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How the pandemic turned Florida red

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second in a five-part series called “How Florida got so conservative.”Florida’s coronavirus pandemic policies have accelerated the state’s shift to conservatism by emboldening Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and turning the state into a popular destination for Americans opposed to lockdowns and public health restrictions.Long a hot spot for retirees and those searching for a warmer climate and generally lower taxes, Florida — seen as an “open” state during the height of the pandemic — drew swaths of Americans seeking a return to the normalcy of a pre-coronavirus world. “What happened was you had anyone who could relocate to a place that was open like Florida did,” said Sal Nuzzo, senior vice president at the Florida-based, free-market think tank The James Madison Institute. “What they found was a lifestyle and a political atmosphere and a culture that just agreed with them a lot more than where they came from.” According to Florida’s Office ...

Five races to watch in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida on Tuesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

Editor's note: This file has been corrected to reflect party control of the state legislature in Pennsylvania.(The Hill) -- Kentucky Republicans looking to dethrone Gov. Andy Beshear (D) in November are competing in a contentious primary. Nine contenders are facing off to helm Philadelphia. And candidates in the Pennsylvania House race are gaining national attention in a special election that could potentially flip control of the state's lower chamber. These are just a few of the colorful races on tap Tuesday, which could offer clues into the key issues on voters' minds and how both parties may fare in 2024.Here's a look at five races to watch in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Florida this Tuesday:Kentucky GOP gubernatorial primaryKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, former U.N. ambassador Kelly Craft and state Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles are leading a crowded Republican primary field to take on Gov. Andy Beshear (D).Polling and strategists alike see Cameron as the f...

Jarring evening temp drop with a wind shift to the “NE” in Chicago as “pneumonia front” sweeps through Tuesday evening

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

Sunshine and cool temps follow Wednesday—spring, 2023 is the driest 33% of past 151 years here and no rain expected until FridayChicagoans come off a cool Mother’s Day weekend. High temps averaged 3.5 degrees below normal Saturday and Sunday—but when low temps are included, the weekend was actually finished close to normal. What made it feel so much cooler was the fact the weekend averaged more than 10 degrees cooler than the weekend which preceded it.Tuesday is to throw some thermal curves at Chicago—warming into the low 80s in the afternoon. But, a WIND-SHIFTING PNEUMONIA FRONT—so labeled because of the jarring temp changes it produces—will sweep through the city from the north passing in the evening hours Tuesday.Within a matter of hours, temps will crash down to 30 degrees—falling from the low 80s into the low to mid 50s. Current indications are that the front will pass the city around 6 to 7pm—earlier North Shore areas and NNE winds will sweep in gusting 25 to 30 mph along the ...

Person of interest questioned for 2022 Lincoln Park shooting attack

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

CHICAGO -- A second person of interest is being questioned by the Chicago Police Department in the shooting attack of Dakotah Earley in May 2022.Earley, 23, was shot near Webster and Wayne Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood on Sunday, May 6, 2022. ORIGINAL: Video captures man being shot during Lincoln Park armed robbery Surveillance video of the incident captured a white sedan heading down Webster Avenue and turning the corner onto Wayne Avenue. The offender exited the vehicle and hides behind a corner building, occasionally peeking around to check if Earley was approaching. ‘I’m in good spirits,’ says chef who survived brutal Lincoln Park attack in first public comments The offender then came out from hiding, approached Earley and displayed a gun. Earley handed his bag over to the robber, then reached for the offender’s gun. The two began to wrestle and fell to the ground, when a second offender emerged from the vehicle with a gun.The first offender then gets up...

CPS holds virtual community input meeting on future of Urban Prep Academy campuses

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

CHICAGO — One in a series of community meetings meant to update the public on the progress of the new campuses at the former Urban Prep Academy took place Monday evening.Two Urban Prep Academy schools are under transition — one in Englewood and one in Bronzeville — after they lost an appeal to have their charter status renewed last month.Since then, meetings like the one held Monday, have been held to hear community input."We’re going to work between now and maybe December to actually come up with the final ideas," said CPS Executive Director of Marketing Courtney Hill during the meeting. "The name, the mascot, the logo, the look, the feel, the color – things that kind of go into it."For the time being, CPS officials said the school will go by the name of 'Bronzeville-Englewood High School.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CPS to take over 2 Urban Prep campuses after charter school’s appeal denied Through a process of community input, voting and a final sign off from the principal and the advi...

Skilling: Partly sunny, warmer before cool dip in Chicagoland Tuesday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

Chicagoans come off a cool Mother's Day weekend. High temps averaged 3.5-deg below normal Sat & Sun—but when low temps are included, the weekend was actually finished close to normal. What made it feel so much cooler was the fact the weekend average more than 10-deg cooler than the weekend which preceded it.Tuesday is to throw some thermal curves at Chicago—warming into the low 80s in the afternoon. But a windshifting pneumonia front—so labeled because of the jarring temp changes it produces—will sweep through the city from the north passing in the evening hours Tuesday.Within a matter of hours, temps will crash up to 30 degrees—falling from the low 80s into the low to mid 50s. Current indications are the front will pass the city 6 to 7 p.m.—earlier North Shore areas and that NNE winds will sweep in gusting 25 to 30 mph along the lake.This will introduce building waves and the onset of possible rip currents Tuesday night—something swimmers and area mariners should be aware of.La...

City finds blue-green algae on Lady Bird Lake, Lake Austin; algae may be toxic

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Summer is near, and Austin's blue-green algae season is already here. The city said Tuesday that staff has found blue-green algae in Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin. These algae are presumed to be toxic. PREVIOUS: Toxic algae season underway in Austin The Watershed Protection Department said blue-green algae was found at every monitoring site on Lady Bird Lake and Lake Austin except at the Walsh Boat Landing. The city has documented toxic algae yearly since 2019 in Lady Bird Lake. Toxic algae have been found every year since 2020, when sampling began, in Lake Austin. Algae near Red Bud Isle on May 16, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)Algae near Red Bud Isle on May 16, 2023 (KXAN Photo/Frank Martinez)These algae toxins are contained in the algae itself, the city said, meaning exposure happens through ingesting or touching the algae. The department's initial tests were between May 2 and May 12, but initial lab results won't be ready until June. After tests are complete...

Ted Cruz's bill targeting dangerous street drug ‘tranq’ gets approval by US Senate committee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – A bill seeking to enhance the understanding of a dangerous and increasingly prevalent street drug, xylazine, is one step closer to passing after receiving approval from the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Monday.Xylazine, commonly referred to as tranq, is a non-opiate sedative authorized in the U.S. only for veterinary use. It has had the most severe impact in the Northeast but was first detected in a Texas illicit fentanyl batch in March.  MORE: Xylazine, a sometimes deadly animal tranquilizer, detected in Texas supply Little medical research has been conducted on the effects of xylazine on the human body, but anecdotal reports describe it producing opioid-like highs. People who inject xylazine frequently are at risk of developing severe, necrotic skin alterations that can result in amputations, per the FDA.U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced in April the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quali...

Easy rough puff pastry

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

By Erika MathieuSunny South NewsI have been looking forward to publishing my favourite puff pastry recipe. I cannot take credit for this recipe, as I didn’t develop it. This recipe was originally written and developed by Claire Saffitz, and is published in her debut baking bible, “Dessert Person”, an exceptionally written and photographed recipe book with foundational recipes and techniques, complex and advanced recipes, and everything in between.I have altered the original slightly by increasing the ingredient volume by roughly one third, because Saffitz’s original recipe uses three 113g sticks of butter, I have altered my version to use an entire 454g brick of butter which is most commonly found in most Canadian grocery retailers.Not only is this worth sharing with the price of commodities these days, I think having a frozen sheet of prepared puff pastry on hand opens up a world of culinary possibilities. I personally have used this pastry as a vessel for seasonal fruits and berri...

Northwest ASP given first reading

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:50:30 GMT

By Nikki JamiesonSunny South NewsMore public consultation is expected before a public hearing on a bylaw for an Area Structure Plan for Northwest Coaldale.Presented during Coaldale town council’s regular May 8 meeting, the Northwest Area Structure Plan Bylaw – or Bylaw 872-P-05-23 – will allow for the creation of an Area Structure Plan for lands in the northwest portion of the town, surrounding the new high school and recreation centre, located north of Highway 3, west of the Birds of Prey Center and east of 30th Street.Cam Mills, director of growth and investment for the town, said that the bylaw is generally in line with previous presentations to town council and the public consultations held with stakeholders with the plan area, and the Town’s initial overview conceptual framework for the area.Mills noted there are some changes to the proposed map of the area.“As we engage in the process, work in the process, engage in sort of high-level engineering and things like that, things a...