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Swarm of gnat-like insects spotted all over NYC

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

NEW YORK (PIX11) — New York City seems to have been overtaken by a swarm of gnat-like insects, leaving people puzzled as to where the bugs came from. New Yorkers have taken to Twitter to document the mob of insects buzzing through the air in subway stations, plazas, and bike paths. The bugs were spotted flying around in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Here’s how you can check the air quality where you live "These swarms of bugs are taking over the city. They are in the subway platform too. The city just keeps getting worse. What’s next?" one New Yorker tweeted, with a video depicting the horde.Some folks report the bugs look white, while others say they are green.The gnat-like insects aren't actually gnats, according to American Museum of Natural History entomologist Dr. David Grimaldi. They are known as aphids, and there appears to be two species flying around, Grimaldi said."They may be native species or species that were introduced years ago (doubtfully recent)," Grimaldi told PIX...

Fire breaks out at Warner Bros. lot in California

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

BURBANK, Calif. (KTLA) — A burning transformer at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California caused a thick cloud of black smoke to fill the air Friday afternoon. The fire was first reported around 1:40 p.m. at the movie studio lot located at 4300 W. Olive Ave. in Burbank.The fire was knocked down about 20 minutes after fire crews arrived, officials said. The source of the smoke appeared to be an electrical transformer located atop a studio building. Smoke emanates from a piece of electrical equipment that caught on fire at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank on June 30, 2023. (KTLA)Helicopter video from KTLA showed firefighters on the roof of the building with light smoke emanating from what appeared to be the burned transformer. Before the fire was extinguished, large clouds of black smoke were visible across much of the San Fernando Valley. These employees were let go from ESPN No injuries were reported and no buildings were damaged, according to fire officials. The cause of the f...

Lookingglass Theatre to cut staff, pause production until Spring 2024

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

CHICAGO — One of Chicago's most prominent theaters is pausing production and laying off more than half its staff.Lookingglass Theatre announced Friday that it is cutting its full-time staff from 24 to 10 and halting programming until late spring of 2024. Clydesdales circle Wrigley Field for ‘Folds of Honor’ The ensemble theater at the Chicago Water Tower on Michigan Avenue has produced original work for three and a half decades.  In a letter, director Heidi Stillman announced the pause is an effort to "re-imagine" the theater's future. "While the pandemic has been declared over, theatres in our country are still feeling the effects of needing to shut down for so long," Stillman said. "Since re-opening, audiences and donations have not returned to 2019 levels, and the American Theatre is struggling to survive."Stillman told the Chicago Tribune that subscriptions have dropped off, and surveys revealed some audience members were reluctant to come downtown in recent sea...

Source: Timberwolves strike deals with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Shake Milton, and Troy Brown

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

In a span of a couple of hours on Friday night, the Timberwolves managed to bolster their depth, agreeing to terms with shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, shooting guard Shake Milton, and small forward Troy Brown that includes a team option.A source confirmed the moves to the Pioneer Press. All of them should help the Timberwolves as they try to take another step forward with star shooting guard Anthony Edwards leading the charge.It’s pretty clear that Alexander-Walker was a top priority based on how fast Minnesota managed to retain his services after not extending him a qualifying offer. He will sign a 2-year deal, according to a source, as a reward for carving out a niche for himself after being by the Timberwolves from the Utah Jazz at the trade deadline.Not only did he averaged 6.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 23 games to close out the regular season, more importantly, Alexander-Walker filled a valuable role in the playoff series against the Denver Nugget...

NYS Wallet App to shut down: What will happen to COVID-19 vaccine digital passes?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Excelsior Pass Plus and NYS Wallet Apps will be decommissioned by New York State on July 28. According to the New York State website, the app will no longer be available due to reduced demand for access to digital COVID-19 test and vaccine records. They add this is also due to the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11. The Excelsior Pass Plus provided a secure and digital copy of an individual's COVID-19 vaccination record — including type, and site and date of vaccination. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Once the app is decommissioned, NYS will no longer recommend its use, and it will be removed from app store. NYS says users can leave their pass in their phone should they need it in the future. They add should the app fail, no technical support will be available. NYS also says users can take a photo or screenshot of their pass to present as proof of vaccination.Access...

Biden plots new course to get relief for student loan borrowers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

President Biden on Friday announced new actions to offer student loan borrowers some forgiveness, reintroducing his forgiveness plan grounded in the Higher Education Act (HEA).Using the HEA to provide student debt relief has been pushed by student loan advocates and top Democrats for years. Under the HEA, advocates argue it allows the education secretary to “compromise, waive or release” student loans. This path will require a public comment and notice period before it could go into effect. “We need to find a new way, and we’re moving as fast as we can,” he said in Friday afternoon remarks at the White House.The administration had tied the student debt relief plan — struck down by the Supreme Court — to the national emergency established during the COVID-19 public health crisis, citing the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (HEROES) Act. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the court's majority opinion, issued Friday morning, that the HEROES Act does not gr...

Caught on camera: Man steals cash, exotic reptile from pet store in Lemay

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

LEMAY, Mo. - St. Louis County police are searching for a man who was caught on camera stealing cash and an animal from a pet store in Lemay.The owner of Exotic Amphibian Reptile Center said a thief broke into the store around 4:30 a.m. Thursday."Somebody broke in through our back door of our building and took a large Argentine black and white tegu and a large cage and emptied out the cash register and also the tip jar we have up here for our employees," said James Brumley, the owner.Brumley said he's working with the St. Louis County Police Department in turning over surveillance video of the burglary. Expired tag or derelict? Police called as city tows truck from private driveway "He was armed and had what looked to be a semi-automatic pistol with a large clip," Brumley said.Sings posted inside the shop on the 300 block of Lemay Ferry Road stated that the theft of an animal is a felony in Missouri. The missing lizard is worth more than $300, about the same size as the tegu."They'...

Missouri receives historic investment to expand broadband access

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state is set to receive $1.7 billion from the federal government to increase access to high-speed internet across Missouri. In January, the Department of Economic Development asked for Missourians help to receive more money from the federal government by telling the FCC who has access to broadband and who doesn't. Due to the participation from residents, Missouri is receiving a historic investment to help bridge the gap. "Missouri is going to see a huge change over the next five years," Director for the Missouri Office of Broadband Development BJ Tanksley said. The Show-Me State ranks low nationally for high-speed internet access, with more than 400,000 homes without access at all. "Population density and the difficulty of the terrain are the two main reasons and when you see both of those come together, like some of our more rural areas in northern and south central Missouri, you've got a really hard time," Tanksley said.  This St. Louis subur...

Ben Kowtica, Mike Westhoff determined to fix Broncos’ special teams woes

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

When Mike Westhoff received a call from Sean Payton to become the New Orleans Saints’ special teams coach in November 2017, former quarterback Drew Brees was the only player he knew on the roster.But Payton needed help. Although the Saints were on a seven-game win streak, their special teams ranked 30th in punt return and 28th in kickoff return average, forcing Payton to ask Westhoff to come out of retirement and turn things around.“I didn’t know anybody,” Westhoff said. “Sean thought (the Saints) were really good, but he was disappointed in their special teams and wanted me to come in.”Six years later and enjoying retirement, Westhoff got a call from Payton again. This time, Payton wanted Westhoff to join him in Denver as an assistant head coach, teaming up with special teams coordinator Ben Kowtica and assistant special teams coach Chris Banjo to fix a unit that underperformed in 2022.“I just (have) so much respect for (Payton),” said Westhoff, who has 32 seasons of NF...

Thornton man kidnapped girl, then bound, gagged, sexually assaulted her, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:29:15 GMT

Police in Thornton found a girl lying beside a truck, her hands and legs tied up and her mouth taped closed, and officers arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of kidnapping and sexually assaulting the girl.The girl was found about 4 a.m. June 21 in the 9400 block of Lillian Lane, according to an arrest affidavit. The girl led police to a nearby home, from which she “escaped” through a screen door while she was bound.Phillip Torres was arrested on investigation of multiple felonies, including second-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping of a minor, false imprisonment and two counts of sexual assault on a child, according to the affidavit.The kidnapping unfolded June 20 when the girl, who is from out of state and was staying at a local hotel with her aunt, argued with her aunt and left the hotel. As she was walking around a man, later identified as Torres, in a white pickup truck pulled up. The girl got into the truck, expecting a ride back to the hotel, but was instead ...