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MedWatch Digest: Malaria cases on the rise, WHO warns — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

For Friday, Dec. 1, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Pediatric pneumonia outbreak in OhioAn outbreak of pediatric pneumonia cases has led to an "extremely high" number of hospitalizations.  Ohio is the first state in the nation to report an outbreak of the strain called "white lung syndrome." The average age of the affected children is eight. The youngest is three.  The most common symptoms are a cough, fever and fatigue.  Warren County, Ohio has seen at least 142 cases since August.  Health officials there have yet to find a common thread between the cases.  Parents are worried it's linked to a surge in similar cases in China and other countries worldwide. Malaria cases riseA dire warning from the World Health Organization: the world is in danger of losing the fight against Malaria. Cases of the mosquito-born disease rose by about five million in 20-22, exceeding global targets to contain it.&...

Sayonara Santos: locks already changed at congressional office

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Well, at least we know one part of Congress works efficiently: the security team.  A mere couple of hours after his expulsion from the House of Representatives, George Santos has already lost access to his office. After a tumultuous 11 months in office, a resolution to expel Santos passed 311-114, with two voting present. Shortly thereafter, a security team could be seen changing the locks to the now unoccupied office.Santos had fought the expulsion effort, leading his own defense during House floor debate and in conducting a news conference and interviews. How to watch the fourth Republican presidential debate “I will not stand by quietly,” Santos declared as lawmakers on Thursday evening debated his removal. “The people of the Third District of New York sent me here. If they want me out, you’re going to have to go silence those people and go take the hard vote.”In early March, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into...

Disney World's Haunted Mansion finally adds fan-favorite character from Disneyland ride

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

BAY LAKE, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hatbox Ghost is haunting Disney World's Haunted Mansion for the first time in the character's history.The animatronic character had first appeared in Disneyland's Haunted Mansion in 1969, appearing as a ghost whose head would periodically vanish from his shoulders and appear in a hatbox held in his left hand. But the character was removed shortly after its debut due to technical issues. Then, in 2015, Disneyworld brought the Hatbox Ghost back to the Haunted Mansion, having recognized the continuing popularity of the character even in his long absence."Although brief, his presence sparked a decades-long following, and this reclusive resident of the Haunted Mansion was never forgotten," reads a 2015 entry from the Disney Parks Blog. Disney has ‘enough room to build another Disneyland’ in California city, chairman says Disney World's version of the Haunted Mansion, however, had never been visited by the Hatbox Ghost until recently: On Thursday, the "grim g...

Sweet: After winning a pair of awards in Italy, these Marine on St. Croix chocolates are among the best in the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

St. Croix Chocolate Company in Marine on St. Croix took home high honors at the recent International Chocolate Awards world finals.Robyn Dochterman of St. Croix Chocolate Co. (Courtesy photo)The company, run by Robyn Dochterman, won a silver award for its burnt cinnamon and bourbon bar, which consists of — get this! — layers of real bourbon caramel and a ganache filling made by infusing flame-charred cinnamon sticks into cream, all inside brown butter milk chocolate.They also won bronze for macadamia bon bons, which include macadamia blossom honey and brown butter macadamia shortbread cookies along with Venezuelan chocolate.In the Americas division of the chocolate awards, announced in September, the bon bons earned the highest score in the “fillings” category and a gold award, which secured their spot in the global competition.Results of the International Chocolate Awards, the largest craft chocolate competition in the world, were announced Nov. 23 in Florence, Italy. Dochterman he...

"Devastated:" College of Saint Rose community reacts to closure

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Students and alumni said they were completely shocked to hear the College of Saint Rose will be closing at the end of the academic year. Now, they're left to wonder where they'll go next and are asking how the college plans to help them. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! One family walking around campus has deep connections to Saint Rose. A mother, who graduated from this school, took her daughter on a tour after she was accepted. That tour is now a trip down memory lane. “I’m really disappointed because, since my mom went there, it was a top pick for me and when I got that letter in the mail I was super excited," Scarlett Forestire said. "Then we scheduled a visit and last night we found out there was no possible future for me here and it was just devastating.”“Floored," Jennifer Forestire, Class of 1995, said. "I don’t even know what to say, I’m actually very, very sad. She’s wearing my sweatshirt, I u...

Body found along a road in Washington Park, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. -- Illinois State Police are assisting Washington Park officers in a homicide investigation. A man's body was found with several gunshot wounds on Caseyville Road on Friday.There is an active investigation into the death. FOX 2 reporter Kelley Hoskins is working on this story. More details will be posted here as they come into the FOX 2 Newsroom.

Erie High School twins Mason and Jackson Cowgill hunting for elusive state title

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

FORT COLLINS — Twin brothers Mason and Jackson Cowgill know what’s on the line Saturday in the Class 4A state championship game.One last chance for a ring. Shoulder to shoulder for one final game.The Erie High School seniors have played side by side since they first donned pads in the second grade in football-crazy Delaware, Ohio. They insist they’re not dwelling on the weight of Saturday’s game.“We can’t make the moment too big,” Jackson said. “We just have to go out and play, like it’s a backyard or something. Just go out and play. That’s what we’ve been talking about all week.”Standing in the twins’ way are the top-ranked Palmer Ridge Bears, who bring a 13-0 record to Canvas Stadium on the Colorado State campus.To win its first state football title since 1997, No. 2 Erie (12-1) must conquer some bitter memories. The Tigers suffered a painful 41-34 loss to Chatfield in the 2021 Class 4A title game, and a...

Freshman state representative from metro Denver resigns, citing “sensationalistic and vitriolic” politics

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

A freshman member of the Colorado House cited the difficult “political environment” for her decision Friday to step down, just a year after she was elected.State Rep. Ruby Dickson, a Greenwood Village Democrat and rising star in the majority party, announced her resignation, effective Dec. 11.“While I’m proud of our legislative accomplishments, it has recently become clear that the sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family,” Dickson wrote in a letter to the House’s chief clerk.She also thanked her constituents and called her time in office “the honor of my life.”Dickson did not immediately return a request for an interview.House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat, praised Dickson in a statement soon after her announcement, calling her “a brilliant champion for working families.” McCluskie did not return a request for comment about Dickson’s ci...

Broncos scouting report: How Denver matches up against Texans and predictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

Broncos (6-5) at Texans (6-5)When: 11 a.m. MT, SundayWhere: NRG StadiumRadio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/CBSBroncos-Texans series: Broncos are 6-3 in nine regular-season games dating back to 2004; Denver won 16-9 in the last meeting, on Sept. 18, 2022, at home, and has won two in a row against the Texans.In the spotlight“Let Russ Cook” might have a different meaning under head coach Sean Payton, and that might be a good thing.Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is not throwing for 300-plus yards every other week or showcasing his accuracy on deep balls. But he has a 68.3% completion percentage, his highest since 2020, and the league’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio at 5/1.Payton said in the offseason that the Broncos would be a run-heavy offense. Wilson has adapted to that philosophy, and the numbers speak to that. This season, 40.3% of Wilson’s pass attempts have been for at least nine yards, while 21.9% have been behind the line of scrimmage, according to Pro Football Focus.He is onl...

New express lanes open on 405 Freeway in Orange County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:40:55 GMT

It's finally here, Orange County. On Friday, new express lanes on the 405 Freeway opened, providing what officials say is a faster option for those willing to pay and less congestion for those who aren't. "Everyone is going to benefit from this program," Darrell Johnson, CEO of the Orange County Transportation Authority, told KTLA's Ginger Chan. "We’re very proud of the work that we've done with our partners at Caltrans and all of the cities along the corridor."The lanes, which span 16 miles from the 605 Freeway at the Los Angeles County line to State Road 73 in Costa Mesa, use electronic tolling, requiring drivers to have a FasTrak transponder. The actual cost to drivers will fluctuate based on the time of day, the day of the week and the direction of travel - something officials call "congestion management pricing." Sky5 aerial view of the new toll lanes on the 405 Freeway in Orange County. Dec. 1, 2023. "Tolls are increased when traffic volumes consistently reach a trigger point ...