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U.S. Department of Agriculture to invest $300 million in monitoring agricultural emissions

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

Agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack announced Wednesday that his department will invest $300 million to improve the measurement and reporting of planet-warming emissions by the country’s agriculture and forestry sectors. The investment — which comes from the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S.’s climate law — will create a research network to monitor carbon levels in soil, which is crucial for understanding how much of the greenhouse gas is stored in the ground. It will also expand the agency’s data management capacity and improve the research methods used to quantify and analyze greenhouse gases. Agriculture contributed about 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, so a goal of the research will be to improve the system by which farmers can be rewarded for using climate-friendly practices. “It’s important and necessary that we create multiple ways for farmers to generate revenue in income,” Vilsack said in a pres...

Turkey’s parliament won’t ratify Sweden’s NATO membership bid before October, Erdogan says

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) — Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said Wednesday that Sweden’s NATO membership bid would not be ratified by Turkey’s parliament before October.He said at a news conference at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, that the process would have to wait until after lawmakers return from a summer recess.“The parliament is not in session for the upcoming two months … but our target is to finalize this matter as swiftly as possible,” he said.Turkey on Monday withdrew its objections to Sweden joining the alliance, a step toward the unity that Western leaders have been eager to demonstrate in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The decision by Erdogan was a significant move toward Sweden’s membership and came after days of intensive meetings.Finland has already become the 31st member of the alliance, and Sweden is on deck to become the 32nd. Both Nordic countries were historically nonaligned until the war increased fears of Russian aggression. __...

Former Mozambique finance minister is extradited to the US to face trial over $2 billion scandal

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A former Mozambique finance minister who has been held in prison in South Africa for nearly five years was extradited Wednesday to the United States to face a fraud and corruption trial over a $2 billion scandal involving fraudulent government loans.South African authorities said that Manuel Chang, who was Mozambique’s finance minister from 2005 to 2015, was handed over to U.S. authorities after his last-ditch court effort to avoid extradition failed in May.It brings to an end a nearly five-year legal battle by Chang to avoid facing trial in the U.S. and be extradited instead to his home country, where rights groups have protested that he would likely be treated leniently.He is accused of receiving bribes of up to $17 million during a scheme that secured loans for Mozambican state-owned companies from foreign banks and financiers for maritime projects. The money was looted through kickbacks and other corrupt dealings, according to U.S. prosecutors.Chang was...

Biden and Zelenskyy praise each other despite divisions over Ukraine war

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden wants Ukraine to win the war against Russia. But he doesn’t want World War III — especially with nuclear weapons.Balancing those two goals has been difficult, and the tension was on particular display at the NATO summit in Vilnius this week.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an emotional, even caustic, demand for a clear path toward joining the alliance.But Biden, who was to try to showcase NATO’s strength in a sum-up speech Wednesday evening, was not willing to take that step, even as the United States continues to provide more weapons and ammunition than any other country to Ukraine.The competing priorities in the midst of Europe’s bloodiest war in generations created an undercurrent of friction even as Biden and Zelenskyy projected a united front during their meeting as the summit drew to a close.The public encounter had the vibe of two leaders clearing the air, and each conspicuously heaped praise on his counterpart. Biden la...

Dentist accused of poisoning wife’s protein shakes in court on murder charges in Colorado

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Investigators say a Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife researched how to poison her and get away with it while having an affair, searching online for answers to questions like “Is arsenic detectable in autopsy?”On Wednesday, prosecutors are set to present their evidence against James Craig to a judge to show that he should stand trial for first-degree murder in the death of Angela Craig in March.Police believe James Craig, 45, laced her pre-workout protein shakes with arsenic and cyanide, so he could pursue a relationship with another woman, according to court documents. He has yet to be asked to enter a plea to the charge.James Craig’s lawyer, David M. Beller, declined to comment on the allegations against his client.Angela Craig died after being taken off life support during her third trip to the hospital in March. She was married to her husband for 23 years and was the mother of six children, according to her obituary. As she languished in the ...

Anchor Brewing halting operations after 127 years citing faltering sales, tough economic conditions

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco’s 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. will shut down after years of declining sales, citing tough economic conditions. “We recognize the importance and historic significance of Anchor to San Francisco and to the craft brewing industry, but the impacts of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market left the company with no option but to make this sad decision to cease operations,” spokesperson Sam Singer said in a written statement Wednesday. Anchor said that it made repeated efforts over the past year to find buyers for the brewery and its brands, but that it was unable to find one. The company said that it is still possible that a buyer will come forward as part of the liquidation process. Anchor recently announced that it would limit sales of its beers to California and that it would cut production of its Anchor Christmas Ale, a popular beer in many parts of the country, in an effort to cut costs.The company ...

Video of 11-year-old Texas boy looking for friends goes viral

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) – It's a viral video with millions of views showing Shayden Walker ringing the doorbell of his neighbors Brennan and Angell Ray looking for friends after being bullied.This heartwarming moment started at the beginning of the month. Angell Ray said the reason they decided to post the video on TikTok was that people needed to see the moment and that it was not acceptable how Shayden was feeling. She also thought people would relate to him. Magic Factory manifesting gifts in children one bucket at a time "Honestly, we posted it to get, like some friends for him... We had no idea it would reach worldwide or nationwide, so the fact it's gone all over the world is crazy," said Angell Ray.Shortly after posting the video, the Rays started a GoFundMe for Shayden that at the time of closing raised nearly $40,000. "I made the GoFundMe and within the first hour, it was $2,000 and within the first five hours, it was $10,000. Before I could get off work, we had ...

Downtown Austin courthouse briefly evacuated Wednesday

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for July 12, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) — Those inside a courthouse in downtown Austin were briefly evacuated Wednesday morning.A KXAN employee working to pick up court documents said an employee told him to leave due to "an evacuation" shortly after 10 a.m. He, along with other members of the public, attorneys and judges, gathered outside the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center at 509 W. 11th Street.People were allowed to return around 10:20 a.m.KXAN has reached out for more information about what prompted the evacuation and will update this story when we receive a response.

How much money is Austin spending on homeless camp clean up?

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On May 1, 2021, Austin voters approved Proposition B, making it a criminal offense for anyone to sit, lie down or camp in public areas. Since that time the city has been cleaning up and moving hundreds of camps across the city, but it comes at a cost.Many of the people experiencing homelessness usually just move to another area when they are forced out of a camp site, which means more clean ups in the future.KXAN requested a breakdown of each department involved in the clean ups and how much money the department has spent.There are three departments that sent over information: The Public Works Department, Parks and Recreation Department and Watershed Protection Department.The Parks and Recreation Department has spent $1,301,462 on homeless encampment clean up from 2021 to June 16, 2023. Drugs, homeless camps continue at east Austin Park The Public Works Department has spent $1,478,046.51 on underpass cleanup from May 2021 to May 2023.Watershed Protection has spent ...

Foxy Falafel in St. Anthony Park is closing

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 19:51:07 GMT

Foxy Falafel is closing.The food truck turned bricks-and-mortar, which opened in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood in 2012, has been slinging falafel, hummus, shawarma, kofta and more for more than a decade there, but owner Erica Strait announced via social media that it was time to hang it up.The announcement reads, in part:“With a bittersweet mix of nostalgia and gratitude, I announce the closing of Foxy Falafel after an incredible 13-year journey. It feels like just yesterday when I first opened at the farmers market, filled with dreams and aspirations.“Over the years, Foxy has been blessed with the most amazing customers and we are so grateful for each and every person. The memories shared at the farmers market, at the food trucks, and at the restaurant will forever be etched in my heart.“I want to express my deepest gratitude to our loyal staff, whose dedication and passion brought my culinary vision to life day after day. I am immensely grateful for the love and su...