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El Niño, not avian flu, caused the deaths of hundreds of birds in Mexico, government says

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — When hundreds of birds were found dead along Mexico’s Pacific coast earlier this year, experts immediately suspected avian flu.But the government said Thursday that the warming Pacific ocean currents associated with El Niño, not bird flu, were responsible for the mass die-off.Mexico’s Agriculture Department said Thursday that tests on the dead birds revealed they had died of starvation, not flu. The department said that warming surface water in the Pacific caused by El Niño can drive fish into deeper, cooler water, making it harder for birds to find food. Most of the dead birds were Sooty Shearwaters, seagulls and pelicans. They died in states ranging from Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, all the way north and west to Baja California.“According to autopsies carried out be veterinarians and specialized biologists, it was found that the animals died of starvation,” the department said. “The most probable cause of this epidemiological event is the warming...

Kosovo tightens security at border with Serbia in row over detained police officers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo said Thursday it would tighten security at the border with Serbia as the two states traded accusations of sending armed men into each other’s territory and disputed the details of Serbia’s seizure of three Kosovo policemen.The dispute adds to tensions between the sides that have flared into violent clashes over the past couple of months and which have stirred fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 conflict in Kosovo that claimed more than 10,000 lives, mostly ethnic Albanians.Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti called Wednesday’s seizure a kidnapping and said it took place inside Kosovo. He said he would tighten border security, and criticized NATO-led international peacekeepers, known as KFOR, for failing to take a position on the incident.KFOR is in charge of monitoring Kosovo’s border crossings in the north. Speaking at a news conference, Kurti showed maps of where the incident allegedly occurred, saying that Serbia’s special police and army units had en...

Ex-NYC Mayor de Blasio ordered to pay $475K for misusing public funds on failed White House bid

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was ordered Thursday to pay $475,000 by a city ethics board that found he misused public funds on a police security detail during his failed presidential bid.The hefty fine is the largest ever handed out by New York’s Conflicts of Interest Board, capping off a yearslong investigation into the two-term mayor’s use of taxpayer dollars to cover the travel costs of NYPD officers who accompanied him on cross-country campaign stops.Under the ruling, which he has vowed to appeal, de Blasio, a Democrat, will be forced to reimburse the city for $320,000 spent on the officers’ flights, hotels, meals and rental cars during the four-month campaign. He will also have to pay a fine of $25,000 for each of the security detail’s 31 out-of-state trips, amounting to $155,000.The order was handed down by the Conflicts of Interest Board Chair, Milton Williams, who found that de Blasio “plainly violated” the city’s prohibition on using public reso...

Manfred thinks sticky stuff use beyond 3 ejected pitchers

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred thinks the use of banned sticky stuff is more widespread than the three pitchers ejected this season for illegal grip aids.“I am sure that out of an abundance of caution and good judgment, umpires have had questionable situations that they decided: just not quite sure,” Manfred said Thursday following an owners meeting. “And I am 100% certain they err on the side of no violation.”New York Mets pitcher Drew Smith was suspended for 10 games Wednesday, a day after he was ejected. That followed similar bans for Mets teammate Max Scherzer on April 20 and Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán on May 17.“We talk to the umpires after each situation like that. I think it is fair to say across the board the violation situations were in the unquestionable zone,” Manfred said. “It was absolutely clear that the level of stickiness in each situation could not be have been produced by the allowable use of a rosin bag,”Five pitchers have been suspend...

Substitute Joselu scores late winner as Spain beats Italy 2-1, advances to Nations League final

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

ENSCHEDE, Netherlands (AP) — Substitute Joselu scored an 88th-minute winner and Spain beat Italy 2-1 on Thursday at FC Twente Stadium to set up a meeting with Croatia in the Nations League final on Sunday.The Espanyol striker was just onside as he turned in a deflected shot by Rodri four minutes after replacing Alvaro Morata to prevent the second Nations League semifinal from going to extra time.It is a second chance for Spain, which reached the Nations League final in 2021 — beating Italy in the semifinals — but lost to France.Spain had opened the scoring in the third minute when veteran Italy captain Leonardo Bonucci was tackled by Gavi and dispossessed by Yeremy Pino, who then calmly fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma for his second international goal.But Ciro Immobile hit back quickly for Italy, converting an 11th-minute penalty after Nicolo Zaniolo hit a powerful shot that hit the arm of France-born Real Sociedad defender Robin Le Normand, who was making his debut for La Roja.Spai...

No ifs, ands, or butts: Protesters drop pants to protest climate change at Massachusetts Statehouse

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Climate change protesters dropped their pants at the Massachusetts Statehouse during a debate on a proposed tax relief package Thursday to bring attention to what they say is the need for swifter action against the use of fossil fuels.About 1 p.m., protesters stood, turned their backs to the Senate chamber and lowered their pants to reveal letters that spelled out STOP PASSING GAS! on their bare backsides.The protesters were all wearing pink thongs.A short time later, the session was put into recess while the protesters were arrested and escorted out of the chamber. The senators then returned and continued their debate.The group Extinction Rebellion has staged other protests at the Statehouse. They say they plan to continue their efforts until lawmakers approve legislation banning new fossil fuel infrastructure.Former Gov. Charlie Baker last year signed a major climate bill meant to bring the state closer to its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The ne...

Broncos wrap up 1st offseason program under Payton, aspire to match Nuggets, Avs success

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos wrapped up their first offseason program under head coach Sean Payton in relative isolation Thursday about 20 miles south of the Nuggets’ championship celebration that drew tens of thousands of revelers downtown.Rejecting the “field day” finishes that some of his predecessors preferred, Payton ran a spirited indoor practice before dismissing his players for their five-week summer break.“Definitely seeing another team in the same city win it all” is an inspiration, veteran safety Kareem Jackson said. “Those guys had a great year. It’s definitely encouraging for us. We definitely want to do the same thing.”The Nuggets dispatched the Miami Heat in five games in the NBA Finals, winning the franchise’s first championship in 47 years in the league. Their fellow Ball Arena tenants won the Stanley Cup last summer when the Colorado Avalanche topped Tampa Bay in six games.That makes Denver the only city that’s celebrated...

Live updates | Schauffele matches Fowler, ties US Open record 62

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Follow along for live updates on the opening round of the 123rd U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.___SCHAUFFELE MATCHES RECORDXander Schauffele has matched Rickie Fowler’s round of 62, tying the U.S. Open record not long after Fowler posted the lowest score in tournament history.Fowler holed out first and then Schauffele finished his round about 15 minutes later under overcast skies at the Los Angeles Country Club.Schauffele tied Fowler at 8-under with a birdie on the par-5 No. 17 and was putting for a birdie and the outright lead on the par-4 18th but left it short.The two Southern Californians matched the 62 Branden Grace carded in the third round of the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale.Schauffele is from San Diego and Fowler is from Murrieta, about 100 miles south of Los Angeles.Neither has won a major.___WHAT TO KNOW:— US Open a source of uncertainty on and off the course— US Open raises prize money to $20 million with $3.6M to winner— Chaos rules the d...

7 best moments of the Nuggets victory parade

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Nuggets took to the streets of downtown Denver to celebrate their NBA championship — the first in franchise history.The crowd was electric during the parade and after during a rally at Civic Center Park. Watch replay: Nuggets 2023 championship parade and rally in Denver There were countless moments that caught our attention. But here is a list of some of the best. Players take to the streets with fansFor the most part, the players stayed in their fire trucks, but some decided to take it in a different direction. They hopped off the trucks and walked along the route with fans, giving high-fives along the way. This included Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jeff Green and DeAndre Jordan.Jeff Green #32 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates with fans during the Denver Nuggets victory parade and rally after winning the 2023 NBA Championship on June 15, 2023 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)Christian Braun knew he'd win in his first season...

Colorado has racial equality for money but not schooling

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:59:34 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has one of the most racially equal economies in the nation, according to a report, but one of the lowest in terms of educational equality.A pair of reports from financial adviser WalletHub point to a seemingly contradictory set of conclusions. Colorado apparently has a good deal of racial equality where the economy is concerned, despite large gaps in education. Colorado cities among top in the US for Black economic health The first report analyzed the gap in economic achievements between Black and white Americans. The study included income, labor force participation rate, unemployment, poverty, homeownership and homelessness across the U.S. Gaps have historically run high for each.Colorado ranks 13th highest in the nation for its economic equality between Black and white Americans. As covered previously by the FOX31 Data Desk, Colorado cities rank among the nation's best for income, poverty and homeownership rates among Black Americans, despite there being...