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Major wildfires burn in Greece, Spain’s Canary Island of Tenerife

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Major wildfires were burning in Greece and on one of Spain’s Canary Islands off the northwest coast of Africa Monday, with hot, dry and windy conditions hampering the efforts of hundreds of firefighters battling the blazes, two of which have been burning for several days.European Union officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in Europe, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017.In Greece, authorities ordered the evacuation of two villages in the central Viotia region, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) northwest of Athens, after a forest fire broke out Monday morning. The coast guard put two patrol boats and several fishing boats and private vessels on standby in case an evacuation by sea was necessary.Authorities said the body of a man was recovered from a sheep pen in the area under evacuation, with local media reporting the man apparently died of smoke inhalation while...

Multi-vehicle crash in Etobicoke sends 4 to hospital with serious injuries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

Four people are in hospital with serious injuries after a multi-vehicle crash in north Etobicoke on Monday morning.Toronto police say the collision happened just before 6 a.m. at Albion Road and Islington Avenue.Police say three vehicles were involved, including one that flipped over and struck a traffic light.One person became trapped inside a vehicle as a result. Paramedics tell CityNews four people were taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Southbound Islington is closed at Albion for the investigation.COLLISION:Albion Rd & Islington Ave5:53am– vehicle has flipped and struck traffic light post– 3 vehicles involved– someone trapped in vehicle– police are o/s– unknown injuries– s/b Islington is closed at Albion– consider alternate routes#GO1947712^se— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) August 21, 2023 

The Bidens will travel to Maui to meet with wildfire survivors and first responders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, California (AP) — President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are traveling to Maui on Monday to comfort survivors of the devastating wildfires that ripped through the western part of the Hawaiian island earlier this month, as his administration responds to the devastation whose full scope is still unknown.The Bidens are taking a detour from their weeklong vacation in the Lake Tahoe area for the day trip to Lahaina, a historic town of 13,000 people that was virtually destroyed by the flames. While there, the first couple will meet with first responders and be briefed by state and local officials about the ongoing response.They will also view the damaged town, both from helicopters and on the ground, and the Democratic president will deliver remarks paying tribute to the victims of the wildfires, which have killed more than 100 people since they began on Aug. 8.The president will also tap Bob Fenton, a regional leader at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as...

Monday Forecast: Temps in low 80s, partly cloudy conditions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

CHICAGO — Temptures in the low 80s Monday with partly cloudy conditions. Winds: ENE 5-10 G15, wide temp range. High: 82/77. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Partly cloudy tonight. Winds: NE 5-10. Low: 69.Tuesday Forecast: Mainly sunny, cooler lakeside. Winds: ESE 5-10. High: 91.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

What to know about new COVID-19 shots, RSV treatments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

(The Hill) -- The U.S. will head into this year's fall and winter respiratory virus season with new tools aimed at easing the threat of infections due to a "tripledemic" of COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu. Last year saw scores of young children infected by RSV, overwhelming children's hospitals and emergency rooms across the country. The health system was also pressured by older Americans getting sick from COVID-19 and RSV, though it wasn't as bad as many feared.Still, health officials and providers will have new shots for RSV in the coming weeks and months, as well as an updated COVID-19 booster. The youngest kids will have a new monoclonal antibody treatment intended to prevent them from getting RSV.Here's what to know:The COVID-19 booster will likely be available by the end of SeptemberDrugmakers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are all designing boosters to target a strain known as XBB. Pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration, they should be on t...

Student test scores, already beleaguered, face new threats from extreme heat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

(The Hill) -- Student learning and test scores are shown to fall when children are faced with extreme heat, a worrying sign as heat waves and rising temperatures become the norm in the U.S.During this past week, millions of students went back to school even as the Pacific Northwest faced an unprecedented heat wave that is suspected of killing three people. The persistent soaring temperatures, especially in areas unfamiliar with them, disproportionately impact children in rural or low-income areas where school districts may not have adequate air conditioning.“My colleagues and I have a couple of studies where we find that hotter temperatures during the school year affect the rate of learning,” said Jisung Park, assistant professor in the Department of Public Policy at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation.“When we look at how more days above 85 and more days above 90 in the school year, it affects test scores. We find that it actually reduces the rate of learning,” he added.The predi...

Bartlett fertilizer plant a 'total loss' in fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- A fertilizer plant in Williamson County was destroyed in a fire that burned overnight Sunday into early Monday morning. Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said a fire at the American Plant Food Corporation started around 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The plant is located on Hwy 95 in Bartlett, near County Road 351. Bartlett Municipal Government said on social media it anticipates having to shut down Hwy 95 in the area Monday morning as crews work to put out the fire. Drivers are asked to take alternate routes Monday morning. People within a quarter-mile of the plant were evacuated. Gravell said no one was hurt in the fire. The fire was contained, but crews were letting it burn overnight before starting to drop water on it Monday morning. Grass around the perimeter of the plant also burned. The fire grew to around six acres at one point. It's unclear how it started. Bartlett Independent School district is monitoring the fire and has been in communication with...

Will a tropical low bring rain to Central Texas?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Thunderstorm coverage has increased west of Florida as a tropical wave moves through the Gulf of Mexico toward Texas. Potential for a Tropical DepressionAs of Sunday evening the National Hurricane Center have increased the odds that our wave turns into a Tropical Depression to 80%. If a tropical depression were to form, it would likely do so in the western Gulf, just before pushing ashore into Texas. Increasing chances for at least a tropical depressionA Tropical Depression occurs when you have an area of low pressure with thunderstorms and a circular wind flow, but the maximum sustained wind speeds are less than 39 mph. Winds stronger than 39 mph would turn this into a Tropical Storm, which is also a possibility. The National Hurricane Center have hinted they may issue Tropical Storm Watches for South Texas on Monday.Big PictureWe have an increasingly strong area of high pressure setting up in the Midwest, influencing the weather across most of the country.Heat Dom...

Tropical rain possible early week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- In case you've lost count, today is expected to be our 45th day in a row of triple digit heat and our 61st for the year... and if we don't get an isolated shower in the right spot tomorrow, the tally continues to climb.Afternoon highs will soar to the low 100s areawide today. A mix of sunshine and scattered clouds will stretch across the area with Excessive Heat Warnings/Heat Advisories and a Red Flag Warning in place this afternoon and evening.Red Flag Warning in effect 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. MondayHeat alerts in effect again Monday 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.Clouds will thicken up later tonight with a low (10%) rain chance ahead of our best chances for rain in weeks coming on Tuesday.Read all about Tuesday's rain chances and the tropical system in the Gulf of Mexico in our updated blog linked below.Tropical disturbance in Gulf UPDATED BLOG: WILL A TROPICAL LOW BRING RAIN TO CENTRAL TEXAS? Austin Interactive Weather Stats (2023) FIRST WARNING WEATHER: Stay up to date with you...

VOTE: 2023 Taco Shack Bowl spirit competition, Anderson vs. McCallum

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:03 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Pour the salsa and season the beef, it's Taco Shack Bowl spirit competition time!The 22nd annual rivalry game featuring Anderson and McCallum kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday from House Park. But before the game on the gridiron, the spirit competition pits the cheer squads from both schools in an old-fashioned cheer-off with early-morning pep rallies at two Taco Shack locations on North Lamar Boulevard and West Anderson Lane.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newslettersYou, the fans, get to decide the winner. If it's anything like last year's nail-biter with McCallum winning by 17 votes, it'll be another epic battle for the record books.KXAN will be at both locations Thursday morning during KXAN News Today to see who has the most spirit. Fans can vote in the poll all week leading up to the live shots, but when the clock strikes 6 a.m. Thursday, voting will be closed ...