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CDC, FDA gear up for fall vaccine campaign

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

(The Hill) - Federal health authorities are laying out plans for taking on this year's respiratory viral season, with officials emboldened by the new spate of preventive medications the U.S. has gathered heading into the fall and winter."We are in our strongest position yet to be able to fight COVID-19 as well as the other viruses that are responsible for the majority of fall and winter hospitalizations, namely flu, COVID as well as RSV," a CDC official said in a press call on Thursday.They cited the high rate of COVID-19 immunity — 97 percent — among U.S. individuals 16 and older for helping the country get into a stronger position. They acknowledged, however, that immunity is not a guarantee of protection and noted the new vaccines and antibodies at hand.Officials on Thursday reaffirmed the updated COVID-19 shots made by Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are expected to rollout in mid-September. The new mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna will be fully licensed vaccines for individual...

Officials warn residents amid wild monkey sightings in Florida

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

(The Hill) - Wild monkeys have been spotted in Orange City, Fla., sparking warnings from local officials to stay away from the on-the-loose primates.Orange City police warned residents not to feed a wild rhesus monkey seen in the town, about 30 miles north of Orlando.The monkeys can cause outbreaks of E. coli and herpes and devastate quail and other bird populations by eating eggs, according to a publication from the University of Florida.It is unknown how many rhesus monkeys, native to Southeast Asia, roam wild in the state. There are also several populations of squirrel monkeys wild in Florida.“Rhesus macaques pose the greatest ecological and human health threats of the monkeys in Florida,” the university said. “Macaques accustomed to being fed lose their fear of humans and begin to see humans as a food source. As a result, the macaques may become aggressive, attacking humans when food is around.”It is illegal to feed wild monkeys in Florida, with the crime punishable by up to 2 m...

Rare leucistic red-tailed hawk rescued, released back into San Benito County

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

SALINAS – A 14-year-old red-tailed hawk is back in the wild thanks to SPCA Monterey County. But if you find yourself looking for the little guy, don’t go following any bird with a cinnamon-red tail. Instead, keep an eye out for a flash of white.Earlier this month, the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center responded to the unique hawk, found on the ground in San Benito County. The bird was thin and unable to stand, the SPCA said in a press release Wednesday. He also suffered from parasites and had a large bruise on his chest.The injuries stood out against his pale coloring.Though classified as a red-tailed hawk, his feathers were uncharacteristically muted. That’s because he has a rare genetic condition called leucism.Often mistaken for albinism, leucism causes partial loss of all types of pigmentation, leading to white coloration. A tell between leucism and albinism is that leucism does not affect the pigment cells in the eyes, whereas albinos generally have...

From Tony Bennett to Lady Gaga, Marin’s Harold Jones reflects on a career as ‘the singer’s drummer’

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent JournalWoodacre drummer Harold Jones has performed with stars like Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga and Sarah Vaughan. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent JournalA photo of drummer Harold Jones playing with Tony Bennett at his home in Woodacre. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent JournalA photo at drummer Harold Jones’ home in Woodacre shows Jones playing at the John F. Kennedy White House, circa 1962. Tucked below is a photo of Jones, third from right, meeting then-Prince Charles. (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal“It means you don’t step on any words. You know how to swing and support, and you do not overshadow the singer,” says Harold Jones of being a “singer’s drummer.” (Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal)Show Caption of ExpandBehind a curtain in Harold Jones’ Woodacre home is what he calls his “hall of ...

Mathews: In 2049, Texas surpasses California as most-important state

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

Austin, 2049Today, state officials celebrated new federal data confirming that Texas is America’s greatest and most important state.The U.S. Census Bureau released estimates showing that the Lone Star State, with more than 40.3 million people, had surpassed California, stuck at 40 million people for 30 years.As Texans boasted about their new status — “We are the greatest civilization of the greatest country on earth,” declared 79-year-old U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, now in his seventh term — Golden State leaders issued well-practiced denials.“Population isn’t a true measure of greatness,” protested California Gov. Meghan Markle. “California is still the land of the grandest dreams, of the most embarrassing celebrities, of $10 million two-bedroom starter homes.”But longtime observers of the Golden State shrugged at Texas’ triumph.Some noted that, as early as 2023, estimates from demographers predicted that Texas would surpass California in population by 2050.In retrospect, 2023 w...

Who was alleged Cook’s Corner gunman and ex-Ventura cop John Patrick Snowling?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

John Patrick Snowling’s wife, Marie, once called him “very, very controlling.”One of Marie Snowling’s closest friends remembered him as a “crazy husband.”At various times, John Snowling was a veteran cop reaching out to the homeless, a union boss accused of dirty tricks and a private investigator. On Wednesday night, prosecutors say, Snowling, 59, became a killer in a melee that left three victims dead and six others injured, including his estranged wife. Marie Snowling was shot once in the lower jaw and was recuperating from her injuries Thursday at UCI Medical Center.John Snowling himself was fatally shot in a gun battle with Orange County Sheriff’s deputies outside the well-known biker bar and family restaurant Cook’s Corner in Trabuco Canyon, during $8 Spaghetti Night.Court records show the Snowlings separated in November 2020 after nearly 22 years of marriage. She filed for divorce in December 2022. The couple have two adult children.Tristan teGroen, John Snowling’s attorney in...

Cook’s Corner mass shooting gunman entered with two legal guns, went to get two more

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

When John Patrick Snowling walked into Cook’s Corner on Wednesday, Aug. 23, he was armed with two handguns and used one of them to shoot his estranged wife, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said Thursday at a news conference.Snowling, who was killed in an exchange with sheriff’s deputies outside the Trabuco Canyon landmark, went to his truck after the initial shootings to get two more guns: a handgun and a shotgun, Barnes said in his description of events.The sheriff said that all four of Snowling’s guns were purchased legally.“He did acquire all of the guns legally,” Barnes said.For related news, see: Cook’s Corner mass shooter, a ‘crazy’ ex-cop, reportedly was targeting wifeSnowling was a sergeant in the Ventura Police Department before he retired in 2014. Barnes said two or three of the handguns were purchased “while he was a peace officer.”Barnes listed the weapons – and when they were purchased – that Snowling brought to the scene:• A .380 pistol, 2014; (Barnes clarified that i...

In a matter of minutes, a rocking night at Cook’s Corner is shattered

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

M Street, a high-energy rock and dance band, was two songs into its set list Wednesday night at  Cook’s Corner bar and restaurant when, without a sound, 59-year-old John Patrick Snowling, holding two handguns, pointed one of them at his estranged wife, Marie Snowling, and shot her in the jaw.It was around 7:04 p.m., and customers inside the Santiago Canyon Road hangout began making 911 calls. Band members ducked behind speakers and other people hid, including one man who phoned his girlfriend. Deputies were dispatched and a minute later  Orange County Fire Authority paramedics rolled.It would not be long before the deputies killed John Snowling. In between, three people would be slain and six others wounded.For related news, see: Who was alleged Cook’s Corner gunman and ex-Ventura cop John Patrick Snowling?Witness statements, dispatch records and other information from law enforcement and fire authorities suggest a timeline of the tragedy.After the gunman, a retired Ventura Police D...

Ubiquiti: Fiscal Q4 Earnings Snapshot

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — NEW YORK (AP) — Ubiquiti Inc. (UI) on Friday reported earnings of $103.7 million in its fiscal fourth quarter.On a per-share basis, the New York-based company said it had profit of $1.72. Earnings, adjusted for stock option expense, came to $1.73 per share.The computer networking company posted revenue of $491.1 million in the period.For the year, the company reported profit of $407.6 million, or $6.74 per share. Revenue was reported as $1.94 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on UI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/UISource

Former Premier League referee says he purposely chose not to correct a mistake on video review

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 10:45:08 GMT

LONDON (AP) — A former Premier League referee has said he failed to correct a mistake while on video-review duty for a match last season to spare the on-field official “any more grief.”Mike Dean was a video assistant referee for the feisty London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham at Stamford Bridge in August 2022.Tottenham defender Cristian Romero appeared to pull Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella to the ground by his hair and Dean decided not to tell on-field referee Anthony Taylor, someone he considers a friend, to review the incident.From a corner that followed the incident, Harry Kane scored for Tottenham in the sixth minute of stoppage time and the game finished 2-2.Speaking on the Up Front podcast, Dean said he should have told Taylor to review the incident.“I said to Anthony afterwards, ‘I just didn’t want to send you to the screen after what has gone on in the game,'” Dean said. “I didn’t want to send him up because he is a mate as well as a referee and I think I didn’...