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Swiss glaciers under threat again as heat wave drives zero-temperature level to record altitude

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss weather service said Monday a heat wave has driven the zero-degree Celsius level to its highest altitude since recordings on it in Switzerland began nearly 70 years ago, an ominous new sign for the country’s vaunted glaciers.MeteoSwiss says the zero-degree isotherm level reached 5,298 meters (17,381 feet) above sea level over Switzerland overnight Sunday to Monday. All of Switzerland’s snow-capped Alpine peaks — the highest being the 4,634-meter (15,203-foot) Monte Rosa summit — had air temperatures over zero Celsius (32 F) where water freezes to ice, raising prospects of a thaw.Even Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest mountain along the Italian-French border at some 4,809 meters (15,800 feet), is affected, the weather agency said based on readings from its weather balloons. The new high altitude eclipsed a previous record set in July 2022, a year that experts say was particularly devastating for the glaciers of Switzerland. Readings have been take...

Pitchers winning the day at Little League World Series as runs are down

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Offense is taking a step back at the Little League World Series this year.Pitchers are zipping through opposing lineups, helped by a new rule meant to boost participation that calls for everyone on the roster to be in the batting order.But that’s not the only reason. Some of these guys just throw hard.After the LLWS hit its 20-game mark on Sunday, the tournament’s combined run total stood at 140, significantly fewer than the 187 runs scored through that point last year – the only other time the tournament field has been 20 teams.Until Thursday, a perfect game hadn’t been thrown in the LLWS since 2017. Taiwan’s Fan Chen-Jun – that game’s starter – took the mound again on Monday and dominated, striking out six in three no-hit innings. Some of his pitches were clocked by ESPN at more than 80 mph, which – given the shorter distance from the mound to home than in the major leagues – looks like something over 100 mph to the batter.Taiwan beat Japan 10-0, end...

Athletes to watch at world championships, Day 3

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — A look at how 10 top athletes are faring at track and field world championships after Day 3:SHA’CARRI RICHARDSON With her colorful hair, glitzy nails and, of course, fast times, Richardson stands out on the track. The 23-year-old from Dallas has the second-fastest 100-meter time in the world this season. Richardson will run the 100 and 200 at the worlds a year after missing the team. She won the 100 at the U.S. Olympic trials two years ago, but had the title stripped after she tested positive for marijuana. The 100 will be a fast field that includes reigning champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and her Jamaican teammate, Shericka Jackson, who has the fastest time in the world this season. RESULTS: Won the 100 meters in a championship-record time of 10.65 seconds. NEXT UP: 200 meters, Aug. 23-25; 4×100 relay, Aug. 25-26.MARILEIDY PAULINOThe 400 meters is wide open at the worlds with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone withdrawing from the event because of a mino...

Trump says he will surrender Thursday on Georgia charges that he unlawfully tried to overturn 2020 election

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Trump says he will surrender Thursday on Georgia charges that he unlawfully tried to overturn 2020 election.Source

FDA approves first RSV vaccine for moms-to-be to prevent infections in infants

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

(The Hill) - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday approved the first vaccine meant to prevent infections in infants, with the new drug designed to be administered to pregnant mothers in their third trimester so their newborn infants can have protection from the moment they're born.The single-dose injections, called Abrysvo, are made by Pfizer and have been approved for use between 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy. The FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted in favor of recommending the drug in May.Abrysvo has already been approved for use in preventing RSV in older adults.“RSV is a common cause of illness in children, and infants are among those at highest risk for severe disease, which can lead to hospitalization,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. What to know about new COVID-19 shots, RSV treatments "This approval provides an option for healthcare providers and pregna...

Buy for $150 or less at Affordable Arts Festival this weekend

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

LITTLETON, Colo. (KDVR) — A Littleton-based and highly successful graphic artist will be one of 165 artists selling their work at the annual Affordable Arts Festival.The term "starving artist" doesn’t quite fit Monte Moore. That's because, well, he's successful. Coffee shop uses glass jars to reduce plastic waste He's a Colorado State University graduate in graphic design, but it seems creating art is in his DNA."I was in high school when I was sitting at the art table with other friends there. We were just having a discussion about it. I said, 'I think this is what I want to do for a living,'" Moore said. Pop culture is Moore's bread and butter, but Western art is in his blood.Of all the shows and galleries Moore’s creations have graced, the Affordable Arts Festival has not been one of them until now."Fantastic local reputation. A friend of mine, Bruce White, another local artist, just said this is a show you have to do. It’s the best show, not only for sales, but for great atten...

Denver Police investigate death at Cheesman Park

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Police officers were investigating an outdoor death Monday at Denver's Cheesman Park.Just after 10 a.m. Monday, the Denver Police Department tweeted about an outdoor death investigation at Cheesman Park, located south of East Colfax Avenue. The park itself takes up five square blocks within the neighborhood that bears the same name. ‘South Park’ fan Ed Sheeran dines at Casa Bonita during Denver tour stop The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will provide the cause of death and identify the person. As of Monday afternoon, Denver Police had not said whether the death was criminal in nature and said they would provide an update when more information became available. This was the second outdoor death investigation in Denver on Monday. The other took place in the 600 block of South Downing Street, which has Washington Park on one side and residential buildings on the other.

New program allows some EV owners in Cambridge to run power to vehicles on the road

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

A pilot program in Cambridge is allowing some residents to run power cables across their sidewalks so that they can charge their electric vehicles on the road.Russell Keziere is one of many Cambridge residents without a garage or driveway. So, when he and his wife bought a new electric vehicle last year, they were presented with a problem.“The choice was to either move to a new home with a driveway in the suburbs, but then we give up Cambridge, which is full of great neighbors, density, places to go,” said Keziere. But now thanks to the program, he doesn’t have that problem because he can run a cable through an ADA compliant ramp.“They’re lightweight, even I can carry them out, put the cable in, charge them, and there’s no problem for people in wheelchairs, shopping carts, baby buggies and that kind of thing,” he said.Cambridge City Councilor Patty Nolan spearheaded the program. Similar initiatives are already underway in other cities, inclu...

Column: Where would the Chicago Cubs be had they re-signed Javier Báez?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

When the Chicago Cubs dealt Javier Báez to the New York Mets during the great summer sell-off of 2021, many fans hoped they’d bring him back as a free agent that offseason.While President Jed Hoyer reportedly spoke with Báez’s agent about a return, the Cubs had no intention of paying the kind of money the Detroit Tigers did when they reeled him in with a six-year, $140 million deal.As Báez faced his old team Monday at Comerica Park, the Cubs were in the middle of a playoff hunt while the Tigers remained in their usual mode — perpetually rebuilding. The Cubs took the first game of the series, 7-6.So would the Cubs be in the same place had Hoyer re-signed Báez?The obvious answer is “no chance.”Báez’s .592 OPS going into Monday’s game was second-worst in the majors among qualified hitters, ahead of only White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson (.568). He’s hit a combined .231 with a .637 OPS in his two seasons in Detroit,...

‘T. rexes’ race to photo finish at Washington state track

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:33:46 GMT

AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — A track for live horse racing in suburban Seattle turned prehistoric over the weekend as more than 200 people ran down the track cloaked in inflatable Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur costumes.The 2023 T-Rex World Championships at Emerald Downs — an event that started in 2017 as a pest control company’s team-building activity — ended in a photo finish on Sunday, with three competitors hitting the finish line together.Ocean Kim, who entered the race as Boto Rex, took top honors in the 100-yard (91.2-meter) dash after officials agreed Kim, of Kauai, Hawaii, hit the finish wire just ahead of the pack. Second place went to Colton Winegar of Boise, Idaho, who entered as Deno the Dino. Seth Hirschi, of Renton, as Rex Ray Machine, finished in third.The actual T. rex roamed the planet between 65 million and 67 million years ago. A study published two years ago in the journal Science estimated that about 2.5 billion of the dinosaurs ever lived. Hollywood movies such as t...