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Interior Secretary: US won’t end oil drilling, defends protested Willow project

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland defended her department’s approval of the contentious Willow oil project on Friday, saying that despite President Joe Biden’s campaign promise to end new drilling on federal lands, “We’re not going to turn the faucet off and say we’re not drilling anymore.”Speaking to the annual conference of the Society of Environmental Journalists, Haaland said the Biden administration is “following the science and the law when it comes to everything we do, and that includes gas and oil” leases considered by her agency, which oversees U.S. public lands and waters.Despite Biden’s pledge, “We’re not going to say we’re not going to use gas and oil. That’s not reality,” Haaland said. “So we are doing the best we absolutely can.”Haaland’s comments came after the administration faced sharp criticism from some of its strongest supporters — especially young climate activists — after Interior approved the $8 billion Willow project on March 13. The massive drilling plan by oil...

Celtics’ Marcus Smart unsure if he’ll play in Game 4 vs. Hawks after taking hard fall

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

ATLANTA — Marcus Smart is unsure if he’ll play in Sunday’s Game 4 after the Celtics guard suffered a lower back injury from a hard fall late in Friday’s Game 3 loss to the Hawks.With 2:33 remaining in the fourth quarter on Friday, Smart jumped up to grab a defensive rebound but fell straight on his tailbone. He stayed down on the court for several moments before getting up and walking gingerly. Smart stayed in the game, but he was still experiencing some soreness on Saturday.“I’m OK,” Smart said. “I’m a little sore, obviously. Rewatching the play, I took a hard fall. I didn’t realize how high I was. But I’m OK, relatively speaking. Little sore today. See how I feel tomorrow, though. Not really sure where we’re at right now with playing but we’ll see.”Smart said before the postseason began that he felt as healthy as he’s been at this stage of this season in years, but this injury is one that he’s had before. He said there’s not much he can do as fa...

Abandoned crab, lobster traps targeted in new federal program

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

The U.S. government is launching a new program to combat the scourge of abandoned crab and lobster traps, which can dilute harvests and kill other fish in coastal waters from Maine to Alaska.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has chosen William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science to anchor the program. The university announced Friday that NOAA is providing an $8 million grant to the institute to implement the project.Abandoned fishing gear is a worldwide problem that’s been referred to as anything from “ghost nets ” to the “land mines of the sea.” The lost equipment is often dislodged by storms or passing boats, but it still will attract and kill marine life.Industry experts and scientists estimate commercial fishermen lose about 10% of their traps per year to bad weather, strong currents and vessels that sever tie lines. A 2001 study suggested that ghost fishing kills 4 million to 10 million blue crabs each year in Louisiana alone.The NOAA’...

Ticker: GM recalls 40,000 pickups to fix fire risk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

General Motors is recalling certain Chevrolet Silverado medium-duty trucks for model year 2019 or later. The company has discovered a potential leak in brake fluid that could result in a fire. Until the recall repair is done, GM advises owners to park outdoors. Possibly 40,428 vehicles could be affected.They include 4500HD, 5500HD, and 6500HD models with model years between 2019 and 2023.Stocks close quiet week with small gainsStocks finished with slight gains on Wall Street as investors closed out a quiet week highlighted by a batch of mostly mixed corporate earnings reports. The S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq all gained 0.1% Friday. Among the companies that reported results, hospital operator HCA Healthcare rose after raising its full-year profit outlook, while consumer products giant Procter & Gamble gained after its quarterly profit beat estimates.Unions say rails should forgo buybacks, spend on safetyRail unions want railroads to take some of the billi...

Helicopter to drop larvicide across San Diego's waterways this week

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Preventive measures to thwart mosquito attacks are coming by air this week in San Diego County.According to the County of San Diego Communications Office, the first routine aerial larvicide drop of the year is scheduled for Wednesday and possibly Thursday across roughly 50 local waterways. Friday was San Diego’s warmest day in nearly 4 months A helicopter will release larvicide drops over nearly 1,300 acres of potential mosquito breeding areas that officials say are "hard-to-reach." This includes areas of standing water in rivers, streams, ponds and other waterways.The aerial larvicide drops will continue once a month until October in an effort to stop mosquitoes from potentially spreading diseases like West Nile, the communications office explained.Officials say that the drops are not harmful to people or pets. On the contrary, the insecticide kills mosquito larvae before it can grow into biting mosquitoes.The full aerial larvicide schedule, along with more informati...

National Park Week invites participants to share #YourParkStory on social media

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

(KTVX) – In honor of National Park Week, entrance fees are waived to all U.S. national parks on the first day of festivities.The nine-day celebration kicks off April 22 and lasts through April 30, so visitors who can't make it out on the first day can still take part in online and in-person events. These are America’s deadliest national parks: data Among them, staffers with the National Park Service are asking participants to share their "park story" on social media. NPS recommends telling the story about any special connections participants have with national parks using the hashtag #MyParkStory. To read what others are saying, you can follow the National Park Service on social media, or subscribe to the hashtag #YourParkStory. To help get the inspiration flowing, the NPS has created a theme for each day of National Park Week that participants should consider writing about. Saturday, April 22: The theme is connection.Sunday, April 23: The theme is discovery.Monday, April 24: The ...

How Chicago Fire FC, Red Stars have started their 2023 seasons

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO - As May approaches, Chicago's two professional soccer teams are well into the start of their 2023 seasons. It's one of change in a few ways for the Chicago Red Stars, who are taking the pitch for their fourth match of the season against OL Reign in Seattle on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. central time. After dropping their opening two matches of the season, first on the road at San Diego Wave FC and then at home to the Houston Dash on April 1, the club broke through for a 4-2 win over the Kansas City Current last Saturday.One of the major storylines early, however, has been a major injury to one of their top players, forward Mallory Swanson. The two-time NWSL MVP finalist tore the patella tendon in her left knee with the United States women's national team against Ireland on April 9 in Austin and has already undergone surgery to repair it. She's expected to miss a significant amount of time with the Red Stars and perhaps this summer's Women's World Cup.Larry Hawley has more on how ...

Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the Hill Country

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The rest of the afternoon will be mostly sunny with highs in the low 80s, but after 4 or 5pm isolated severe storms could start developing in the Hill Country.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for the entire Hill Country until 10 pm with large hail, damaging winds and an isolated tornado threat.Severe thunderstorm watch until 10pmWhile storms may start in the Hill Country, it'll possible they may drift closer to the Austin Metro after 8 or 9pm. Most of the Austin Metro is at a Marginal (1 out of 5) risk for severe weather.Slight risk (2 out of 5) of severe storms Saturday evening into the overnight hoursStorms may produce heavy enough rain to cause localized flash flooding. The Austin Metro and most of the Hill Country are at a Slight (2 out of 4) flash flood risk.Slight risk (2 out of 4) for flash flooding Saturday evening into the overnight hoursA cooler and wetter Sunday will follow with more widespread showers and storms late Sunday afternoon and eveni...

Atwood's clutch 3-run homer lifts No. 7 Longhorns over No. 3 Cowgirls

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Take a bow, Reese Atwood.The Texas catcher blasted a 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to power the Longhorns past Oklahoma State 3-2 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader at McCombs Field.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/newslettersUntil the seventh, Oklahoma State left-handed pitcher Kelly Maxwell was mowing through the Texas lineup. Maxwell carried a no-hitter into the final inning with nine strikeouts, but on the second pitch of the frame, Mia Scott dumped a single into right-center to start the rally and break up Maxwell's no-hit bid. Leighann Goode hit a Maxwell pitch off the end of her bat that had some spin on it, narrowly avoiding the glove of both Maxwell and Cowgirls second baseman Rachel Becker to put two runners on, setting the stage for Atwood's game-ending swing. Weather delays start of Texas softball’s series with fellow to...

Simone Biles marries St. Louis native, Texans LB Jonathan Owens

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:00:00 GMT

ST. LOUIS - It's official: One of the most decorated gymnasts in United States history ties the knot with her longtime love from St. Louis. Seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Biles announced Saturday she has officially married Houston Texans linebacker Jonathan Owens, who is also a graduate of CBC High School in St. Louis County. Trending: New record for world’s largest box of chocolates set in Missouri Biles shared four romantic photos from her big day via Twitter, which included a message of "I do ... Officially Owens." She also changed her Twitter name to "Simone Biles Owens." Her lucky groom shared some similar photos Saturday via Instagram with the message "My person, forever." The newly-married couple made their relationship publically-known in 2020, and their relationship grew stronger when Owens cheered on Biles from the Olympic gymnastics trials in St. Louis two years ago. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. ...