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A look at Pope Francis’ health over the years

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

By The Associated Press (AP) — Pope Francis has had three hospitalizations since he was elected pope in 2013, and underwent major surgery as a young man to have part of one lung removed. In between, the 86-year-old pontiff has suffered from bouts of sciatica, or nerve pain, that have made walking and standing difficult. More recently, he strained his knee ligaments and had a small fracture in one knee that have forced him to use a wheelchair and walker for over a year.Francis has a personal physician, Dr. Roberto Bernabei, who is an internist and geriatric specialist at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome. He also has a personal nurse, Massimiliano Strappetti, an employee of the Vatican health system whom Francis credited with saving his life when Strappetti diagnosed the 2021 intestinal problem. In 2022, Francis named Strappetti his “personal health care assistant.” Strappetti and Bernabei usually join Francis on his foreign trips.Here’s a look at the health of the ...

4 women critical after crash involving semi on South Side

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Four women are in critical condition after a crash involving a semi truck on the city's South Side.The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 7900 block of South Pulaski. According to police, the driver was traveling northbound at a high-rate of speed, ran a red light and collided with a semi.Three women were transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center and a fourth woman was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital — all in critical condition.The Chicago Fire Department said the women had to be extracted from the vehicle. Police pursuit ends at River Oaks Shopping Center after suspects flee into mall The semi driver was uninjured. An investigation is underway.

Pence calls for ‘different leadership’ in 2024 launch video

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

Former Vice President Mike Pence formally launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Wednesday, releasing a video that made the broad case for his candidacy amid an increasingly crowded Republican primary field.In a nearly-three minute video, titled “Best Days,” Pence made no direct mention of former President Trump, nor is the former president featured on screen. Instead, the former vice president narrates a video that offers a brief personal history of his family and government service and argues that the country should turn the page on President Biden without returning to Trump.“We can turn this country around. But different times call for different leadership. Today, our party and our country need a leader who will appeal, as Lincoln said, to the better angels of our nature,” Pence said in the video.“I have long believed to whom much is given much will be required. My family and I have been blessed beyond measure with opportunities to serve this nation. And it would be easy to s...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in mid 70s with mostly sunny conditions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

CHICAGO — Temperatures in mid-70s Wednesday with mostly cloudy conditions and morning showers possible. Winds: N 5-15 G20. High: 75/68. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Mainly clear tonight. Winds: N 5-15 G25. Low: 54.Thursday Forecast: Sunny conditions. Winds: NNE 5-10 G15. High: 74/67.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

LGBTQ+ kids, students of color feel less safe at school amid conservative restrictions

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

NOLENSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The first encounter with racism that Harmony Kennedy can remember came in elementary school. On a playground, a girl picked up a leaf and said she wanted to “clean the dirt” from Harmony’s skin.In sixth grade, a boy dropped trash on the floor and told her to pick it up, “because you’re a slave.” She was stunned — no one had ever said anything like that to her before.As protests for racial justice broke out in 2020, white students at her Tennessee high school kneeled in the hallways and chanted, “Black lives matter!” in mocking tones. As she saw the students receive light punishments, she grew increasingly frustrated.So when Tennessee began passing legislation that could limit the discussion and teaching of Black history, gender identity and race in the classroom, to Harmony, it felt like a gut punch — as if the adults were signaling this kind of ignorant behavior was acceptable.“When I heard they were removing African American history, banning LGBTQ, I almo...

Why are teens spending less time than ever with friends?

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

(The Hill) -- America’s teenagers are seeing a lot less of one another. The share of high school seniors who gathered with friends in person “almost every day” dropped from 44 percent in 2010 to 32 percent in 2022, according to Monitoring the Future, a national survey of adolescents. Social outings for the typical eighth grader dwindled from about 2 1/2 a week in 2000 to 1 1/2 in 2021. The nation’s teens have traded face time for Facetime. Adolescents are spending less time gathering in shopping malls, movie theaters and rec rooms, and more time connecting on Instagram, TikTok and Discord.  Some researchers see the retreat from social gatherings as key to explaining the wave of adolescent ennui that is sweeping the nation. Numerous studies have tracked rising rates of loneliness among adolescents before, during and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared a national loneliness epidemic. And loneliness presages depression and other...

Squirrels costing WilCo at least half a million dollars in damage

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Williamson county Judge Bill Gravell said he has a new political foe during a May 23 county commissioners court meeting: squirrels. The bushy-tailed rodents have cost the county hundreds of thousands of dollars recently and Gravell thinks it could be even more than they think. "I'm not joking, commissioners," Gravell said during the meeting. "There's no telling how much money we've spent on squirrels." A county spokesperson said squirrels grounded out a electrical pole transformer in Georgetown. The resulting power outage caused the county's Justice Center building to operate on two-thirds power, which eventually damaged two of the four chillers that regulate the building's temperature. The damage was so extensive that it was going to be cheaper to replace the two chillers rather than fix them, according to the county spokesperson. Costly damage To replace the two chillers, it will cost the county $400,000, and the new chillers are not going to be ...

5 things to know this Wednesday, June 7

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- We're halfway there. Happy Wednesday everyone! According to Meteorologist Jill Szwed, we can expect more or less the same as we got yesterday. Another thick layer of smoke will seep south around mid-day. However, the thickest smoke will be in Central New York and in the mid-Hudson Valley. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Many woke up to see and smell the smoky haze coating the Capital Region. Wildfires in Canada led to poor air quality in the area. Meanwhile, a suspected arsonist told police he started a string of small fires in Colonie over the last couple of weeks and according to police documents, he did it for fun. These stories, and more, are covered in your five things to know this Wednesday morning. 1. Canadian wildfires bring smoky haze to Capital RegionOn Tuesday, many woke up to a smoky haze around the Capital Region, with wildfires in Canada leading to an air quality alert.2. Self-admitte...

11-acre wildfire in Johnsburg contained in 3 days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

JOHNSBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- An 11-acre wildfire that started on Friday was successfully contained on Monday in Johnsburg. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) says the fire was between Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest and adjacent private land. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Forest Rangers were asked to assist on June 2 at 9:26 p.m. on Waddell Road. According to the DEC, due to steep terrain, an indirect attack and burnout operations were executed to mitigate threats and contain the fire. On June 5, around 4:48 p.m., the fire was fully contained. The DEC says the fire is believed to have started due to a lightning strike.

Multiple crews respond to church fire in Soulard

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:30 GMT

ST. LOUIS - A historic church in Soulard burned overnight.Bethlehem Mission Church on the Gravois and Allen Avenues is pretty damaged here Wednesday morning, but the fire chief says structurally it's okay. However, the inside is heavily damaged.It started around 10:30 p.m. There was heavy smoke when crews arrived. People who live on this block were shocked to see all the smoke billowing out of the historic building. As soon as the first crews arrived, the chief said they went in, which allowed more air to get inside, and then the fire really took off - leading to more crews arriving to help. Missouri governor denies clemency for man facing execution today In total, it took about 60 firefighters to get the fire under control. They were working with three ladder trucks and one deck gun. The building is three stories, and there's a lot of wood inside.Chief Dennis Jenkerson shared that the fire was heaviest on the first and second floors., and there's a parsonage attached on the other...