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Brazil recognizes 6 Indigenous areas in boost for Amazon

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

BRASÍLIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday granted official recognition of nearly 800 square miles of Indigenous lands, most of it in the Amazon, in a move that seeks to safeguard critical rainforest from the unchecked exploitation that marked his predecessor’s administration.Lula’s action was partial delivery on his promises to the Indigenous supporters and environmentally minded voters who lifted him to a narrow victory last year over far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who had encouraged widespread development of the Amazon — both legal and illegal — and pledged not to grant “one more inch” of land to Indigenous peoples.The land remains under the federal government’s jurisdiction, but the designation grants Indigenous peoples the right to use it in their traditional manner. Mining activities are prohibited, and commercial farming and logging require specific authorizations. And non-Indigenous people are forbidden from enga...

Bi-state sage grouse considered for threatened status, again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — For the third time in a decade, federal wildlife officials are contemplating whether the bi-state sage grouse deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act.Conservationists blame “political gamesmanship” for leaving the bird in regulatory limbo since 2013. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday it’s doing a fresh review after a federal judge ruled last May that the Trump administration acted illegally when it withdrew the most recent proposal to list the species as threatened.The hen-sized flightless bird can be found in just two states — Nevada and California — in the high desert along the Sierra Nevada’s eastern front. A formal listing could bring restrictions on development, as well as prevent livestock and off-road vehicles from entering the bird’s habitat.“Maybe the third time will be the charm for getting this population segment the protection it so clearly deserves,” said Laura Cunningham, California director of the Western Water...

Flooding and downed trees muddle Friday traffic, as rains and wind enter DC region

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

Listen to the latest weather forecast on WTOP every 10 minutes on the 8s.A soaking rain fell across the D.C. area Friday, dousing area roadways and bringing some flooding concerns to coastal areas — and even more rain is expected later this weekend.The first storm arrived Friday, bringing moderate to heavy rain and even some gusty winds to parts of the area, as it moved north through Virginia, from Richmond to Fredericksburg, according to 7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan.Expect some ponding on area roadways and strong persistent easterly winds to cause some flooding along coastal areas, she said.By Friday afternoon, the rain had weakened in intensity to mostly light to moderate showers, with a few pockets of heavy rain in some spots.“But overall we will start to see the rain begin to wind down once we past sunset,” said 7News First Alert meteorologist Jordan Evans.Rain is expected to continue across the D.C. region through the next few days, as a pair of sto...

Man gets life sentence in front-lawn killing of Virginia military couple

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

A man convicted of killing a Virginia military couple — both U.S. Army colonels — who were shot “execution-style” in the front lawn of their Springfield, Virginia, home in 2021, has been sentenced to life in prison.Ronnie Marshall, 22, was convicted of aggravated murder and two counts of the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony during a trial in November 2022. In addition to his life sentence, Marshall received an additional eight years on the weapons convictions.Prosecutors said Marshall was involved in a dispute with the son of Edward and Brenda McDaniel at the time of the killings. Col. Edward McDaniel, 55, was still on active-duty as an Army doctor. Brenda McDaniel, 63 was a retired Army colonel and a nurse.“This is a completely egregious and senseless crime,” Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano told WTOP in an interview. “To take the lives of two people like the McDaniel’s like this for no good reason. And the...

FOX31, other news outlets sue Denver Public Schools over executive session

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- FOX31 and five other Denver-based news organizations formed a media coalition to file a lawsuit against Denver Public Schools over an alleged improper executive session that resulted in a reversal of its policy to bring school resource officers back into classrooms.A day after a student at East High School shot two administrators and ultimately took his own life, the DPS Board of Education and Superintendent Alex Marrero entered a nearly five-hour-long executive session during a board meeting. The purpose of the executive session was to discuss "specialized details of security arrangements or investigations as a result of the incident that occurred on March 22, 2023," and discussion of "individual students where public disclosure would adversely affect that person or persons involved as a result of the incident that occurred March 22, 2023," according to the board's website.The board and several high-ranking administrators entered the executive session with the dist...

Denver weather: Sunny, warm weekend before afternoon storm chances

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver's weather will stay mild into the weekend with plenty of sunshine and highs near 70 degrees. This will be ahead of the chance for a few spring showers next week.Weather tonight: Mostly clear, breezyIt will be mostly clear and a little breezy overnight. Wind gusts will reach up to around 25 mph as temperatures cool to the mid-30s.Weather tomorrow: Sunshine and warmerSunshine and a southerly breeze will help boost temperatures to 70 degrees, which is about 5 degrees warmer than normal. It will be a little breezy with wind gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Looking ahead: Warmer, afternoon storm chancesSunshine and high temperatures around 70 degrees will stick around the forecast on Sunday thanks to high pressure.Monday will be similar, with a mostly sunny sky and highs around the 70-degree mark. Starting Tuesday, though, there is a chance for a few thunderstorms to pop up with the heat of the afternoon.The rest of the workweek will look similar with morning sun...

Avs quiet about Nichushkin's absence after police report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche did not comment Friday on either the status of forward Valeri Nichushkin, who has been away from the team for a few days, or on a police report about an incident at the team hotel in Seattle last weekend. Colorado coach Jared Bednar again said Friday that Nichushkin is away from the team for personal reasons. Asked later if Nichushkin was not with the Avs because of a violation of team rules, Bednar again reiterated the personal reasons. Intoxicated woman found when Avalanche checked on Valeri Nichushkin “It’s not a professional decision. It’s a personal decision why he’s not here,” Bednar said before the Avalanche faced the Kraken in Game 6 of their first-round series, which Seattle leads 3-2. “Next one,” Avs forward Mikko Rantanen said when asked about Nichushkin. A message sent to agents representing Nichushkin seeking comment was not immediately returned.Nichushkin has not played since Game 2Nichushkin has not played since Game 2, on April...

Brewpub happily provides jobs for people with disabilities

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — Brewability is a brewpub that serves handcrafted beer and homemade pizza. They take pride in the fact that they are staffed by people with learning and physical disabilities.On Friday, 18 Denver Public Schools students with learning and physical disabilities are learning the ropes of working in a restaurant. "The goal is to support the students to live as independently as they want in their lives, so we do a lot of soft job skills. We do a lot of work stuff, we do a lot of independent living," said Christine Parra, Denver Public Schools special education teacher. What was A-Rod doing at the 16th Street Mall? The field trip was just one of many that take place at the Englewood brewpub. “We do everything that you would do in a restaurant, so getting it ready, cleaning off the tables, doing the chairs," said Tiffany Fixter, Brewability owner.Brewability is teaching these young people the ability to work in the hospitality industry, like 20-year-old Miranda B...

Ukrainian mother talks about finding refuge in Israel on its 75th anniversary

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

Many Ukrainian families have escaped to Israel since Russia’s war started, and as Israel celebrates the country’s 75th anniversary, those families are finding comfort in their new home.Elena Ivanova is among those who fled Ukraine for Israel.“I loved my life,” she said, and why wouldn’t she? She had a husband, with whom she owned a clothing store, two young sons and a close family.But everything changed Feb. 24, 2022.“It began, the war began,” she said. “We knew, but we couldn’t believe it. I realized I needed to take my children away.”She and her children drove 30 hours from Odesa, Ukraine, to Poland.“I was trying to make my grandpa — he’s 93 years old — to move to my parents, just to keep them together, but he won’t leave his apartment anymore because he was evacuated when he was like my son, at the same age,” she said. “He told me like, no.”Passing burning cars, damaged roa...

Family who escaped burning mobile home in North Lauderdale say they’ve lost everything

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 08:56:00 GMT

A family of six is reeling and trying to figure out their next move a day after, they said, a fire that broke out inside their mobile home in North Lauderdale destroyed everything inside.Speaking through a translator, resident Juan Perez said he wonders what he and his family will do after this, as he rubbed his forehead with a soot-filled hand.The family spent all day Friday sifting through the charred remains of their home at The Villages mobile home park.Surveillance video from across the street captured the moment that the home, located near Northwest 55th Court and 37th Avenue, burst into flames, just before 6 p.m., Thursday.Cellphone video captured dark smoke billowing from the home from miles away.7Skyforce hovered above the scene a short time later.“I came home from work around 5:30 p.m.,” said Perez.Perez said his wife and two children were sleeping, and suddenly he started to smell smoke.Perez said he opened the door to where the air conditioner was, and there ...