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Picture books explore what spring brings — fun puddles, big bikes, eager seeds, jumping spiders and more

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

Caroline Luzzatto | Virginian-Pilot CorrespondentSpring is here, bringing with it rain, mud, bugs, birds, frogs, flowers and the joy of rediscovering long, leisurely hours outside. These new picture books capture the delight of unpredictable weather, touring the neighborhood on a bicycle, communing with plants and creatures — and embracing the endless fascination of spring spreading through backyards, gardens and streets, with the promise of summer just around the corner.“A Seed Grows” by Antoinette Portis. (Ages 4 through 8. Neal Porter Books. $18.99.)With simple words and bold, bright illustrations, author/illustrator Antoinette Portis takes a poetic look at the life cycle of a sunflower.Optimistic springtime gardeners will appreciate the step-by-step path from seed to sprout to towering plant shedding seeds that start the process all over again. Notes at the end discuss the cycle in a bit more detail, and include other resources and help for those who want to grow their own.(Cand...

New nasal spray to reverse fentanyl and other opioid overdoses gets FDA approval

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

By MATTHEW PERRONE (AP Health Writer)WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health regulators on Monday approved a new easy-to-use version of a medication to reverse overdoses caused by fentanyl and other opioids driving the nation’s drug crisis.Opvee is similar to naloxone, the life-saving drug that has been used for decades to quickly counter overdoses of heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers. Both work by blocking the effects of opioids in the brain, which can restore normal breathing and blood pressure in people who have recently overdosed.The Food and Drug Administration endorsed Opvee, a nasal spray update of the drug nalmefene, which was first approved as an injection in the mid-1990s but later removed from the market due to low sales. Naloxone comes as both a nasal spray and injection. It’s not immediately clear how the new drug will be used differently compared to naloxone, and some experts see potential downsides to its longer-acting effect. The drug will be avai...

Alleged shooter in Mansfield slay found armed, in body armor

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

Police responding to a call for gunshots Saturday in residential Mansfield arrived to find a Manchester-by-the-Sea man in the street, armed and clad in body armor, with another man dead from multiple gunshot wounds to his head, prosecutors say.“On May 20, 2022, at approximately 11:11 a.m. there was a 911 call from the town of Mansfield, 42 West Church Street, in which a male caller reported a male at that location suffering from a gunshot wound to the head,” said prosecutor Patrick Driscoll. “Police arrived on the scene a short time period later and found a man, allegedly the defendant, in the street with body armor on him.”The defendant William O’Brien, 22, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, was arrested after the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Samuel Waters, of Mansfield, on Saturday. He was first charged on two firearm counts and then, on Monday morning, with one count of murder.O’Brien attempted to flee the scene, Driscoll said, but was apprehended by p...

After active shooter reported at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts State Police determines that it was a hoax

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

After police swarmed St. John’s Prep in Danvers on Monday for a report of an active shooter on campus, Massachusetts State Police did not find any gunman and confirmed that it was a hoax.While responding to the active shooter call, a Danvers police officer accidentally fired a gunshot — leading to a massive police response to the campus.“The initial response was a threat of a person threatening to cause harm located in one of the men’s rooms,” Danvers Police Chief James Lovell said at a press conference.“During the initial search, there was an accidental discharge,” he added. “No one was injured, and that prompted the increased response.”The officer fired their gun inside a men’s bathroom, and no one else was in the bathroom at the time.Some students fled the 175-acre campus following the report of a person with a gun, quickly running toward the woods.“This is everybody’s nightmare,” said Head of School Ed...

MTS routes still impacted as strike enters second week

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Dozens of Metropolitan Transit System bus routes could be impacted Monday as a work stoppage continues into its second week.Ongoing labor negotiations between MTS contractor Transdev and its bus operators prompted workers to start striking last Tuesday, when some drivers walked away from their buses at the end of their shift and left management to park the buses inside the facility. Workers are asking for better working conditions and pay. Bar Ella to succeed Bub’s at the Beach in Pacific Beach The public transit service provider advised riders Monday the following bus routes could be affected:South Bay Bus Division1, 3, 5, 27, 28, 35, 225, 701, 704, 705, 709, 712, 901, 904, 905, 906, 907, 909, 916, 917, 923, 929, 932, 933, 934, 950/950A, 955, 961, 962, 963, 967, 968, 992.East County Bus Division88, 115, 280, 290, 815, 816, 832, 834, 848, 851, 852, 854, 855, 856, 864, 872, 874, 875, 888, 891, 892, 894, 921, 928, 936Copley Park Division (MTS Access and minibu...

Niall Horan to make stop in Chula Vista during 2024 tour

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. -- One Direction fans, get ready: Niall Horan is coming to San Diego County next year as part of his newly announced international tour.Horan will be rounding out his tour, "THE SHOW" Live on Tour, with a stop at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on July 30, 2024.Pre-sale for the show begins on Thursday, June 1 at 10 a.m. General sale will start the next day, June 2, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased during both sales on LiveNation.Known for his time as a member of the boyband One Direction, Horan's tour announcement precedes the release of his third solo studio album, called "THE SHOW," on June 9. Since One Direction disbanded in 2016, the Irish singer gained notoriety as a solo artist with tracks like "This Town," "Put A Little Love On Me" and "Slow Hands." Leon Bridges, Joji and Lovejoy to perform at new San Diego music festival "THE SHOW" Live on Tour will be Horan's first concert series since his 2018 "Flicker World Tour" -- his debut...

Community gathers for Ontario Place celebration and demonstration 

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

Community members gathered on Monday at Trillium Park for a belated 50th birthday party for Ontario Place. However, celebrations were tinged with a sense of urgency as groups fight the Ontario government’s plans for the future of the lakefront attraction.“It’s a place of so many memories for so many people, that’s really the power of this place,” said an organizer of the event and co-chair of Ontario Place for All, Norm Di Pasquale.“The people from Barrie remember this place, people from all across Ontario have stories about Ontario Place, even all across Canada.”Ontario Place first opened in 1971 and it’s 50th birthday was in 2021, but the landmark moment wasn’t celebrated because of the pandemic. Though it was decommissioned as an attraction in 2012, the site has recently been used for events and festivals.Residents who attended the event spoke of their fond memories visiting the site, and voiced concerns about the property in the years to...

Florida sued over law blocking Chinese citizens, other foreigners from buying property

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A group of Chinese citizens living and working in Florida sued the state Monday over a new law that bans Chinese nationals from purchasing property in large swaths of the state.The law applies to properties within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of military installations and other “critical infrastructure” and also affects citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea. But Chinese citizens and those selling property to them face the harshest penalties. The prohibition also applies to agricultural land.The American Civil Liberties Union says the law will have a substantial chilling effect on sales to Chinese and Asian people who can legally buy property. The suit says the law unfairly equates Chinese people with the actions of their government and there is no evidence of national security risk from Chinese citizens buying Florida property.The law “will codify and expand housing discrimination against people of Asian descent in violation of the Co...

9th Circuit reverses judge’s ruling striking down deportation law as racist

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal appeals court has reversed an unprecedented ruling in Nevada that struck down a longstanding U.S. deportation law as racist and unconstitutional.The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said Monday in its long-awaited decision that Section 1326 of the Immigration and Nationality Act — which makes it a crime to return to the U.S. after deportation, removal or denied entry — ”is facially neutral as to race.”The ruling is a blow for advocates who had hoped to see major changes to the nation’s immigration system after U.S. District Judge Miranda Du had thrown out an illegal reentry charge more than two years ago against a Mexican immigrant. Du said she dismissed the case on the grounds that Section 1326 of the Immigration and Nationality Act had violated Gustavo Carrillo-Lopez’s constitutional rights and is discriminatory against Latinos.“We are deeply disappointed in the Ninth Circuit’s decision to uphold Section 1326, a discriminatory law that continues to fue...

Spanish acknowledge they have a racism problem after more abuse of Vinícius Júnior

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:38:20 GMT

MADRID (AP) — One after another, the racial insults kept coming. The “monkey” chants outside one stadium, the offensive gestures during a game, the effigy hung off a highway bridge.One by one, Vinícius Júnior showed them on a video on Instagram on Monday, making sure they were there for everybody to see.“When will it be enough?” was the message with the video. “Racism is a crime. Not to punish is to be an accomplice.”The president of Spain’s soccer federation acknowledged they have a racism problem after yet another case of abuse against the Real Madrid forward. Madrid has asked authorities to investigate the latest incident as a hate crime.Officials, players and other athletes continued to show solidarity with Vinícius, who on Sunday considered leaving the field after facing racist taunts from fans at Valencia during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss in the Spanish league.“We have a problem of behavior, of education, of racism,” Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales said on Monday....