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Leprosy could become endemic in Florida as cases rise, CDC says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Florida is seeing a rise in leprosy cases that could mean the disease has become endemic in the Sunshine State, according to a letter published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The letter, which was published in mid-July, said while leprosy is historically uncommon in the United States, cases more than doubled in the South over the last 10 years. Leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is characterized by discolored patches of skin, ulcers, lumps and damage to the nerves.The CDC said if untreated, the disease can progress to paralysis, blindness, the loss of one's eyebrows, physical disfigurement, and even the "shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption." Pee-wee Herman star Paul Reubens dies at age 70 The Florida Department of Health said the disease first appeared in the state in 1921. The National Hansen's Disease Program found that 159 cases of leprosy were reported in 2020. Flor...

'Looks like a lot of history': California man searching for owner of photo album found in RV

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

(KTXL) — When Juan Garcia fell on hard times during the COVID-19 pandemic, he bought an RV to live in and started to clear out space inside. After cleaning the RV trailer, he discovered a portfolio containing old photos and documents that happened to get lost. Garcia has been trying to find the portfolio’s owner since stumbling upon it.“I hate for it to get lost, these are pretty old pictures,” Garcia told FOX40 News. “It looks like they mean something to somebody.”Juan Garcia is trying to find the owner a portfolio filled with old photos he found in an RV he bought in 2021. (Photos courtesy of Juan Garcia).One of the photos shows a man in a police uniform and one of the documents inside is a police academy certificate from 1951 for a man named Lewis Burndige, who Garcia assumes is in the picture of the uniform man. Garcia searched for Burndige’s family members on Facebook with no luck. The certificate is from the Des Moines Police Department in Iowa and the port...

Child, 8, attacked by cougar in Olympic National Park; saved by mother

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

PORT ANGELES, Washington (WJW) - An 8-year-old child was attacked by a cougar at Olympic National Park's Lake Angeles on Saturday evening.The child was with their family at Lake Angeles, south of Port Angeles, when the attack happened Saturday night, the National Park Service said Monday. "The cougar casually abandoned its attack after being yelled and screamed at by the child's mother," NPS wrote in a news release. The child suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. These are America’s deadliest national parks: data Park officials then evacuated the remaining campers in the Lake Angeles area, closing the space and Heather Park to the public. Olympic National Park wildlife biologist Tom Kay said in a statement that the decision to close the Lake Angeles Trail, Heather Park Trail, Switchback Trail, and the entire Klahhane Ridge Trail was made "out of an abundance of caution."Early Sunday morning, park law enforcement and wildlife personnel who ...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asks for impeachment articles to be dismissed

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking the Senate to dismiss the articles of impeachment he faces in his upcoming trial, arguing the bulk of allegations happened before his most recent election to a third term.In two related motions filed to the Senate on Monday, Paxton's attorneys argued that impeaching him would usurp the will of voters — considering the majority of allegations were already public and Texans still reelected the attorney general. Paxton's defense team cited state law known as "prior-term doctrine," arguing Texas prevents the removal of a public official for alleged conduct that happened prior to their most recent election. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Team Paxton asks Democrat senators be removed from impeachment jury, prosecutors reject request "The Articles allege nothing that Texas voters have not heard from the Attorney General's losing political opponents — and their donors and supporters — for years. None of the allegations that occurred prio...

Austin officers commend 'brave' girl who escaped from kidnappers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Several of the police officers who responded to a kidnapping call last week commended a teenage girl for hatching the plan to escape from her alleged captors. Three of the five officers who helped thwart the kidnapping attempt and reunite the girl with her family spoke to reporters Monday afternoon, sharing new details about how they learned of this situation. Officers Rachel Stahlke, Cody Carr and Callie Wolfe shared they went to a store located near Shoal Creek Blvd. and Steck Avenue on July 25 after the girl called 911. They described how she managed to free herself before they arrived. RELATED: APD officers stop kidnapping attempt in north Austin "She made a plan. She convinced them to let her go into the store. She said she needed to use the restroom," Wolfe explained. "Once inside the store, she ran to the back of the store and found a place to hide. She actually, I guess, made contact with some of the employees there, and they helped her. She made contact w...

Project RISE funding community organizations aimed at preventing gun violence

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)--- Project RISE —- which stands for Respond, Invest, Sustain, and Empower is a new program created in the aftermath of the pandemic to help prevent gun violence in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Newburgh, Mount Vernon and Yonkers."Project RISE is a way for communities to take some power and make some of the decisions about where funding is going, what programs should be funded, and really how they would like to combat gun violence," explained Damon Bacote, New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Youth Justice.The state allocated $2 million dollars in funding for each of the seven cities to go towards community-based organizations focusing on mental health, mentoring, victims, and grief services."It helps communities one— deal with what happens in the aftermath, because when people talk about gun violence, it’s not just somebody shooting somebody else. That person is connected to somebody on both sides ...

Volunteer firefighters sue Clifton PK for tax benefits

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

CLIFTON, PARK, N.Y. (NEWS10) — A group of volunteer firefighters in Clifton Park is suing the town assessor to receive residential tax credits.   It was respectful but quick. This afternoon, Art Hunsinger, on behalf of Clifton Park’s volunteer firefighters, served Walter Smead, the town’s assessor. "The law is very confusing, it definitely needs some clarification, there’s different interpretations of it, so if this gets it in front of a judge," Smead explained.MORE NEWS & WEATHER from NEWS10Let's break down the moving parts. There are four taxes for which a 10 percent credit can be applied to volunteer firefighters if approved by municipalities: school districtfire districttown countyThere are two main players involved in this disagreement: A group of Clifton Park volunteer firefighters, represented by Art Hunsinger Walter Smead, Clifton Park's Town AssessorAssessor Smead says his interpretation of the law is that firefighters ...

DOCCs discusses recruitment efforts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- Right now, the unemployment rate across New York is four percent, down just a little compared to last year. While that number may be decreasing, certain workforces are feeling the impacts of unemployment the hardest. Our Capitol Correspondent Amal Tlaige spoke with Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to see how the shortage is impacting them. Free Narcan training to be held in Clifton Park "Shortage, statewide for law-enforcement in general, approximately around 2019, 2020 is when that started the numbers have just dropped," said Chris Summers, Executive Vice President for the New York State Correctional Officer and Police Benevolent Association. He said the shortage could be directly related to criminal justice reform that limits the amount of time a person can spend in solitary confinement to a maximum of 15 days, "Our hands have been tied to the new law that the legislators have made, there is no more consequences anymore for them." Summe...

Ice Castles changing its approach in Lake George this winter

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. (NEWS10) - For the last two years, a Utah-based winter entertainment company has raised up an annual kingdom of ice at Charles R. Wood Park - and both times, the structure has had a hard time staying intact against above-freezing weather. Now, the crew behind Ice Castles is proposing a rebrand for winter at the Queen of American Lakes. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Last week, Ice Castles Vice President of Events Jared Henningsen visited the Warren County Occupancy Tax Coordination Committee to talk about the company's plans to rebrand. This winter, it's not a castle coming to Lake George - it's a "Winter Realm.""We've tried Ice Castles in its original form for the last two years, and unfortunately we've lost money doing so," Henningsen said. "The weather hasn't been kind to us in Lake George, but the community has, and that's why I'm here with you today."Henningsen explained that Ice Castles is adopting a we...

Liberty Ridge Farm to host Sunflower Festival

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:10:30 GMT

SCHAGHTICOKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Liberty Ridge Farm announced they will be hosting their Sunflower Festival. The event is scheduled for August 5 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Attendees will be able to enjoy the sights and take pictures in the farm's four acre sunflower field, as well as being able to take home one bloom of sunflowers. The festival will offer a variety of food and beverage vendors, and will also feature a wide array of activities, including rides, games, a hedge maze and visiting the farm animals. Liberty Ridge Farm is located at 29 Bevis Road in Schaghticoke. You can buy Sunflower Festival tickets online by visiting the farm's website or at the gate on the day of the event.