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Millions under storm watches as Lee is downgraded and passes by New England and Canada

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The National Hurricane Center downgraded Hurricane Lee to a post-tropical cyclone but millions of people remained under storm watches and warnings early Saturday as the storm still could produce hurricane-force winds, torrential rain and coastal flooding.Severe conditions were predicted as a possibility across portions of Massachusetts and Maine and hurricane conditions could hit the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where the storm had been predicted to make landfall later Saturday.The storm was located about 230 miles (365 kilometers) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 220 miles (355 kilometers) southeast of Eastport, Maine on Saturday morning.There were more than 11,000 power outages from Massachusetts to Maine early Saturday. The wind had picked up and rain moved into eastern Massachusetts.The hurricane center predicted hurricane-force winds extending more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Lee’s center with lesser but still ...

Lee Pulls Away

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

Gusty coastal winds and some rain across eastern Mass has been the story this morning, but fortunately, the worst of the storm passed just offshore. Gusts pushed 45-60mph across the Cape and Islands with a few localized higher gusts, but coastal flooding overnight was minimal, and the coastal flooding we expect for the midday high tide will generally be minor. Northwesterly winds gradual diminishing through the day as light to moderate rain showers lingers into the midday hours, before drying out this afternoon from west to east. This evening looks good for those dinner/date plans. We were very fortunate that the storm stayed far enough offshore to keep the heaviest rains offshore. If the track was 100-150miles farther west, we’d be taking 5-8″ of rain and frequently gusts over 70mph at the coast as well as much of significant coastal erosion and flooding. Seas are stirred up big time all day long with big breaking waves at the coast. If you’re wave watching later ...

High winds pick up surf at low tide after waves splashed Scituate overnight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

High winds in Scituate blew surf off the ocean, resulting in a minor soaking for the coastal town.As winds hit their strongest Saturday morning, the ocean was at low tide, which was helping to keep the surf from splashing on beach homes.Winds hit around 20 mph in the area, and waves were rolling in, buffed by the gusty winds. High tide hits again around 1 p.m., and while some splashover is expected, residents should be safe from the waves.

Republican presidential candidates mostly overlook New Hampshire in an effort to blunt Trump in Iowa

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Once upon a time, the moderates, the mavericks and the underdogs in presidential politics had a chance to break through in New Hampshire.Former Sen. John McCain, an independent-minded Republican, resurrected his anemic campaign with a victory in the state’s first-in-the-nation presidential primary in 2008. Bill Clinton, a centrist Democrat from Arkansas, became the “comeback kid” by exceeding expectations here in 1992. And little-known Georgia peanut farmer, Jimmy Carter, would go on to claim the presidency after winning the state’s 1976 Democratic primary.But this year, New Hampshire’s primary tradition may be little more than a fairy tale as the presidential field largely overlooks the Granite State.Democratic officials, who have rallied behind President Joe Biden, have already decided to bypass New Hampshire in favor of South Carolina. And the crowded Republican field is focusing its money, time and attention on Iowa, betting big that the...

Storm Lee bears down on New England and Canada with hurricane-force winds, rain, dangerous surf

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Storm Lee hurtled across the Atlantic on Saturday, threatening millions of people in coastal New England and eastern Canada with hurricane-force winds, dangerous surf and torrential rains.Severe conditions were predicted across parts of Massachusetts and Maine, and hurricane conditions could hit the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where the storm, downgraded early Saturday from hurricane to post-tropical cyclone, was expected to make landfall later in the day.The storm’s center was about 185 miles (365 kilometers) southwest of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and about 160 miles (355 kilometers) south-southeast of Eastport, Maine, at 8 a.m. EDT Saturday. It was moving north at a fast clip of 25 mph (41 kph), with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (129 kph).Hurricane watches were in effect for New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, while a tropical storm warning stretched from Westport, Massachusetts, to Nova Scotia. States of emergency were declared fo...

North Korean arms for Russia probably wouldn’t make a big difference in the Ukraine war, Milley says

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

OSLO, Norway (AP) — North Korea may be able to boost Russia’s supply of artillery munitions for the war in Ukraine, but that is not likely to make a big difference, the top American military officer said as he arrived in Norway for NATO meetings that began Saturday and will focus in part on the conflict.U.S. Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the recent meeting in Russia between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin will probably lead North Korea to provide Soviet-era 152 mm artillery rounds to Moscow. But he said it was not yet clear how many or how soon.“Would it have a huge difference? I’m skeptical of that,” Milley told reporters traveling with him. He said that while he does not want to play down the weapons assistance too much, “I doubt that it would be decisive.”Foreign governments and experts have speculated that Kim will likely supply ammunition to Russia in exchange for receiving advanced weapons or...

Hundreds protest against the Malaysian government after deputy premier’s graft charges were dropped

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Hundreds of people staged an anti-government rally Saturday in the Malaysian capital, accusing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of helping his key ally escape prosecution in exchange for political support.Prosecutors unexpectedly dropped 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Sept. 4, late in the process of his trail. The court approved the application for dismissal but refused to grant Zahid a full acquittal, which means he can be recharged. Speakers addressing the crowd Saturday in Kuala Lumpur accused Anwar’s government of interfering with the case to let Zahid off the hook in return for political support. Some protesters in the opposition-backed rally wore white shirts emblazoned with the words “Fight Corruption.” They marched in the city center chanting, “Charge Zahid,” “Reform is dead” and “Down with Anwar.” Protester Muhamed Yahya said there was a “hidden hand at work” that led to the charges against Zahid being dro...

Erdogan says Turkey may part ways with the EU. He implied the country could ends its membership bid

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

ISTANBUL (AP) — President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey may part ways with the European Union, implying that the country is thinking about ending its bid to join the 27-nation bloc.“The EU is making efforts to sever ties with Turkey,” he told reporters before departing for the 78th U.N. General Assembly in New York.“We will evaluate the situation, and if needed we will part ways with the EU.”He was responding to a question about a recent report adopted by the European Parliament, which stated “the accession process cannot resume under the current circumstances, and calls on EU to explore ‘a parallel and realistic framework’ for EU-Türkiye relations.”Turkey applied to join the European Union in 1999, and accession talks began in 2005. Accession negotiations were frozen in 2018 because of “democratic backsliding,” according to the European Parliament.Erdogan’s statement on Saturday came more than a week after Turkey’s foreign minister affirmed his country’...

Supply problems and insurance issues make popular weight-loss drugs hard to get

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

When she prescribes the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, Dr. Angela Fitch sends patients on a quest she likens to “The Hunger Games.”They will have to call drugstores over several days to find one with the properly sized first dose. Then they’ll do that again for their second dose, and probably the third. And that’s only if the patient has insurance or the means to afford a drug that can cost more than $1,300 a month.“This is not for the weak-willed,” said Fitch, who is president of the Obesity Medicine Association and also consults for drugmakers. Supply problems and insurance complications have made it difficult for people to start — and stay on — Wegovy and similar medications that are transforming obesity treatment, according to doctors and patients around the country. They say getting the high-demand, injectable drugs requires persistence and a fair amount of luck.People starting on Wegovy have to take injections of gradually increasing strength before they reach th...

2 critical after shooting in Palatine: Police

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:25:17 GMT

PALATINE, Ill. -- Two individuals are in critical condition after a shooting in Palatine Friday night, police said. Officers responded to a call of a person shot int he 1800 block of Green Lane North and found two victims with life threatening gunshot wounds. ‘He left a huge impact’: Students shocked after assistant principal killed in shooting in Loop high-rise Palatine police is investigating the incident and WGN will update as more information is recovered.