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I-55 reopens after Illinois dust storm causes fatal crashes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. - A blinding dust storm led to a deadly crash involving more than 70 vehicles along Interstate-55 in south central Illinois. Tuesday morning, I-55 has completely reopened 19 hours after shutting down.This all happened on I-55 in Montgomery County, north of Farmersville, and south of Divernon. Crews have been in the area non-stop since the crash took place. Authorities said at least six people were killed and 37 others taken to hospitals after the crash happened shortly before 11:00 a.m. A total of 72 vehicles were involved, including some 20 commercial vehicles and many passenger cars.We're told two tractor trailers exploded from the wreck. Illinois state Police shared that high winds blew dust onto 55 from nearby farm fields, creating blinding conditions leading to the pile up.Investigators explained the first crash took place on northbound 55 then at the same time numerous crashes took place southbound on the highway. The wrecks all happened between milepo...

Referendum result marks an important stage in the emergence of a new Uzbekistan

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

Voters in Uzbekistan have overwhelmingly backed constitutional changes proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoev. Much international coverage has focused on the fact that the reforms will allow the president to seek another two terms in office. But there were other important measures as well, writes Political Editor Nick Powell.Provisional results from Uzbekistan’s referendum show more than 90% approval for President Mirziyoyev’s constitutional reforms, on a turnover of about 85%. When it comes to what the consequences of the changes will be, the easiest one to spot is that the president can seek a further two terms, each extended from five to seven years.But the important question is what he will do with such extra time in office. The far-reaching nature of the constitutional changes are a guide to where Uzbekistan is heading under its president. Some two thirds of the constitution has been rewritten and it’s estimated that the state’s formal obligations to its citizens are being tri...

Biden sends 1,500 troops to Mexico border for migrant surge

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will send 1,500 troops to the U.S.-Mexico border amid an expected migrant surge following the end of pandemic-era restrictions, according to four administration officials.Military personnel will do data entry, warehouse support and other administrative tasks so that U.S. Customs and Border Protection can focus on fieldwork, the officials said. The troops will not do law enforcement work and will be sent down for roughly 90 days, though their presence can be extended if necessary. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly about the request because it had not yet been approved and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. It wasn't clear when they would be deployed. The COVID-19 restrictions allowed U.S. officials to turn away tens of thousands of migrants crossing the southern border, but those restrictions will lift May 11 and border officials are bracing for an expected surge of migrants. Even amid the restrictions...

The Dinner Party Project at Gjusta

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

Culinary personality and author Natasha Feldman took over the Gjusta patio in Venice last week to celebrate the launch of her new book, The Dinner Party Project, a no-stress guide to cooking for friends.With some expert backup from Gjusta chef Jenn Sills, the sunset dinner kicked off with a snack station featuring Lady & Larder cheese boards, rosemary almonds, marinated olives with sundried tomato and feta, radishes with fennel honey butter, and Tash’s Athena’s Dip Situation with Gjusta pita, alongside Botanist French 75 cocktails.Dishes from the book included Bee Sting Pizza with pepperoni, pomodoro, calabrian chili crisp, honey, and fennel pollen, and Drunk Veggie with wine-drunk onions, mushrooms, fontina, fresh mozzarella, and whipped herb ricotta.  Natasha Feldman, right, and fellow foodie Tiffani Amber Thiessen (Michele Stueven)Gjusta chef Jenn Sills prepares Bee Sting Pizza (Michele Stueven)The family style main courses of cacio e pepe mac and cheese, juicy smoked brisket...

Killing It in the Bedroom: Scientists Claim This Is the Secret to Male Orgasm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

“Sex, ducks, and rock ‘n’ roll!” Mathematicians have a sense of humor, too — as that’s the title of the study they recently published in a journal aptly called Chaos. The content? A mathematical formula about achieving male orgasm.What’s the secret to male orgasm?The University of Sussex mathematicians somewhat cracked the code for male orgasm. “We have developed the first successful mathematical model of sexual performance,” said Dr. Konstantin Blyuss. The equation was categorized per arousal cycle — excitation, plateau, orgasm, and resolution. They found out that too much psychological stimulation early on can inhibit men from achieving male orgasm.Dr. Blyuss explained, “A key finding is that too much psychological arousal early in the process can inhibit the chance of reaching climax,” the takeaway, according to him and his peers, “Simply put, our findings can be summarized as ‘Don’t overthink it.’”They also note that the other purpose of the study was to show p...

Warriors-Kings Game 7 draws record-breaking TV viewership numbers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

It wasn’t just Steph Curry who was breaking records in Sunday’s Game 7 — but his 50-point afternoon sure helped, too.The final matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Sacramento Kings delivered ABC’s largest-ever non-NBA Finals postseason audience, with 9.835 million people tuning in. The total viewership peaked at just shy of 12 million people tuning in from 6-6:15 p.m. (11.929 million).Overall, it’s the most-watched first round game in 24 years and the most-watched game in the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs since 2001. In fact, SportsMediaWatch points out that, in last year’s playoffs, only the six Warriors NBA Finals games and Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals (Celtics-Heat had 9.88 million viewers) had more viewers than Game 7.Related ArticlesGolden State Warriors | SoCal native Klay Thompson and dad Mychal relish Lakers vs. Warriors clash Golden State Warriors | How will Warriors-Lakers compare to Bay Area-vs.-Los Angeles playoff...

Third stabbing in a week prompts shelter-in-place order at UC Davis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

Officials in Davis have lifted an overnight shelter-in-place order after they were unable to find a suspect in a knife attack late Monday — which followed two fatal stabbings in less than a week near the University of California campus.The warning for students not to venture out followed the killings Saturday evening of a UC Davis senior and Thursday of a 50-year-old man; both were at parks near campus.Police received a call about the third stabbing at 11:46 p.m. Monday, according to a news release from the city, which said the attack “occurred in a known transient camp” near 2nd and L streets.The female victim told police the suspect stabbed her more than once through a tent, the release said. She was taken to UC Davis Medical Center, where she was in critical condition.Officers from the Davis Police Department did not locate the suspect after a “detailed search” overnight of downtown, the department said in a statement. The shelter-in-place order was being lifted, but residents we...

Two wounded in Oakland shootings

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

OAKLAND — A woman inside her East Oakland home and man walking to a store in North Oakland were wounded in in shootings that  happened about the same time Monday night, authorities said.Both victims were in stable condition.The 24-year-old woman was shot in the lower back about 10:31 p.m. Monday as she lay on a couch inside her home in the 1900 block of 108th Avenue, authorities said.Police said at least a half-dozen  shots were fired at the home by a man standing outside. No one else inside the  home was injured.  The gunman  fled before police got to the area and the woman was taken by ambulance to a hospital.A parked vehicle was also hit by the gunfire.A motive for the shooting is under investigation.  No arrests have been made.At about the same time, a 35-year-old man was shot in the leg in the 6400 block of San Pablo Avenue, police said.He told police he was walking to a store  when he heard several gunshots and realized he had been wounded..  He got another person to dri...

Pittsburg to help restaurants rebound from COVID, modernize

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

Knowing restaurants were heavily impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic and related shutdowns, Pittsburg will soon offer free help to modernize their operations and grant opportunities to stay afloat.Dubbed Pittsburg Eats, the new program on Monday won unanimous approval of the council, which also agreed to spend $200,000 of federal American Rescue Plan Act money it has received to get it off the ground this year.Under the agreement, the city will partner with Cal Poly Humboldt’s Northern California Small Business Development Center to establish and run the program. The Concord-based center will offer restaurants one-on-one technical and marketing assistance in an effort to help them survive in a new post-pandemic reality, according to Jordan Davis, director of Community and Economic Development.“Restaurants already deal with extremely small (profit) margins,” Davis told the council. “It’s incredibly tough to operate a restaurant even in some of the most affluent cities with an...

San Francisco homicide: Shooting victim drives away before dying

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:23:52 GMT

A person who was fatally shot Sunday morning in San Francisco’s South of Market district drove away from the scene but made it barely two blocks, police said Monday. The shooting happened around 4:35 a.m. in the 900 block of Folsom Street, between Sixth and Fifth streets, and the victim was found in the car at Fifth and Shipley streets, San Francisco police said in a news release.The person died at the scene. The name has not been released.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Antioch: Shooting leaves man dead inside car in 7-Eleven parking lot Crime and Public Safety | Pleasanton: Suspects sought in fatal stabbing during robbery attempt Crime and Public Safety | The dad whose wife and child were among 5 killed by a neighbor in Texas describes how the massacre unfolded Crime and Public Safety | Former Stanford preschool teacher arrested in killing of San Jose man Crime and Public Safety | Five mor...