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Environmental groups sue US over sluggish pace in listing the rare ghost orchid as endangered

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The rare ghost orchid found mainly in Florida and Cuba should be immediately protected by the U.S. as an endangered species, three environmental groups claimed Wednesday in a lawsuit arguing that federal officials are unduly delaying a decision.The lawsuit filed in Florida federal court contends the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service missed a January deadline on the orchid’s status and now doesn’t plan to make a decision until possibly late 2026.“We regret that we must file this lawsuit, but the world famous and critically imperiled ghost orchid is out of time,” said George Gann, executive director at The Institute for Regional Conservation. “Only the Endangered Species Act can provide both the deterrence against poaching and the resources needed to respond to growing threats from hurricanes, invasive species, and counterproductive management decisions such as increased oil exploration.”The other plaintiffs in the lawsuit are the Center for ...

Rep. Boebert escorted from Denver theater during ‘Beetlejuice’ show

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

DENVER (AP) — U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert was kicked out of a “Beetlejuice” show in Denver on Sunday, according to security footage.The theater didn’t name Boebert, but a spokesperson said Wednesday that the video — which showed Boebert and a guest being escorted out of the venue — was of guests who were kicked out after audience members accused them of vaping, singing, using phones and causing a disturbance.Her campaign manager confirmed Boebert was kicked out but denies she was vaping. Boebert and the other guest left.“I can confirm the stunning and salacious rumors: in her personal time, congresswoman Lauren Boebert is indeed a supporter of the performing arts (gasp!),” said Drew Sexton, Boebert’s campaign manager, in a text message, adding that Boebert “pleads guilty to singing along, laughing and enjoying herself.”Boebert is in her second term in Congress and is running for reelection in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, largely covering the state’s western half. ...

McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry into Biden appears to win over even the most reluctant Republicans

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s sudden decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden appears to have won over even the most reluctant Republicans, and some GOP lawmakers are pushing for it to move quickly rather than drag into the 2024 election year.McCarthy opened and closed a private meeting Wednesday of House Republicans justifying his reasoning for the inquiry sought by former President Donald Trump, the party’s frontrunner to challenge Biden next year.The White House mobilized to fight allegations against the president regarding his son Hunter.In a 14-page memo to news media leaders, the White House urged them to accurately report on “the Republicans’ unprecedented, unfounded claims underlying an impeachment inquiry.”The moment is a politically pivotal one for the embattled Republican speaker McCarthy whose job is targeted Trump’s right-flank allies mounting a daily effort to oust him. In the inquiry, House Rep...

Fernando Santos fired as Poland coach after bad start to Euro 2024 qualifying

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Fernando Santos was fired Wednesday as Poland coach less than nine months after he was hired.The coach who led his native Portugal to the European Championship title in 2016 did not make it to the end of his first qualifying group stage with Poland.Poland is fourth in its five-team European Championship qualifying group — behind Albania, the Czech Republic and Moldova — after losing three of its five games so far, despite three goals from Robert Lewandowski. Poland is likely to land in the Euro 2024 qualifying playoffs in March.“I would like to thank coach Santos for working with our national team and I wish him good luck in his next sports challenges,” Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza said in a statement.The 68-year-old Santos led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title and then won the inaugural Nations League in 2019 during his eight years as coach.Santos left his role as Portugal coach after last year’s World Cup in Qatar which ended with a quarter...

A flotilla of migrant boats from Tunisia overwhelms an Italian island and tests Meloni’s policy

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

ROME (AP) — A flotilla of flimsy boats, crowded with migrants and launched from Tunisia, overwhelmed a tiny southern Italian island on Wednesday, taxing the coast guard’s capability to intercept the smugglers’ vessels and testing Premier Giorgia Meloni’s pledge to thwart irregular migration.Compounding the political pressure on Italy’s first post-war far-right leader were vows by France and Germany to rebuff migrants who arrive by sea on Italian shores, and, in defiance of European Union asylum system rules, head northward to try to find jobs or relatives.Starting early Tuesday, the unseaworthy, overcrowded iron boats, came one after the other in what appeared to be almost a procession to onlookers on Lampedusa, a fishing and tourist island south of Sicily. Around 6,800 migrants came in a span of just over 24 hours — that number is a few hundred higher than the isle’s full-time population.In all, by Wednesday evening some 120 boats had arrived, Transpor...

Muere el director de cine venezolano Román Chalbaud

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

(CNN Español) — A sus 91 años y con el récord de más películas producidas y dirigidas en Venezuela, murió este martes el cineasta Román Chalbaud, informó el Ministerio de Cultura de aquel país.A través de un comunicado, la dependencia de cultura venezolana informó que Chalbaud fue el director más prolífico de Venezuela al haber dirigido 23 películas en su carrera.Entre las obras más destacadas del cineasta resaltan: “La quema de Judas” (1974), “El pez que fuma” (1977), “Cangrejo” (1984), “La oveja negra” (1987), “El Caracazo” (2005), “Zamora, tierra y hombres libres” (2009) y “La planta insolente” (2014), entre otras.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.Source

University of Northern Colorado hockey suspended after conduct investigation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The University of Northern Colorado's club hockey team has been suspended through 2026 after an investigation into conduct violations.According to a spokesperson for UNC, allegations against members of the team were made last spring. Failing to obey Colorado’s new roundabout law could cost you $70 "That resulted in the university launching a months-long investigation to thoroughly and carefully gather information about the allegations," the school said in a statement emailed to FOX31.The team responded to a tweet saying it was being investigated and faced allegations regarding underage drinking and hazing. "We are currently working to appeal those allegations as we feel the punishment does not correspond to our actions. We appreciate any support," UNC Hockey said on X, formally Twitter,. Photos: 150 years of Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver A statement from the team's account on X said it has been suspended through 2026."The university's actions and resolution dem...

Could Denver put the brakes on right turns on red?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Some members of Mayor Mike Johnston's transition team on transportation are proposing the city ban all right turns on red within his first 100 days."It's an easy policy change that can be done relatively quickly by the Mayor and city council," said Molly McKinley with Denver Streets Partnership.Right turns on red weren't legalized until the 1970s, according to Denver Streets Partnership, as a way to save gas during the oil prices, but research shows it hasn't made a huge impact. According to Denver Streets Partnership, allowing right turns on red increases pedestrian crashes by 60 percent and bike crashes by 100 percent."If you think about your experience as a driver if you're at a stop light and you're trying to make a right turn on red you're usually looking left you're looking for oncoming vehicle traffic, but drivers aren't always looking both ways in those occasions," McKinley said. Failing to obey Colorado’s new roundabout law could cost you The Department o...

Prime effect: 8.7M viewers watched Colorado defeat Nebraska

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The nation's eyes were truly on Boulder for the University of Colorado Buffaloes home opener. FOX Sports said 8.73 million viewers watched CU take down the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Deion Sanders' home turf debut.Saturday's electric game was record-breaking in more ways than one. The game was sold out with 51,241 people in attendance. It was the highest attendance at the field in 15 years, according to the team on social media. Celebrities spotted in Boulder for CU vs. Nebraska game Coach Prime's Buffaloes beat longtime rival Nebraska with a final score of 36-14. And according to FOX, it had the highest viewership for a Pac-12 regular season game on the network. The network was ready for the attention as FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" pregame show was broadcast from the university's Farrand Field. The pregame show will be back for a second week in a row for the Rocky Mountain Showdown between CU and Colorado State University. Aside from being the most-watched Pac-12 game o...

Utah GOP Sen. Mitt Romney, former presidential candidate and governor, won’t seek reelection in 2024

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 10:20:32 GMT

Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney said Wednesday that he will not run for reelection in 2024, creating a wide-open contest in a state that heavily favors Republicans and is expected to attract a crowded field.Romney, a former presidential candidate and governor of Massachusetts, made the announcement in a video statement. The 76-year-old said the country is ready for new leadership.“Frankly, it’s time for a new generation of leaders,” he said. “They’re the ones that need to make the decisions that will shape the world they will be living in.”Romney easily won election in reliably GOP Utah in 2018 but was expected to face more resistance from his own party after he emerged as one of the most visible members to break with former President Donald Trump, who is still the party’s de-facto leader.Romney in 2020 became the first senator in U.S. history to vote to convict a president from their own party in an impeachment trial. Romney was the only Republican to vote agains...