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Stock market today: Wall Street falls in global slide set off by weakening Chinese economy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks worldwide are falling Tuesday as China’s faltering recovery raises worries for the rest of the global economy.The S&P 500 sank 0.9% in afternoon trading after data showed a deepening slump in July for the world’s second-largest economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 305 points, or 0.9%, at 35,001, as of 2:03 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.8%.Coming into this year, the expectation was that China’s economy would grow enough after the government removed anti-COVID restrictions to prop up a global economy weakened by high inflation. But China’s recovery has faltered so much that it unexpectedly cut a key interest rate on Tuesday and skipped a report on how many of its younger workers are unemployed.Worries about the knock-on effects for the rest of the global economy are weighing on Wall Street, where stocks have already been retrenching in August. The pullback follows a gangbusters first seven months of the year that cr...

Tuesday Forecast: Temps in mid 70s with showers possible

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

CHICAGO — A few lingering showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, then decreasing clouds and breezy conditions. Interactive Radar: Track showers and storm here Winds: NNE 5-30 mph. Air quality is in the Good category for Chicagoland. Highs mid 70s, upper 60s by the lake. A Beach Hazard Statement has been issued through Tuesday evening. High wave activity and dangerous currents are expected at Lake Michigan beaches. Waves six to nine-feet may reach some areas.Partly cloudy tonight and less humid with comfortable conditions. Winds: NNE/SW 5-10 mph. Lows near 60.Wednesday Forecast: Partly to mostly sunny and warmer. SSW 5-15 mph. High 86.Extended outlook calls for showers/t'storms for Thursday, mostly in the morning. Highs in the lower 80s, but could get warmer if skies clear out earlier. Then we're trending back towards some August heat. We'll see upper 80s likely on Friday and mid to low 90s through the weekend which could end up being our hottest stretch of weather so far this su...

Madonna announces new Chicago tour dates after health scare

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

CHICAGO — Madonna’s postponed tour, which included many sold-out stops, including Chicago, is back on, with new dates announced for the United Center. Madonna's stop in Chicago includes back-to-back shows at the United Center on Feb. 1-2. The 64-year-old was originally scheduled to perform in Chicago Aug 9-10. Tickets purchased for previous Chicago shows will be honored. Doja Cat coming to Chicago’s United Center with Ice Spice In June, the singer's manager announced that the Grammy award winner was sidelined with a serious bacterial infection, causing her to pause her tour.On Aug. 4, Madonna addressed her fans on social media, saying: "Thank you again for your incredible support and patience over these past few weeks. I'm happy to report that the re-routed tour schedule will be coming in the next few days. See you soon for a well deserved celebration."'The Celebration Tour' officially kicks off Oct. 14 in London, with the North American leg of the tour beginning Dec. 13 in Brookl...

'It's a monster!' Teen catches 108-pound catfish on the Missouri River

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

SPANISH LAKE, Mo. (KTVI) – Joshua Jones Jr. is taking it all in after a recent midnight miracle on the Missouri River. Inspired by a contest, and with support from his father, Joshua made a once-in-a-lifetime catch around midnight Wednesday, reeling in a 108-pound catfish from the river near the St. Louis suburb of Spanish Lake.Joshua had actually dozed off when the catch happened, exhausted after a long night of fishing.“I was sleeping when the fish got on, so it kind of woke me up," said Joshua. "And then I felt the pull and drag, which really woke me up." ‘It was a big catch’: Tampa mayor finds 70 pounds of cocaine during Keys fishing trip It took about 20 minutes of fighting the line, but Joshua was able to reel in a monster-sized catfish and get it on the boat. (Photo provided by: Joshua Jones Sr.)“It was pretty exciting at first when I was fighting the fish," said Joshua. He developed his passion and fishing skills through a bond with his father, Joshua Jones Sr. The two ha...

Man accused of posing as doctor to sell fake COVID-19 cure arrested after 3-year manhunt

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

(The Hill) -- Utah authorities say that a three-year manhunt has ended after they arrested a man accused of posing as a doctor on charges of selling a fake COVID-19 cure. In a news release on Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office District of Utah said that authorities were able to spot Gordon Hunter Pedersen during surveillance last month. According to court documents, authorities handed down an arrest warrant on Pedersen after he failed to appear on an indictment in federal court. Pedersen, a native of Cedar Hills, Utah, was indicted on charges including mail fraud, wire fraud and felony introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead. 5 takeaways from Trump’s Georgia indictment Court documents also state that at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Pederson began selling a “structural alkaline silver” product online, claiming it “resonates, or vibrates, at a frequency that destroys the membrane of the virus, making the virus...

Developer rejects state's final offer to acquire former state park site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The developer who purchased the site of a now-former state park has rejected the state's final offer to purchase the property.Dallas-based Todd Interests became the owner of the Fairfield Lake State Park property, about 70 miles east of Waco, at the start of June. The previous owner, Vistra Energy, sold the 5,000-acre property, including the park, five years after closing its power plant by the lake. From state park to private development: The twisting timeline of Fairfield Lake Negotiations for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to purchase the property failed. TPWD had leased the land for the park from Vistra for 50 years. The new owner announced intentions to cancel the lease and turn the property into a private community with multi-million dollar homes and a golf course.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission voted June 10 to acquire the property from Todd Interests through eminent domain. As part of those proceedings, TPWD submitted an offer to the develo...

Austin, Travis County issue local disaster declaration amid wildfire danger, ongoing heat

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- City of Austin and Travis County leaders discussed ongoing efforts to address record-breaking heat and the potential for wildfires Tuesday. Several city and county officials talked about wildfire and disaster preparation at a press conference Tuesday afternoon. A total of 30 fires have burned 2,826 acres in the 15-county KXAN viewing area, as of Aug. 13. You can find an active map here. Another 7+ days of triple digits but hints of change ahead According to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, the city ranks sixth in the nation in the number of homes at risk of wildfire. The top five cities are in California. Because 90% of wildfires are caused by people and are preventable, Watson said the city has been "paying specific attention" to homeless encampments and taking precautionary measures in wildfire prevention through relocating people staying at encampments into shelters. According to the mayor, 70 people and 15 pets were recently relocated from an encampment in the West ...

Two "mild" days with low humidity

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The highs today will not reach 105° and higher. Most of our daytime maximum temperatures will peak in the middle/upper 90s to 102° for many locations. Only a Heat Advisory will be in effect until 9 p.m. for Caldwell and Fayette Counties where the highs may approach 104° and the heat index could approach 110°. I don't think that will happen, however. A comfortable afternoon with humidity dropping to the teens and 20sThat's because a cold front has completely cleared out of the area leaving a dry northeast wind for the rest of the day. Wind speeds will generally average around 10 mph but some gusts up to 15 to 20 mph will be possible.There are no Red Flag Warnings this afternoon but the Wildfire Danger remains very high for much of the viewing area.Tuesday's wildfire dangerSinking air and plenty of sunshine will also result in increased levels of ground-level ozone. An AIR QUALITY ALERT is in effect for the I-35 corridor, Bastrop County and Caldwell County today.Ozon...

For second time this year, Austin sets record for most 105° days in a row

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A heat record that stood in Austin for 100 years has been broken for the second time this year.Camp Mabry, Austin’s official weather reporting site, hit 105° or higher every day between Aug. 4 and Aug. 14, a total of 11 days in a row. That ties with an 11-day streak last month as the longest streak of consecutive days at or above 105°.Prior to that, the record stood at 9 days, set in August 1923. Weather Extremes: What are the hottest and coldest temps in Austin history? Temperatures above 105° are becoming more common. Austin has weather records dating back to the 1890s. Since then, 105° has been reached a total of 214 times. How often does Austin hit 100°? Here’s a breakdown by date, month, year and decade While we did see a surge in the cumulative total number of 105°+ days in the 1920s, the majority have been much more recent than that. In fact, more than 65% of all days at or above 105° have been since the year 2000.Put another way, the total number of 105° ...

Human case of West Nile Virus found in Williamson County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:52:00 GMT

Editor's Note: The video above shows KXAN Live's top headlines for Aug. 15, 2023WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The Williamson County and Cities Health District said a female resident in northern Williamson County has been diagnosed with West Nile Virus. This is the first human case of the illness for 2023.The WCCHD said the disease is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The agency said severe infections can cause complications such as encephalitis and meningitis.“Mosquito activity continues to be very high across Central Texas, and we would like to encourage the community to be careful when going out outside to enjoy activities, especially early mornings at dawn and evenings at dusk,” WCCHD Medical Director Amanda Norwood said.The WCCHD recommends the public wear insect repellents that contain DEET when outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants especially if out at dawn or dusk, and drain o...