He also had a special admiration for fossilized cycads, even placing some among his backyard plants at his Connecticut home. Wieland was so interested in the fossilized cycads foun...

Would-be robber completely ignored in Atlanta nail salon, video shows

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

ATLANTA, Ga. (WFLA) – An attempted robbery at an Atlanta nail salon resulted in crickets after everyone in the store ignored the thief.The would-be robber entered the salon Monday, holding what appeared to be a bag with his other hand concealed inside it. Brandishing the bag as if it contained a weapon, the man demanded money from several people seated near the door, video posted to the City of Atlanta Police Department's Facebook page shows. Thief cuts hole in roof of Los Angeles wine shop, steals $700,000 worth of rare bottles "Everybody get down! Get down everybody! Empty out your pockets! Give me all your money!" the suspect shouted.But no one moved, the video shows.(Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta via Storyful)The suspect continued to demand money, approaching a man behind a point-of-sale machine. That man instead answered an incoming call. Video: Ohio store clerk grabs sword, fights back against armed robber The suspect, seemingly growing exasperated, then approached what a...

Power outage in Leander no longer impacting traffic signals

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A power outage caused several traffic signals in Leander to temporarily stop working Saturday morning, according to the Leander Police Department.At approximately 10 a.m., LPD said power was restored and signals were working properly again.Officials had drivers temporarily treat the intersections with downed signals as 4-way stops."Please take this time to ensure you know how to handle a signal that has none of the lights active when you encounter one. It is important for everyone's safety," LPD said.Officials said 183A Toll Road at US 183, 183A Toll Road at San Gabriel Parkway and 183A Toll Road at Hero Way all went out.Drivers at four intersecting roads had to come to a complete stop and let the other three roads have a turn to go before it is their turn. LPD said to always yield to the vehicle on your right.According to Pedernales Electric Cooperative, as of 8:30 a.m., roughly 8,000 meters went out in the Leander area. This outage is no longer on PEC's out...

Children's allergies affected by the changing climate

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

(KXAN) — It's their time to have fun, to play with their friends. It's a time for them to be happy and relaxed. This may not be the case for some children whose health is being affected by what is happening to our climate. Pollen on tree (Getty Images)There are some parts of the country (and the world) where, in winter, a child spends more time indoors than outdoors because the temperature is too cold to be outside. Spring comes along and allows youngsters to get out there and enjoy themselves.But, wait. That may not be the case in some locales. More and more, we are finding the spring pollen season starts earlier. We have seen locally that trees are blooming earlier and earlier, leading to that early start to the dreaded pollen season. Pollen counts taken daily at KXAN showed an early start to ash and oak seasons.It's also led to some pollen seasons lasting longer. Here at home, this meant that those who suffer from "cedar fever" were still having to deal with it into April.Accordi...

An Iowa meteorologist started talking about climate change on newscasts. Then came the harassment.

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

By HANNAH FINGERHUT, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and SUMMER BALLENTINEDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The harassment started to intensify as TV meteorologist Chris Gloninger did more reporting on climate change during local newscasts — outraged emails and even a threat to show up at his house.Gloninger said he had been recruited, in part, to “shake things up” at the Iowa station where he worked, but backlash was building. The man who sent him a series of threatening emails was charged with third-degree harassment. The Des Moines station asked him to dial back his coverage, facing what he called an understandable pressure to maintain ratings.“I started just connecting the dots between extreme weather and climate change, and then the volume of pushback started to increase quite dramatically,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press.So, on June 21, the 38-year-old announced that he was leaving KCCI-TV — and his 18-year career in broadcast journalism altogether.Gloninger’s experience is all...

One killed in Denver traffic crash

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:55:44 GMT

A fatal traffic crash remains under investigation Saturday by the Denver Police Department.One person was killed in a crash that happened after midnight near East 56th Avenue and Joliet Street. The victim, who has not been identified, was declared dead on the scene, Denver police spokesman Kurt Barnes said.No information on the cause of the wreck was available.Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.