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Saint-Gobain to close New Hampshire plant blamed for PFAS water contamination

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) — A French company that has been blamed for contaminating drinking water in some New Hampshire communities with a group of chemicals known as PFAS said Wednesday it plans to close its plant there and will work with the state on an ongoing environmental investigation.Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics said in a statement that it will “restructure its composite solutions business in the United States,” after evaluating the company’s business goals and what “is in line with the company’s mission and plan.”The Paris-based company, which bought the Merrimack plant from ChemFAB in 2000, initially believed it wasn’t discharging anything harmful. But the state said that changed in 2004 after the company installed more sophisticated technology. After the company alerted the state, the state Department of Environmental Services determined Saint-Gobain was exceeding state air limits for PFAS, and the company agreed to significantly reduce emissions.PF...

Colorado man accused of killing 10 at supermarket in 2021 is competent for trial, prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

By COLLEEN SLEVIN (Associated Press)DENVER (AP) — A Colorado man charged with killing 10 people at a Boulder supermarket in 2021 is competent to proceed toward a trial, prosecutors said Wednesday. The district attorney’s office announced Wednesday that experts at the state mental hospital say Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa no longer has a mental disability that prevents him from helping in his defense and can now participate in the court case against him.A judge still must accept their conclusion in order for criminal proceedings to resume, it said.Earlier this year, defense lawyers confirmed Alissa has schizophrenia, a mental disorder which causes people to have trouble understanding reality.Being deemed mentally competent does not mean Alissa has been cured, just that experts think he is able to understand the proceedings and able to consult with his lawyers about his case, helping them defend him.The March 22, 2021, attack at a King Soopers grocery shocked a state that has see...

Colorado man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder supermarket in 2021 is competent for trial, prosecutors say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Colorado man accused of killing 10 people at a Boulder supermarket in 2021 is competent for trial, prosecutors say.

Mayo Clinic Q&A: 5 advances in cancer treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

Cynthia Weiss | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News NetworkDEAR MAYO CLINIC: In the past year, several family members have been diagnosed with various types of cancer, including leukemia, melanoma, breast cancer and colon cancer. In talking about treatments, it seems as if there is more available today than in the past. Can you share some of the advances in cancer care? What should I know as far as my risk for cancer?ANSWER: Although the rate of cancer diagnosis has fallen slightly post-COVID-19, cancer remains a common diagnosis in the U.S., affecting almost 2 million people annually. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cancer remains the leading cause of death in the U.S.The chronic nature of cancer is one of the reasons why there is so much research happening with countless organizations, including Mayo Clinic, which is always identifying and evaluating new treatment options to improve outcomes and reduce the burden of cancer for patients and their families.Advancemen...

5 ways to use rotisserie chicken for your next easy dinner

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

Julie Giuffrida | Los Angeles Times (TNS)Much as I love to cook, I am unwilling to feel as though I am working inside the oven while trying to get dinner on the table. I’m all about keeping the cooking to a minimum but still prefer to make my meals at home rather than eating out during the work week. My solution is this compromise: rotisserie chicken.One of my favorite go-tos, rotisserie chicken is a terrific starting point, and one chicken can provide several meals. It is available at most local grocery stores, though quick-service restaurants such as Pollo a la Brasa, California Chicken Cafe and Zankou Chicken often do a better job and offer the convenience of having your bird ready and waiting for you to pick up if you call ahead to order it. Yes, you can also order some side dishes and bring home a full meal, but my fridge is often full of leftovers begging to be part of another meal.When I don’t have a lot of leftovers hanging around, there are plenty of staples and pantry item...

At least 1 dead, 1 missing as Tropical Storm Franklin batters Dominican Republic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tropical Storm Franklin unleashed heavy floods and landslides in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday after making landfall in the country’s southern region, killing at least one person and injuring two others.The storm was expected to swirl for most of the day above the island of Hispaniola that the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti. Forecasters warned the storm could drop up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the Dominican Republic, with a maximum of 16 inches (41 centimeters) for the country’s western and central regions. Meanwhile, up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain are forecast for Haiti, with nearly 8 inches (20 centimeters) for the country’s eastern regions.“The population of the Dominican Republic must all be right now, without exception, in their homes, the homes of friends and family, or in shelters,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, emergency operations director.The Civil Defense identified the man killed as ...

King Charles offers condolences, support amid B.C., NWT wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

The people affected by the hundreds of wildfires in B.C. and the Northwest Territories are getting a letter of support and condolences from King Charles III.Shared by B.C. Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin Wednesday, the letter from the King says both he and his wife “were desperately concerned to learn of the recent states of emergency declared” in the province and territory.“We recall with great fondness our visit to Yellowknife and the Northwest Territories last year and we can only begin to imagine the heartbreak in those communities as they face this disastrous situation,” the letter continues.A message of condolences and support from His Majesty King Charles III: pic.twitter.com/1jqUq3sZmL— Janet Austin (@LGJanetAustin) August 23, 2023“We know that this Summer has been an incredibly difficult one for Canadians everywhere. Severe flooding, devastating fires, and deteriorating air quality due to smoke have impacted the country from coast to coa...

Flames devour forests and homes as wildfires that have left 20 dead in Greece burn out of control

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Advancing flames devoured forests and homes as wildfires that have killed 20 people raged across swathes of Greece Wednesday, with blazes also burning in neighboring Turkey and in Spain’s Canary Islands. Greece’s largest forest fire was burning out of control for the fifth day near the city of Alexandroupolis in the northeast. Another major blaze on the outskirts of Athens torched homes, reducing some to piles of smoking rubble, and encroached into the national park on Mount Parnitha, one of the last green areas near the Greek capital. From Friday to Tuesday, 355 wildfires broke out, Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias said. On Wednesday, firefighters were tackling 99 blazes, fire department spokesman Ioannis Artopios said in an evening briefing, including 55 that had broken out in the previous 24 hours.Authorities made 140 wildfire-related arrests, including 117 for negligence and 23 for deliberate arson, Artopios said, adding ...

Giuliani is expected to turn himself in on Georgia 2020 election charges as bond is set at $150,000

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani is expected to turn himself in at a jail in Atlanta on Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn then-President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.The former New York mayor was indicted last week along with Trump and 17 others. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said they participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020. Giuliani faces charges related to his work as a lawyer for Trump after the general election. At a meeting Wednesday with Willis’ team, Giuliani’s bond was set at $150,000, an attorney for Giuliani told The Associated Press. That’s higher than any of the defendants so far, except for Trump whose bond has been set at $200,000.“I’m feeling very, very good about it because I feel like I am defending the rights of all Americans, as I did so many times as a United S...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum will do a walk-through of the GOP primary debate stage on his injured leg

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:39 GMT

MILWAUKEE (AP) — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum plans to have a walk-through of the Republican presidential debate stage on his injured leg on Wednesday and then assess with his campaign if he can do the debate. Burgum hurt his Achilles tendon playing basketball with members of his campaign staff on Tuesday and was taken to the emergency room. Campaign spokesman Lance Trover said that it was “unclear if he will be able to stand at the debate,” set for Wednesday night in Milwaukee. He said Burgum’s team would have more information later on the injury, which was first reported by CNN.Missing the two-hour debate would be a major setback for Burgum, who is the least known of the eight candidates expected to take the stage at Fiserv Forum in downtown Milwaukee, home to the Milwaukee Bucks basketball team. The first debate of the GOP primary, which early front-runner Donald Trump has said he’s skipping, is Burgum’s best opportunity to introduce himself to voters. Bu...