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MedWatch Daily Digest: A new COVID variant has emerged — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

For Monday, Aug. 7, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch New COVID variant emerges prominent in UKThe variant, nicknamed Eris, is a descendant of omicron.  The World Health Organization has been monitoring it closely for two and a half weeks. The variant was first detected in the United Kingdom last Monday but now accounts for one in seven Covid cases. It's now the UK's second most prevalent variant.  The World Health Organization is urging countries not to let down their guard, even though vaccines and prior infection better protect people. New blood donation guidelinesMore gay men will be able to donate blood under new government guidelines the Red Cross is adopting beginning Monday, Aug. 7.Restrictions on donating blood date back to the early days of the AIDS epidemic, as they were designed to protect the blood supply from HIV.Since then, there have been advances in HIV detection, but restrictions remained and...

Mariame Toure Sylla: Missing Maryland teacher vanished after going on walk

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

GREENBELT, Md. (NewsNation) — An urgent search is underway for a beloved Maryland school teacher who has been missing for nearly 10 days. Mariame Toure Sylla, 59, disappeared on July 29 around 8 p.m. She was believed to have been last seen on a walk and hasn't been heard from since.Sylla's friends say her disappearance is just bizarre and out of the ordinary, which Greenbelt Police Chief Richard Bowers said has police concerned. While police have not categorized her disappearance as anything other than a missing persons case, Bowers said they have not ruled anything out and continue to look at this case with an open mind.A vibrant and visible part of her neighborhood, Sylla is well-loved by her community, where she has been volunteering and teaching at a French immersion school for over a decade. Police believe body found is missing Maryland woman Rachel Morin Students, parents, friends and other members of the Greenbelt community came together at a vigil over the weekend, ...

Watch: Walrus calf needs 'round-the-clock cuddling' after being rescued

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

SEWARD, Alaska (WJW) -- Staff members at the Alaska SeaLife Center have been busy over the past week giving a Pacific walrus calf constant cuddles after he was recently rescued and brought to their facility.According to the Alaska SeaLife Center, the lost calf was spotted alone on Alaska’s North Slope, roughly four miles inland from the Beaufort Sea. Experts say walruses depend on their mothers during the first two years of life, so crews knew they had to step in to help. Coast Guard rescues man on partially submerged boat, 12 miles off Florida shore The calf was flown to the Seward Airport, where Alaska SeaLife Center staff met him for the first time on Aug. 1. Back at their facility, veterinarians learned that the month-old calf was malnourished, dehydrated and had a cloudy eye. The calf is now getting 24-hour care, which officials say is more than most marine mammals need. "Walruses are highly tactile and social animals, receiving near-constant care from their mothers during t...

It was a drama-filled weekend for the White Sox - even with 2 wins

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

CHICAGO — An unusual White Sox 2023 season got even weirder this past weekend - and it came when the team had success on the field.Yet few are talking about the White Sox winning their series against the Guardians at Progressive Field. Instead, two stories are dominating the conversation around the team, and neither one of them are good. The first came on Saturday when a boxing match broke out in the middle of a competitive baseball game. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)In the sixth inning, Jose Ramirez doubles in a run to get the Guardians within three runs of the White Sox. When he slid into second, he along with Tim Anderson started talking back and forth. Within a few seconds, both put their hands up and started throwing punches. Unfortunately for Anderson, he was caught with a punch right in the jaw, knocking him off his feet and onto the ground. That moment has been played over and over against on social media since that happened, making for a difficult moment for the two-time All-Star ...

Oak Grove wildfire estimated at 400 acres, 65% contained; Kyle mayor said 1 home destroyed

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

HAYS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — At least one home and numerous outbuildings were destroyed along with multiple homes evacuated after a wildfire in Hays County started Saturday. Officials said no more evacuations were in place Sunday. Officials started responding to the fire, named the Oak Grove Fire, shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Hays County Office of Emergency Services website. PHOTOS: Oak Grove Fire burns in Hays County The fire was first reported to be near Oak Grove Road near San Marcos. It is estimated at 400 acres and 65% contained according to a social media post at 12:55 p.m. Monday from the Texas A&M Forest Service. Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays County, Aug. 7, 2023. (KXAN Photo/Jala Washington)Photos show aftermath of Oak Grove Fire in Hays Co...

Update on AFD vehicle air conditioning problems expected at public safety meeting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 7, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — An update on the status of addressing air conditioning problems in more than a dozen Austin Fire Department vehicles is expected at Monday's Public Safety Committee meeting. Last month, Council Member Mackenzie Kelly took to social media and submitted a memorandum to Interim City Manager Jesús Garza asking for a prompt fix to the vehicles that lack AC. Council member pushes for prompt response from city manager over no AC in AFD vehicles The memo also detailed which trucks had non-functional AC systems at the time. Kelly requested that Garza come to the Public Safety Committee meeting on Aug. 7 and present a “comprehensive report on the steps taken to address this issue.”Days after Kelly submitted the memo, the city said it would undertake several initiatives to reduce the number of AFD vehicles without air conditioning in the future. Jennifer Walls, the Director of the Fleet Mobil...

A critical wildfire danger

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Afternoon highs will heat up to a range of 104° to 108°. The maximum heat will likely reach as high as 106 to 110° from I-35 eastward. Hill Country heat index values will peak at 102° to 106°. BLOG: When will 100º days end in Austin? An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect until 9 p.m. The Heat Advisory continues until 9 p.m. for Blanco and Gillespie Counties.Heat alerts reissued MondayStatistics released today by the Texas A & M Forest Service show that 80 wildfires have been reported in the last week, 41 of them since Friday. More than 8,000 precious Texas acres have been burnet. What makes this worse is the water that it takes to control these wildfires.A Red Flag Warning is in effect until 11 p.m. for most of Central Texas. High to very high fire danger will allow for wildfires to grow rapidly if sparked.Red Flag Warning reissued MondayToday's wildfire dangerTomorrow's wildfire danger has reached the highest it can be at a level 5. This is an extreme wildfi...

Family of boy fatally shot in St. Paul mourns not only his loss, but arrest of 14-year-old brother

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

The family of a 12-year-old boy fatally shot in St. Paul is mourning not only his loss, but also his 14-year-old brother’s arrest in the case.Police booked the teen into the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Center Saturday on suspicion of manslaughter.“I know it was an accident,” said Charlette Williams, an older cousin of Markee Jones, on Monday.The Ramsey County attorney’s office said Monday that police presented an investigation for review, and state data privacy laws prohibit them from providing any additional information.Williams said the 14-year-old has been calling the family crying.“That was his brother,” she said. “He’s in there hurting. He wants to be there for his mom.”Officers were called just before 5 a.m. Saturday on a report of a juvenile who’d been shot in the North End. Police found a 12-year-old, who family identified as Markee, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Relatives say the shooting happened ...

Armor For Sleep to perform at Empire Live

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Empire Live announced they will be hosting alternative rock band Armor For Sleep. The show is scheduled for November 10 at 7 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! As part of the concert, Armor For Sleep will be performing their album "Dream to Make Believe" in celebration of the record's 20th anniversary. The band will be joined for the show by special guests The Early November and The Spill Canvas. Empire Live is located at 93 North Pearl Street in Albany. You can buy Armor For Sleep tickets on the Ticketmaster website or by visiting the venue’s box office.

Child shot and killed while playing with a gun in north St. Louis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:39:59 GMT

BERKELEY, Mo. -- Police say that a 7-year-old was shot and killed in the 6700 block of Larry Lane in Berkeley today. They believe the shooting was accidental. The child may have been playing with a gun in a pickup truck.The police have not yet released the child's condition or identity. This is a developing story. More information will be posted here as it comes into the FOX 2 newsroom.