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North America's first 'PFAS Annihilator' is already operating in Michigan

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) — After five years of development, the nation’s first high-volume closed-loop PFAS destruction system is up and running in Michigan.PFASs, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a category of long-lasting chemical compounds commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." Scientists are continually learning more about the health impacts of these chemical compounds, which were first developed in the 1940s and incorporated into all sorts of products for waterproofing and heat resistance. Decades later, research showed that PFAS compounds take a long time to break down organically and can build up in the human body, causing serious health problems including cancer.The chemical compounds are so widespread that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 99% of all Americans have a detectable level of PFAS in our bodies. Study: Enough PFAS in toilet paper to consider it a ‘potentially major source’ of pollution The materials are still man...

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show: What do the winners get?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — To the casual viewer, competing at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show might look pretty simple: Get a dog. Groom it. Pose it. Lead it around a ring.But there's a lot more than that to getting to and exhibiting in the United States' most prestigious canine event, now in its 147th year.So here are the ins and outs of the show, which starts Saturday at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York.How many dogs compete?Twenty-five hundred dogs from 210 different breeds and varieties signed up to vie for the Best in Show trophy that gets awarded Tuesday night. (Varieties are subsets of breeds. Think smooth-, longhaired- and wirehaired-dachshunds.)Hailing from 49 states and 13 countries, contestants range from tiny Chihuahuas to giant Great Danes. They include familiar breeds like Labrador retrievers, rarities such as the sloughi, and a newcomer, the bracco Italiano. Agility and obedience contests Saturday involve a few hundred more dogs, including some m...

Facebook's $725M settlement is huge, but how much will you actually get?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

(NEXSTAR) – Meta has agreed to pay a whopping $725 million sum to settle a class action lawsuit alleging Facebook shared its users' data without them knowing. If you've had a Facebook account anytime in the past 15 years, you're probably eligible for a piece of that huge sum (check and see here) – but don't count on a life-changing payout. "The actual figure that will be distributed to class members is going to be smaller than that. It'll be significantly smaller than that," said Scott Dodson, a distinguished professor of law at UC Law San Francisco and the director of the Center for Litigation and Courts.Assuming the judge gives final approval to the settlement in September, a few things need to happen before any money hits your bank account. Facebook privacy settlement: Who is eligible for a payment? First off, there are the legal fees. The details of the settlement cap attorneys' fees at 25% of the total settlement amount. Whether the lawyers get that amount or less depends on...

These states have the most 'quitters'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

(Stacker) - Low pay, minimal opportunities for growth, and disrespectful work environments—these are just a handful of the top reasons why employees quit their jobs, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center Survey. Of course, there are myriad reasons workers might put in their notices, ranging from the mundane (like moving to a new state) to the dramatic (like having blow-up arguments with a supervisor).In the wake of the Great Resignation, quitting seems far more common than ever. Some employees have even resorted to ghosting their employer—simply stopping work without ever informing their boss.In fact, American workers are quitting at historically high rates: In February 2023, the national quit rate was 2.6%, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. That's about 4 million people—up about 3.8% from January.But are certain states across the U.S. feeling the burden more than others? To find out, Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data ...

Biden congratulates King Charles, Queen Camilla on their coronation

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

(The Hill) – President Biden on Saturday congratulated King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation, saying he is pleased that first lady Jill Biden could be present in the United Kingdom to join them for the ceremony. “Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples. I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion,” Biden tweeted. The president did not attend the event as U.S. presidents have traditionally not attended the coronations of British monarchs, but the first lady led the U.S. delegation.“It’s an honor to represent the United States for this historic moment and celebrate the special relationship between our countries,” she said in an Instagram post on Thursday upon arriving in the country.  5 awkward questions that hang over the coronation of King Charles III Buckingham Palace had s...

Kentucky Derby: How does a racehorse get its name?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WDKY) — Long before the likes of Rich Strike and other horse-racing legends made a name for themselves by crossing the finish line first, they needed an actual name.That's where the folks at The Jockey Club come in.The Jockey Club, based in Lexington, Kentucky, is the official registry of all thoroughbreds in the U.S. and Canada. The organization is also tasked with maintaining and enforcing the naming guidelines for racehorses — and there are plenty of guidelines to consider.“The very first thing that happens is [a name] goes through a phonetics process to make sure there’s not a similar sounding name that already is in existence,” Kristin Werner, senior council of The Jockey Club, said.This particular requirement, Werner explained, is to help avoid confusion as races play out. For example, what would happen if a race pitted “Beautiful Sea” against “Beautiful See?"“You wouldn’t actually know which one you’re talking about because the name sounds exactly the same,” W...

June/July-level warmth to headline 2023’s warmest weekend; temps to average 25-degrees warmer than last Saturday and Sunday—Sunday’s high to flirt with record—humidity increase to fuel thunderstorm clusters

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

CONGRATULATIONS TO KING CHARLES III ON HIS CORONATION TODAY . . .The Chicago Tribune article (May 5, 2023): “King Charles III will use his position to help build a better world”“The King’s belief in empowering young people also extends to his other great passion: protecting the environment and tackling the climate crisis. He understands the efforts and the impact of environmental and youth activism well, having delivered his first environmental address on the dangers of oil and plastic pollution at just 21 years old. The King has carried on conservation and climate advocacy ever since, and he has been widely recognized as one of the climate action pioneers who ‘got the whole thing going,’ in the words of President Joe Biden.”CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE ABOUT KING CHARLESTHIS WEEKEND—WARMEST OF 2023 TO DATE—TO AVERAGE 25-DEGREES WARMER THAN LAST WEEKENDRecord high within reach with Sunday’s 87-degree forecast high — it would be the warmest here in more than 8 monthsWarmth to break...

St. Paul police investigating homicide in St. Anthony Park neighborhood

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

St. Paul police on Saturday were investigating a homicide in the 2300 block of Chilcombe Avenue.Police said a person had been fatally shot.This is a breaking news report. Check back for updates.Related ArticlesCrime & Public Safety | St. Paul man acquitted in Maplewood shooting that injured man and two boys, 12 and 15 Crime & Public Safety | Minneapolis man charged after downtown St. Paul hotel housekeeper finds bags of fentanyl pills in room Crime & Public Safety | North St. Paul man sentenced for fatal Brooklyn Park crash in stolen pickup, high on fentanyl and meth Crime & Public Safety | Man kidnapped, beat, raped Lake Elmo woman in her home, charges say Crime & Public Safety | St. Paul bedroom invader sentenced for rape, four other cases

Schenectady County continues water rescue training

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — On Saturday, the Schenectady County Water Task Force and the Schenectady County Drone Team organized their water rescue training for first responders.“The training and the comradery and working with each other benefits all the residents of Schenectady county and the businesses,” Tom Constantine, Chairman of the Public Safety Police and Fire Committee, said. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Scott Pike, Schenectady County Fire EMS Coordinator, said that the training included a variety of scenarios so that first responders are better prepared for real-life situations. They also plan on having this type of training every month.“It’s always important to train in real-world incidents,” he said. “We act as we train. So the more training and proficient we become with that training, the more skilled we are to do our job.”Officials wanted to provide more opportunities to learn how to respond to emergencies...

Denver weather: Sunny skies Saturday with slight chance for p.m. thunderstorms Sunday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:19:05 GMT

Skies in the metro area will be mostly sunny on Saturday before increasing clouds on Sunday afternoon bring a slight chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.Saturday in Denver skies will be mostly sunny and the high temperature will climb to about 74 degrees as winds gust to about 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service forecast.Warm weather, sunny skies, low humidity and gusty winds has prompted a widespread red flag warning for fire danger in southeastern and south central Colorado including Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Limon, Trinidad and the San Luis Valley. The warning, posted by the weather service, runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.Winds are expected to gust to 40 mph is some areas with humidity as low as 9%, the weather service said.“Conditions will be favorable for rapid rates of fire growth and spread,” the weather service warns.Critical fire danger over eastern Elbert and Lincoln counties. Morning snow showers in the northern mountains, then...