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How many dead trees there are in California might surprise you

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

If long droughts and massive wildfires weren’t enough harm to California’s trees, there is massive damage being done by pests and fungi. This could contribute to more acres of record-setting wildfires.Remember the song “It’s not easy being green?” Well, it isn’t for forests up and down California. Many trees are turning brown and dying losing the fight at fending off harmful beetles, borers, moths, weevils and fungi.The California Forest Pest Council released a report earlier this year that shows elevated levels of tree mortality were recorded on more than 2.6 million acres, totaling an estimated 36.3 million dead trees. The majority of trees killed were fir, followed by ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Mortality was particularly severe and widespread in the central Sierra Nevada range.Most of the tree mortality can be attributed in part to drought or bark and engraver beetle attacks that have resulted in more than 200 million trees killed since 2010.You can find the California Pest ...

Opinion: Medicaid expansion is hurting the mental health of the needy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

The signs of America’s mental health crisis are everywhere. In response, policymakers have continued to focus on a popular strategy: expanding health coverage through safety net programs, especially Medicaid. Increasing the number of insured Americans, we are told, will ensure access to care, yet it is becoming increasingly clear that record Medicaid enrollment has not prevented the brunt of the mental health crisis from falling on society’s most vulnerable. In fact, our new research indicates this is not coincidence and that instead, spreading coverage out among more people may be part of the problem.Other recent studies bear out the ways in which vulnerable populations are struggling to receive mental health treatment. Among children of low-income parents — a group Medicaid was originally created to help and for whom research finds the most positive impacts — only half of emergency room visits for mental health crises get adequate follow-up care, and nearly two-thirds of victims o...

Water at tip of Florida hits hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees (37.8 degrees Celsius) two days in a row. And meteorologists say that could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured, although there are some issues with the reading. Just 26 miles (40 kilometers) away, scientists saw devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding Florida — devastating coral bleaching and even some death in what had been one of the Florida Keys’ most resilient reefs. Climate change has been setting temperature records across the globe this month.Weather records for sea water temperature are unofficial, and there are certain conditions in this reading that could disqualify it for a top mark, meteorologists said. But the initial reading on a buoy at Manatee Bay hit 101.1 degrees (38.4 Celsius) Monday evening, according to National Weather Service meteorologist George Rizzuto. On Sunday night the same buoy showed an online reading of 100.2 (37.9 Celsius) degre...

Boeing loses $149 million in Q2 as the plane maker is pushing ahead with production increases

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

Boeing flipped to a $149 million loss in the second quarter despite higher revenue, as the plane maker struggled with higher costs in both its airline and defense business.Boeing said it is beginning to increase production of its two most popular airline planes.The company plans to raise production of the 737 Max from 31 to 38 planes a month to take advantage of demand for newer, more fuel-efficient planes. Boeing is also boosting output of the larger, two-aisle 787 Dreamliner from four to five per month by year end.CEO David Calhoun said the company has “more work ahead” but is “making progress in our recovery,” including improving stability in its factories and among suppliers. Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has been beset by supply-chain problems that continued during the second quarter, including a temporary delay in 737 deliveries because of fittings on the Max and regulators’ questions about Dreamliner inspections. The company recorded charges of $257 million re...

Vatican prosecutor seeks 7 years in jail for cardinal, confiscation of $460 million from 10 people

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican prosecutor asked a court Wednesday to convict 10 people, including a cardinal, of a range of financial crimes, sentence them to three to 13 years in prison and order the confiscation of some 415 million euros ($460 million) to pay the Holy See back for bad investments and financial losses over the past decade.Prosecutor Alessandro Diddi ended six days of aggressive closing arguments with his requests for a verdict and sentencing. After a summer pause, the defense and civil parties in the Vatican’s “trial of the century” will deliver their closing arguments, with Judge Giuseppe Pignatone’s court expected to deliver a verdict before the end of the year.Diddi justified the substantial requests for prison time, fines and confiscation of assets based on what he called the “many crimes against the patrimony of the Holy See.” He has estimated the combined losses at between 139 million and 189 million euros ($154 million and $210 million).“Up until now, no on...

1 crew member killed in a fire on a cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars in the North Sea

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A fire on a freight ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars was burning out of control Wednesday in the North Sea, and the Dutch coast guard said one crew member had died, others were hurt and it was working to save the vessel from sinking close to an important habitat for migratory birds.Boats and helicopters were used to get the 23 crew members off the ship after they tried unsuccessfully to put out the blaze, the coast guard said in a statement. The cause of the blaze wasn’t immediately known, and it wasn’t clear how the crew member died.Some of the crew members jumped off the ship’s deck into the sea and were picked up by a lifeboat, the lifeboat’s captain told Dutch broadcaster NOS. Some of the crew suffered broken bones, burns and breathing problems and were taken to hospitals in the northern Netherlands, emergency services said.“Currently there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control...

Union Pacific: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) on Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings of $1.57 billion.On a per-share basis, the Omaha, Nebraska-based company said it had net income of $2.57.The results missed Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of eight analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $2.75 per share.The railroad posted revenue of $5.96 billion in the period, which also fell short of Street forecasts. Six analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $6.12 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on UNP at https://www.zacks.com/ap/UNPSource

Mollie O’Callaghan of Australia sets world record in women’s 200-meter freestyle

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Mollie O’Callaghan of Australia has set a world record in the 200-meter freestyle, clocking 1 minute, 52.85 seconds on Wednesday at the World Aquatics Championships.The 19-year-old O’Callaghan broke the old record of 1:52.98 set by Italian Federica Pellegrini in 2009.Fellow Australian Ariarne Titmus, who won the 400 on Sunday, led for most of the race but was overtaken on the final 50 by O’Callaghan. Titmus finished in 1:53.01 and third went to Summer McIntosh of Canada in 1:53.65.___AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

La Reserva Federal podría aumentar las tasas de interés una vez más

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

A pesar que la inflación ha frenado su impulso en los últimos meses, la Reserva Federal podría subir nuevamente las tasas de interés en el país. En junio, los precios al consumidor aumentaron un 3% con respecto al año pasado. Si bien esa es la tasa de inflación anual más baja en más de dos años, sigue siendo demasiado alta para la Reserva Federal, cuyo objetivo es que la inflación caiga al 2%.Para ayudar a mover las cosas en la dirección correcta, los analistas dicen que el banco central elevará su tasa clave de fondos federales el miércoles en un 0.25% a más del 5%. Ese sería el nivel más alto desde 2007. ¿Cae la inflación en EEUU? Esto es lo que puedes comprar en un supermercado con $100 La más baja en dos años: la inflación anual se situó en 3% en junio Al aumentar sus tasas de interés, la Reserva Federal espera encarecer los préstamos y la inversión, reduciendo así la demanda general de bienes, servicios y mano de obra en la e...

Fortive: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:12:50 GMT

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — Fortive Corp. (FTV) on Wednesday reported second-quarter earnings of $209 million.The Everett, Washington-based company said it had net income of 59 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 85 cents per share.The results beat Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of five analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 81 cents per share.The industrial conglomerate posted revenue of $1.53 billion in the period, also surpassing Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.5 billion.For the current quarter ending in September, Fortive expects its per-share earnings to range from 82 cents to 85 cents.The company said it expects revenue in the range of $1.5 billion for the fiscal third quarter.Fortive expects full-year earnings in the range of $3.36 to $3.42 per share, with revenue expected to be $6.1 billion._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (htt...