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It was a popular national monument, until it was robbed to extinction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

(NEXSTAR) — For decades, national parks have served to protect sites with some sort of natural or cultural significance. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always go smoothly. That’s especially true for one former site. In the late 1800s, ranchers in South Dakota’s Black Hills, near Minnekahta, stumbled upon fossilized prehistoric plants from the Cretaceous period — and lots of them. It wasn’t long before scientists from institutions nationwide caught wind of the discoveries and came to the area to buy up the fossils, Atlas Obscura explains.Among the scientists was Yale University paleontology student George Reber Wieland, who had already gained recognition for discovering the largest marine turtle ever documented, the Achelon ischyros.  A national park site can lose NPS status: Here’s how that happens He also had a special admiration for fossilized cycads, even placing some among his backyard plants at his Connecticut home. Wieland was so interested in the fossilized cycads foun...

Would-be robber completely ignored in Atlanta nail salon, video shows

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

ATLANTA, Ga. (WFLA) – An attempted robbery at an Atlanta nail salon resulted in crickets after everyone in the store ignored the thief.The would-be robber entered the salon Monday, holding what appeared to be a bag with his other hand concealed inside it. Brandishing the bag as if it contained a weapon, the man demanded money from several people seated near the door, video posted to the City of Atlanta Police Department's Facebook page shows. Thief cuts hole in roof of Los Angeles wine shop, steals $700,000 worth of rare bottles "Everybody get down! Get down everybody! Empty out your pockets! Give me all your money!" the suspect shouted.But no one moved, the video shows.(Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta via Storyful)The suspect continued to demand money, approaching a man behind a point-of-sale machine. That man instead answered an incoming call. Video: Ohio store clerk grabs sword, fights back against armed robber The suspect, seemingly growing exasperated, then approached what a...

Power outage in Leander no longer impacting traffic signals

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) — A power outage caused several traffic signals in Leander to temporarily stop working Saturday morning, according to the Leander Police Department.At approximately 10 a.m., LPD said power was restored and signals were working properly again.Officials had drivers temporarily treat the intersections with downed signals as 4-way stops."Please take this time to ensure you know how to handle a signal that has none of the lights active when you encounter one. It is important for everyone's safety," LPD said.Officials said 183A Toll Road at US 183, 183A Toll Road at San Gabriel Parkway and 183A Toll Road at Hero Way all went out.Drivers at four intersecting roads had to come to a complete stop and let the other three roads have a turn to go before it is their turn. LPD said to always yield to the vehicle on your right.According to Pedernales Electric Cooperative, as of 8:30 a.m., roughly 8,000 meters went out in the Leander area. This outage is no longer on PEC's out...

Children's allergies affected by the changing climate

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

(KXAN) — It's their time to have fun, to play with their friends. It's a time for them to be happy and relaxed. This may not be the case for some children whose health is being affected by what is happening to our climate. Pollen on tree (Getty Images)There are some parts of the country (and the world) where, in winter, a child spends more time indoors than outdoors because the temperature is too cold to be outside. Spring comes along and allows youngsters to get out there and enjoy themselves.But, wait. That may not be the case in some locales. More and more, we are finding the spring pollen season starts earlier. We have seen locally that trees are blooming earlier and earlier, leading to that early start to the dreaded pollen season. Pollen counts taken daily at KXAN showed an early start to ash and oak seasons.It's also led to some pollen seasons lasting longer. Here at home, this meant that those who suffer from "cedar fever" were still having to deal with it into April.Accordi...

An Iowa meteorologist started talking about climate change on newscasts. Then came the harassment.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

By HANNAH FINGERHUT, HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and SUMMER BALLENTINEDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The harassment started to intensify as TV meteorologist Chris Gloninger did more reporting on climate change during local newscasts — outraged emails and even a threat to show up at his house.Gloninger said he had been recruited, in part, to “shake things up” at the Iowa station where he worked, but backlash was building. The man who sent him a series of threatening emails was charged with third-degree harassment. The Des Moines station asked him to dial back his coverage, facing what he called an understandable pressure to maintain ratings.“I started just connecting the dots between extreme weather and climate change, and then the volume of pushback started to increase quite dramatically,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press.So, on June 21, the 38-year-old announced that he was leaving KCCI-TV — and his 18-year career in broadcast journalism altogether.Gloninger’s experience is all...

One killed in Denver traffic crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

A fatal traffic crash remains under investigation Saturday by the Denver Police Department.One person was killed in a crash that happened after midnight near East 56th Avenue and Joliet Street. The victim, who has not been identified, was declared dead on the scene, Denver police spokesman Kurt Barnes said.No information on the cause of the wreck was available.Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.

Denver police investigating Saturday morning homicide

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

A man died Saturday morning after he was assaulted and run over by a car in a west Denver neighborhood.The incident was reported at 6:22 a.m. near the intersection of West 10th Avenue and Newton Street, Denver Police Department spokesman Kurt Barnes said.The suspect fled the scene but later was apprehended on a ramp connecting Interstate 70 and Interstate 25. The suspect’s name was not being released Saturday morning, Barnes said.The motive was unknown. The victim’s identity will be released by the Denver medical examiner once the next-of-kin is notified.ALERT: #DPD is conducting a death investigation at W. 10th Ave. and Newton St. #Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will release victim ID and cause of death. Updates for this investigation will be posted to this thread as they are made available. pic.twitter.com/gevkuWgcbH— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) July 8, 2023

Family of missing young girl found at Camp Pendleton says she was raped 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

A young girl who was found at Camp Pendleton two weeks after she was found missing was allegedly raped by a Marine on the military base, her family said. A video posted on TikTok by the girl’s aunt claims that the girl, who is under the age of 18 and has a learning disability, disappeared from her home on June 10 and wasn’t found until June 27 at Camp Pendleton, located in Oceanside, north of San Diego. “She was found in the barracks by military police,” the girl’s aunt, Casaundra Perez, said in the TikTok video. “She had been sold to a soldier for sex.”  6 killed in plane crash at French Valley Airport; second deadly crash at airstrip this week Perez claims that the military is trying to “cover up” the incident. An Instagram post by an account called @notinregz, which posts content shared by military personnel, shows an unidentified Marine in handcuffs being escorted by military police.  The post included what was said to be a handwritten logbook from Camp Pendleton that me...

$1.6 million Mega Millions ticket sold in Oxnard 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

A California Lottery player in Ventura County woke up a lot richer Saturday morning after they matched five out of six numbers on a Mega Millions ticket bought in Oxnard. The ticket was sold at Master’s Donuts, located in the 1900 block of North Oxnard Boulevard. According to the California Lottery, the ticket matched the numbers 55-66-8-10-17 and just missed the Mega Number 3. No one in any state won Friday night’s Mega Millions jackpot, which is now estimated at $480 million.  Some California lottery winners not claiming prizes; unclaimed tickets add up to tens of millions Those wishing to play the lottery can buy tickets at more than 23,000 locations around the state. Players must buy their tickets before 7:45 p.m. on the day of the draw to be included.Several lottery players across the Golden State have struck it big this year, including one man from Altadena who won the record-setting $2.04 billion jackpot in February. He elected to take the lump sum of $999.7...

Tesla Devil’s Slide crash: Accused doctor seeks admission into mental health program, dismissal of charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 17:14:51 GMT

A doctor accused of driving his Tesla off a cliff near Pacifica in a desperate bid to kill his family has asked to be placed in a mental health program, one that could allow all of the felony charges against him to be dismissed.Dharmesh Patel’s request came as his attorneys claimed during a hearing Friday that the Southern California radiologist suffers from major depressive disorder, according to San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.Such a diagnosis is key to enter into a statewide diversion program created to prevent incarcerating a person for their mental illness. At a July 31 hearing, a judge is expected to lay out the process for the 42-year-old to seek entry into the diversion program. It is a process that can take months.Patel’s claim offered a new glimpse into his possible mental state on the day that authorities say he tried killing his family by driving their Tesla Model Y into the Pacific Ocean.Investigators say Patel purposefully drove his famil...