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GOP's Scalise ends his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win gavel

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Steve Scalise has ended his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win the gavel.Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door meeting late Thursday of his decision.Next steps are uncertain as the House is essentially closed while Republicans try to elect a speaker after ousting Kevin McCarthy from the job.“I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee,” Scalise said as he emerged from the closed-door meeting at the Capitol.Scalise, R-La., said the Republican majority “still has to come together and is not there.”He had been working furiously secure the votes after being nominated by a majority of his colleagues, but after hours of private meetings over two days and late into the evening at the Capitol it was clear lawmakers were not budging from their refusal to support him.“There are still some people that have their own agendas,” Scalise said. "And I was very clear, we have t...

MedWatch Digest: A warning about shy kids — and more

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

For Thursday, Oct. 12, WGN’s Dina Bair has new medical information, including: More Coverage: WGN's Medical Watch Shyness can impact language test performanceShyness could affect children's performance on language tests and doctors say that could have far-reaching impacts on school performance and mental health. Southern Methodist University psychologists say children who are more reserved communicating with others perform poorly on verbal tests. Those same children thrive now written tests, yet are often given lower assessments due to their fear of speaking in public on oral exams.Researchers measured significant differences in children's performance grades depending on shyness. They say educators and clinicians need to take that into consideration when evaluating children's performance. Human brain cell Atlas provides new insight An atlas of the brain reveals a map of neuropsychiatric disorders. University of California San Diego researchers analyzed more than a million human br...

Driverless cars improve emergency vehicle detection, Austin first responders develop AV training for crews

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — Cruise, a company that operates autonomous vehicles for rideshares and deliveries, said it has improved its technology to better detect emergency vehicles.According to the company's blog, innovations to its AV tech include better siren detection, slowing down when a scene or siren has been detected, and recognizing and avoiding emergency scenes. How to stay safe sharing the road with driverless cars KXAN.com reached out to several emergency response agencies who said companies like Cruise have been in touch with them to help develop its detection systems.Captain Darren Noak with Austin-Travis County EMS said it provided several vehicles to the company to help its software become familiar with what its emergency vehicles look like.Noak said recently there was an incident where an AV, it is unclear if this was a Cruise vehicle, approached a medical scene.He said the vehicle merged into a right-hand lane, sensed an ambulance, then moved back into the left-hand lane.No...

Social Security to get 3.2% boost next year

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Soon, bigger paychecks will be going to millions of people who receive Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration announced that 2024's cost of living adjustment will be 3.2%. Next year's 3.2% COLA is much smaller than the 8.7% bump in 2023, but experts say it's still higher than average.  Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Bankrate Analyst Mark Hamrick explains the annual adjustment is tied to inflation. "A 3.2% increase is above the 20 year average of 2.6," Hamrick said. "This change amounts to an increase of about $50 a month."Mary Johnson is an analyst with The Senior Citizens League. She expects this increase will make a difference. "We are lucky we have the COLA," Johnson said. "That makes the third year in a row that we've received a higher than normal COLA. For that reason I think people can feel a little bit of relief."But for people living on a fixed income, th...

Steve Scalise drops out of Speaker's race

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Thursday dropped out of the race for Speaker, just one day after he won the Republican nomination for the role.Scalise narrowly prevailed in a secret ballot internal GOP election on Wednesday, but it was clear almost immediately that he would struggle to get the 217 votes needed on the House floor.Momentum swung further against him, and as Thursday progressed an increasing number of Republicans declared they would not cast their votes for him.It's not clear where the fractured Republican conference will go next, as the House closes in on 10 days without an elected Speaker.“It’s been quite a journey. And there’s still a long way to go. I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for the speaker designee,” Scalise said when leaving a GOP conference meeting Thursday night.He added, “This country is counting on us to come back together. This House of Representatives needs a Speaker and we need to open up the...

Mercy-GoHealth opens first urgent care location in St. Louis City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Mercy-GoHealth Urgent Care has opened its first location in the City of St. Louis. The new location sits at 4260 Hampton Avenue near the Hampton Village Plaza in the Southampton neighborhood. At the new facility, doctors will treat patients ages six months and older for common health concerns like upper respiratory infections, minor cuts, ear infections, fractures, sprains, and strains. Football coach shot in front of players at practice, St. Louis community shocked Organizers say the convenience of having health care in your own neighborhood greatly improves quality of life."We have a lot of doctor's offices and really see the need to have one for instant access because injuries and illnesses don't always happen on a timeline or schedule," said nurse practitioner Jerry Power. "To be able to have access, especially up until 8 at night, is important to us."While this is the first Mercy-GoHealth Urgent Care facility in the City of St. Louis, it's the 22nd in the region....

PHOTOS: Taylor Swift at Broncos-Chiefs game in Kansas City

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

Pop superstar Taylor Swift along with Donna Kelce, mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were seen at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Oct. 12, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos during week 6 of the NFL regular season.Related ArticlesEntertainment | Why Taylor Swift, Beyoncé concert films are ineligible for Oscars documentary category Entertainment | Deion Sanders, CU Buffs can’t play underdog card at Arizona State. What tricks does Coach Prime have up his sleeve? Entertainment | Broncos fans could have two chances to spy Taylor Swift in October Entertainment | Travis Kelce notes Taylor Swift’s bold appearance at Chiefs game but is mum about any relationship Entertainment | Taylor Swift is a fan and suddenly, so is everyone else. Travis Kelce jersey sales jump nearly 400%. Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL ...

Chiefs 3, Broncos 0: Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson each get picked off in first quarter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

The Broncos are looking to rebound from their 1-4 start. The problem? They’re headed somewhere they haven’t won since Peyton Manning was the quarterback. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.Live updatesSecond-quarter updatesDrive stopped (6:56 p.m.): Denver couldn’t capitalize on third-and-1. Fullback Michael Burton lost a yard on the on the run. Broncos are forced to punt. — Joe NguyenFirst-quarter analysis — Chiefs 3, Broncos 0Parker Gabriel, beat writer: The Broncos did well to stave off two Chiefs red zone possessions and give up just three points. Next challenge: Run the ball twice as much as you throw it until something else is necessary.Mark Kiszla, sports columnist: I’m just here for the Taylor Swift sightings and the Jerry Jeudy tantrums.Ryan McFadden, beat writer: The Broncos need to keep running the football. They have 61 rushing yards on 10 carries. And let’s talk abo...

Teen arrested in fatal shooting of West Covina liquor store clerk

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a liquor store clerk in West Covina over the weekend.The incident was reported around 8:45 p.m. Sunday in the 1400 block of West Puente Avenue, officials said.The 34-year-old Karanvir Singh was shot while apparently confronting two people who entered the store and stole merchandise.The assailants were believed to have fled the scene in a white SUV.One of suspects seen on surveillance video previously released by police was arrested and eventually charged with first-degree murder in connection with Singh’s death, police said.He is not being identified because of his age, but was described as an East Los Angeles resident.He is being held at a juvenile detention center and is scheduled to appear in court Friday. Police are still looking for the second assailant and ask anyone with additional information to call the West Covina Police Department tip line at 626-939-8688 or leave a tip at https://www.lacrimestop...

Popular candy maker to ditch chemical banned by new California law: report

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:44:13 GMT

The makers of the beloved Easter treat Peeps will be ditching a newly banned chemical in California, according to Consumer Reports.Just Born, the makers of Peeps, Mike & Ike's and Hot Tamales, confirmed to Consumer Reports that it would be discontinuing the use of Red Dye No. 3 in its popular line of marshmallow candies.Red Dye No. 3 is one of the four chemicals outlawed by the passage of Assembly Bill 418, which was authored by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) and signed into law by California Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month.The other chemicals included in the ban are potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propyl paraben, which have already been banned in 27 nations in the European Union.Gabriel insisted that the new law would not lead to any products coming off the shelves, but would simply require manufacturers to adjust their formulas. Just Born is one of the first major companies to confirm its intent to modify existing recipes.Consumer Reports, ...