Pelican Press

USAID: Judge pauses Trump plan to send thousands of staff at agency on leave – BBC.com USAID: Judge pauses Trump plan to send thousands of staff at agency on leave – BBC.com USAID: Judge pauses Trump plan to send thousands of staff at agency on leave BBC.comUSAID Controversy Live Updates: Judge Blocks Trump From Putting 2,200 Staff On Leave ForbesTrump 2nd term live updates: Trump terminates Biden’s access to classified information ABC NewsResurfaced video shows Marco Rubio arguing how important foreign aid was to US security CNN Source link #USAID #Judge #pauses #Trump #plan #send #thousands #staff #agency #leave #BBC.com Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

LIV Golf to be broadcast on ITV in *** in 2025 LIV Golf to be broadcast on ITV in *** in 2025 LIV Golf has agreed a deal with ITV to show live coverage of the 2025 season in the ***. Coverage will begin with the second round of the season-opening event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 41 rounds of live golf shown across 14 tournaments on ITVX. Selected rounds will be shown on ITV1 and ITV4, along with a weekly highlights show on ITV4, making it the only free-to-air golf in the ***. Since the Saudi-backed event was launched in 2022 it has only been available to watch online. Niall Sloane, director of ITV Sport, said: “This is an exciting time for LIV Golf as we look ahead to the innovative 2025 season. “This partnership delivers free-to-air coverage for fans in the *** and we are delighted to welcome LIV Golf to ITV Sport.” Ron Wechsler, LIV Golf senior vice president of broadcast partnerships and programming strategy, said the partnership was a “major milestone as we strive to bring LIV Golf to every corner of the world”. On Wednesday it was announced that the US Open will be the first major to offer exemptions to LIV players based on their ranking. The United States Golf Association (USGA) said the top LIV player, who is not otherwise exempt, will directly earn a place in the field for the US Open, which will be held at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania from 12-15 June. The PGA Tour has been in protracted negotiations with LIV’s backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), in an attempt to heal the split in world golf. On Thursday, the PGA said it was “closer to a deal” with LIV after calling on American President Donald Trump to get involved. Source link #LIV #Golf #broadcast #ITV Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Tourism Australia reveals the top 10 Aussie beaches for 2025 Tourism Australia reveals the top 10 Aussie beaches for 2025 Move over Bronte and Byron Bay, Australia has a new best beach according to the national tourism council Source link #Tourism #Australia #reveals #top #Aussie #beaches Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

As Trump loses ‘fake’ trade war, liberals tap anger politics for comeback As Trump loses ‘fake’ trade war, liberals tap anger politics for comeback Elon Musk faces multiple lawsuits, including union efforts to block his access to federal payment data and concerns over Department of Labor information. MSNBC’s Ari Melber reports on how early actions from Trump and Musk break away from the traditional Left-Right political framework, and is joined by journalist Blake Zeff and April Verrett, president of the SEIU. (The Beat’s YouTube playlist: Ari: / arimelber Beat merch: www.msnbc.com/Beat5) Source link #Trump #loses #fake #trade #war #liberals #tap #anger #politics #comeback Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa – The White House Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa – The White House Addressing Egregious Actions of The Republic of South Africa The White HouseTrump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of South Africans of European descent CBS NewsTrump wants to resettle white South Africans facing ‘race-based discrimination’ USA TODAYTrump signs order to cut funding for South Africa Reuters Source link #Addressing #Egregious #Actions #Republic #South #Africa #White #House Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Archive of newspaper artist Malky McCormick saved Archive of newspaper artist Malky McCormick saved Pauline McLean BBC Scotland Arts Correspondent East Ayrshire Leisure Trust Malky McCormick’s work included caricatures of Sir Billy Connolly and writer William McIlvanney It was an appearance on the Parkinson show in 1975 that is widely seen as starting Billy Connolly on the path from Scottish sensation to international comedy superstar. During his appearance he explained, “in Scotland they call me Big Yin, and I’m not very big, but everyone up there is awful wee, you know”. For his iconic nickname he could thank Scottish cartoonist and fellow banjo player Malky McCormick. Malky performed with his band The Vindscreen Vipers in the same Scottish folk clubs as Connolly, and together they created The Big Yin cartoon strip for Scotland’s Sunday Mail newspaper – taking the name from a famous Connolly routine at the time which reimagined the Last Supper as taking place in Glasgow. Original artwork for the strip, which ran until 1977, is part of a huge personal archive which has just been given to East Ayrshire Leisure Trust. “Malky settled in Ayrshire and adopted Kilmarnock as his home,” says Lyndsay Jess, the trust’s museums development officer. “He was a very creative individual, and we want to celebrate that and introduce our community and especially our young people to the comic art of Malky McCormick.” Jane McCormick Malky McCormick’s Sunday Mail cartoons were a popular part of the newspaper Born in Glasgow in 1943, Donald Malcolm McCormick grew up in the shadow of Hampden Park. His love of football and cartooning began at an early age and continued all his life. He was just six years old when his grandmother sent one of his cartoons to a newspaper, and 13 when the first one was published in the Glasgow Mercury and Advertiser. He trained as a commercial artist and worked for DC Thomson, the Dundee publisher of comics like the Dandy and the Beano where he was required to “ghost” established cartoon strips, mimicking the style of the original artists. He worked for a number of newspapers north of the border but it was his time at the Scottish Daily News, a short-lived workers’ co-operative which planted the seed for his most famous cartoon strip The Big Yin. East Ayrshire Leisure Trust Malky McCormick drew cartoons of himself and his family “I had known Billy for a few years through the folk clubs and we promised each other we would do this strip together,” he told BBC Radio Scotland in 1981. The collaboration sparked interest from other newspapers including the Glasgow-based Sunday Mail. “It was a colour tabloid with a much ******* audience so a much better vehicle for the Big Yin strip,” he recalled. “It was the big break for me, no question about it.” The first strip was published in 1975 and Malky and Billy began to map out a future for their creations. They’d meet on a Monday, either at Billy’s home in Drymen or Malky’s home in Ayrshire, as Billy Connolly recalled. “It was a strange affair to explain to people, doing a strip cartoon in two different towns,” he says. “He used to turn up at my house on his motorbike. He would be flabbergasted that I hadn’t done anything. I was supposed to be writing the Big Yin. “I never sat in when it was being drawn. I loved being part of it, but he did his bit and I did my bit – him in Ayrshire and me in Drymen. “He would turn up on his motorbike fed-up and I would say ‘come on we’ll go for a pint’, so we would go for a pint and talk about stuff, roaring and laughing and I would say ‘that’s this week – yeah, we’ll do that’.” Jane McCormick Malky McCormick’s daughter Jane handed the archive over to East Ayrshire Leisure Trust The sessions more than often ended up in a pub, as Malky remembered. “There was a drawing in *****’s bar in Kilmarnock of us, one of the many places we were thrown out of celebrating the success of the strip. But I mostly did it myself. He saw it occasionally and would chip in an idea but he was away so much.” Connolly’s career eventually took him hundreds of miles away from Malky and their Monday sessions. The Big Yin’s run ended in 1977 and Malky moved onto other characters and projects. He made caricatures of every Scottish football manager from the 1970s onwards, which are all on display at the Scottish Football Museum. He helped set up a cartoon festival in Ayr. He also spent three years at Scottish Television as a graphic artist and designer and later returned to the TV studios as the resident artist on the ITV show Win Lose or Draw. Legacy remembered Since his death in 2019, his family have been considering what to do with his substantial archive. “It was something which kept me and my brothers up at night,” says his daughter Jane McCormick. “The media of newspaper is not there anymore and it would have been a shame for it to drift away and him and his legacy not to be remembered.” Archivists Ruby Davidson and Jestein Gibson have already started work on the Malky McCormick Project at the ***** Institute in Kilmarnock. “My dad had pictures and postcards on his wall so I knew who Malky McCormick was,” says Ruby. “And everyone knows Billy Connolly, so it was lovely to see all those Big Yin cartoons.” East Ayrshire Leisure Trust Malky McCormick’s banjo is among the materials handed over to the trust Malky acknowledged the influence of other Scottish cartoonists – including Bud Neil and Ewan Bain – but it seems he too encouraged a new generation. “We’ve spoken to a lot of people in our local area who were inspired by his work and went on to become comic book artists themselves,” says Ruby. And the plan now is to use Malky’s work to encourage even more young people to take up their pencils. Jane says she’s delighted that a public engagement project is planned around the archive. “He loved young people to be drawing,” she says. “He judged art competitions in schools and took any opportunity to get young people into art.” ‘We were always in trouble’ Fragile newspaper strips and early drawings will be digitised as part of the project and the public can view the process at the ***** Institute as well as the final exhibition. “My dad loved his work to be seen, more than anything, so I’m over the moon to know that other people are going to be able to value it and appreciate it,” says Jane. His old friend and collaborator Billy Connolly is also delighted. Speaking to the archive from his home in Florida he said: “We were always getting in trouble and we did (the Big Yin) to get away with stuff – we could blame this non-existent person, who looked like me and behaved like me, but wisnae me… we could say wild, wild things… we broke a lot of ground. “We pushed art. People don’t look at cartoons as art. But it is art – and it’s very important.” Source link #Archive #newspaper #artist #Malky #McCormick #saved Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

1964 Ferrari 250 LM wins top award in Paris 1964 Ferrari 250 LM wins top award in Paris Only 32 cars were produced, scoring notable victories in famous races Source link #Ferrari #wins #top #award #Paris Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

5,000 pounds of steel tubing fell on Illinois truck driver at Goshen Lippert plant 5,000 pounds of steel tubing fell on Illinois truck driver at Goshen Lippert plant GOSHEN — A truck driver died during a delivery at Lippert Components after being hit by 5,000 pounds of steel. Milos Jovanovic, 36, from Naperville, Ill. was an employee of a trucking company out of Chicago, Polly Hoover, a public information officer for the Goshen Police Department, told The Tribune on Feb. 6. He was killed by a 5,000-pound bundle of steel tubing that hit his entire body, police confirmed. The incident, which happened at Plant 45 on Feb. 5, occurred while the steel was being delivered from Jovanovic’s semi truck. Police did not specify whether Jovanovic, Lippert employees or both were unloading the shipment. Plant 45 previously underwent an inspection in August of 2023 for a health concern, records show. Second incident this week: Plymouth man dies in workplace accident at Hoosier Tire & Rubber Medics arrived after receiving news of the incident around 9:40 a.m. and treated the victim. Goshen Police arrived 45 minutes later and Jovanovic was not at the scene when they arrived, they said. Hoover said police were not requested until after Jovanovic was transported to the airfield for Med Flight. “The police are generally not contacted for medical emergencies unless the Medics request us,” she said by email. Paramedics performed life-saving measures, but Jovanovic was pronounced dead upon arriving at the airfield, police said. A Tribune reporter contacted Lippert’s public relations team for inquires regarding safety protocols when unloading materials. The Tribune did not receive a response by Friday afternoon. According to records from the U.S. Department Labor‘s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Lippert Components had five inspections yielding five violations dating back to 2020 for health and safety concerns. These violations all occurred in the Mishawaka, Goshen and Yoder areas. After a 2020 IOSHA inspection at Plant 228G in Goshen, the plant was issued $10,000 in penalties from two violations. Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Workplace accident: 5K pounds of steel kills man at Goshen plant Source link #pounds #steel #tubing #fell #Illinois #truck #driver #Goshen #Lippert #plant Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Trump says he's firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman – The Associated Press Trump says he's firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman – The Associated Press Trump says he’s firing Kennedy Center board of trustees members and naming himself chairman The Associated PressTrump Takes Over the Kennedy Center The AtlanticTrump Says He Will Install Himself as Kennedy Center Chairman The New York TimesDonald Trump Says He’s Firing Kennedy Center Board Members, Naming Himself Chairman Yahoo! Voices Source link #Trump #he039s #firing #Kennedy #Center #board #trustees #members #naming #chairman #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Diving deep into the history of Norfolk Diving deep into the history of Norfolk Norfolk has the largest concentration of medieval churches in the world. Almost 1000 were built, and today an incredible 639 are still standing, their towers dominating the pretty much flat landscape of England’s southeast, known as East Anglia. While Norfolk’s 145km coastline features some spectacular sweeping beaches, marshlands rich with birdlife, and seaside towns with long piers to promenade along, something visitors do during the warmer months, much of the countryside falls beneath the tourist radar. Visiting some country areas is like a trip back in time; many towns and villages have grown little since the 1500s, their medieval infrastructure remaining relatively clear. Castle Acre near the ancient market town of Swaffham is a classic example, a rare survival of a Norman planned settlement. Founded in the 1070s, the village includes the picturesque ruins of a castle and Castle Acre Priory, one of the best-preserved monastic sites in England. This quaint village on the River Nar has a tearoom, a traditional pub, and an assortment of flint and brick cottages. Across Norfolk are buildings faced with flint. It was mined at Breckland — called the Brecks — near Thetford, about 30km south of Swaffham. The Brecks is home to Grime’s Graves, a 40ha site that looks like a green moonscape. This strange, otherworldly place has more than 400 flint mines dug during the Neolithic *******, around 5000 years ago, when flint was used to craft tools such as arrowheads and knives. Much later, when metal replaced flint tools, flint nodules were in demand for other uses such as building. At Grime’s Graves visitors can descend 9m below ground into Britain’s only open Neolithic flint mine and learn about the grim lives of prehistoric miners. Camera IconGooderstone. St George’s, Gooderstone. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West *********** St George’s church in the village of Gooderstone, 16km north of Grime’s Graves is, like so many buildings in the region, constructed from flint and hewn stone. Gooderstone is not a picture-postcard pretty village like Castle Acre, but it’s special to me. Untold generations of my family were wed, baptised and buried at unpretentious St George’s, which dates from the 11th century; they sat on its 15th century wooden pews with carved backs, and probably dropped pennies into the 500-year-old wooden alms box. Directly over the road from the church is The Swan, a low-ceilinged 17th century pub where plenty of ancestors probably repaired for a cosy pint. Other than some pretty water gardens, that’s about all there is to Gooderstone, save for a school, and some historic properties scattered amid plenty of ho-hum 20th century houses. But just 2km down the road is one of the *** National Trust’s most enchanting properties, the romantic moated manor Oxburgh Hall. The walls of Oxburgh Hall rose in this quiet corner or Norfolk in 1482 built, unlike just about everything else in the neighbourhood, from red brick — fashionable and expensive at the time — rather than flint and stone. Built by Sir Edmund Bedingfeld, the Hall is situated just outside the village of Oxborough (confusingly, it’s Oxburgh Hall but Oxborough village). Camera IconOxburgh Hall. Sandy Guy’s grandson at Oxburgh Hall. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West *********** The Bedingfield family were rising stars of the royal court in Tudor times, so much so that King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty, and his queen, Elizabeth of York, stayed here in 1487. Oxburgh was built to impress, with a grand three-storey turreted gatehouse of fine brickwork. On the first floor of the gatehouse is the spacious king’s room with a huge open fireplace and heavy oak furniture. Adjoining this chamber is a garderobe (toilet) and, in the corner, a brick-topped trapdoor concealing the entrance to a priest’s hole. Henry VIII’s break with Catholic Rome during the 1530s, known as the English Reformation, meant momentous changes in Britain’s religious affairs. Many aristocratic Catholic families like the Bedingfeld’s who had resident or visiting priests constructed hideouts like the one in their loo in case authorities raided their properties. From the king’s chamber a narrow spiral staircase winds to the second floor and the queen’s equally grand chamber. Although altered and extended over the centuries, Oxburgh Hall retains the feel of a medieval manor, rich with woodwork and leather-embossed walls. Most of the east, west and north wings feature original 15th century work. Camera IconOxburgh Hall library. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West *********** Highlights include the library, barely altered since the 1830s; the manor’s rich collection of portraits; Tudor manuscripts; historic wallpapers, and the amazing Oxburgh Hangings, beautifully embroidered panels created by Mary, Queen of Scots between 1569 and 1584 when she was incarcerated by Queen Elizabeth I. The fortunes of the Bedingfeld family fluctuated over the centuries through religious persecution — they remained staunchly Catholic — Civil war and financial turmoil, leading to the loss of once vast acreages, and periods of near dereliction of the manor. The Bedingfield’s were eventually forced to sell up: the Hall and its adjoining lands were auctioned off by Sir Edmund Paston-Bedingfeld, the ninth baronet, in 1950. Lot number 1, the Hall and gardens, was purchased by a local merchant who planned to tear down the manor and sell the oak in the roof, the doors, and crush the red medieval bricks into rubble for paths and driveways. Disaster was narrowly averted when Lady Sybil Paston-Bedingfeld, widow of the eighth baronet, her daughter and niece managed to scrape up the money to buy back the manor from the merchant, before offering it as a gift to the National Trust in 1952. A proviso of the gift was that the Bedingfeld family continue to reside at Oxburgh Hall, continuing more than 500 years of residency in this tranquil corner of Norfolk. Today the Bedingfeld’s occupy the eastern front of this ancient manor, while the remainder is open to the public, in an area that feels centuries away from the hustle and bustle of the 21st century. fact file + Oxburgh Hall is open daily from 9.30am to 5pm (summer), 9.30am to 4pm (winter). Admission is £12 adults ($24), £6 ($12) children, nationaltrust.org.***. + The Servant’s Hall Tearoom in the old kitchen serves light lunches and cream teas (scones, jam and cream), and there’s a second-hand bookshop tucked away in the walled kitchen garden. + The manicured grounds also feature a French-inspired parterre, a walled wilderness area, and shady My Lady’s Wood. + The National Trust website sets out several walks of different lengths and duration including the 5.6km Oxborough to Gooderstone Heritage Walk. + Grime’s Graves is open daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission £9 ($18) adults, more at english-heritage.org.***. + For information on travelling in Norfolk, visit visitnorfolk.co.***. + Interesting fact: East Anglia was one of the kingdoms of Anglo-Saxon England, consisting of the north people (Norfolk), the south people (Suffolk), and adjacent communities. Stay + Oxburgh Chapel Lodge at Oxburgh Estate is a small 19th century lodge with its own garden available for holiday rentals. It’s cosy but charming and sleeps two. Minimum two-nights, £494 ($990) for two-nights, book at nationaltrust.org.***. + The Bedingfeld Arms, just down the road from Oxburgh Hall at Oxborough, dates from 1783. This friendly tavern has comfortable rooms from £85 ($170) per double, and restaurant menus may include venison and redcurrant suet pudding, and Norfolk oak-smoked fish board, bedingfeldarms.co.***. + The Ostrich at Castle Acre is a 16th century coaching inn set on the village’s ancient green. This venerable boozer has six rooms with ensuites from £120 ($240) per double per night, theostrichpub.co.***. Camera IconOxborough village. Bedingfeld Arms. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West ***********Camera IconOxburgh Hall. Bedingfeld family treasures. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West ***********Camera IconOxburgh Hall. Sandy Guy’s son and grandson cross over the moat into Oxburgh Hall. Credit: Sandy Guy/The West *********** Source link #Diving #deep #history #Norfolk Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

These 2 State Quarters Are Worth the Most Money — Do You Have $10K in Your Pocket Right Now? These 2 State Quarters Are Worth the Most Money — Do You Have $10K in Your Pocket Right Now? CaptureLight / iStock.com In the realm of collectible U.S. coins, state quarters that were rolled out beginning in 1999 are a mixed bag. Check Out: These 11 Rare Coins Sold for Over $1 Million Learn More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 The state quarters program was launched in 1999 and ran through 2008. A separate quarter was minted for each of the 50 states. The head of each coin had the familiar portrait of George Washington, while the tail featured a design related to a particular state. The U.S. Mint issued five new quarters each year in the order that the states ratified the Constitution or were admitted into the Union. In 2009, the Mint made six more quarter designs for Washington, D.C. and the five U.S. territories as part of the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories Quarters Program. The Mint produced and shipped a total of 34.3 billion quarters during the program, with the average annual mintage reaching 3.5 billion quarters. At least 400 million of each quarter was minted. On the one hand, the coins are fairly new and there are plenty of them, which reduces their value. On the other hand, you can still find some state quarters worth thousands of dollars — as long as they are in pristine condition and have certain features. Among the highest prices paid for state quarters were for the Georgia and Pennsylvania versions minted in 1999. Their high value is mainly due to a production quirk. Some of these coins were struck on planchets made of an experimental alloy that gave them a gold tint. Although the U.S. Mint decided not to use them for quarters, they were released into circulation anyway. All are estimated to be worth at least $3,000 on the trading market, according to Cleveland.com. The U.S. Coins Guide reported that one Georgia quarter struck from this planchet sold for $10,000. For You: 10 Rare Coins Expected To Soar in Value in the Next Five Years The valuable Georgia and Pennsylvania state quarters are unique because they contain errors. Here’s a look at five coins prized for their scarcity: Massachusetts 2000-P MS69: $3,760 South Carolina 2000-P MS69: $3,525 Maryland 2000-P MS65: $1,495 New Hampshire 2000-D MS68: $633 Virginia 2000-P MS68: $400 State quarters worth that much are rare. However, you can find some that will let you afford a nice dinner out. Here are the values of some other prized coins in the series, according to Gainesville Coins: 1999-P Delaware Spitting Horse Quarter: $10 to $20 2004-D Extra Leaf Wisconsin Quarter: $50 to $65 2005-P Minnesota Quarter Doubled Dies Quarter: $5 to $100 2009-D District of Columbia Doubled Die Quarter: $75 1999-S Pennsylvania Proof Silver Quarter: $35 1999-S New Jersey Proof Silver Quarter: $30 Story Continues Source link #State #Quarters #Worth #Money #10K #Pocket Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge says he will temporarily block Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on paid leave – The Associated Press Judge says he will temporarily block Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on paid leave – The Associated Press Judge says he will temporarily block Trump from placing thousands of USAID workers on paid leave The Associated PressLatest on Trump’s presidency as federal judge temporarily blocks putting USAID workers on leave CNNUSAID Controversy Live Updates: Judge Blocks Trump From Putting 2,200 Staff On Leave ForbesLive updates: Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from placing USAID workers on leave The Associated PressUSAID to be merged into State Department, 3 U.S. officials say CBS News Source link #Judge #temporarily #block #Trump #placing #thousands #USAID #workers #paid #leave #Press Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review – Incredibly Good RPG Sequel – Final Weapon The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review – Incredibly Good RPG Sequel – Final Weapon Raul Ochoa: “The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is a near-perfect sequel that follows up the previous game with an intriguing story and premise. While shaking up the story formula, the game retains many of the redeeming qualities of its predecessor and makes improvements in the right areas, including the seamless action-to-turn-based combat system. This is a cant-miss RPG that brings everything Trails fans enjoy about the series.” Source link #Legend #Heroes #Trails #Daybreak #Review #Incredibly #Good #RPG #Sequel #Final #Weapon Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Mahomes sharp in last major practice before Super Bowl Mahomes sharp in last major practice before Super Bowl Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid is happy with where his team and quarterback Patrick Mahomes are before Super Bowl 59. Source link #Mahomes #sharp #major #practice #Super #Bowl Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Measles outbreak expands in West Texas around county with low vaccination rate Measles outbreak expands in West Texas around county with low vaccination rate A measles outbreak is growing in a rural area of West Texas where vaccination rates are well below the recommended level. In late January, two children in Gaines County were hospitalized for measles. On Wednesday, the state health department shared in a health alert that the number of confirmed cases had grown to six. As of Friday afternoon, the outbreak has jumped to 14 confirmed cases and six probable cases among people who are symptomatic and had close contact with infected individuals, Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, told CNN. Investigations are ongoing, as cases have been identified in parts of the region that are outside the Gaines County lines where the first cases were reported. All the cases are believed to be among people who are not vaccinated against measles, Holbrooks said, and most of them are in children. A record share of US kindergartners had an exemption for required vaccinations last school year, leaving more than 125,000 new schoolchildren without coverage for at least one state-mandated vaccine, according to data published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in October. The US Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, a threshold necessary to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. The US has now fallen short of that threshold for four years in a row. MMR coverage is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine. The 18% vaccine exemption rate for the county is one of the highest in the state, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. At the state level, vaccine exemptions were highest in Idaho, where more than 14% of incoming kindergartners did not have their required shots, according to CDC data from last school year. Texas overall was slightly above the national average, with about 4% exemptions. Measles is an airborne disease that can cause serious health consequences, including death, especially for young and unvaccinated children. General symptoms may include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash of red spots. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the US who get measles will be hospitalized, according to the CDC. About 1 in every 20 children will develop pneumonia, and others may develop a dangerous swelling in the brain called encephalitis. Up to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles may die from respiratory and neurologic complications. In the health alert Wednesday, the Texas health department warned that additional cases are “likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities” due to the highly contagious nature of the disease. Officials recommend that residents of Gaines County immediately improve their immunity and help prevent disease spread by ensuring that they are up to date on vaccinations. Children and adults who have not been vaccinated should get one dose immediately, followed by a second dose after 28 days. Infants between 6 and 11 months should get an early dose of the vaccine, and children who have had their first shot should get their second as soon as possible. The South Plains Public Health District started a measles clinic Thursday, Holbrooks said, where daily testing and vaccination will be available starting next week. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Source link #Measles #outbreak #expands #West #Texas #county #vaccination #rate Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of White South Africans of European descent Trump orders U.S. to prioritize refugee resettlement of White South Africans of European descent President Trump on Friday directed government officials to prioritize the resettlement of South Africans of European descent through the U.S. refugee program, which he suspended during his first day in office. In an executive order, Mr. Trump accused the South African government of discriminating against Afrikaners, an ethnic group in South Africa made up of descendants of European colonists, mostly from the Netherlands, who first arrived there in the 1600s. Until the 1990s, White South Africans of European descent ruled South Africa, enforcing the brutal system of apartheid against the country’s ****** majority. But Mr. Trump alleged in his order that White South Africans are now the targets of oppression by the country’s government, citing a law that U.S. conservatives like Trump adviser and billionaire Elon Musk have said allow racially motivated seizures of land owned by White South Africans. Musk was born in South Africa. South Africa’s government has strongly denied any land confiscations or racially motivated discrimination, saying the law being scrutinized targets land not being used or not serving the public interest. In his order, Mr. Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “prioritize humanitarian relief, including admission and resettlement through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, for Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.” It’s unclear how and when that plan would be enacted, since refugee arrivals were brought to a halt by Mr. Trump. In an executive order he signed on Jan. 20, the president argued refugees were a strain on receiving communities and said he would only restart the refugee program if he concluded that doing so would serve the interests of the U.S. Mr. Trump’s order does, however, allow officials to make case-by-case exemptions to the freeze in refugee arrivals. The U.S. refugee program is designed to offer a safe haven to people abroad fleeing persecution based on their race, religion, political views or other factors. Typically, refugees are referred to the U.S. by United Nations officials and spend months or years in third countries undergoing interviews, as well as security and medical checks, before being allowed into the U.S. Historically, most of those allowed into the U.S. through the refugee program have hailed from countries in Africa and Asia plagued by war, ethnic strife or repression of ********* groups. The president’s order also cuts off any aid or assistance to South Africa as long as it keeps its new land-reform law in place. This raises further questions about the U.S.’ AIDS response program, PEPFAR, which provides **** treatment to millions of adults and hundreds of thousands of children, many in African countries. The Trump administration ordered a freeze on all foreign aid that encompassed international medical and humanitarian efforts. Last weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a waiver to allow PEPFAR and some other programs to resume, but there have still been delays in distributing the aid. Margaret Brennan contributed to this report. Camilo Montoya-Galvez Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics. Source link #Trump #orders #U.S #prioritize #refugee #resettlement #White #South #Africans #European #descent Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Not 1. Not 2. Not 3. Not 4. 5 winter storms could deliver more snow than the last two winters combined – CNN Not 1. Not 2. Not 3. Not 4. 5 winter storms could deliver more snow than the last two winters combined – CNN Not 1. Not 2. Not 3. Not 4. 5 winter storms could deliver more snow than the last two winters combined CNNWinter Storm Marches East, Promising a Snowy Weekend for Many The New York TimesMultiple Winter Storms To Bring Snow To Northeast The Weather ChannelWinter storm watch issued in Massachusetts ahead of heavy weekend snow Yahoo! VoicesHeavy weekend snow and ice will hit swath of Midwest and Northeast The Washington Post Source link #winter #storms #deliver #snow #winters #combined #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Half a world away from war, Ukrainian veterans compete at Invictus Games Half a world away from war, Ukrainian veterans compete at Invictus Games The Invictus Games are set to kick off in Vancouver and Whistler on Saturday, and of the more than 20 nations taking part, there’s little doubt the chance to compete means the most to the one country currently at war. The multi-sport tournament draws athletes who are wounded, injured or sick military service personnel, both serving and veterans. Some of those athletes, like Illia Haiduk, hail from Ukraine, which has been at active war since Russia’s 2022 invasion. 4:41 Invictus Games opening ceremony less than 2 weeks away “It’s very great thing to me,” Haiduk said of the games. Story continues below advertisement “I just don’t feel like I am injured, like I’ve got some problems. I just live my life like I did before. It’s a very great project, this Invictus.” Haiduk, who walks with a prosthetic after having his leg amputated, is competing in skiing, skeleton, rowing and wheelchair basketball. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. It’s a far cry from his former life. The 34-year-old served as a police officer for more than six years before the war, when he decided to sign up with the military to defend his country. In the army, he served as a battle drone operator, flying UAVs armed with up to a kilogram of explosives against enemy troops and tanks, and rising to the rank of unit commander. 0:44 Prince Harry in Vancouver to launch Invictus Games school program That all changed in October 2023, while he was away from the front lines. Story continues below advertisement “I was injured during a ceremony that gathered many soldiers, men and women who had performed their duties, courage and dedication to protect our country,” he said. “An enemy drone saw military units there… When they saw us, they sent an Iskander missile… A lot of my fellow brothers died this day.” Haiduk lost part of his leg to shrapnel in the attack and faced a long recovery afterward. “More than eight months I was without a prosthetic. It was like operations maybe each month,” he said. But during his recovery, he began to get into athletics. 2:05 Performers getting ready for upcoming Invictus Games It was there he tapped into a community of veterans that he said helped him in immeasurable ways. Story continues below advertisement “When you are training with other guys that have such injuries, that have the same problems, it’s very motivational,” he said. Now, in Canada for the first time, he says he’s excited to represent his country and to explore the terrain. “The most I like is skiing. I am so fall in love with this sport. Downhill skiing on one ski and one leg and two outriggers,” he said. “Such great hills, great weather, great mountains. It’s very beautiful.” Team Ukraine has 24 athletes in this year’s games, which have attracted more than 500 participants from around the world. “I stand here because I survived,” Haiduk said. “But I have a responsibility to those who have their stories but can’t speak today.” &copy 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. Source link #world #war #Ukrainian #veterans #compete #Invictus #Games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Opelka takes aim at umpire, ATP tipped to aim at him Opelka takes aim at umpire, ATP tipped to aim at him Reilly Opelka has called for chair umpire Greg Allensworth to be suspended by the ATP after he received a code violation at the Dallas Open for confronting a spectator in the stands. Opelka, who was facing Cameron Norrie, was serving for the match in the last 16 when he stopped mid-serve at 30-30 to talk to a fan, asking him if he was coughing on purpose while also asking him to leave in an expletive-laden outburst. Allensworth announced a code violation and then a point penalty for two audible obscenities after Opelka approached the chair and argued his case. According to the ATP rulebook, a first offence leads to a warning while a second leads to a point penalty. Opelka eventually won the match after an argument with Allensworth and said he was the “worst ref on the ATP” and he had no choice but to take matters into his own hands. “He’s real bad. He almost changed the outcome of that match just because he doesn’t really know what he’s doing. He got emotional when we were arguing,” Opelka said after his 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 victory over Norrie. “He got very tense and frantic, he couldn’t give me an answer. He didn’t tell that guy to shut up, he was doing it for three points. He didn’t do his job, so I had to tell him, ‘Get out of here’. The guy was being pretty quite rude. “It shouldn’t be one-sided traffic. If you want to be disrespectful to me, I can’t just be a punching bag. If the ref isn’t doing his job, then he penalises me – not a good look.” Opelka added he hoped the ATP would penalise Allensworth as he almost cost the big-serving American a spot in the quarter-finals. Opelka is also set to be fined $5,000 for each violation. “It would be nice to maybe sideline him for a few tournaments,” added Opelka, who meets third seed Tommy Paul in the next round. “He gets no penalty. If I lose that point, I lose that match. There’s a difference in my paycheque, he gets no repercussions. “He should be on the sideline for about four weeks, maybe learn a thing or two … You’ve got to understand the situation. You can’t always play by the rulebook. It’s just common sense.” But the ATP said Opelka violated the rules by confronting a member of the public and it will evaluate his comments as part of a review that could lead to further sanctions. “Audible obscenities directed at members of the public constitute a clear violation of ATP rules,” an ATP spokesperson told Reuters. “In such instances, the chair umpire has a responsibility to take appropriate action, regardless of the match score. The ATP will review Opelka’s post-match comments as part of its standard disciplinary process.” Source link #Opelka #takes #aim #umpire #ATP #tipped #aim Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Another cruise line just raised its gratuity rates. Here’s how much guests will pay. Another cruise line just raised its gratuity rates. Here’s how much guests will pay. Margaritaville at Sea is the latest cruise line to raise its gratuity rates. Passengers in staterooms will now pay $20 per guest, per night, while those in suites will pay $24 per person each night, according to its website. Those charges increased from $18 and $22, respectively. The changes took effect on Feb. 1. “Margaritaville at Sea focuses on providing exceptional guest service onboard,” a spokesperson for the cruise line told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “This change allows for [MVAS] to continue to provide an incredibly high-level of service to our guests for quick getaways and longer vacations.” The Margaritaville at Sea Paradise cruise ship at the Port of Palm Beach on Dec. 16, 2024, in Florida. Pay upfront, but still bring cash: What travelers need to know about tipping on a cruise The fees are automatically added to guests’ onboard accounts, though passengers can adjust the amount via the cruise line’s call center. The news comes after Disney Cruise Line hiked its recommended gratuity rates last month, following a similar move from Royal Caribbean International in November. Cruise lines periodically increase those fees, often making the changes in response to “external influences” like inflation or changes in economic activity, according to Danny Genung, CEO of travel agency Harr Travel. “You look at the cost of hotels and transportation, fuel and food and everything else, and I think it’s really just a normal response,” he previously told USA TODAY. “You know, compensating employees, offsetting costs that have increased.” Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at *****@*****.tld. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Margaritaville at Sea raised its gratuity rates: How much you’ll pay Source link #cruise #line #raised #gratuity #rates #Heres #guests #pay Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

House, Senate fight to kickstart plan on Donald Trump's legislative agenda – USA TODAY House, Senate fight to kickstart plan on Donald Trump's legislative agenda – USA TODAY House, Senate fight to kickstart plan on Donald Trump’s legislative agenda USA TODAYHouse GOP pleads for time after “intense” White House meeting AxiosHouse GOP rushing to produce Trump’s big budget bill with tax cuts, program cuts and other promises Yahoo! Voices Source link #House #Senate #fight #kickstart #plan #Donald #Trump039s #legislative #agenda #USA #TODAY Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he will fire multiple Kennedy Center board members and name himself chair Trump says he will fire multiple Kennedy Center board members and name himself chair President Trump announced plans Friday to fire board members for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and install himself as its chairman. “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” Mr. Trump wrote on Truth Social. The president said he would “immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.” He did not say which board members he plans to terminate. The board has 36 members appointed by the president, each to six-year terms. The board is divided between Republican and Democratic appointees. David Rubenstein, philanthropist and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, has been the chairman of the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees for 14 years and announced that he was stepping down from the board effective September 2026. Deborah Rutter, who has served as president of the Kennedy Center since 2014, announced last month that she planned to step down at the end of 2025. Mr. Trump has a strained relationship with the Kennedy Center dating back to his first term in office when he announced that he and first lady Melania Trump would not attend the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017 after some of that year’s recipients threatened a boycott. According to its website, the Kennedy Center hosts over 2,200 performances, events and exhibits a year, with over two million visitors annually. The center was created by Congress in 1958 and serves as a living memorial to John F. Kennedy. Along with the 36 members appointed by the president, trustees also include ex-officio leaders in government designated by Congress. Before leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden appointed several new members to the board, including former White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Source link #Trump #fire #multiple #Kennedy #Center #board #members #chair Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Lasers, ladders and a leap: Photos of the week Lasers, ladders and a leap: Photos of the week Just now A selection of news photographs from around the world. Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters Members of the ******** National Guard and the ******** Army confiscate ladders used by human traffickers to cross the border wall into the United States during a patrol. US President Donald Trump delayed introducing 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico for a month while the two countries hold “negotiations”. Juan Mabromata/AFP A canal in a suburb of Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires turned bright red this week. Local media reports suggest the colour may have been caused by the dumping of textile dye, or by chemical waste from a nearby depot. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters A woman makes her way through heavy snowfall at Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul, South Korea. Mario Anzuoni/Reuters Singer Benson Boone performs during the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California. Fadel Senna/AFP People gather in Dubai Creek Harbour to watch the sunset. Rodrigo Gutierrez/Reuters Astronomers in Chile fear their dark desert skies will be affected by industrial pollution. Here laser beams leave the dome of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert. Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters At a factory in Narayanganj, Bangladesh, clothing waste is transformed into cotton to make mattresses. Manon Cruz/Reuters Jerome Raffetto, a footballer with the Olympique de Marseille Amputee Football team, attends a training session with teammates at the OM Campus in Marseille, France. Joe Raedle/Getty Images People take pictures of a frozen Niagara Falls, a natural border between Canada and the United States. Jordan Pettitt/PA Media King Charles III holds an audience with Jordan’s King Abdullah at Buckingham Palace in London. Photography Source link #Lasers #ladders #leap #Photos #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Perth Festival review: WA Ballet leaps into 2025 with The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry Perth Festival review: WA Ballet leaps into 2025 with The Wild Between Stars: Ballet at the Quarry As the sun set on another balmy day of Perth’s summer, the Quarry Amphitheatre was brought to life by three exhilarating new works to kick off WA Ballet’s new season with Ballet At The Quarry. Source link #Perth #Festival #review #Ballet #leaps #Wild #Stars #Ballet #Quarry Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump says he will announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries next week Trump says he will announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries next week By Jarrett Renshaw and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump said on Friday he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries by Monday or Tuesday of next week, a major escalation of his offensive to tear up and reshape global trade relationships in the U.S.’ favor. Trump did not identify which countries would be hit but suggested it would be a broad effort that could also help solve U.S. budget problems. “I’ll be announcing that, next week, reciprocal trade, so that we’re treated evenly with other countries,” Trump said. “We don’t want any more, any less.” The move would fulfill Trump’s campaign promise to impose tariffs on American imports equal to rates that trading partners impose on American exports. Trump made the announcement during a meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He said auto tariffs remained on the table amid reports that the White House was weighing potential exemptions. The new U.S. president has long complained about the European Union’s 10% tariffs on auto imports being much higher than the U.S. car rate of 2.5%. He frequently states that Europe “won’t take our cars” but ships millions west across the Atlantic every year. The U.S., however, enjoys a 25% tariff on pickup trucks, a vital source of profits for Detroit automakers General Motors, Ford and Stellantis’ U.S. operations. In recent confirmation hearings, Trump’s Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick voiced concerns about India’s high tariff rates, while U.S. Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer discussed U.S. complaints about Vietnam’s and Brazil’s tariffs and trade barriers. The U.S. trade-weighted average tariff rate is about 2.2%, according to World Trade Organization data, compared to 12% for India, 6.7% for Brazil, 5.1% for Vietnam and 2.7% for European Union countries. Trump told Republican lawmakers of his plans during budget discussions at the White House on Thursday, three sources familiar with the plan told Reuters. Trump and top aides have said they plan to use higher tariffs on foreign imports to help pay for extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, which independent budget analysts say could add trillions of dollars to the U.S. debt. Increased tariffs could offset some of that cost, though they have only accounted for about 2% of annual revenues in recent years. Trump announced tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico on Saturday but delayed them after a negative reaction from investors. The two largest U.S. trading partners agreed to increase enforcement efforts at the border, a top Trump priority. Story Continues Wall Street extended losses on Friday following the Reuters report of Trump’s discussion with lawmakers. U.S. consumer sentiment dropped to a seven-month low in February, and attitudes soured among Republicans as households took stock of what they believe will be a surge in inflation from Trump’s tariffs. Trump and his Republicans aim to unveil their ambitious tax and spending package this weekend. It faces a perilous path through Congress, where Republicans hold narrow majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Republicans are expected to rely on arcane budget rules to bypass Democratic opposition, which will require them to work in lockstep. Trump is due to have dinner with Senate Republicans on Friday and attend the Super Bowl with House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday. In his confirmation hearing on Thursday, Greer said other countries will need to reduce barriers to U.S. exports if they want to maintain access to the U.S. market, citing Vietnam in particular. “I need, if I’m confirmed, to go to these countries and explain to them that if they want to enjoy continued market access to the United States, we need to have better reciprocity,” Greer said. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw, Trevor Hunnicutt and David Morgan; additional reporting by David Lawder and Steve Holland; editing by Colleen Jenkins, Andy Sullivan, Deepa Babington and Rosalba O’Brien) Source link #Trump #announce #reciprocal #tariffs #countries #week Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]