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Opioids, obesity now ranked as top public health threats in new poll 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

(The Hill) - Americans have ranked opioids and obesity as the top threats to public health while ranking COVID-19 toward the bottom of the list, according to a new poll.The new Axios-Ipsos poll found that 26 percent of Americans said opioids and fentanyl are the top public health threat, closely followed by 23 percent that said obesity is. Twenty percent listed access to firearms as the number one threat and 11 percent listed cancer.Just 2 percent of Americans said COVID-19 was the top threat. This comes as COVID-19 cases have increased this summer, with some areas seeing hospitalizations triple due to the cases.Only about a third of Americans reported social distancing or wearing a mask at least sometimes, the poll noted.The results also show that views on the top public health threats were largely divided along party lines. Republicans were more likely to report opioids and obesity as their number one concern, while Democrats were more concerned about gun deaths.Level of education...

More Americans say moderate drinking is unhealthy: Gallup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

(The Hill) -- A record-high percentage of Americans say drinking in moderation is bad for one’s health, according to a new poll.The Gallup poll, released on Thursday, revealed 39 percent of respondents said consuming one or two drinks a day is bad for one's health — an increase of 11 points since the survey was last conducted in 2018. The sharp rise also marks a departure from the stagnant levels seen since the survey was first conducted. In 2001, 27 percent of respondents said moderate drinking was bad for your health. While that level dipped to 22 percent in 2005, it has hovered at about 25-28 percent in the years since.Fewer Americans say moderate drinking is good for your health, at 10 percent in 2023, compared to 16 percent in 2018. Half of the respondents in the new poll say moderate drinking makes no difference to one’s health, a 5-point drop from 55 percent in 2018.  Opioids, obesity now ranked as top public health threats in new poll The rise is attributed la...

Missouri parents can be jailed if kids miss too many school days

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

(NewsNation) — The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a state law requiring school attendance after two Lebanon, Missouri, parents were sentenced to jail following excessive absences by their children. Court documents indicated that during the 2021-2022 academic year, a first-grade student missed nine days of school, while a kindergartner missed seven days without any explanation. The two mothers, Caitlyn Williams and Tamarae Larue, took their case to the Supreme Court, arguing that the state law mandating "regular" attendance lacks clarity. The state's compulsory attendance law requires children to attend school on a "regular basis." The mothers appealed, arguing that this requirement is constitutionally unclear. However, the court disagreed, ruling against them in a 6-0 vote, with one justice not participating. “Given the notice provided to each parent and that each parent was in control of their young child, evidence existed to support the inference that each parent knowingly failed t...

'That was my moment': Christopher Morel has dramatic homer - and celebration - in Cubs' walk-off win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the most exciting young players on the Cubs' roster added a dramatic first to his Major League Baseball resume on Wednesday night along with a celebration to remember. All were part of his moment that took what looked like a City Series win for the White Sox and flipped it on its head. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)With the Cubs down 3-1 with two runners on in the ninth, Christopher Morel took the fourth pitch he saw from Gregory Santos deep to right center field. The ball would drop just above the basket into the first row of the bleachers to give the Cubs a 4-3 win, setting off a celebration to remember. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)As fans roared their approval around Wrigley Field, Morel took his helmet off and sprinted around the bases looking towards the dugout. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)He eventually threw his helmet away as he rounded second, then around third base Morel completely took his jersey off. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)He'd toss that away before leaping onto ...

Thorndale ISD starts school with armed teachers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

THORNDALE (KXAN) — As parents drop off their kids for the first day of school, they’ll see a sign standing in front of all three Thorndale Independent School District campuses.For the last six years, Thorndale ISD has equipped its teachers with guns and active shooter training to protect its students.It’s a warning for intruders, indicating that some staff members are armed and may use force to protect their students.For the last six years, Thorndale ISD — located about 50 miles northeast of Austin — has trained faculty members to be armed and prepared to defend their schools in case of an active shooter. Texas school district adds more armed teachers to campus Thorndale ISD Board of Trustees president David Hall has played a pivotal part with organizing the “School Guardian” program."It’s something you hope that you never have to implement,” he said. “But it's there if you need it.”The district has over 600 students across three campuses. Hall says arming the district's teachers ...

Ada Deer, Wisconsin Native American leader and former federal official, dies at 88

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

Ada Deer, an esteemed Native American leader from Wisconsin and the first woman to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, has died at age 88.Deer passed away Tuesday evening from natural causes, members of her family confirmed on Wednesday. She had entered hospice care last month.“She passed last night in peace surrounded by loved ones,” said her nephew Joe Deer, one of her primary caretakers. “We miss her, but what a life she led.”Born August 7, 1935, on the Menominee reservation in Keshena, Wisconsin, Deer is remembered as a trailblazer and fierce advocate for tribal sovereignty. She played a key role in reversing Termination Era policies of the 1950s that took away the Menominee people’s federal tribal recognition.“Ada was one of those extraordinary people who would see something that needed to change in the world and then make it her job and everyone else’s job to see to it that it got changed,” her godson Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, said. “She took...

John Phelan: About Minnesota in those stop states for business rankings …

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

When CNBC announced recently that they had ranked Minnesota fifth on their annual “America’s Top States for Business” ranking, the state’s media went wild. No less excited were our state’s political leaders, who have since been citing this and another CNBC ranking of fourth for “States to live and work in” as though they are incontrovertible facts. A closer look at these rankings suggests that the champagne should go back on ice.Any ranking of “America’s Top States for Business” ought to be somewhat correlated with business activity in the states. That is not the case for CNBCs ranking.Despite its ranking of fifth as a “Top State for Business” in 2023, Census Bureau data show that, in 2022, the number of new business applications in Minnesota declined by 6.2%, 37th (tied with Alabama) out of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that, in 2022, the number of jobs in Minnesota increased by 2.8%, 39th (tied with Kansas) out of the 50 stat...

Announcing the 2023 St. Jude Dream Home winner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - One lucky winner is now the proud owner of the 2023 St. Jude Dream Home. Patricia McBride's name was picked from the 16,000 submissions to win the home. Several other winners were also announced on FOX 2 this morningThe four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home in Dardenne Prairie is valued at $700,000. It was built by 'Fisher Homes.' 16,000 tickets were sold for $100. All to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The one street where every home is cited, no matter what condition Winners:Susan Wolf - Won a patio dining set.Karen Nelson - Won a carChris Holder - American Airlines frequent flyer milesPatricia McBride - Won the 2023 St. Jude Dream Home

Animal Protective Association of Missouri celebrating reunion of rescued beagles

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

ST. LOUIS - 4,000 beagles were rescued from a breeding facility in Virginia one year ago. The Animal Protective Association of Missouri is celebrating that beagle rescue on Thursday.The dogs were brought to APA shelters around the country. They were all put up for adoption. Cannabis recall in Missouri: Dispensaries pulling 60K products The APA is hosting a reunion of those adopted beagles and their new owners Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at the APA Brentwood office on South Hanley Road. FOX 2's Extreme Weather Specialist Chris Higgins is one of those beagle owners.He adopted 'Rosie' last year.

Smoke from fires in Canada, Pacific Northwest makes Colorado skies hazy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:25:09 GMT

Smoke spreading from fires in Canada and the Pacific Northwest on Thursday morning obscured the blue skies north of metro Denver.National Weather Service meteorologists said the smoke will be thickest over the northeastern corner of the state. Only light smoke and haze was expected over metro Denver and the Front Range urban corridor.RELATED: Denver weather: Sunny and warm with chance of afternoon thunderstormsFirefighters in Oregon were battling multiple blazes kicking out smoke amid intense heat in the Willamette Valley. In Canada, hundreds of wildfires were burning in the Northwest Territories, threatening the capital city, Yellowknife, and emergency officials were ordering evacuations.A little smoke in the sky this morning (originating from the Pacific Northwest and Canada). Concentrations appear to be the thickest over the northeast corner of the state, with generally light smoke/hazy skies along the Front Range. #COwx pic.twitter.com/K5u7Y5kE4A— NWS Boulder (@NWSBoulder)...