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Fentanyl crisis the focus of Prince William roundtable with Rep. Spanberger, local leaders

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

This article was written by WTOP’s news partner InsideNoVa.com and republished with permission. Sign up for InsideNoVa.com’s free email subscription today.Hoping to combat the deadly, nationwide fentanyl crisis, a bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at providing state and local law enforcement with devices to detect dangerous drugs.The Providing Officers with Electronic Resources, or POWER, Act, introduced in May, would establish a new Department of Justice grant program to help state and local law enforcement organizations secure portable screening devices that use laser technology to help identify harmful substances like fentanyl, according to lawmakers. The measure was introduced by U.S. Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, and Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Tom Cotton, R-Ala.Spanberger, whose 7th Congressional District includes the eastern half of Prince William County, was joined Friday by local leaders and health care providers...

FIFA made false claims about ‘carbon-neutral’ World Cup in Qatar, Swiss regulator says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA made false claims about last year’s World Cup in Qatar being carbon neutral, an advertising regulator in Switzerland said Wednesday.FIFA was “not able to provide proof that the claims were accurate,” the federally recognized Swiss Commission for Fairness said in its judgment into complaints filed from five countries.The commission said it “advised FIFA to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims in the future. Particularly the claim that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was climate- or carbon-neutral.”FIFA said in a statement it would analyze the recommendations and had the right of appeal. The ruling is not legally binding.Qatar spent more than $200 billion on a decade-long construction program of mostly air-conditioned projects to prepare for hosting the soccer tournament in the gas-rich emirate. It relied on using hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers working in widely criticized conditions.Seven of the eight stadiums used — including one with a fac...

What kind of surgery is Pope Francis having, and why?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Pope Francis was admitted to a Rome hospital for abdominal surgery on Wednesday afternoon after developing a painful hernia linked to a 2021 operation to remove a significant portion of his large intestine, the Vatican said. Here’s a look at what we know about the operation and what potential complications doctors will be watching for in the 86-year-old pontiff.WHAT KIND OF SURGERY IS THE POPE HAVING?Pope Francis is undergoing a laparotomy, a surgery that involves opening up the abdomen to expose internal organs, and doctors planned to insert a prosthesis while he was under general anesthesia. Doctors not linked to the pope’s care said hernias were a known complication after previous operations and typically only become problematic when patients develop a bulge in their abdomen and experience significant pain. The Vatican said Francis had been in increasing pain. Dr. Walter Longo, chief of colon and rectal surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, said...

Coco Gauff is 0-7 against No. 1 Iga Swiatek after losing to her in the French Open quarterfinals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

PARIS (AP) — This felt like a game Coco Gauff simply needed to claim if she intended to finally win a set, let alone a match, against No. 1 Iga Swiatek.With shouts of “Go, Coco!” and “Allez, Coco!” emanating from the Court Philippe Chatrier stands, Gauff frittered away two break points as Swiatek served at 1-all. Then, at deuce, came the most memorable moment of Wednesday afternoon — and, while Gauff won the point, it soon would be Swiatek who seized complete control of this French Open quarterfinal that was a rematch of last year’s final.During a 14-stroke exchange, both women made their way to the net, and Gauff directed a swinging backhand volley right at Swiatek. The ball struck Swiatek’s right leg, and she tumbled back onto the red clay, leaving rust remnants on her white dress and arm. That set up a third break chance for Gauff, but the 19-year-old American again failed to convert, and while it soon was 2-all, Swiatek pulled away from there to a 6-4, 6-2 victory.“Quarterfinals...

Court seeks compromise that might preserve preventive health insurance mandates as appeals play out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal appeals court judges are seeking compromise on whether government requirements that health insurance include coverage for HIV prevention, cancer screenings and some other types of preventive care can be maintained while a legal battle over the mandates plays out.The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel on Wednesday told attorneys on both sides of the issue to report by Friday on the possibility of a temporary compromise in the case.At issue is a March ruling by a federal judge in Texas who said some of the preventive care requirements under former President Barack Obama’s 13-year-old health care law are unconstitutional. The decision jeopardized cost-free coverage of HIV-preventing drugs, cancer screenings and various other types of preventive care for millions of Americans.The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit blocked immediate enforcement of the ruling in May. On Tuesday, three 5th Circuit judges heard arguments on whether they should continue ...

More traffic dividers are coming to your commute on the GW Parkway

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

(new Image()).src = "https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384&cid=c2ffed0c-3624-46c0-b10f-97c976d290a3";cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: "748af1d7-080a-4871-848c-a74465eb1091"}).render("99d69971929b4f3bb4ecca76d0dbb8d2"); });If you drive on the George Washington Parkway, get ready to see some more lane dividers.The National Park Service is extending its rehab project on the GW Parkway further south this weekend. The ongoing North Parkway Rehabilitation Project will continue 3.5 miles further south.The outer northbound lane on the GW Parkway running from Route 123 all the way to the Windy Run Bridge will be closed off in order for crews to continue the rehab.Starting Saturday, June 10, the inner northbound lane and the outer southbound lanes will remain open for regular traffic flow.The inner southbound lane will serve as a reversible lane during rush hours. From 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m....

Czech police: Fiorentina fans attack West Ham supporters ahead of Europa Conference League final

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

PRAGUE (AP) — Fiorentina fans attacked West Ham supporters in a bar in downtown Prague ahead of the Europa Conference League final, Czech police said on Wednesday. Three West Ham fans and one police officers were injured in the incident while 16 people were detained, police said.An investigation was ongoing and no more details were immediately provided.Thousands of West Ham and Fiorentina fans have arrived in Prague for the final of the third-tier European competition at Slavia Prague’s Eden Arena.Both clubs are aiming to end long European trophy droughts.Organizers prepared two separate fan zones for the fans of both clubs who don’t have tickets for the match.___More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

6 arrested in Romania, Germany, Bulgaria in probe of people-smuggling ring

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Six people have been arrested in Romania, Germany and Bulgaria in raids targeting a network alleged to have smuggled hundreds of migrants into Romania and Germany, authorities said Wednesday.Fifteen properties were searched on Wednesday, 11 of them in Romania, German federal police said in a statement. Four of the arrests were made in searches of accommodation in Romania used to house migrants. Three cars were seized, along with cellphones, cash and other evidence.There was one arrest apiece in Germany and Bulgaria.The suspects are accused of smuggling more than 560 people into Germany and more than 300 into Romania, according to German police.The investigation started after Turkish and Syrian citizens were found near Germany’s borders with Austria, the Czech Republic and Poland. They had been brought from Turkey by various means of transportation. Police said that the smugglers took them from the western Romanian city of Timisoara to Germany hidden among goods i...

Investors losing interest in Denver metro real estate

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Denver area isn't the draw for real estate investors it once was a few years ago. According to real estate broker Redfin, June data shows the Denver metro is among the areas that have seen the sharpest drop in investor interest in the last year. Investors bought $10B worth of Denver-area homes since 2021 Formerly, the Denver metro was a red-hot investor market. Nationally, as many as one in five homes in the U.S. were bought by investors, depending on the quarter. In Colorado, investors have been very active in the housing market. Between the first quarter of 2021 and the fourth quarter of 2022, about 15% of the number of homes sold in the Denver metro were to investors.Fast forward to 2023 and the picture has changed. In the first quarter of 2023, the Denver metro's share of homes sold to real estate investors has fallen 50% from a year ago, the 12th highest rate among large metros.The Denver metro had the ninth-lowest share of homes purchased by investors i...

Prosecutor: Deputy could have stopped Parkland school shooting but chose to take cover

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:19:11 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A Florida sheriff’s deputy at the scene of the Parkland school shooting is on trial over whether he failed to take action and prevent the deaths of six of the 17 people killed in the 2018 massacre.In opening statements Wednesday, a prosecutor told the jury that Scot Peterson, a former Broward County Deputy, took cover instead of charging inside a building to confront shooter Nikolas Cruz as he carried out his six-minute attack.Peterson, 60, is the first U.S. law enforcement officer ever charged with a crime for an alleged failure to act during a school shooting. If convicted, he could get a prison sentence of nearly a century and lose his $104,000 annual pension. Texas authorities are investigating the officers who didn’t confront the Uvalde gunman who killed 19 elementary students and two teachers last year, but none have been charged.Peterson had undergone training where he was told that he needs to go toward the gunshots if there’s an active sho...