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As climate change leads to more and wetter storms, cholera cases are on the rise

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

In early 2022, nearly 200,000 Malawians were displaced after two tropical storms struck the southeastern part of Africa barely a month apart. Fifty-three people died. Amid an already-heavy rainy season, the storms Ana and Gombe caused devastation across southern Malawi to homes, crops, and infrastructure. “That March, we started to see cholera, which is usually endemic in Malawi, becoming an outbreak,” said Gerrit Maritz, a deputy representative for health programs in Malawi for the United Nations Children’s Fund. Cholera typically affects the country during the rainy season, from December to March, during which time it remains contained around Lake Malawi in the south and results in about 100 deaths each year. The 2022 outbreak showed a different pattern — cholera spread throughout the dry season and by August had moved into Malawi’s northern and central regions. By early February of this year, cases had peaked at 700 per day with a fatality rate of 3.3 %, three times higher than t...

S&P/TSX composite falling, U.S. stocks also in decline

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

TORONTO — Canada’s main stock index fell in late-morning trading as U.S. markets were also in decline.The S&P/TSX composite index was down 107.90 points at 20,518.74.In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 12.60 points at 35,546.89. The S&P 500 index was down 13.25 points at 4,575.71, while the Nasdaq composite was down 68.57 points at 14,277.45.The Canadian dollar traded for 75.22 cents US compared with 75.81 cents US on Monday.The September crude oil contract was down 91 cents at US$80.88 per barrel and the September natural gas contract was down seven cents at US$2.55 per mmBTU.The December gold contract was down US$28.40 at US$1980.80 an ounce and the September copper contract was down nine cents at US$3.91 a pound.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 1, 2023.Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD=X)The Canadian Press

Tiger Woods joins PGA Tour board and throws support behind Commissioner Jay Monahan

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour policy board for the first time in his 27 years, giving Commissioner Jay Monahan key support and the players a greater voice as the tour tries to complete its business partnership with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.Monahan said Woods is joining as a sixth player director on the board, marking the first time players have outnumbered independent directors on the board.The decision Tuesday comes at a crucial time for the tour and for Monahan, who held private meetings with Saudi leaders and two board members in orchestrating an about-face deal to work with the Saudi Arabia national wealth fund on the rival golf league.Woods had been one of the strongest opponents of LIV Golf and helped run a meeting of select players last year in Delaware to restructure the PGA Tour model.In a statement, Woods said the players will do their best to assure any changes in tour operations are in the best interests of everyone. He thanked Monahan for listening to player ...

GTA new condo sales see slowest first half of year since 2013: Urbanation

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

TORONTO — Urbanation Inc. says Greater Toronto Area new condo sales experienced their slowest first half of the year since 2013.The real estate analysis company says the first six months of this year brought 6,727 in new condo sales, 59 per cent below the sales seen during the same period of 2022.This year’s first half is 42 per cent below the first half 10-year average of 11,516 units sold.Urbanation describes the market as tepid and says sales have been much lower because buyers were concerned because of the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes.Those concerns weighed on new GTA condo prices, which recorded their first annual decline in 10 years.Urbanation’s data shows the average price for available new condominiums decreased 1.3 per cent quarter-over-quarter and 2.2 per cent year-over-year to $1,411 per square foot.It saw the market respond by reducing prices and offering incentives, like cash back or credits on closing, mortgage rate guarantees, and free or red...

CVS to lay off 5,000 workers in cost-cutting move

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

(The Hill) -- CVS Health is laying off 5,000 employees in a cost-cutting move as it shifts focus to health care services.The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the layoffs will primarily affect employees who work in the corporate sector of the U.S.-based health care giant. CVS Health said that positions in the company’s stores, pharmacies, and clinics will not be affected by the new slate of layoffs. According to a memo obtained by the Journal, CVS also plans to cut down on travel expenses and the use of consultants and vendors. The company will also put an end to certain business initiatives and uses technology to increase productivity.  Those affected by the latest layoffs will receive severance pay, benefits, and help with future employment opportunities elsewhere, according to the Journal. CVS Health, which employs about 300,000 people, recently closed 900 chain stores in 2021 in response to the changing of “consumer buying patterns,” according to CN...

Bed, Bath & Beyond stores closed, but website relaunches through new owner

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) -- Bed, Bath & Beyond may have closed all their physical stores across the country, but a new owner of the brand officially relaunched their website Tuesday.Fans of the retailer may now be relieved to hear that Overstock.com purchased the brand's name and plans to continue the online store and app, selling furniture, rugs and other household items. This purchase means accounts with Overstock.com will now become Bed, Bath and Beyond accounts. Bed Bath & Beyond in Hadley has closed There are some differences that come with this new ownership. The company no longer affiliates with buybuy BABY and Harmon. In addition, the company will not allow items sold through Bed, Bath & Beyond before August 1 to be returned. Gift cards and coupons through the previous owners also will not be accepted. Another feature that will not return at this time is the gift registry. Bed, Bath & Beyond filed for Chapter 11 protection in April and all physical stores wer...

July 2023 was officially the hottest July on record in Austin

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — It's official: last month was the hottest July on record in the city of Austin.The average temperature at Camp Mabry, with both highs and lows taken into account, was 90.8°. That beats the previous record of 90.6° set in July 2011. Austin’s weather extremes: Hottest, coldest and wettest July records No other July in recorded history has had an average temperature greater than 90°. In a normal July, the average temperature is 85.8°.We’re keeping track of Austin’s weather extremes. Click here to see Austin’s heat and cold records, or click here to see Austin’s rain and snow records.July 2023 saw a total of 25 days above 100°. As of July 31, 24 of those were in a row, the second-longest streak ever.Camp Mabry, Austin's official weather reporting site, was at or above 105° for 11 days in a row between July 10 and 20, making it the longest stretch of 105° temperatures ever recorded. Weather records in Austin date back to the 1890s.Not only was last month the hottes...

Advocates call on Austin leaders to prioritize permanent supportive housing in budget

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Tuesday, several groups will call on Austin leaders to shuffle more money toward permanent supportive housing, rental assistance and harm reduction in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget.Those groups include the Texas Harm Reduction Alliance and Austin Justice Coalition. "Despite Mayor Watson’s recent announcement of Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) funds for temporary shelter, the crisis is far from over and will continue without meaningful funding for permanent supportive housing, eviction prevention, and harm reduction services," a release said. $65 million awarded to Austin community groups addressing homelessness "We're not taking our eye off that ball," Mayor Kirk Watson told KXAN last week when we asked whether that TDHCA announcement would allow the city to shuffle more money toward permanent supportive housing. "But what I have been saying is that what we need to do is we need to not focus just one part of the continuum, we n...

Austin Forensic Science Department on notice from DA for 'potential significant violations'

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN News Today’s top headlines for Aug. 1, 2023AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Travis County District Attorney's Office has sent a letter to the Forensic Science Department of the City of Austin asking for an update in 30 days on how the department has worked to remedy "recent disclosure and protocol violations."According to the letter, the DA's office was recently notified of "potential significant violations at the Department," which primarily centers around material the forensic science department has "previously improperly withheld."The letter cites what the DA calls "potentially exculpatory material" including:An email from a supervisor detailing lack of confidence in an analyst to perform their job dutiesCriminal conduct allegations by staff membersWithholding errors discovered by staff membersLack of supervision which resulted in evidence not entering a chain of custody for two yearsThe DA's office said these potential infractions have the capacity ...

Mosquito traps in Brushy Creek, Cedar Park test positive for West Nile

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 19:05:24 GMT

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) -- Williamson County has reported its tenth and eleventh positive mosquito samples, which were collected in Brushy Creek and the City of Cedar Park. The positive samples were collected from trap sites near Cat Hollow Park and Milburn Park on July 27, a press release from Williamson County said. Since testing began in May, eleven mosquito samples have tested positive for West Nile virus. How to stay safe from mosquitoes No human cases have been reported in Williamson County to date, but according to county officials, there have been five human cases reported in Texas this year.Some of the symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, headache, body aches, a skin rash on the trunk of the body and swollen lymph nodes. Those older than age 50 or with compromised immune systems are more likely to develop severe symptoms.What can you do to protect yourself?Here are some tips from the WCCHD:Drain any standing water around your property. Mosquitoes can r...