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North American trade pact on 3rd anniversary: Optimism is rising for US and Mexican workers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — To President Donald Trump, America’s trade relationship with Mexico was intolerable. He seethed over the U.S. trade deficit and the shuttered factories in America’s heartland. “No longer,’’ he vowed six years ago, “are we going to allow other countries to break the rules, to steal our jobs and drain our wealth.”So Trump pressured Mexico and Canada to replace their mutual pact with one more to his liking. After a couple of years of negotiations, he got what he wanted. Out was the North American Free Trade Agreement. In was the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.The USMCA, which Trump hailed as “the fairest, most balanced and beneficial trade agreement we have ever signed,” will reach its third anniversary Saturday.The trade pact hasn’t proved to be the economic bonanza Trump boasted it would be. It couldn’t have been, given that trade makes up less than a third of America’s $26 trillion economy.Yet while the the deal’s overall impact has been...

$115M in federal grants will give a boost to smaller meat processors in 17 states

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Smaller meat and poultry operators in 17 states will receive $115 million in grants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday.The USDA grants are the latest in a series of awards the Biden administration has made that are intended to increase meat and poultry processing, benefiting farmers and providing more job opportunities in largely rural areas.“While American farmers and ranchers have been responding to the demand to produce more, their communities have struggled to see their share of the benefits,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement ahead of a meeting Thursday morning in Des Moines with producers and business owners. The participants were expected to talk with Vilsack about ways to strengthen and market farm and food businesses.The funding includes 10 awards to recipients in 12 states totaling $77 million through a program that finances the start-up or expansion of meat and poultry processing plants. The awards include $1...

Essence Festival of Culture 2023 kicks off in New Orleans

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nearly 30 years ago, creators of Essence Magazine came to New Orleans to celebrate the publication’s 25th anniversary with a salute to Black women highlighting culture, empowerment conversations with the nation’s thought leaders and, of course, music.The Essence Music Festival has since morphed into the Essence Festival of Culture, which, in its 29th year, kicks off Thursday and goes through July 3 across various venues in downtown New Orleans. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will hold most of the free workshops, vendor exhibits and celebrity meet-and-greets. Blocks away, the Superdome will host nightly ticketed performances by artists including headliners Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliott and Megan Thee Stallion as the festival commemorates 50 years of hip-hop.Hakeem Holmes, a New Orleans native and newly appointed vice president of the festival, describes the festival as a “crown jewel of Black culture” that “plays a pivotal role in the amplification...

Showers and storms moving through area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

Thursday morning starts with a round of showers and storms.A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued until 9 a.m. for LaSalle, Grundy, Livingston, Kankakee and Iroquois counties. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here The rest of the day should be partly sunny with a 50% chance of storms, strong to severe possible. High: 85. Lakeside: 76Thursday night set to be Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of showers & storms - mainly in the evening. Low: 70.Latest warnings and watches from the National Weather Service.Friday will be partly sunny with a 30% chance of showers and storms. High: 91. Lakeside:  81Saturday mostly cloudy, 50% chance of showers and storms. High: 84   Lakeside:  76Sunday mostly cloudy, 60% chance of showers, storms possible. High:  77   Lakeside: 71

Why you'd better get used to a hot, smoky summer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smoke from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say.And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest and East.That’s because neither the 235 out-of-control Canadian wildfires nor the stuck weather pattern that's responsible for this mess of meteorological maladies are showing signs of relenting for the next week or longer, according to meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center.First, the stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels. Then it created a setup where the only relief comes when low pressure systems roll through, which means areas on one side get smoky air from the north and the other gets sweltering air from the south.Smoke or heat. “Pick yo...

Rhino at Buffalo Zoo briefly breaks free from enclosure

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – A young male rhinoceros at New York's Buffalo Zoo briefly left its primary enclosure Wednesday, the zoo said, prompting emergency protocols to be enacted at the facility.However, the rhinoceros remained behind multiple public barriers, and at no time was there a threat to the public, a zoo spokesperson told News 4.Mohan, a greater one-horned rhino, was spotted in an area adjacent to his enclosure around 11:55 a.m., according to the zoo. He was returned to his exhibit less than 10 minutes later.Mohan, the Buffalo Zoo's young male greater one-horned rhino (Courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo)Mohan, the Buffalo Zoo's young male greater one-horned rhino (Courtesy of the Buffalo Zoo)Nevertheless, the zoo was required to activate its emergency protocols, including sealing off entry points and directing guests to secure indoor locations. The spokesperson described the area Mohan entered as a back-of-house area, adding that he did not advance more than a few feet beyond where...

Icky chicken tenders help lead to conviction of NYC's ex-school food chief in bribery case

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A man who oversaw food service for New York City schools was convicted Wednesday in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were served for months in the nation's biggest public school system.Former city Department of Education official Eric Goldstein and three men who founded a school food vendor — Blaine Iler, Michael Turley and Brian Twomey — were found guilty of bribery, conspiracy and other charges after a monthlong trial.Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive, Office of School Support Services, New York City Department of Education, speaks during a discussion with other school leaders and experts surrounding school nutrition in an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, May 27, 2014. Goldstein, who oversaw food service for New York City schools, was convicted Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were s...

Temperature slide continues through July 4th weekend

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Although it might be a bit deceiving to use the term "cool down", no matter what you call it, it's encouraging to see temperatures getting "less hot" moving into the weekend.Afternoon highs will warm into the upper 90s and low 100s across Central Texas this afternoon. A Heat Advisory is in effect for Lee, Fayette and Milam from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. today for heat index values up to 110°. Although most of the area is alert-free, it's still going to be hot so heat safety precautions are still strongly encouraged.Heat Advisory in effect 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday for far eastern countiesAs the highly-talked about "heat dome" continues to drift east and weaken, our temperatures will come down a bit and our atmosphere will become less hostile for storm development. Afternoon highs will warm into the upper 90s - closer to normal for this time of year.Low rain chances will return to the forecast Sunday through the July 4th holiday. A few storms are likely to develop but data do...

Teen killed in June 18 auto-ped crash on 360, police say

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Austin Police said Wednesday a teen died on June 18 after being hit by a car on the southbound lanes of Loop 360 just north of the Pennybacker Bridge in West Austin. According to police, Griffin Frederick Von Roenn, 18, was struck by the sedan just before 5 a.m. on June 18 and died at the scene.APD said the sedan driver stayed and cooperated with police and was not impaired. The crash is being investigated as Austin's 47th fatal crash of 2023, resulting in 47 fatalities for the year, according to APD. Anyone with information should call APD's Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You can also submit an anonymous tip through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program online or by calling 512-472-8477.

MetroRail, SH130 to get millions in federal grant money

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:38:49 GMT

WASHINGTON (KXAN) – The Department of Transportation announced Wednesday the Biden Administration awarded $97.2 million from a grant program to six different infrastructure projects across Texas. Two of those projects are in Central Texas. $22.9 million from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE grant program will fund the design and construction of a commercial truck parking plaza on the northwest side of SH 130 and SH 80 intersection in Caldwell County.According to the fact sheet provided by the department, the plaza will include approximately 20 short-term and 100 long-term truck parking spaces, entry/ exit gate control, lighting, fencing, a rest stop with restrooms and showers, and amenities, all with 24-hour monitored security.The department said the plaza would "provide safe parking for drivers and help reduce crashes and fatalities involving trucks parked in unauthorized locations due to lack of options."  KXAN Investiga...