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A hidden climate danger threatens U.S. coastal communities

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

By Todd Woody | BloombergA little-known climate threat lurks under our feet: rising groundwater that could release toxic chemicals from more than 132,000 contaminated sites in coastal areas of the US. In a first of its kind study, researchers estimated the number of polluted industrial sites and mapped them to areas likely to experience groundwater inundation due to rising seas.“A lot of  people don’t realize that the ocean actually extends under the land in coastal areas, so as the ocean rises, it pushes up the groundwater toward the surface,” said Kristina Hill, an associate professor at the University of California at Berkeley and the lead author of the paper, which was published last week in the journal Earth’s Future.Factories, fuel stations, military bases and other industrial facilities have left surrounding soil contaminated with carcinogenic chemicals and heavy metals. Some became Superfund sites whose cleanup is overseen by the federal government. Far more are managed by i...

North Bay gas prices shoot up 26 cents overnight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) -- Gas prices in the North Bay went up 26 cents overnight Wednesday, according to AAA. It’s the highest jump seen so far in the Bay Area.In San Rafael, gas prices are now sitting at a Bay Area high of $6.07 on average after jumping 26 cents between Wednesday and Thursday. One San Rafael gas station Thursday morning showed unleaded was selling for $6.39. San Francisco and Santa Rosa trail San Rafael in high prices. The lowest average price in the Bay Area is in San Jose, coming in at $5.88Since Monday, the state average has risen 21 cents and is now $6.03. The increase comes just days before California is expected to switch to a winter blend of crude oil, which normally drops prices. Overall, California sits more than two bucks higher than the national average of $3.85Experts say the increase comes from a surge in oil costs, with barrels now around $90. Refineries in California are also facing issues and maintenance, which means major markups at the pumps.Lo...

Girona leads Spanish league after surprisingly good start. Now it faces Real Madrid at home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Girona’s ceiling this season was expected to be another mediocre finish in the Spanish league. But after six straight wins and an undefeated start, the small club from Spain’s northeastern corner surprisingly sits at the top of the standings.Next up? Nothing less than a visit by Real Madrid on Saturday.“We have to enjoy this moment. The game against Madrid will be precious,” Girona coach Míchel Sánchez said after his team became the leader of Spain’s top league for the first time following a 2-1 comeback at Villarreal on Wednesday.Girona, which leads Madrid by one point and Barcelona by two, has only dropped points when it drew 1-1 at Real Sociedad in its opening match. Since then, the team that is partly controlled by Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi ownership has also beaten Getafe, Sevilla, Las Palmas, Granada and Mallorca.Girona was taken over by Abu Dhabi ownership in 2017 when it bought a 44.3% share in the Catalan club. Pere Guardiola, the brother of ...

Costantino Rocca’s win over Tiger Woods nearly 30 years ago paved the way for this Ryder Cup in Rome

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy (AP) — A 60-foot birdie putt from the Valley of Sin at St. Andrews to force a playoff with John Daly at the 1995 British Open.A front-row seat to history while paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the 1997 Masters.Then a career-defining singles victory over Woods later in ’97 that helped Europe win the Ryder Cup.It’s been nearly three decades since Costantino Rocca put Italian golf on the map and it’s hard to imagine the Ryder Cup being held near Rome this week would have happened without him.“I hope to have contributed, because I’ve always said I was the first,” Rocca said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “Thirty years ago I wouldn’t have even thought that I would achieve what I did.”The first Italian to play for Europe in the Ryder Cup, Rocca appeared in three editions. He remained the only Italian to play in the event until Francesco and Edoardo Molinari appeared at Celtic Manor in 2010.Francesco Molinari went on to win the 2018...

Undefeated and unsatisfied, No. 5 Florida State using its bye week to get healthy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — No. 5 Florida State is undefeated and unsatisfied — even with victories against powerhouses LSU and Clemson on a resume that’s widely considered the most impressive in the country.“One of the things I’m excited about is we’re 4-0 and we have yet to play our best game,” coach Mike Norvell said. “Opportunity for growth, opportunity for improvement.”The Seminoles (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are using their bye week to refresh and get healthy after a daunting September that included a neutral-site opener and two road games.FSU has been without three starters — offensive tackle Robert Scott, center Maurice Smith and safety Akeem Dent at times — and star quarterback Jordan Travis has played through an arm/shoulder injury.Travis landed awkwardly on his left side in the second quarter at Boston College, although the sixth-year senior returned to the game for the second half. He eventually returned to form the following week at Clemson. when he threw f...

Where does Colorado rank in US for fentanyl deaths

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Over half of the U.S. is seeing an increase in fentanyl deaths in 2023, and Colorado is among those states.Families Against Fentanyl analyzed the newest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which revealed that overdose deaths are at an all-time high. The most recent data was collected from April 2022 to April 2023. Officials warn of powdered fentanyl circulating in Boulder County The national average for fentanyl deaths in 2023 so far is 77,415 people, which went up by 5% from 2022. In the U.S., 22 states ranked above the national average for an increase in fentanyl deaths. Some of the highest increases happened in Oregon, with a 67% increase, and Washington with a 65% increase. States that saw an increase in fentanyl deaths in 2023:Oregon: 67%Washington: 65%Nevada: 58%Oklahoma: 55%Wyoming: 41%Texas: 28%Hawaii: 27%Alabama: 27%Utah: 21%Vermont: 19%Delaware: 19%Alaska: 17%Maine: 16%Kansas: 16%Georgia: 13%Minnesota: 13%California: 10%Idaho: 9...

BSO seeks public assistance in identifying juveniles behind violent vandalism spree targeting Parkland home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

Broward Sheriff’s Office Parkland District detectives are on the hunt for a group of juveniles who escalated their pattern of vandalism to a dangerous level, as captured on video surveillance.According to investigators, the series of incidents began on Saturday, July 2, around 3 a.m., when the suspects targeted a home in the 10000 block of Majestic Trail in Parkland. They hurled several beer cans into the backyard and swimming pool. When they returned on Friday, July 8, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the subjects were seen pelting the same property with multiple eggs before fleeing in a golf cart. The situation took a turn on Friday, Sept. 22, at about 10:25 p.m., as the vandals struck again at the same residence. This time, video footage captured them launching a firework at the rear of the home, causing an explosion near the property and resulting in damage. A family was present inside the house during the incident, though fortunately, no injuries were reported.Anyone with informati...

Deputy, lifeguards save struggling swimmers in Daytona Beach

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (WSVN) — A beach rescue unfolded in Daytona Beach when two individuals found themselves struggling in the water, desperately trying to make it to shore. The dramatic scene played out on Wednesday, with a sheriff’s deputy arriving at the scene. Without hesitation, she shed her uniform to reveal a bathing suit beneath and plunged into the water to assist the distressed swimmers. Within moments, the deputy, along with two vigilant lifeguards, successfully brought both boogie boarders back to shore. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office shared the rescue video on its Facebook page. “Great job to Volusia County Beach Safety Lifeguards Chaz Williamson, Joshua Baughman, and former Lifeguard now Volusia Sheriff’s Deputy Laura Warner! Once a lifeguard, always a lifeguard,” read the caption. “The rip current threat and surf are on the rise this week. Swim in front of a staffed lifeguard tower and BEACH SMART!”

Ukraine makes clear it won’t accept second-class EU membership

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

France and Germany may be drawing up plans for a multispeed EU, but Ukraine is making quite clear it doesn’t want to be fobbed off with second-tier membership. Kyiv is aiming to become a “fully fledged candidate for full fledged membership” of the European Union, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told POLITICO as he vowed to take his country into the EU within the next two years. Shmyhal made the pitch for full EU membership as the debate about enlargement heats up, ahead of a series of key meetings in the coming months. France and Germany have been pushing for an alternative option to full EU status, based around four different concentric circles of membership. This could constitute the framework for gradual integration. Shmyhal, however, made clear Ukraine would not be putting up with the go-slow version.“We are performing all the maximum efforts to ensure that Ukraine would become a fully fledged member of the European Union. This is of critical importance for all Ukrainia...

UK confirms electric vehicle quotas for 2024

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:28:57 GMT

LONDON — U.K. automakers will be forced to sell a strict quota of electric vehicles (EV) from next year, after a government announcement Thursday. Britain’s Department for Transport confirmed the details of its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which requires that 22 percent of all new cars and 10 percent of all new vans sold next year must be zero-emission.This quota will increase gradually until it hits 80 percent in 2030, before all new cars sold are required to be zero-emission vehicles in 2035.Manufacturers will be fined if they miss these targets, although the fine levied on vans that exceed the quota next year has been reduced from £18,000 to £9,000, government documents show, apparently in response to industry lobbying. It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week watered down several of the U.K.’s short-term environmental targets, including delaying the ban on sales of new combustion engine vehicles, which had been set to kick in from 2030.Car companies hav...