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DC falling behind on precipitation this year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

It turns out Mother Nature also celebrated Dry January. And February and March, too.While we notice it more during the growing season, when the grass dries out and lawns turn brown, the numbers show D.C. needs a few rainy days.WTOP’s Weather PageMore Local NewsFor the first two and a half months of the year, 2023 is the sixth driest start to the calendar year on record in the D.C. area.Precipitation (melted snow, ice and rainfall) is more than 3 inches behind average. March has only delivered 18% of average rainfall so far.The latest precipitation statistics for D.C. for the year and March alone (NOAA data)The primary storm track has been too far north to bring D.C. appreciable rainfall.As of its latest update on Thursday, March 16, the U.S. Drought Monitor did not officially list D.C. as having an “abnormally dry” spell, which is one level away from “moderate drought.”However, its update later this week could expand the “abnormally dry” are...

Denver hit-and-runs on the rise

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — As traffic crashes rise, so does the number of people dodging accountability. Colorado is in the midst of a record-breaking wave of both the number of deadly crashes and the number of lives lost in them. Both nationally and in Denver, the number of these crashes involving hit-and-runs is on the rise. There were 684 deadly crashes on Colorado roads in 2022, more than any of the last 20 years. In those crashes, 757 people were killed - also more than any of the last 20 years. Federal Boulevard site of multiple hit-and-run crashes In the U.S., there was a spike in the number of crashes and in the number of hit-and-run crashes. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of hit-and-run deaths jumped 26%, including 24% of all pedestrian deaths and 22% of all pedal cyclist deaths. The same is true in Denver. The number of hit-and-runs in Denver grew 21% from 2020 to 2021 and stayed at that level through 2022. The number of seriously injurious hit-and-runs grew by 24% in 2021 and ...

DPD: Denver Animal Protection vehicle stolen near Federal Boulevard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Officers in Denver are working to locate a stolen animal protection vehicle. According to the Denver Police Department, officers received a call about a stolen Denver Animal Protection vehicle at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. The caller told police the vehicle was allegedly stolen near West 26th Avenue and North Federal Boulevard. The area is on the edge of the Sloan Lake and Jefferson Park neighborhood. Denver hit-and-runs on the rise Denver Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed that there were no live animals in the truck at the time it was stolen.DPD is currently working to locate the vehicle.DPD and DDPHE are investigating the incident and are gathering more information on exactly what happened. FOX31 will update this story as more information becomes available.

What is the Candida auris fungus?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says a rapidly spreading fungus has been identified in Colorado.But what is the fungus and how can you get it? Rapidly spreading deadly fungus already in Colorado, presents ‘urgent’ threat What is Candida auris?The Candida auris fungus was first identified in 2009 in Asia.The fungus was first detected in the United States in 2016. The fungus “spread at an alarming rate” between 2020 and 2021 in healthcare facilities, the CDC wrote in a memo released Monday and has continued to spread in 2022. See map of Candida auris cases in the United States According to the CDC, the C. auris fungus is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs. Some of the strains of the fungus are resistant to all three available classes of antifungals.Who is at risk?Patients who have been hospitalized in a healthcare facility a long time appear to be at highest risk of infection, the CDC said.Here is a look at who is most likely to get a Candi...

Dining out? How to see restaurant food safety inspections

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- If you have dinner plans out, have you ever searched reviews to find the best restaurants or considered how safe your food really is when you check out a new business you've never been to?You are not alone. Did you know that you can actually see food safety inspection information for restaurants in the Denver metro area? This fast-food restaurant named most popular in Colorado The Department of Public Health and Environment has reports from food safety inspections dating back to June 1, 2000.How to see the reportsTo see the reports, you can search them by going to the restaurant inspection section of the Denver website."Restaurant inspections are normally conducted, at minimum, once every six months to every two years, depending on the complexity and risk of the food handling operations. (For example: restaurants that handle food extensively are inspected more frequently than a convenience store that serves pre-packaged foods.)" the City of Denver said on its web...

Videographer left paralyzed during shooting outside The Licking in Miami Gardens files lawsuit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

A man who was left paralyzed after a shooting broke out at a South Florida restaurant has filed a lawsuit.The victim, Carlos Wilkerson, 23, is suing Karim Kharbouch, rapper French Montana and popular restaurant Miami Finga Licking.On Tuesday, his parents and attorneys announced the lawsuit. This incident happened on Jan. 5 in Miami Gardens, where French Montana was filming a music video at the restaurant. An unknown gunman appeared outside the restaurant and opened fire at the crowd. Ten people were shot. Wilkerson, a videographer was in Miami Gardens to work on the music video.According to police, French Montana failed to get the necessary permits required by the City of Miami Gardens, and organizers of the music video did not follow the proper protocol with the city that would have provided them police protection.“They did not take basic measures to insure that the shoot would be safe and go smoothly, so what did you think was going to happen?” said Marwan Porter, an a...

Xi, Putin back ‘peace talks’ for Ukraine war — but blame NATO and make no offer to withdraw

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

China’s President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called for “peace talks” and “responsible dialogue” over Ukraine in a joint statement with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin — but also criticized sanctions, blamed NATO expansion for the conflict and made no offer to withdraw invading forces. Released on the second day of Xi’s state visit to Moscow, which has so far underscored his close friendship with Putin, Xi’s joint statement with the Russian leader shows Beijing’s wholesale adoption of Russia’s narratives.“Russia reiterates efforts to resume peace talks as soon as possible, which is praised by the Chinese side,” said the statement, carried by China’s Xinhua news agency. “Russia welcomes China’s willingness to play a constructive role in resolving the Ukraine crisis through political and diplomatic means.”Reverting to the Kremlin line that NATO expansion sparked the conflict — rather than Russi...

Italy and Belgium’s red-tape row snarls Qatargate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

MILAN — It’s been four months, and the authorities still haven’t gotten to them.Italian and Belgian officials are locked in a protracted standoff over how — and where — to investigate two key suspects in the widening corruption probe infiltrating the European Parliament.In one case, Milan judges have been waiting months for more documents to arrive from Belgium before deciding whether to hand over Monica Bellini, an accountant suspected of helping Pier Antonio Panzeri — a former EU lawmaker — launder Qatari bribes to current Parliament members.In another, judges in Naples have now punted twice on whether to transfer to Belgium Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, an alleged member of the Brussels bribery ring, with the defendant’s lawyers arguing the arrest warrant is riddled with ambiguities and that Belgium’s prison system is inhumane.Further complicating the matter: Italian investigators are also circling Bellini. But they have thus far stuck to investigating less-central figures around...

TikTok updates rules; CEO on charm offensive for US hearing

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

By KELVIN CHAN (AP Business Writer)LONDON (AP) — TikTok went on a counteroffensive Tuesday amid increasing Western pressure over cybersecurity and misinformation concerns, rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned against a possible U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video sharing app. CEO Shou Zi Chew is scheduled to appear Thursday before U.S. congressional lawmakers, who will grill him about the company’s privacy and data-security practices and relationship with the Chinese government. Chew said in a TikTok video that the hearing “comes at a pivotal moment” for the company, after lawmakers introduced measures that would expand the Biden administration’s authority to enact a U.S. ban on the app, which the CEO said more than 150 million Americans use.“Some politicians have started talking about banning TikTok. Now this could take TikTok away from all 150 million of you,” said Chew, who was dressed casually in jeans an...

Energized by World Baseball Classic, Gleyber Torres returns to Yankees

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:10 GMT

TAMPA — As Gleyber Torres got reacclimated to life with the Yankees on Tuesday, the second baseman could only rave about his experience at the World Baseball Classic.Torres, no longer sporting the beard he wore during the international tournament, played for Venezuela. The Caracas native and his fellow countrymen lost to the United States — who are playing in Tuesday’s WBC final against Japan — in the quarterfinal, but Torres cherished every second of the opportunity.“Amazing, the best moment of my life playing baseball,” he said. “It was really great, the atmosphere, the people, the energy was really amazing.“The energy when you play in those situations is just unreal.”Torres went to say “no, not even close” when asked if he’s had a comparable experience on the field, though he added he’s yet to play in a Fall Classic in the Bronx.“I don’t know how a World Series is in New York,” he cont...