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Spare the Aire Alert issued for Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has issued a Spare the Air Alert for Thursday, Oct. 19. The alert is the seventh such alert issued this year.Air quality for Thursday is forecast to be unhealthy, according to a statement from BAAQMD. High pressure over the region is expected to produce light offshore winds coupled with high temperatures. Quake alerts hit Bay Area phones as shaking felt in East Bay Thursday's conditions coupled with motor vehicle exhaust will produce "unhealthy ozone levels," according to the BAAQMD.The BAAQMD issues Spare the Air Alerts when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone can cause conditions that include:Throat irritationCongestionChest painAsthmaInflamed lining of the lungsWorsened bronchitis and emphysemaLong-term exposure to ozone can also reduce lung function, the BAAQMD said. Ozone exposure can be particularly harmful to young children, seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions.W...

In Euro 2024 qualifying, Bellingham and Mbappé thrill on the field as war impacts games

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

GENEVA (AP) — Eight teams advanced to the 2024 European Championship in a week when qualifying games were disrupted by war in the Middle East and violence on the streets of Brussels.Belgium and Sweden did not complete their game Monday so as to ensure the safety of visiting fans, and Israel could not play either of its scheduled games after the surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 and conflict since.On the field, England and France were the standout teams with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé the most thrilling talents in Europe. Both teams sealed their places at Euro 2024.Host Germany also was joined by Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Turkey. Nine of the 24 places are now confirmed ahead of the final rounds of group-stage games next month and qualifying playoffs in March.Israel is close to reaching its first finals since joining UEFA for political and security reasons 30 years ago.Politics and player safety have weighed heavily on Euro 2024 qualifying even before Isr...

Patrick Mahomes says he ‘jumped’ at the chance to invest in Formula One’s Alpine team

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Patrick Mahomes “jumped” at the the chance to invest in a Formula One team when he was asked to join a group of celebrity backers behind the Alpine team.The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, along with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, golfer Rory McIlroy and former heavyweight champion boxer Anthony Joshua, were among a group of top sports names announced Tuesday as joining the Otro Capital investment.“I think everybody can see the appeal,” Mahomes said Wednesday. “I’ve been able to get to a couple of races now, seeing the environment, you see ‘Drive To Survive’ on Netflix and how competitive it is. We were able to go to some of those races and get a little stake in the game.”The F1 season resumes this week at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Max Verstappen and Red Bull already have clinched the driver and team championships this season.This week’s announcement about celebrity investors is just the latest from Otro Capital.In June, the...

Pro Picks: Despite a banged-up Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars should stay on winning track vs. the Saints

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.___Trevor Lawrence didn’t get much time to rest his banged-up knee.The Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) and their hobbled quarterback take a three-game winning streak to New Orleans (3-3) to face Derek Carr and the Saints on Thursday night.Lawrence, who is wearing a brace after spraining his knee late last week, aims to play. How effective he’ll be is the big question. If needed, the Jaguars will turn to veteran C.J. Beathard.The Jaguars shouldn’t need too much offense thanks to an improved defense that leads the NFL in takeaways and has allowed 15.7 points per game the past three weeks. Also, Carr hasn’t given the Saints a big boost on offense just yet. They’re 24th in scoring and 20th in total yards.Lawrence’s iffy status makes the Saints 1 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. In a week filled with road favorites — six total — P...

Stock market today: Wall Street drops following profit reports, and oil prices jump on war worries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street dropped Wednesday after big U.S. companies delivered a mixed set of profit reports and rising Treasury yields tightened the vise further on the stock market. Worries about war in the Middle East also dragged on the market.The S&P 500 was 1.1% lower in late trading. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 240 points, or 0.7%, as of 3 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.4% lower.Crude oil prices jumped sharply overnight following a deadly explosion at a hospital in the Gaza Strip, which sparked protests across the Middle East. But oil prices pared their gains as the day progressed. Gold, meanwhile, rose as investors continue to look for safer investments following the Oct. 7 surprise attack on Israel by Hamas.On Wall Street, United Airlines slumped 9.4% after it showed how big a hit to profits it may take because of surging fuel prices and the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv. It gave a profit forecast for the last three months of the y...

President Biden wraps up his visit to wartime Israel with a warning against being ‘consumed’ by rage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Joe Biden swept into wartime Israel for an 7 1/2–hour visit Wednesday that produced a heaping dose of support for the Israeli people, a deal to get limited humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt and a warning not to allow rage over the deadly Hamas attack to consume them. “I understand. Many Americans understand,” Biden said as he wrapped up his stay in Tel Aviv, likening the Oct. 7 Hamas attack to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist strikes in the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people. “You can’t look at what has happened here … and not scream out for justice,” he said. “But I caution this: While you feel that rage, don’t be consumed by it.” Biden urged Israel to step back from the brink, not just to ease growing tensions in the Mideast that threaten to spiral into a broader regional conflict, but also to reassure a world rattled by images of carnage and suffering, in Israel and Gaza alike. One million people have been disp...

What are the signs of burnout in young athletes?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

Burnout: It’s something many people experience and for athletes who are focused on being the best at their sport, it is common. While this includes professional adult athletes, it is also prevalent among child athletes.Dr. Keyur Desai, a primary care sports medicine physician at Children’s National, said fatigue, a lack of desire to not participate in a sport they’ve loved, as well as new stress and anxiety toward achieving goals are among the signs of burnout.“A lot of the same things when we talk about feeling burned out at work apply to athletes, in their sport as well,” he said.For parents, he said, knowing your child and what is uncharacteristic for them can help you spot burnout as it sets in. You may notice your child randomly deciding not to participate in the sport.“Or is there something more severe going on, you know, they had a big injury, and now they’ve completely detached from their social network and they’re having symptoms of a kind of loneliness and depression...

Arizona QB Kyler Murray activated from PUP list, returns to practice

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray — almost always a man of few words — announced the next step in his return from an ACL injury with a two-word statement.“Practicing today,” Murray posted on social media. A few minutes later on Wednesday, the Cardinals made if official, announcing that Murray has been designated to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Arizona can activate Murray to the 53-man roster at any time during the next 21 days or at the conclusion of the three-week period. Murray got hurt against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12 — a little more than 10 months ago. He was flushed out of the pocket and running to his right when he tried to fake out a defender, but tumbled to the grass in obvious pain.The quarterback has been relatively quiet about his recovery, occasionally posting pictures on social media. It’s been the first significant injury setback for Murray, who was a Texas high school phenom, Heisman Trophy winn...

Do Denver businesses have to accept cash?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Sometimes it seems like the digital age has completely taken over and that the $20 bill in your wallet is all but useless at the checkout line.Well, in Colorado, you don't have to worry about that, at least in most situations. This is because businesses across the state are not allowed to refuse cash as payment. What rights do renters have in Colorado? This wasn't always the case. In 2021, Colorado passed a law that required retail businesses to accept cash or face a fine.Specifically, if a business breaks the law, it can be punished by a fine of up to $250 per offense.ExceptionsAs with most laws, there are a few exceptions to keep in mind.For one, it only applies to businesses that have someone who accepts payment in person. So, if it's all through a machine and there are no people that can accept payment, they can refuse cash.Also, if a business has a device to transfer cash into a prepaid card, it can also refuse to accept cash. However, the device can't charge...

Israel will let Egypt deliver some aid to Gaza, as doctors struggle to treat hospital blast victims

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:48:30 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel said Wednesday that it will allow Egypt to deliver limited quantities of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the first crack in a 10-day siege on the territory. A massive blast at a Gaza City hospital that killed hundreds the day before put immense strain on Gaza doctors treating the wounded as medical supplies ran out.The announcement to allow water, food and other supplies came as rage over Tuesday night’s blast at al-Ahli Hospital spread across the Middle East, and just as U.S. President Joe Biden visited Israel in hopes of preventing a wider conflict in the region.There were conflicting claims of who was responsible for the explosion. Hamas officials in Gaza quickly blamed an Israeli airstrike, saying nearly 500 were killed. Israel denied it was involved and released a flurry of video, audio and other information that it said showed the blast was instead due to a rocket misfire by Islamic Jihad, another militant group operating in Gaza. Isla...