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As price of olive oil soars, chainsaw-wielding thieves target Mediterranean’s century-old trees

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

SPATA, Greece (AP) — In an olive grove on the outskirts of Athens, grower Konstantinos Markou pushes aside the shoots of new growth to reveal the stump of a tree — a roughly 150-year-old specimen, he said, that was among 15 cut down on his neighbor’s land by thieves eager to turn it into money.Surging olive oil prices, driven in part by two years of drought in Spain, has meant opportunity for criminals across the Mediterranean. Warehouse break-ins, dilution of premium oil with inferior product, and falsification of shipping data are on the rise in olive-growing heartlands of Greece, Spain and Italy. And perhaps worst of all: Gangs using chainsaws to steal heavily laden branches and even entire trees from unguarded groves.“The olive robbers can sometimes produce more oil than the owners themselves – seriously,” Markou said, before heading off to patrol his own grove at nightfall. The crimes mean fewer olives for growers already contending with high production costs and climate ...

40 Filipinos flee war-ravaged Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing and arrive in Egypt

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Dozens of Filipinos fled from the war-ravaged Gaza Strip into Egypt through the Rafah crossing after Filipino diplomats negotiated for their safe passage and Qatar mediated for the border to be opened, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.The 40 Filipinos were traveling to the Egyptian capital of Cairo, where they planned to take flights back to the Philippines, Marcos said in a video message in Manila. Two Filipino doctors managed to leave the Gaza Strip into Egypt last week.“I hope the rest of our countrymen who also wanted to return home can also exit properly with their spouses and loved ones,” Marcos said.Most of at least 134 Filipinos in Gaza, many of whom are married to Palestinians, have sought help to leave the besieged territory and are waiting for an opportunity to leave, the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said.Hamas militants rampaged in southern Israel on Oct. 7, which sparked a war between Israel and Hamas.Before ...

Japan’s Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game ‘The Legend of Zelda’

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — Nintendo is developing a live-action film based on its hit video game “The Legend of Zelda,” the Japanese company behind the Super Mario franchise said Wednesday.The film, with financing from Sony Pictures Entertainment as well as its own investment, will be directed by Wes Ball, the American director of the upcoming “Planet of the Apes” film. It’s being co-produced by Nintendo and Arad Productions Inc., which is behind the live-action Spider-Man films and headed by Avi Arad.The move highlights Kyoto-based Nintendo’s strategy to leverage various aspects of its business, including theme parks, merchandising and movies, to boost machine and software sales, and vice versa.That strategy has met success. Its animation film “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” released earlier this year, has raked in more than $1.3 billion and drew nearly 170 million people worldwide.President Shuntaro Furukawa, briefing reporters online, said the company was pleased with the success of the Super M...

Democrats win in several states on abortion rights and other highlights from Tuesday’s elections

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year election and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion.Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights and painting his opponent as extremist. A Democrat won an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court after campaigning on his pledge to uphold abortion rights. And Democrats won a majority in the Virginia State Senate, blocking Republicans from being able to pass new abortion restrictions. The wins won’t be enough to make them feel secure heading into next year’s presidential election. The off-year elections have major implications for all of those states and provide a snapshot of American politics heading into 2024. But two big names — Joe Biden and Donald Trump — weren’t on the ballot this time. How Americans view them will be a...

Thursday/Friday temp pullback and gusty “NW” winds to follow Wednesday rainy spells; longer range: impressive late season mild spell due next week; daytime 60s forecast at a time of year when 40s are typical

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

FORECAST MAPS FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAYWGN WEATHER HEADLINESARE EL NIÑOS AND LA NIÑAS BEING IMPACTED BY CLIMATE CHANGE?As I post this, there's a WELL DEVELOPED EL NINO IN PROGRESS across the equatorial Pacific — a situation predicted to continue through Spring 2024. This may impact the coming winter here in Chicago.El Niños have their largest impact globally on winter season weather. While NO TWO El Niños are exactly alike, there are general trends which have often been observed when El Niños occur. Winters tend to be milder and less snowy in many El Niño years here in the Midwest. We'll see if that actually occurs in the months ahead.Both trends, above normal temps and near to below normal precip, are incorporated in official NWS seasonal temp and precip trend forecast — including the November through January forecast I've included below. Temps during that period are predicted to come in ABOVE NORMAL while precip during the period is forecast to be NEAR TO BELOW NORMAL over a wi...

Raising teacher pay approved by Round Rock ISD voters, KXAN projects

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct when the raise would go into effect. We regret the error.ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN) - Round Rock Independent School District voters approved a proposition in a tax rate election that will effectively grant teachers a pay increase. ELECTION DAY BLOG: Texans vote on 14 state constitutional amendments, local propositions The district called for a Voter Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE). According to RRISD, this would allow the district to keep more of its funding that it currently sends as “recapture” payments to the state.Back in August, RRISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said the district’s tax rate would decrease slightly.He said the district called for this election to make up for shortcomings from this year’s legislative session that failed to secure raises for Texas teachers. Election Results: November 2023 Teachers and all staff would receive a 3% additional raise. The raise would come on the January paycheck, ...

Austin woman tells her story of recovery in national 'Start with Hope' campaign

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — An Austin woman is helping spread her emotional story of hope in a national message about fighting substance abuse disorder and addiction.“We have these incredible stories of Ale, Ariel and Joseph, who share their personal journeys, share their stories and share that with hope recovery is possible,” said Kirsten Seckler with Shatterproof, a national nonprofit helping people recover from addiction.The new campaign is called “Start With Hope” and was created by the Ad Council, the Centers for Disease Control, National Council for Mental Wellbeing and Shatterproof.“It is a campaign that is meant to help adults who may be at risk or struggling with substance use disorder to start to think about the relationship with substances and to start that recovery journey,” said Seckler.In one video, Ariel from Austin begins by saying, “substance use disorder and addiction is so isolating and so as a Black woman in recovery, hope must be loud.”The campaign is available in English a...

Incumbents, a challenger hold early leads in race for Mounds View School Board Tuesday

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

Early election results Tuesday night indicated three incumbents and a challenger held leads in the Mounds View School Board race.Eleven candidates are vying for four seats on the school board.With 23 of 27 precincts reporting, incumbents Heidi Danielson, Jim DeMay, and Jonathan Weinhagen each had 16% of the vote. Challenger Alissa Daire Nelson also garnered 16%.Candidate Paul Wikstrom had 8%, Heidi Caccamo had 8%, Art Mills had 7%, Jon VanOeveren garnered 1%, Mark Kelliher had 8%, Rich Priore garnered 1% and Andre Koen had 3%.The results are incomplete and unofficial, and even if results hold, many absentee votes may not be counted until after Election Day.Mounds View’s school board has seven members who are elected every two years to four-year terms.Besides, Danielson, DeMay, and Weinhagen, current members include Diane Glasheen, Yolanda Magee, Shauna Bock, and Sandra Westerman.Westerman did not seek reelection. Her term will expire in January. The others did not face election this...

Voters in South Washington County approve bond referendums and tech levy; elect Dols, Patnaik and Clarke to board

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

What a difference a year makes.Last year, voters in the South Washington County School District decisively rejected a historic $462 million bond request by a nearly two-to-one ratio.On Tuesday, voters in the district approved a $200 million, two-question bond referendum to fund improvements at the schools and approved a request to revoke the district’s current $2.8 million technology levy and replace it with a $5 million one.“We know this was a big ask for voters in hard economic times,” said Superintendent Julie Nielsen. “We are extremely grateful for our community’s support to address safety, security, growth and technology projects in our schools.”In a tight race for school board, incumbents Melinda Dols and Simi Patnaik and newcomer Ryan Clarke prevailed. Dols and Patnaik each received 16 percent of the vote; Clarke got 14 percent.The first question, which passed by a 57 percent margin, asked voters to support a $160 million bond referendum for safety and security enhancements, ...

St. Anthony-New Brighton school voters approve levy referendums

Published Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:12:58 GMT

Two levy referendums before voters in the St. Anthony-New Brighton school district passed by solid margins Tuesday.The first referendum, approved by roughly 66 percent of voters, proposed to increase the the operating levy of the district by $890 per student. Beginning in 2025, this levy would generate $1.7 million in funding every year for 10 years. According to the district, this funding would be used to “recruit and retain staff and support high levels of academic achievement for our students.”The other referendum, which had a roughly 71 percent yes vote, sought to continue an existing levy passed in 2014. The capital projects levy funds classroom supplies and resources for teachers and students, including books and computers. According to the 2023 referendum website, this levy would not impose a further tax burden, but is simply renewing the levy already approved in 2014.The levy is expected to lead to a property tax increase of $36 per month for average St. Anthony ...