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Today: January 22, 2025
Today: January 22, 2025
The Los Angeles Post

The Los Angeles Post

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World

As whiskey and bourbon business booms, beloved distillers face pushback over taxes and emissions

For decades, the whiskey and bourbon makers of Tennessee and Kentucky have been beloved in their communities. The distilleries where the liquor is manufactured and barrelhouses where it is aged have complemented the rural character of their neighborhoods, while providing jobs and the pride of a successful homegrown industry. Now, the growing popularity of the industry around the world is fueling conflicts at home. In Kentucky, where 95% of the world’s bourbon is manufactured, counties are revolting after the legislature voted to phase out a barrel tax they have depended on to fund schools, roads and

As whiskey and bourbon business booms, beloved distillers face pushback over taxes and emissions
World

Climate change ratchets up the stress on farmworkers on the front lines of a warming Earth

Mily Trevino-Sauceda was 9 when her mother fell as she worked to move irrigation pipes along rows of potato and alfalfa on an Idaho farm. Mily’s 10-year-old brother splashed water over their mother’s face and body while her children looked on, scared and crying. Their mother had fainted from the heat, and could never again work as fast or as long in the sun. Decades later, the memory remains sharp for Trevino-Sauceda, who says few systemic changes have been made to safeguard farmworkers from extreme heat. “Knowing all this still happens, it angers,” said Trevino-Sauceda, now the executive director of

Climate change ratchets up the stress on farmworkers on the front lines of a warming Earth
Science

Harassment of TV meteorologists reflects broader anti-science, anti-media trends

The harassment started to intensify as TV meteorologist Chris Gloninger did more reporting on climate change during local newscasts — outraged emails and even a threat to show up at his house. Gloninger said he had been recruited, in part, to “shake things up” at the Iowa station where he worked, but backlash was building. The man who sent him a series of threatening emails was charged with third-degree harassment. The Des Moines station asked him to dial back his coverage, facing what he called an understandable pressure to maintain ratings. “I started just connecting

Harassment of TV meteorologists reflects broader anti-science, anti-media trends
World

A German county elected a far-right candidate for the first time since the Nazi era, raising concern

Mike Knoth is more than thrilled that a far-right populist party’s candidate recently won the county administration in his hometown in rural eastern Germany for the first time since the Nazi era. The gardener despises the country’s established parties, he doesn’t trust the media and he feels there are too many migrants in the country. The far-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, he hopes, will improve everything that’s not going well in his eyes in Sonneberg, which is in the southeastern state of Thuringia. “I think the fact that so many people voted for Alternative

A German county elected a far-right candidate for the first time since the Nazi era, raising concern
World

NATO summit host Lithuania is a small country with a loud voice, especially when it comes to Russia

A pair of colorful children’s scooters rest against the yellow tracks of a battle tank, parked in the shade of skyscrapers in the Vilnius business district. The area, usually busy with cars, cyclists and pedestrians, is closed to traffic and packed with heavy armored vehicles. “Never in its history was Lithuania this safe,” says Jonas Braukyla, an IT engineer, who brought his family to see the U.S.-made Abrams tanks, German Leopards and Marders and other military hardware brought out to project NATO power ahead of an alliance summit next week. “They are even bringing Patriot missile

NATO summit host Lithuania is a small country with a loud voice, especially when it comes to Russia
World

Japanese leaders mark one year since the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe

Japanese political and business leaders on Saturday marked one year since the assassination of Japan’s former leader, Shinzo Abe, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging to tackle pressing political goals as a way of honoring Abe’s wishes. At a Buddhist temple Zojoji in Tokyo, Kishida and his governing Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers, as well as representatives from opposition parties and business leaders, attended a closed memorial service hosted by Abe’s widow Akie Abe and the family. Tables were set up at the temple for flower laying by the public later Saturday. Kishida, speaking to reporters Friday as

Japanese leaders mark one year since the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe
World

The Dutch prime minister is handing his resignation to the king after his coalition collapsed

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is visiting the king to turn in the resignation of his four-party coalition and set the deeply divided Netherlands on track for a general election later this year. King Willem-Alexander flew back from a family vacation in Greece to meet with Rutte on Saturday. The vexed issue of reining in migration that has troubled countries across Europe for years was the final stumbling block that brought down Rutte’s government Friday night, exposing the deep ideological differences between the four parties that made up the uneasy coalition. Now it is likely

The Dutch prime minister is handing his resignation to the king after his coalition collapsed
World

Ukraine's president hails the country's soldiers from a Black Sea island to mark 500 days of war

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the 500th day of the war Saturday by hailing the country’s soldiers in a video from a Black Sea island that became the symbol of Ukraine’s resilience in the face of the Russian invasion. Speaking from Snake Island, Zelenskyy honored the Ukrainian soldiers who fought for the island and all other defenders of the country, saying that reclaiming control of the island “is a great proof that Ukraine will regain every bit of its territory.” “I want to thank – from here, from this place of victory – each of our

Ukraine's president hails the country's soldiers from a Black Sea island to mark 500 days of war
World

Thousands march in Bosnia to mark 1995 Srebrenica genocide as ethnic tensions linger on

A solemn peace march started on Saturday through forests in eastern Bosnia in memory of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe’s only acknowledged genocide since World War II. The annual 100-kilometer (60-mile) march retraces a route taken by thousands of men and boys from the Bosniak ethnic group, made up primarily of Muslims, who were slaughtered as they tried to flee Srebrenica after it was captured by Bosnian Serb forces late in the 1992-95 war. The march is part of several events preceding the actual date commemorating the massacre on July 11. Nearly 4,000 people joined this

Thousands march in Bosnia to mark 1995 Srebrenica genocide as ethnic tensions linger on
World

US Treasury chief Yellen appeals to China for cooperation on climate and other global challenges

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen appealed to China on Saturday for cooperation on climate change and other global challenges and not to let disagreements about trade and other irritants derail relations. In a meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, Yellen defended U.S. restrictions on technology exports that rankle Beijing. She said the two governments shouldn’t let such disagreements disrupt thriving economic and financial relations. ″We also face important global challenges, such as debt distress in emerging markets and developing countries and climate change,” Yellen said. “We have a duty to both our own economies and

US Treasury chief Yellen appeals to China for cooperation on climate and other global challenges
Science

South Koreans protest Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from damaged Fukushima plant

Hundreds of people marched in South Korea’s capital on Saturday demanding Japan scrap its plans to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, as the head of the U.N. nuclear agency met with senior officials to discuss public concerns over foods safety. The protests came a day after South Korea’s government formally endorsed the safety of the Japanese plans, saying that the contamination levels of water pumped out from the plant would be within acceptable standards and wouldn’t meaningfully affect South Korean seas as long as the plant’s treatment systems work as

South Koreans protest Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from damaged Fukushima plant
Science

South Koreans protest Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from damaged Fukushima plant

Hundreds of people marched in South Korea’s capital on Saturday demanding Japan scrap its plans to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant, as the head of the U.N. nuclear agency met with senior officials to discuss public concerns over foods safety. The protests came a day after South Korea’s government formally endorsed the safety of the Japanese plans, saying that the contamination levels of water pumped out from the plant would be within acceptable standards and wouldn’t meaningfully affect South Korean seas as long as the plant’s treatment systems work as

South Koreans protest Japan's plans to release treated wastewater from damaged Fukushima plant
World

The rain returns to Wimbledon on Day 6 of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament

The rain returned to Wimbledon on Day 6 of the grass-court tournament, with only one match completed Saturday before play was suspended on all outside courts. Beatriz Haddad Maia, a 13th-seeded Brazilian who reached the semifinals at this year’s French Open, beat Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-2 in the third round on No. 3 Court. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova nearly made it in time, leading Natalija Stevanovic 6-3, 4-6 on No. 2 Court when the rain started. Only Centre Court and No. 1 Court have roofs at the All England Club. Play in those two stadiums

The rain returns to Wimbledon on Day 6 of the grass-court Grand Slam tournament
Health

Scotland wants to decriminalize drugs. The UK government just says no

The Scottish government has proposed decriminalizing possession of all drugs for personal use to tackle one of Europe’s highest overdose death rates. The suggestion was almost instantly blocked by the Conservative U.K. government in London, which said it had “no plans” to soften drug laws. The semi-autonomous Edinburgh government, led by the pro-independence Scottish National Party, said Friday that removing criminal penalties for drug possession would “allow for the provision of safe, evidence-based harm reduction services.” Scotland’s death rate from drug overdoses is three times the rate in the U.K. as a whole and the highest in

Scotland wants to decriminalize drugs. The UK government just says no
World

Cavendish crashes out of Tour de France in last attempt to take outright record for most stage wins

Mark Cavendish will have to share the Tour de France record for most career stage wins at cycling’s biggest race. Competing in his final season, the ace sprinter from the Isle of Man who is known as “The Manx Missile,” crashed out of the race during the eighth stage on Saturday. Cavendish equaled Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 Tour stage wins during the 2021 edition, 13 years after his first success, but was not selected last year. This edition was his last chance to become the outright record-holder after he announced in May during the Giro

Cavendish crashes out of Tour de France in last attempt to take outright record for most stage wins
Political

Biden is heading to Europe. A king and a war are on his agenda

President Joe Biden leaves on Sunday for Europe, where he will spend four days in three nations tending to alliances that have been tested by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The first stop is London, where Biden will meet with King Charles III for the first time since he was crowned. After that is the centerpiece of the trip, the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. Alliance leaders will debate the war and revise plans for dealing with Russian aggression. The final stop is in Helsinki, where Biden is expected to celebrate the expanding alliance, with Finland as the

Biden is heading to Europe. A king and a war are on his agenda
Health

Tennessee can enforce ban on transgender care for minors, court says

Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth can go into effect — at least for now — after a federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily reversed a lower court ruling. Late last month a district court judge in Tennessee found that the state’s new law banning transgender therapies like hormone blockers and surgeries for transgender youth was unconstitutional because it discriminated on the basis of sex. The judge blocked large swaths of the law from taking effect. On Saturday, however, the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati granted an emergency appeal from

Tennessee can enforce ban on transgender care for minors, court says
World

A Vermont police officer, aged 19, died in a crash with a burglary suspect she was chasing

A Vermont police officer was killed and two other officers were injured when a burglary suspect crashed into two police cruisers pursuing him, Vermont State Police said. Rutland City Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen, 19, was killed on Friday afternoon. The crash happened as police chased a vehicle driven by Tate Rheaume, 20, a suspect in an attempted break-in at a house, state police said. Evidence indicates that Rheaume crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the Ebbighausen’s cruiser, police said. The suspect’s truck also hit another police cruiser. Ebbighausen was pronounced dead at the scene. Two

A Vermont police officer, aged 19, died in a crash with a burglary suspect she was chasing
World

Verstappen takes pole at British GP for 5th straight F1 race as teammate Pérez struggles again

Max Verstappen shrugged off an unusual low-speed crash in the pits on Saturday to qualify in pole position for the British Grand Prix as his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez continued to struggle in qualifying with 16th place. Verstappen secured pole for the fifth straight race and for all of those Pérez has failed to qualify in the top 10. Verstappen made contact with the pit wall and broke his front wing while leaving his garage during a red-flag stoppage in the first part of qualifying. Red Bull replaced the wing and checked there was no

Verstappen takes pole at British GP for 5th straight F1 race as teammate Pérez struggles again
World

Struggle to certify results of Guatemala's June 25 presidential vote suffers another setback

The struggle to certify the results of Guatemala’s first-round presidential election has suffered another reverse after the chief justice of the Supreme Court issued an order blocking the certification. Chief Justice Silvia Valdés Quezada issued the unusual order late Friday. She stipulated the process could not go forward until the electoral authorities that conducted a review of vote tally sheets from the June 25 election reported back to her on their methods and any inconsistencies found. Valdés Quezada said they had to do that within 12 hours. The reviews witnessed by the AP found improperly marked

Struggle to certify results of Guatemala's June 25 presidential vote suffers another setback
World

Six killed when small plane crashes, bursts into flames in field near Southern California airport

Six people were killed when a small plane crashed and burst into flames in a field near a Southern California airport before dawn Saturday, authorities said. The crash of the Cessna C550 business jet occurred around 4:15 a.m. in Murrieta, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It took firefighters more than an hour to extinguish the flames, which had engulfed the plane and charred about an acre of vegetation just north of French Valley Airport, said the Riverside County Fire Department. All six people on board died

Six killed when small plane crashes, bursts into flames in field near Southern California airport
World

Airstrike in Sudanese city kills at least 22, officials say, amid fighting between rival generals

An airstrike in a Sudanese city on Saturday killed at least 22 people, health authorities said, in one of the deadliest air attacks yet in the weekslong fighting between Sudan’s rival generals. The assault took place in a residential area of Omdurman, the neighboring city of the capital, Khartoum, according to a brief statement by the health ministry. The attack wounded an unspecified number of people, it said. The attack was one of the deadliest of the clashes in urban areas in the capital and elsewhere in Sudan between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known

Airstrike in Sudanese city kills at least 22, officials say, amid fighting between rival generals
World

Airstrike in Sudanese city kills at least 22, officials say, amid fighting between rival generals

An airstrike in a Sudanese city on Saturday killed at least 22 people, health authorities said, in one of the deadliest air attacks yet in the weekslong fighting between Sudan’s rival generals. The assault took place in a residential area of Omdurman, the neighboring city of the capital, Khartoum, according to a brief statement by the health ministry. The attack wounded an unspecified number of people, it said. The attack was one of the deadliest of the clashes in urban areas in the capital and elsewhere in Sudan between the military and a powerful paramilitary group known

Airstrike in Sudanese city kills at least 22, officials say, amid fighting between rival generals
World

Switzerland to become a net importer of cheese this year for the first time

Switzerland will import more cheese than it exports this year for the first time, according to the head of the country’s dairy association. The opening up of the Swiss milk market has put a squeeze on domestic producers in recent years, prompting some to give up, Boris Beuret told Geneva-based newspaper Le Temps in an interview published Saturday. Beuret said measures need to be taken to ensure Switzerland — famous worldwide for high-quality cheese varieties such as Gruyère and Emmentaler — can continue to produce for its own population. “If not, then we will end up importing

Switzerland to become a net importer of cheese this year for the first time
World

Holmgren continues return from injury with strong game in Thunder's NBA Summer League opener

Chet Holmgren has taken another positive step on his surgically repaired right foot. Holmgren had 16 points and 10 rebounds Saturday, helping the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks 91-80 in their NBA Summer League opener. The No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft missed the 2022-23 season after sustaining a Lisfranc injury in his right foot last summer. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren returned when the Thunder played three games in the Salt Lake City Summer League before heading to Las Vegas, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks Monday in a victory over

Holmgren continues return from injury with strong game in Thunder's NBA Summer League opener

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