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For second year in a row, US gets D+ grade for high preterm birth rate: ‘There’s so much work to be done’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

(CNN) — The rate of premature birth in the United States remains high, especially in the southern region of the country, according to the infant and maternal health nonprofit March of Dimes.The group’s annual “report card” on US maternal and infant health, released Thursday, says that the nation’s preterm birth rate – the rate of babies born before 37 weeks gestation – was 10.4% in 2022, down only 1% from 2021’s rate, which was the highest in more than a decade.“We went from 10.5% to 10.4%. It’s flat,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cherot, president and chief executive officer of March of Dimes. “A slight change is just not big enough in that direction.”March of Dimes gave the United States a D+ for its rate of preterm births, which are the leading cause of infant deaths in the country. It’s the second year in a row that the nation has earned that grade.The national preterm birth rate peaked at 12.8% in 2006 after rising steadily for more than two decades, according to data from the Natio...

Miami-Dade Police launch annual ‘Holiday Crime Initiative’ for increased holiday security

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (WSVN) — Friday marks the commencement of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s Annual Holiday Crime Initiative, ramping up security measures across the county to ensure a safe holiday season.Under the leadership of Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels, uniformed and non-uniformed officers will intensify surveillance and conduct high-visibility patrols. The primary focus will be on major malls, shopping centers, and areas with high foot traffic.As part of the initiative, the department will also disseminate crucial crime prevention tips, emphasizing campaigns like “Lock it or Lose it” and “See Something, Say Something.”

Woman injured following house fire in Miami Gardens

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to reports of a house fire in Miami Gardens, leaving one woman injured. The blaze broke out around 4:15 a.m. along Northwest 172nd Street and 14th Avenue.According to MDFR, the fire is now under control and despite heavy smoke, rescuers successfully extracted a woman trapped inside. Pets, including a dog and a cat, were also rescued from the residence. Officials said the elderly woman rescued from inside the home was injured and was immediately taken to the hospital. Her condition is unknown. Details on the extent of the damage and the cause of the fire are under investigation.Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

EU’s Michel set to visit Ukraine for Maidan commemoration

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

European Council President Charles Michel will travel to Kyiv early next week, two people briefed on the trip told POLITICO. Michel will visit Ukraine to commemorate the Maidan protests, which started on November 21, 2013. The protests came after the decision of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to pull out of a political and economic association agreement with the EU. Russia blasted the uprising as a Western-fomented “coup” and used it to justify its military action in Ukraine in 2014.The visit comes ahead of the European Council summit in mid-December, where EU leaders will discuss the recommendation of the European Commission to open formal accession negotiations with Ukraine. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv just ahead of the announcement, promising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continued EU support. A spokesperson for Michel said they could not confirm the visit but that they will be in Berlin in the beginning of next week.

Czechs push for longer exemption from Russia steel sanctions

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

The Czech Republic is asking for a longer exemption period for imports from Russian steel company Novolipetsk Steel (NLMK) during Friday’s meeting of EU ambassadors to discuss the next round of sanctions against Moscow, three EU diplomats told POLITICO.The automotive sector is a linchpin for the Czech Republic’s economy, accounting for about 10 percent of national GDP — one of the highest totals in the world. As home to big manufacturers like Volkswagen Group’s Škoda and Hyundai Motor’s Czech subsidiary, it is one of Europe’s leading automotive production and manufacturing hubs.  Manufacturers need steel, which makes up a large proportion of the body and many other components of a car. And NLMK is a crucial supplier: It produces nearly all of its flat and long steel products in Russia, but nearly a quarter of its rolling operations are sited in Europe, closer to its industry customers.Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Brussels has imposed 11 sanctions packages agai...

Ukrainian marines claim multiple bridgeheads across a key Russian strategic barrier

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s marine corps said Friday it has secured multiple bridgeheads on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region in fighting it described as having left nearly 3,500 Russians killed or wounded and dozens of ammunition depots, tanks, armored vehicles and other weaponry destroyed.The Marine Infantry Command’s claims are the first to come directly from the Ukrainian military about advances across one of Russia’s most significant strategic barriers. Earlier this week, Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s office, confirmed for the first time that Ukraine had established a foothold on the eastern side of the river.The wide river is a natural dividing line along the southern battlefront and Moscow’s forces have used it since leaving the area around the city of Kherson in November 2022 to prevent Ukrainian troops from advancing further toward Russian-annexed Crimea.Western officials with knowledge of intelligence, speaking on condition...

Buy a Car?! In This Economy?!

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

In this episode from our podcast partner, In This Economy?!, Suki is in the market for her first car. She would like to purchase an electric vehicle but doesn’t know if she can really afford it.Jordan interviews auto industry expert Lorraine Sommerfeld to better understand current market trends and develop a roadmap for buying a car right now. For the first time in most of our lives, used vehicles are gaining value, not losing it — which creates an incredibly tough market in which to find deals. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be done.

A Swedish hydrofoil ferry seeks to electrify the waterways

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Many cities around the world see clean and efficient public transport as a crucial way to lower their carbon emissions. For cities with waterways, a high-tech ferry in Sweden could soon set a new standard.Speeding through Stockholm’s archipelago, electric boat maker Candela’s new P-12 vessel barely makes a sound as it glides over a meter (3 feet) above the water. Its developers hope the ferry, which was unveiled this week, will yield a new era of waterborne public transport.“This is a real leap forward,” said Erik Eklund, who is in charge of the commercial vessel division at Candela. “The energy savings we get by going airborne on the foils give us the speed and range we need to make this work on batteries.”The vessel is designed to carry 30 passengers at a maximum speed of 30 knots (56 kph or 35 mph) — considerably faster than other electric passenger ferries. It achieves this with carbon fiber hydrofoil wings that lift the boat out of the water, reducing drag. Can...

F1 off to rough Las Vegas start. Ferrari damaged, fans told to leave before practice ends at 4 a.m.

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Grand Prix had a bumpy opening when the first practice of the $500 million Formula One race was halted nine minutes into the session Thursday night because Carlos Sainz Jr. ran over a water valve cover that badly damaged his Ferrari. It caused the first practice to be aborted, a delay of 2 1/2 hours before second practice for track repairs, and all spectators were removed from viewing areas ahead of the 90-minute session that ended at 4 a.m. local time — the deadline for F1 to return the roads to Las Vegas commuters. “I am very sorry for the fans that this happened, but I believe we will be able to put on a great race,” said Red Bull driver Sergio Perez. The FIA said Sainz hit the concrete frame around the cover moments after cars took to the track in the hyped return to Las Vegas. After Sainz came to a stop and was examining his damaged car, the governing body ordered all cars off track so it could inspect the entire circuit. Multiple drainage covers ...

Russian lawmakers approve a budget with a record amount devoted to defense spending

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:15:39 GMT

LONDON (AP) — The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, approved a federal budget Friday that increases spending by around 25% in 2024 and devotes a record amount to defense.The budget for 2024-2026 was developed specifically to fund the Russian military and to mitigate the impact of “17,500 sanctions” on Russia, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. Under the spending plan, the country’s largest ever, defense spending is expected to overtake social spending next year for the first time in modern Russian history. The development comes as the Kremlin is eager to shore up support for President Vladimir Putin before a March presidential election. Record low unemployment, higher wages and targeted social spending should help the Kremlin ride out the domestic impact of pivoting the economy to a war footing but could pose a problem in the long term, analysts say. The budget “is about getting the war sorted in Ukraine and about being ready for a military confront...