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Why up to 80 bird species are about to get new names

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

By Leah Asmelash | CNNAfter years-long discussion, birds will no longer be named after people — a decision meant to dissociate the animals from problematic eponyms.The American Ornithological Society announced Wednesday that all common English-language names of bird species named after people will be changed, along with other monikers that have been deemed offensive. In total, approximately 70-80 birds — primarily in the US and Canada — will be renamed.“There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today,” said Colleen Handel, president of the AOS, in a statement.Many birds sport names that come from White men with “objectively horrible pasts,” according to the group Bird Names for Birds, a grassroots initiative that has been advocating for this change. Having their names memorialized in this manner is similar to building a statue in their honor, the group argues.The Hammond’s flycatcher, for exampl...

Researchers report mass bleaching of coral reefs in warming Florida oceans: ‘Like a forest without trees’

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

Adriana Pérez | Chicago TribunePeering over the edge of research vessel Coral Reef II as it sailed through the Florida Keys, Shedd Aquarium postdoctoral fellow Shayle Matsuda saw white.Matsuda and a group of researchers from the aquarium and other institutions witnessed firsthand how coral reefs that were healthy and vibrant just two months earlier had quickly bleached by the time they returned to the Sunshine State for their most recent trip.An unprecedented rise in ocean temperatures off the coast of Florida early in the summer made headlines as it caused countless dead fish to wash ashore. But the impact had an even wider reach than was initially evident, according to the Shedd’s research in partnership with the University of Miami, Palm Beach Zoo and the University of Southern California.Between 90% and 95% of corals they surveyed at 76 sites across the Keys and Dry Tortugas over the span of a week showed signs of extreme bleaching, said Shedd research biologist Ross Cunning. So...

Deep in Trump Country, Biden plan creates hundreds of green jobs

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

Saijel Kishan | Bloomberg News (TNS)The papermill in Courtland is gone. The railcar factory in Cherokee too. Here in north Alabama, people are worn out from watching good jobs disappear.“We’ve been beat on and beat on and beat on,’’ says Bobby Burch, who’s lived here his whole life.Which is why what’s happening these days off State Route 20 is so remarkable. Past the Dollar General store, the Wheeler Grove Baptist Church and Dot’s Soul Food restaurant, a new industry is coming to this corner of the Bible Belt. First Solar Inc. plans to start manufacturing solar panels near the cooperage that makes barrels for Jack Daniels Old No. 7 whiskey.Burch cried when he delivered the news.Here, in the reddest district in America — where old-fashioned conservatism mixes with new-fashioned economics — people are buzzing about green jobs. They’re talking about them on the Rick & Bubba comedy radio show. Under the stadium lights at Friday night high-school football games. Over Southern s...

How Microsoft’s AI is making a mess of the news, publishing false stories

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

By Donie O’Sullivan and Allison Gordon | CNNFalse claims that President Joe Biden fell asleep during a moment of silence for victims of the Maui wildfire. A conspiracy theory that the latest surge in COVID-19 cases is being orchestrated by the Democratic Party ahead of the election. An obituary for a late NBA player that described him as “useless.”These false and bizarre stories aren’t showing up on some far-flung corner of the internet — they’re being published by Microsoft. The company’s homepage, also known as MSN.com and Microsoft Start, remains one of the world’s most trafficked websites and a place where millions of Americans get their news every day.But Microsoft’s decision to increasingly rely on the use of automation and artificial intelligence over human editors to curate its homepage appears to be behind the site’s recent amplification of false and bizarre stories, people familiar with how the site works told CNN.Also see: AI bots are helping 911 dispatchers with th...

Former California gang leader charged in Tupac Shakur killing pleads not guilty in Las Vegas

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

By KEN RITTER | Associated PressLAS VEGAS  — A former Southern California street gang leader pleaded not guilty Thursday to orchestrating a drive-by shooting that killed Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas.Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis, the only person still alive who was in the vehicle from which shots were fired and the only person ever charged with a crime in the case, stood in shackles before Clark County District Judge Tierra Jones.Rapper Tupac Shakur attends a voter registration event in South Central Los Angeles, Aug. 15, 1996. Duane “Keffe D” Davis charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 will have a lawyer from one of Las Vegas’ best-known political families with him when he appears in court Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, on a murder charge. Ross Goodman said Wednesday, Oct. 18, he’ll appear with Davis but will seek two more weeks to confirm as his attorney. (AP Photo/Frank Wiese, File) Special public defenders Robert Arroyo and Charles Cano represented Davis in court Thu...

Senate sidesteps Tuberville’s hold on military promotions

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

By MARY CLARE JALONICK, TARA COPP and LOLITA BALDOR (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate circumvented a hold by Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville on Thursday and confirmed Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, making her the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Franchetti’s historic confirmation as the chief of naval operations comes as Tuberville has drawn bipartisan criticism for holding up almost 400 military nominations in an effort to protest Pentagon abortion policy. In a remarkable display, several Republican senators angrily held the floor for more than four hours on Wednesday evening and called up 61 of the nominations for votes, praising each nominee for their military service. Tuberville showed no signs of letting up, standing and objecting to each one.The Senate confirmed Franchetti with an overwhelming 95-1 vote. Senators are scheduled to confirm two other top officers on Thursday — Gen. Da...

SF man convicted in 2021 Walgreens smash-and-grab

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

(KRON) -- A San Francisco man was convicted of burglary for his part in a 2021 group smash-and-grab robbery at a Walgreens on Market Street, the San Francisco District Attorney announced Thursday. Daron Wilson, 23, was found guilty of burglary during a state of emergency, second-degree burglary and resisting an officer.Wilson took part in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery at the Walgreens in the 1300 block of Market Street almost two years ago, according to the DA. Jewish parents pen letter to Berkeley school district demanding better student protection On Nov. 19, 2021, shortly before noon, San Francisco Police Department officers were flagged down by security guards regarding a burglary in progress. The store's entire front window as well as glass on multiple entry and exit doors were broken out, the DA said.Inside the store, officers found cash registers and prescriptions on the floor and the place in a state of disarray. Wilson was behind the front counter at the time.Officers a...

Dick Durbin, AIPAC's First Successful Recruit, Becomes First Senator to Call for Gaza Ceasefire

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

Democrat Dick Durbin became the first senator to call for a ceasefire in the Israel–Gaza war on Thursday, as Israel’s bombing and ground campaign picks up in ferocity. Durbin, speaking on CNN, said that a ceasefire must come along with the release of hostages. “I think it is,” the Illinois senator and Judiciary Committee chair said when asked if it was time for a ceasefire, a term that has been off-limits for the Biden administration and the vast majority of Democrats. “At least in the context of both sides agreeing. For example, the release of those who have been kidnapped should be part of this — immediate release. That should be the beginning of it,” Durbin said. “An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and Palestinians,” he added. Durbin’s willingness to tiptoe ahead of his colleagues is all the more surprising given his own electoral history. Durbin, as a House candidate in 1982, was the first successful recruit of the American Isr...

Utah woman’s leg amputated after she was attacked by her son’s dogs in her own backyard

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) — A 63-year-old Utah woman had a leg amputated after being attacked by her son’s dogs in her own backyard in a Salt Lake City suburb.Officers who arrived at the home in Taylorsville had to shoot and kill one of the seven dogs when it threatened them, according to a police statement.KSL reported that the injured woman called 911 on Tuesday while still in her backyard with the adult male and female dogs and their five puppies, all of which were pit bulls.Officers arrived to find the woman still surrounded by the dogs. They used pepper spray to drive them away so they could get over the fence, according to police.The adult female dog then broke loose and police shot it. The fate of the other six dogs remained unclear after the owner surrendered them to police following the attack.Police didn’t immediately return a phone message Thursday seeking an update.“We are grateful the victim was able to call 911 for help as quickly as she did — even as the attack was happ...

Inconsistent Saints aim to extend struggling Bears’ long Superdome skid

Published Thu, 26 Dec 2024 08:53:53 GMT

CHICAGO (2-6) at NEW ORLEANS (4-4)Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, FoxBETTING LINE: Saints by 8 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bears 2-5-1; Saints 3-4-1.SERIES RECORD: Saints lead 18-15.LAST MEETING: Saints beat Bears 21-9 in a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 10, 2021, in New Orleans.LAST WEEK: Bears lost to Chargers 30-13; Saints beat Colts 38-27.BEARS OFFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (6), PASS (26), SCORING (T17).BEARS DEFENSE: OVERALL (23), RUSH (3), PASS (30), SCORING (28).SAINTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (12), RUSH (20), PASS (T9), SCORING (T17).SAINTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (5), RUSH (15), PASS (7), SCORING (9).TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Bears minus-4; Saints plus-3.BEARS PLAYER TO WATCH: QB Tyson Bagent. Bagent is set to start his third consecutive game with Justin Fields sidelined because of a dislocated right thumb. The undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University in his home state of West Virginia struggled against Los Angeles after delivering a steady performance in Chicago’...