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Scotland wants to decriminalize drugs. The UK government just says no

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The Scottish government has proposed decriminalizing possession of all drugs for personal use to tackle one of Europe’s highest overdose death rates.The suggestion was almost instantly blocked by the Conservative U.K. government in London, which said it had “no plans” to soften drug laws.The semi-autonomous Edinburgh government, led by the pro-independence Scottish National Party, said Friday that removing criminal penalties for drug possession would “allow for the provision of safe, evidence-based harm reduction services.”Scotland’s death rate from drug overdoses is three times the rate in the U.K. as a whole and the highest in Western Europe. Last year there were almost 1,100 drug-related deaths in Scotland, which has a population of 5.5 million, according to government figures.“The war on drugs has failed,” Scottish drugs minister Elena Whitham said at a news conference alongside former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and ex-Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, bot...

Suspect arrested in TTC subway stabbing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

The suspect in a subway stabbing that sent a man to hospital with life-threatening injuries Thursday afternoon has been arrested.On Friday, Toronto police located the wanted man and took him into custody.Moses Lewin, 25, of no fixed address has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and two counts of failure to comply with release order.Out on bail at the time of the stabbing, the details of his previous legal troubles are not currently known.Lewin allegedly pulled out a knife and used it on another man during a fight on the crowded train that was caught on video.The video shows the suspect appear to stab another man as they fought. As a blood stain spreads through the victim’s shirt, he begins to run, yelling for help.The suspect, knife in hand, chases him down the subway train as commuters scramble and scream. What happens next is not captured on camera, but a woman could be heard yelling, “He’s stabbing him up, he’s killing him.”Police confi...

Authorities search for “dangerous” inmate who escaped from a Pennsylvania jail using sheets

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

WARREN, Pa. (AP) — Authorities were searching Saturday for an inmate described by police as “very dangerous” who escaped from a jail in northwestern Pennsylvania using bed sheets, officials said. Michael Burham was last seen wearing a blue denim coat from the jail, white and orange pants, and orange shoes, Warren police said Friday.Burham was being held on arson and burglary charges and was a suspect in a homicide investigation, police said. He was also associated with a prior carjacking and kidnapping of a local couple, police said. “He is considered very dangerous, and the public is asked to be vigilant and report anything out of the ordinary,” police said in a Facebook post. Officials say he escaped by climbing on exercise equipment and using bed sheets tied together. The Associated Press

Weekend Break: Famous Dave's restaurant in Addison

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

Check out this Weekend Break at Famous Dave's Restaurant in Addison.Love the WGN Morning News? We love you, too. And you can have all the hijinks delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up and subscribe to our WGN Morning News newsletter.

Harvard physicist says meteor fragments might be pieces of 'technological gadget' from outer space

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

(NewsNation) — Nearly a decade ago, a meteor traveling faster than 95% of nearby stars crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Harvard University astrophysicist Avi Loeb says there's a possibility it wasn't a space rock at all. Loeb just returned from an excursion to the Pacific Ocean, the aim of which was to recover pieces of that meteor. He says those fragments could be the remains of a "technological gadget" from another solar system.The 50 tiny spherules, or molten droplets, are believed to be made up of steel-titanium alloy that is stronger than the iron found in other meteors. That, along with the meteor's speed, has Loeb and other researchers sure of one thing: It's not from this solar system.A spherule, or a molten droplet, recovered from the floor of the Pacific Ocean is shown. (Courtesy Avi Loeb)"It's the first time that humans are holding in their hands material from a big object that came from interstellar space," Loeb said Wednesday on "CUOMO" while showing a vial containing on...

Power outage in Leander impacting traffic signals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A power outage has caused several traffic signals in Leander to stop working, according to the Leander Police Department.“Please remember to stop at a signal that is not working! It isn't red, but it isn't green either. Treat the intersection as a 4-way stop,” LPD said.According to Pedernales Electric Cooperative, as of 8:30 a.m., roughly 8,000 meters were out in the Leander area.The cause of the outage is unknown. The PEC outage map estimates power will be restored around 11:45 a.m. Saturday. KXAN reached out to PEC regarding the outage.

6 killed in plane crash at French Valley Airport; second deadly crash at airstrip this week 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

A jet carrying six people crashed near French Valley Airport in Murrieta early Saturday morning, marking the second deadly incident at the airstrip in one week. According to the FAA, a Cessna C550 business jet crashed near the airport around 4:15 a.m. Saturday morning. The flight, which had departed from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, went down in a field and burst into flames, causing a small brush fire that crews were able to extinguish in one hour, the Riverside County Fire Department said.All six victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Saturday morning’s crash comes just four days after one man was killed when his plane crashed after taking off from French Valley Airport. The FAA and the NTSB are handling the investigation. This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.

Conduction vs. Convection — Vaping CBD Hemp Flowers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

People just getting involved with vaping CBD hemp are often overwhelmed by all the devices on today’s market. From big & bulky desktop units to palm-size portable vaporizers, there are a lot of dry herb-compatible devices to choose from.While you could categorize dry herb vaporizers in many ways, it’s easiest to divide these units into “conduction vs. convection.” These terms refer to the standard heating styles found in dry herb vaporizers. There are significant differences in the vapor quality that conduction and convection units produce, so new customers must understand what they’re getting when choosing their first unit.Conduction vs. Convection Heating — Essential Details For Dry Herb VapingThe best way to explain conduction vs. convection heating is to think of a hot pan versus an oven.First, imagine throwing a few patties on a hot pan. What makes this meat sizzle? Well, the heat from your pan directly transfers to your soon-to-be burgers. This first heating method relates...

Oakland’s long-running “coal war” goes to trial with developers pitted against the city

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

OAKLAND — The long “coal war,” as it has become known in Oakland, will come to a head at a trial Monday that pits a prominent East Bay land developer against city officials and a chorus of environmental activists trying to prevent the transport of coal through the city’s harbor.It’s a fight that has stretched on for more than a decade since developer Phil Tagami first received approval from the city to build a large marine terminal for bulk goods at the former Army Base in West Oakland, just across from the Bay Area Toll Bridge on I-80.Ironically, the long delay — created by an extended legal battle, plus settlement talks that ultimately fell apart last year — has now become the city’s main argument for trying to void Tagami’s lease.A superior court judge will decide if Tagami and his corporate partner, Insight Terminal Solutions, breached their lease agreement by not reaching key construction milestones for the 34-acre terminal....

Santa Clara County to give $1,200 monthly payments to homeless students finishing high school

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:18:36 GMT

At any given time, about 2,500 Santa Clara County students are homeless. In hopes of pulling some out of poverty, the county plans to give 50 unhoused high schoolers a $1,200 monthly stipend to help them secure lasting homes and cover other essential needs as they enroll in college or start their careers.The “guaranteed income” program will start next summer with a $3 million infusion from the state. Recipients will be free to spend the money on whatever they choose. The aim is to provide students with temporary support once they’re no longer eligible for some federal aid upon graduation.The program “will close that benefit gap,” said David Cortese, a Democratic state senator representing the South Bay, during a news conference Friday. “It will stop this cycle, this endless cycle of graduating more and more young people into adult homelessness.”County officials on Friday were unable to say for how long students would receive the cash payment...