White House to end COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international travelers, others next week

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

White House to end COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international travelers, others next week (The Hill) -- The Biden administration will end its COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international travelers and various workplaces next week, the White House announced Monday, a move that will coincide with the end of the public health emergency related to the coronavirus.The decision to wind down the requirements comes roughly two years after the administration first announced the mandates for international travelers and federal employees and contractors. The move may ultimately have minimal impact once it is enacted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week announced that international travelers who had received a single dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine would fulfill the testing requirement.Meanwhile, federal courts had blocked the vaccine mandate for federal workers since January 2022.An appeals court in December ruled the White House could not require federal contractors to mandate that their workers are vaccinated against COVID-19. Loneliness decl...

Chris Pratt on the end of an era for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Chris Pratt on the end of an era for 'Guardians of the Galaxy' It's the end of an era for “The Guardians of the Galaxy. The trilogy wraps up this weekend.The film's star Chris Pratt says the experience has been life changing and the end is “bittersweet.”The latest big budget Marvel movie has been a rumor mill since it was announced.With lots of conspiracy theories floating around about how the trilogy ends and which characters don't make it,The film's writer and director James Gunn and Pratt told WGN Morning News whatever you think you know, is probably wrong.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 opens Friday. Dean Richards will have his review, then.

New owners reviving Gibby's Diner in Delanson

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

New owners reviving Gibby's Diner in Delanson DELANSON, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Gibby's Diner, a staple in the Delanson and Duanesburg communities, closed in 2021 after almost 70 years. Now, the diner is being revived by new owners. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Husband and wife duo Jim Slingerland and Tiffany Angelides-Slingerland are working to get the diner open as soon as possible. They are currently waiting on the Health Department."It just kind of fell into our laps as an opportunity," said Angelides-Slingerland. They haven't owned other restaurants before but Angelides-Slingerland has worked in the restaurant business her whole life, including working at the Bellevue Café in Schenectady for over 20 years. Lake George restaurant closes, owners focusing on other venture "We are keeping it very similar to the way that it was," said Angelides-Slingerland. That includes keeping the name Gibby's.The diner will be serving traditional diner comfort food and will be open fo...

Garbage truck crash in Troy shuts down multiple roads

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Garbage truck crash in Troy shuts down multiple roads TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- According to the Troy Police Department, Burden Avenue at Morrison Avenue is temporarily closed due to a crash. Police say a garbage truck struck a passenger car, luckily no one was injured.Check out NEWS10's traffic tracker. You can plan your route and see traffic delays in real-time!Wires in the area of the crash are down, and drivers are urged to seek alternate routes. Stick with NEWS10 as more information regarding the closures becomes available.

I-55 reopens after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

I-55 reopens after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. - A blinding dust storm led to a deadly crash involving more than 70 vehicles along Interstate-55 in south central Illinois. Tuesday morning, I-55 has completely reopened 19 hours after shutting down.This all happened on I-55 in Montgomery County, north of Farmersville, and south of Divernon. Crews have been in the area non-stop since the crash took place. Authorities said at least six people were killed and 37 others taken to hospitals after the crash happened shortly before 11:00 a.m. A total of 72 vehicles were involved, including some 20 commercial vehicles and many passenger cars.We're told two tractor trailers exploded from the wreck. Illinois state Police shared that high winds blew dust onto 55 from nearby farm fields, creating blinding conditions leading to the pile up.Investigators explained the first crash took place on northbound 55 then at the same time numerous crashes took place southbound on the highway. The wrecks all happened between milepo...

Crews respond to Cahokia Heights crash between school bus and car

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Crews respond to Cahokia Heights crash between school bus and car CAHOKIA HEIGHTS, Ill. - Emergency crews are at the scene of a crash between a small school bus and a car Tuesday morning. Our Bommarito Automotive Group SkyFOX helicopter is flying over the area located on Camp Jackson Road where the crash happened a little before 7:00 a.m. I-55 reopened after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes No word on the cause of the crash, as the investigation is still active.FOX 2 will update this story with more information as it becomes available.

Illinois seeking families for foster children

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Illinois seeking families for foster children ST. LOUIS - May is foster Parent Appreciation Month, and Illinois state leaders are recognizing the more than 8,000 families across the state who care for foster children. However, the Department of Children and Family Services is still looking for more help.The agency says foster homes are needed for children of all age groups. Including siblings, children with special needs, teenage mothers and their babies, and LGBTQ children. There is a wide range of support for foster families, Including monetary, educational, and psychological assistance. St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office reeling after resignations Foster parents must be at least 21 years old, be financially stable, and complete the necessary training and background checks.

Opinion: Gun owners are not the enemy

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Opinion: Gun owners are not the enemy Mass shootings must stop! Right?!I write this defense of the “pro-gun” position understanding it will not be received well by gun control folks. But I hope they make it to the end where I will recommend changes that the gun folks will hate. Most Americans believe that public safety and personal well-being are the highest of priorities. Beyond that, we separate into the pro-gun and gun-control positions. That default is a missed opportunity and my aim is to bridge the divide.There are a few universal traits of responsible gun owners: a belief in protecting themselves and others from threats; a healthy respect for the power and danger of weapons; knowledge of their weapons, and a desire to train and learn; and enjoyment of the sport of hunting or marksmanship.Almost all gun owners are thoughtful, kind, good people who represent the best in humans. (There are of course exceptions and I know my inbox is about to be full of haters.) Gun owners understand the exceptions. Here is a secret:...

Believe it or not, Subaru isn’t the No. 1 vehicle of choice for Colorado drivers

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Believe it or not, Subaru isn’t the No. 1 vehicle of choice for Colorado drivers For years now, Subaru has retained a mystique of being the predominant vehicle on Colorado’s roadways. That’s easy to understand, of course. Take a trip up the Interstate 70 corridor to any ski resort, and there are Subarus aplenty on the road and in the parking lots.But in real numbers, the iconic Outback isn’t No. 1 in Colorado, or even No. 2.Last year, almost 95,000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks maintained active vehicle registrations, according to data provided by Colorado’s Division of Motor Vehicles. Behind that, Chevy Silverado pickup trucks took the No. 2 spot with around 75,000 registrations, with Subaru Outback SUVs still appearing on the medal stand, but taking the bronze with almost 56,000.The runner-ups include:Toyota Tacoma — 53,529Jeep Grand Cherokee — 52,550Toyota 4Runner — 51,927Subaru Forester — 51,430Toyota RAV4 — 43,156Honda CR-V — 41,960GMC Sierra — 41,129In 2022, the Ford F-150 also counted as Colorado’s most popular used car, making up...

Colorado nonprofit will launch free outdoor skills school for people of color this summer

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 12:08:30 GMT

Colorado nonprofit will launch free outdoor skills school for people of color this summer Blackpackers, a Colorado nonprofit focused on diversity and equity in outdoor recreation, is launching a new wilderness training program this summer with help from a hefty grant.The Blackpackers Outdoor Skills School, or BOSS, will provide wilderness first response and wilderness first aid training to people of color and individuals from other groups traditionally underrepresented in the outdoors free of charge.The idea for an outdoor skills school came from Blackpackers founder and executive director Patricia Cameron’s own experience learning outdoor safety and emergency preparedness.Blackpackers founder and executive director Patricia Cameron teaches wilderness first response at Red Rocks Community College. (Provided by Blackpackers)Cameron, who previously worked as an EMT for more than a decade, has spent years investing in her outdoor education, becoming a Certified Interpretive Guide, a Leave No Trace master educator, a wilderness first responder and instructor, a heart-saver C...