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Clock ticking for plan to keep West Virginia coal plant open

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — More than 500,000 homes and businesses in West Virginia would see their electricity bills increase for up to a year or more to extend the life of a coal-fired power plant on the brink of closure under a proposal advancing through the state’s utility regulatory agency.West Virginia’s Public Service Commission said this week it will allow Monongahela Power and Potomac Edison to move forward with finalizing a plan they project would cost 547,000 West Virginia ratepayers at least $36 million to cover the cost of keeping the two-unit, 1,300-megawatt Pleasants Power Station on the Ohio River open until May 2024.The request, made at the urging of state Republican leadership, will allow the First Energy Corp. subsidiaries — which currently own two other coal-fired plants in West Virginia — to study the possibility of adding it to their power production holdings.Otherwise, Pleasants Power Station’s more than 150 employees will lose their jobs after its cu...

Rosalind Franklin’s role in DNA discovery gets a new twist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The discovery of DNA’s double helix structure 70 years ago opened up a world of new science — and also sparked disputes over who contributed what and who deserves credit. Much of the controversy comes from a central idea: that James Watson and Francis Crick — the first to figure out DNA’s shape — stole data from another scientist named Rosalind Franklin.Now, two historians are suggesting that while parts of that story are accurate — Watson and Crick did rely on research from Franklin and her lab without their permission — Franklin was more a collaborator than just a victim. In an opinion article published Tuesday in the journal Nature, the historians say the two different research teams were working in parallel toward solving the DNA puzzle and knew more about what the other team was doing than is widely believed.“It’s much less dramatic,” said article author Matthew Cobb, a zoologist at the University of Manchester who is working on a biography of Crick. “It’s not a...

Kim Foxx says she will not seek re-election

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx will not seek re-election. In an email to her staff Tuesday, Foxx said, "While I will not be seeking a third term, it doesn’t mean I’m going anywhere.  The good, hard work we began in 2016 will continue through the end of my term in 2024."Foxx delivered remarks in an address to the City Club of Chicago Tuesday and announced she will not run for the office in 2024. She said she told Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Monday. Foxx won a second term as Cook County state’s attorney in 2020.Her tenure ushered in sweeping changes in how the Cook County prosecutor handles crime and punishment.For several years, amid a rise in crime in the City of Chicago, critics have labeled her social justice reform as failing the community.Foxx has faced criticism from the Chicago Police Department, and from Mayor Lori Lightfoot on charging decisions, home monitoring, as well as the handling of high profile cases like Jussie Smollett. Previous Coverage: Po...

3M laying off 10 percent of workforce amid slowing demand

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) - American manufacturing giant 3M will cut 6,000 jobs to reduce costs as global demand for goods slows, the company said Tuesday.The layoffs are in addition to the 2,500 job cuts 3M announced earlier this year. The Minnesota-based company plans to reduce its workforce by around 10 percent.3M CEO Mike Roman said on an earnings call that the layoffs “will span all functions, businesses and geographies.” The layoffs will reduce costs by up to $900 million annually. 3M, which manufactures a wide range of products including N95 respirators and Post-it notes,  pointed to “significant weakness in consumer electronics and consumer retail.” The company plans to invest in industrial automation as part of its effort to boost factory productivity. 3M said it will focus on “high growth markets” such as electric vehicles, personal safety, home improvement, microchips and health care. 3M noted that a decline in demand for respirators hurt its sales. The company’s wit...

Warrant issued for driver accused of killing elderly man while drag racing in Beach Park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

BEACH PARK, Ill. — A warrant has been issued for a driver accused of killing an elderly man last year in Beach Park while drag racing.On Oct. 10, 2022, authorities responded to the area of Sheridan and Howard on the report of a crash with injuries.Police believe Tabios Day, 32, of Waukegan, was drag racing another driver just prior to the crash. A Toyota Prius, driven by Peter Kliora, 78, of Beach Park, was making a left turn from Howard onto Sheridan when it was struck in the intersection by an Infiniti M35.Police allege Day was drag racing at speeds near 100 miles per hour in the M35 against another vehicle just prior to the crash. Suburban home invasion suspect allegedly punched K9 before being bitten, arrested Last Wednesday, Day was indicted by a grand jury for the following charges; reckless homicide, aggravated reckless driving causing great bodily harm and aggravated street racing.Day is not in custody at this time and his bond has been set at $350,000.

Gorsuch sold property to major law firm head after confirmation: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

(The Hill) - Justice Neil Gorsuch and two partners sold a property they owned to the head of a major law firm with business before the Supreme Court days after Gorsuch’s confirmation, according to Politico.Politico reported that Gorsuch had sought a buyer for nearly two years for the 3,000-square-foot home, located northwest of Denver, and that Greenberg Traurig CEO Brian Duffy put the property under contract nine days after Gorsuch’s Senate confirmation to the high court in April 2017.Greenberg Traurig, which employs more than 2,000 attorneys, is regularly involved in cases before the high court.Grand County, Colo., real estate records show that Brian and Kari Duffy, which match the names of the firm’s CEO and his wife, closed on a property sold by Walden Group, LLC, the name of Gorsuch’s company, on May 19, 2017. The sale was for $1.825 million, the records indicate. Gorsuch reportedly owned a 20 percent stake in the company, and his two partners each owned 40 percent. Gorsuc...

Changes to Florida transportation bill could target Disney's monorail system

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) - Proposed changes to a Florida transportation bill appear to target Walt Disney World's monorail system. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy will take up SB-1250, a general transportation bill that, if passed, would allow the Florida Department of Transportation to cover the cost of certain projects in rural areas and would allow law enforcement agencies to install automated license plate readers on state highways, as well as addressing some local transportation issues.A proposed amendment to the bill includes a line with specific language that appears to target the Walt Disney World monorail system. This comes amid Gov. Ron DeSantis' ongoing feud with Disney regarding its special taxing district established by the legislature in 1967, the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID). DeSantis' problems with Disney can be traced to the company's opposition to Florida's HB-1577, which critics have called the "Don't Say Gay" law. In response, DeSanti...

Severe weather potential remains through Thursday morning

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The forecast of strong to severe storms later this afternoon and tonight is dependent on the atmospheric cap breaking. There was no sign of that happening early this afternoon. You can read more on that below.Today's severe storm threat.The early afternoon updated forecast did not change what we were seeing this morning, that the majority of whatever storms would occur would be during the late afternoon east of I-35.Strong storms possible after 5 p.m.The fifth update from the Storm Prediction Center did pick up on that thunderstorm threat. All of the area is under that slight risk of severe weather.Slight risk (2 out of 5) for strong to severe storms Tuesday afternoon & eveningThe biggest storm threat will be from large hail. Strong, potentially damaging winds are the secondary threat. All modes of severe weather possible Tuesday, but primary risk continues to be large hailForecast uncertaintyA cap in the atmosphere, acting as a lid on growing storms, could sup...

Pflugerville to study regional transportation needs for 5-year plan

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

PFLUGERVILLE, Texas (KXAN) -- The City of Pflugerville has launched a yearlong study to evaluate citywide and regional transportation needs.City officials are seeking public feedback on Pflugerville Connect, a study being conducted in coordination with CapMetro. Findings will help support the development of a five-year transit plan that addresses community demographics, travel patterns and future growth. MOST READ: Ancient Roman bust discovered at Austin Goodwill heading back to Europe Pflugerville Connect follows the city's adoption of a Transit Development Plan (TDP) in 2018, which outlined a goal of updating the plan every five years. By partnering with CapMetro, it opens the city up for future federal transit funding opportunities, a city spokesperson told KXAN.Currently, the city operates its Pfetch A Ride program, a rideshare system run in collaboration with Uber and Maruti. Previously, the city had partnered with CapMetro on a Metro Pickup pilot service."The study is curren...

UT ranks among best schools for graduate studies, according to U.S. News

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:25:00 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for April 25, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The University of Texas at Austin was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top university for graduate studies, according to a press release from UT. In the latest edition of “Best Graduate Schools” from U.S. News & World Report, out of this year’s batch of U.S. News graduate school rankings, 37 of the University’s schools, programs and specialties are ranked among the top 10 in the nation. When combined with previous rankings, it brings the university to a total of 53 graduate schools and specialty programs ranked in the top 10. The magazine ranks programs in alternating years.Four graduate programs were ranked No. 1 and six were ranked among the top 10. Overall, according to the release, UT Austin has top-10 specialties in more than a dozen colleges and schools and has four specialty programs ranked No. 1:No. 1:A...