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Illinois COVID hospitalizations jump again: Maps show where it’s worst

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – For the second week in a row, the number of people in the U.S. being admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 rose by a significant percentage.An additional 9,056 people were hospitalized with the virus last week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, representing a 12.5% jump over the previous week.The current summer wave of COVID hospitalizations started a few weeks ago. Last week, the number of new hospitalizations was up 12.1% over the week before.But in about two dozen states, the surge in hospitalizations is far more than 12%. Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming all saw at least a 20% increase in new COVID hospitalizations.New Hampshire saw the biggest jump in a single week at 96% — nearby doubling the number of hospital admissions from the week before.The percentage increase in new COVI...

Do male actors' heads get bigger as they age?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Insert joke about an actor with a big ego here. But no, really, you read the headline right: Are male actors' heads actually getting bigger with time? If this sounds like gibberish to you, well, welcome to social media's latest fixation.The phenomenon has been noted across both TikTok and Reddit, with many pointing to the differing head sizes of actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, John Travolta and Bradley Cooper. And while it would be hard to get confirmation on whether these stars have bigger craniums than they used to, the possibility of growing a larger head with age has real science behind it.Yes, that's right. Many men experience head expansion as they age. Why are movie theater snacks so expensive? Research by Duke University Adjunct Assistant Professor/ Ophthalmologist Michael Richard, of Duke's Department of Ophthalmology, examined the CT scans of 100 people to determine whether human skulls continue growing. Richard's research found that certain parts of participa...

Wildfire in San Marcos under control, 80% contained, Hays Co. OEM says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Officials responded to a wildfire in Hays County that burned at least six acres on Saturday, the Hays County Office of Emergency Management said.According to county officials, the situation was under control shortly before 2 p.m. Furthermore, the forward progress of the fire was stopped. Units were conducting extensive overhauls and mop-up of the remaining burning area.The fire, which is known as the East Owl Hollow fire, was 80% contained shortly before 3 p.m., Hays County OEM said.Shortly after noon, an evacuation order was initiated by the San Marcos Fire Department and was lifted at 1:34 p.m., Hays County OEM said.

Abbott files response to federal preliminary injunction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott filed a 30-page response this week to the federal government seeking a preliminary injunction over the buoys meant to deter migrants from crossing illegally on the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass.The Department of Justice sued Abbott last month, claiming the state's violating the Rivers and Harbors Act. RELATED: DOJ files lawsuit against Texas over buoy barrier in Rio Grande In response, the Texas Attorney General's office claimed the buoys were in a section of the Rio Grande not navigable anyway. Attorneys added that if it were, the buoys did not decrease the capacity of the river under the act.The International Water and Boundary Commission previously warned Texas against deploying the giant buoys before they ever went in the water, while Texas maintained the state has a right to protect its borders.

Minor-league HR leader Luken Baker earns another Cardinals callup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Luken Baker, a Cardinals prospect who leads minor league baseball with 33 home runs this season, has slugged his way back to the big leagues. The Cardinals have recalled Baker from Triple-A Memphis for the third time this season. The 26-year-old first baseman previously joined St. Louis for short stints in June and July. Baker earns another promotion as outfielder Dylan Carlson heads to the injured list with left oblique concerns. Baker is expected to join the team for Saturday's matchup against the Kansas City Royals. Five things to watch toward the end of an off-beat 2023 Cardinals season Baker was hitting .334 with 33 home runs and 98 RBI in just 84 games with Memphis this season. He's enjoyed a surge since the start of August, crushing eight home runs with 21 RBI in just 10 minor-league games this month. How Baker fits into the Cardinals lineup remains to be seen. He would likely slot into first base when reigning MVP Paul Goldschmidt gets a day off or slots into ...

Longtime Branson entertainer Shoji Tabuchi dies at age 79

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. — Branson entertainers are mourning the death of a fellow artist.Shoji Tabuchi, a beloved Branson fiddler and showrunner, has passed away at age 79 on August 11.Tabuchi was best known for The Shoji Tabuchi Show, a family variety show featuring Tabuchi, his wife Dorothy and his daughter Christina.He began playing violin at age seven, according to an article by Explore Branson, and fell in love with bluegrass music.His show expanded over its 30-year run to include dancers, love ballads, 50s and 60s music, gospel music, and much more. In 2020, Tabuchi was inducted into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame. The City of Branson would go on to declare August 31, 2021 as Shoji, Dorothy and Christina Tabuchi Day. A Facebook post from the city says in part, "Prayers from people all throughout our City, and beyond, go to the family of one of Branson's all-time greatest gems."

Point Reyes National Seashore hires new hostel operator, ousts longtime nonprofit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

The Point Reyes Hostel will be under new management for the first time in 51 years after the National Park Service opted not to renew its contract with its longtime nonprofit operator.Hostelling International USA has run the hostel located at 1390 Limantour Spit Road in the Point Reyes National Seashore since 1972. In the latest contract negotiations, the park service’s Pacific regional director opted not to renew its contract with the nonprofit in favor of a new private operator — Point Reyes Lodging Corp.The corporation’s owner, Grant Cunningham, has run the campground and store in Pinnacles National Park in central California through his Pinnacles Recreation Co. since 2019. Park Service concessions management specialist Sue Eibeck said concession contracts are awarded competitively. Applicants are asked to answer a series of questions and are scored based on the park’s evaluation criteria.“The highest scoring proposal is selected for the contract award,” Eibeck wrote in an ...

Browns insist they believe in kicker Cade York despite preseason misses, rough rookie season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Browns’ confidence in Cade York could be fluttering — like one of his recent kicks.Cleveland’s second-year kicker, who struggled for much of his rookie season, missed his second field-goal attempt of the preseason during Friday night’s 17-15 loss to the Washington Commanders.York pushed a 46-yard attempt in the third quarter to the right, a miss similar to one from 49 yards last week in the Hall of Fame game.While it would be easy to dismiss the two misfires as a young player working out the kinks in exhibitions, York’s inconsistency last season — 24 of 32 on field-goal tries with some big misses — makes them more notable.Still, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski offered his public support of York on Saturday.“It’s a small sample size,” Stefanski said on a Zoom call. “Cade’s working very hard just like the rest of our team is. It’s preseason football for all of us. None of us are ready to play or coach any in that first game just yet. So ...

Isak scores 2 as Newcastle dismantles Aston Villa 5-1 to make early Premier League statement

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle showed it is ready to build on last season’s top-four finish by dismantling Aston Villa 5-1 on Saturday in their opening Premier League game of the campaign. Alexander Isak scored twice in a victory that could have been even bigger if not for a number of saves by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez as Newcastle dominated a game between two sides that both exceeded expectations last season.Eddie Howe and Unai Emery were both candidates for manager of the season for leading their teams into Europe, but there was no doubt about whose tactics worked better as Howe’s Newcastle tore Villa apart in the second half with three unanswered goals and other chances. That was after a lively opening to the game that saw three goals in the first 16 minutes at St. James’ Park. Newcomer Sandro Tonali put Newcastle ahead in the sixth minute, before Villa’s marquee summer signing Moussa Diaby equalized in the 11th. Isak then netted his first goal fi...

Spanish league files complaint with EU over PSG’s financial backing from Qatar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:45:50 GMT

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league has filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding the “funding mechanisms” used by Qatari-owned Paris Saint-Germain.The Spanish league said in a statement made public Saturday that it was acting under new European Union regulations of foreign subsidies. It argues that PSG — owned by Qatar Sports Investments since June 2011 — has an unfair advantage in the market for players and coaches.“La Liga has filed a complaint alleging that PSG has received foreign subsidies from the State of Qatar, which has allowed it to improve its competitive position, thus generating significant distortions in several national and EU markets,” the league said.In January, the European Commission — the executive arm of the EU — passed new regulations regarding foreign subsidies granted to companies inside the EU. The new rules, according to the EU, give “the Commission the power to investigate financial contributions granted by non-EU countries to companies engagi...