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Open letter: fashion brands support a Fur Free Europe

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Dear Stella Kyriakides, commissioner for health and food safety,As fashion continues to move towards ever more sustainable models, animal welfare concerns have become more important across the industry. To this end, the inherent animal welfare failings involved in the production of fur for fashion deserve particular consideration.The main species reared for fur are essentially wild animals. Millions of mink, foxes and raccoon dogs are kept in wire-mesh battery cages and killed solely or mainly for their fur every year in the EU. Over recent decades, this practice has been condemned by scientists, animal protection organizations and European citizens. Likewise, this is no different for the fashion industry, which is pursuing ever-greater sustainability goals and, no less important, animal-friendly alternatives. This clearly reflects the fact that our customers, European citizens, have increasingly demanded fashion products without the use of animal fur.Thanks to dialogue undertaken w...

Investing in the chemistry to power Europe’s green future

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

Europe’s future lies in going green. More precisely, in green hydrogen. This low-carbon, sustainable fuel can decarbonize transport and industry, giving Europe a big boost in its net-zero emissions drive. As a chemistry innovator, Chemours is investing in Europe’s future, and specifically the chemistry that powers the technologies that will enable the EU’s green transition.As a scientist, I have always been intrigued by hydrogen. It is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe and is a key building block of life and the stars. It is also essential to a variety of industrial applications, including the production of ammonia for fertilizer, the refining of petroleum, and the manufacture of methanol and other chemical substances. With an energy density about three times that of petrol (gasoline) or diesel, it holds powerful promise as an efficient fuel for the near future.Great strides have been made in green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy sources.Hydro...

Crews battle fire in Kingston home

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

One person was taken to a hospital Wednesday night after escaping a fire in a home in Kingston, officials said. Kingston Fire Chief Mark Douglass said firefighters got the call for the fire on Indian Pond Road around 8:45 p.m. The home’s owner was able to jump out of a window to escape, before being taken to South Shore Hospital with minor injuries.Multiple area departments aided in the fire response. Douglass said the blaze stemmed from a grease fire that started on a stove and spread fast. The home is a total loss.

Nets rally late to beat West-worst Rockets: ‘We were pretty lucky to get a win tonight.’

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

If this is what an expedited jelling process looks like, the Nets need a new overnight delivery service.Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said ahead of tip-off against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday that the team has done everything — from spending more time together in the locker room to taking advantage of additional practice days — to fast track chemistry for a starting lineup that was assembled at the trade deadline.It’s clear after a lifeless performance against the conference-worst Rockets just how much ground the Nets have to make up if they’re going to secure the sixth and final guaranteed playoff seed — the same seed the No. 7 Miami Heat are eyeing with their inspired play in recent weeks.The Nets rallied late to secure a 123-114 victory over the Rockets at Barclays Center on Wednesday, ending a skid in which Brooklyn had lost six of its last seven games. The Rockets, however, who have yet to crack 20 wins on the season and own the worst record i...

Padres change time of Opening Day game due to weather

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres on Wednesday announced they are pushing back the game time for Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies due to Thursday's weather forecast.Originally scheduled for Thursday at 1:10 p.m., first pitch for the Padres is now set for 6:40 p.m. at Petco Park, the team confirmed via social media. Pitcher Blake Snell is expected to take the mound for the Friars."With a sellout crowd expected, guests should plan to arrive early and pre-purchase parking at one of the Padres controlled lots or others in the vicinity of Petco Park. Those without pre-paid parking passes are encouraged to utilize public transportation or rideshare services," the Padres said. Read more: Padres 2023 Opening Day All gates will open to ticketed fans starting at 4:30 p.m.A storm system brought widespread light rain and strong winds along the coast Wednesday. Models indicate 50% chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms early Thursday afternoon.Check back for updates for this develo...

Charges filed against Waukegan man in Loop Bank Robbery

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

CHICAGO — Bank robbery charges have been filed against a Waukegan man after a bank was robbed in the Loop earlier this month.According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by WGN from the FBI, investigating officials believe they have enough factual evidence to charge Jawad H. Hakeem with bank robbery after he allegedly stole nearly $24,000 from a Fifth Third Bank on South Wacker Drive back on March 9.According to the affidavit, investigators with the FBI received a tip from a witness who said they talked to the bank robber in an alleyway about 15 minutes before it happened, and the bank robber gave the witness his telephone number. According to the witness, the man told them it was easy to memorize his phone number, saying the first three digits symbolized Chicago, the next three digits were assigned to him because he was "special," and that the final four digits represented the first year that slavery began in the United States.The witness said the man also told them he was a "s...

Austin's leisure and hospitality industry booming, 13.4% increase from last year

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) - From South by Southwest, NASCAR at the Circuit of The Americas, the Texas Relays and the Country Music Awards, Austin is packed with back to back events. Visit Austin's Communication Director Wesley Lucas said it is one of the busiest times of the year. "We've got Kite Fest, the CMT Music Awards, the US Women's National Team will be here playing Ireland at Q2 Stadium. We have Moto GP, the Texas Relays," Lucas said. With all of those events, comes a boost to the local leisure and hospitality industry. "We're really fortunate to have such a strong tourism community that not only supports local businesses, but our local musicians, our heritage, our history," Lucas said. How big of a growth has it been?Amber Warren is the Director of Upscaling and Advancement at Workforce Solutions Capital Area. She said the leisure and hospitality industry had the greatest regional job growth over the past year. "The Austin metros leisure and hospitality industry grew 1,300 jobs from Ja...

2 arrested after traffic stop leads to pounds of suspected meth, marijuana being seized

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas (KETK) - A traffic stop in Upshur County led to large amounts of drug paraphernalia being seized, officials said. 17-year-old arrested after high-speed chase ends in crash, police say On March 23, Upshur County investigators conducted a traffic stop on Camp Joy Road and Oliver Street. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lee James Taylor II and the passenger was identified as Jessica Danielle Nicole Sellers.According to officials, when investigators approached the vehicle, they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from it. When Taylor was asked about the smell, he turned over a bag of suspected marijuana that was in his lap, authorities said. Athens man arrested for impersonating a police officer, allegedly followed high school girls During the search of the vehicle, officials said they found Taylor to be in possession of 6.4 grams of suspected cocaine and the passenger, Sellers, to be in possession of 13.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Both...

'Mattress Mack' loses over $4M on Houston Cougars' loss in NCAA Tournament

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

HOUSTON (KIAH) — It was a tough loss for the Houston Cougars on Friday night, falling to the Miami Hurricanes in the Midwest Regional semifinals of the men’s NCAA Tournament. But it was a tougher loss for Texas’ big-time sports bettor, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale.The Houston furniture salesman lost out on a big payday when UH lost in the Sweet 16, losing $4.05 million on wagers for the Cougars to win the national championship. If the Coogs did win out and win in the Final Four in what would have been a very friendly crowd in NRG Stadium in Houston, Mattress Mack would have had a payday of $35 million.Not only did McIngvale lose out, but some of his customers did as well, because those who bought furniture at his store would have gotten it for free if UH had went all the way.The UH loss brings Mattress Mack’s total to $8.15 million lost in wages this year. McIngvale has lost bets on the Dallas Cowboys (losing to San Francisco) and the TCU Horned Frogs (to Georgia) in 2023 and ...

Berkshire County continues to investigate hoax threat calls

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:20 GMT

PITTSFIELD, M.A. (NEWS10) — Dozens of schools across Massachusetts, including a number in the Berkshires, were targeted this week with fake phone calls threatening violence. It’s a strain on law enforcement resources and terrifies students and teachers with Nashville’s deadly school shooting coming at the same time.The Berkshire County District Attorney's (DA) office says that 30 communities were affected by Monday’s hoax threat calls, including Monument Mountain Regional High School in Great Barrington, Pittsfield High School in Pittsfield, and Drury High School in North Adams. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! “All three became active shooter scenes, even though we didn’t have active shooters. It took all our resources from our state police and tactical units to try to go into the schools,” Timothy J. Shugrue, District Attorney Berkshire County, said. “We had children calling their parents, scared to death, saying stay...