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Sona Smith discusses new Obama Foundation program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 GMT

Last week, the Obama Foundation announced the first cohort of 100 people selected to participate in its 'Leaders USA Program.'Sona Smith, the Birth Justice Program Officer for the Ms. Foundation For Women, was one of those chosen for the program.Visit the Ms. Foundation For Women website for details on the foundationSmith joined WGN Morning News on Saturday to discuss the foundation and the Leaders USA Program.

Recall alert: Nestlé chocolate chip cookie dough may contain wood pieces

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 GMT

(WTAJ) — Nestlé USA is recalling a chocolate chip cookie dough product due to the potential presence of pieces of wood. The voluntary recall is for a limited quantity of Nestlé Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough “break and bake” bars (16.5 ounces) that were produced on April 24 and April 25, 2023. The products contain best-by dates of August 22 or Oct. 23, 2023. Pressure cookers sold at JCPenney, Target recalled due to possible burn hazard The company said the recall does not affect any other products including other varieties of refrigerated cookie dough or "break and bake" bars. NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bar (16.5 oz) Batch Numbers:311457531K and 311557534KBest By Dates:8/22/23 and 10/23/23A small number of consumers alerted the company to the wood pieces, though no illnesses or injuries have been reported, Nestlé USA said.If you have the affected products, you're advised to return them to the place of purchase for a replacement or refund. Why are mov...

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

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:27 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 ...