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Citing success, Fairfax Co. expands program to respond to mental health emergencies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

Fairfax County, Virginia, is expanding a program that helps police safely respond to mental health emergencies.The program is called the “Co-Responder Program,” and pairs up a behavioral health expert with a police officer who is trained in crisis intervention techniques.“They ride around the same patrol cruiser together,” explained Fairfax County police Lt. Joanna Culkin. “They can self-dispatch proactively if they hear that there’s a behavioral health component, or they can be dispatched … to any calls for service where they’re needed.”Under the program, the county currently has three such teams.That is being expanded, however, with a fourth team being added in September or October.The program is meant to help people who are experiencing emotional distress potentially related to mental illness, substance use or developmental disabilities.It is comprised of team members who have advanced training and experience working with comm...

Why are gas prices rising? Experts point to extreme heat and oil production cuts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Drivers are in for another headache at the pump as U.S. gas prices continue to rise.The national average for gas prices stood at about $3.78 a gallon on Tuesday — about 25 cents higher than that seen one month ago, according to motor club AAA. While today’s prices at the pump remain far lower than they were last year, when energy costs soared worldwide in the months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, experts say such a jump is unusual.“Usually it takes a hurricane to move prices that much,” said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross, who said the rise is especially interesting as “fewer people are are fueling up” their cars this summer compared to years past.In the U.S., gasoline prices are highly dependent on crude oil. West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, has stayed above $80 per barrel since Thursday, standing at over $81 as of Tuesday afternoon. That marks a $12 jump since July 3, according to OPIS global head of energy analysis Tom Kloza.T...

College behind bars: How a Md. university and maximum security prison work toward change

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

Nine prisoners at the Jessup Correctional Institution in Maryland are working toward their college degrees, and the hope is that the positive change they’re experiencing will be contagious.At a gathering inside the prison library in Jessup, Maryland, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Carolyn Scruggs talked about what’s behind the Bowie State University degree program at the prison.“Ninety percent of the individuals who are incarcerated [within the facility] with me — where are they going? They’re going back into the community,” she said. So, Scruggs poses the question: “Why not — while I have their attention — make them successful?”Mark C. Booker, instructor with the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Human Services at Bowie State, agreed with Scruggs on the need to equip people who are serving time in prison for a future outside its walls.“They may have victimized individuals,” Booker said, “but this is now a transformation in their behavior,...

Sweden 2, Argentina 0

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

Sweden02—2Argentina00—0First Half_None.Second Half_1, Sweden, Blomqvist, (Jakobsson), 66th minute; 2, Sweden, Rubensson, (penalty kick), 90th.Goalies_Sweden, Jennifer Falk, Zecira Musovic, Tove Enblom; Argentina, Vanina Correa, Lara Esponda, Abigail Chaves.Yellow Cards_Schough, Sweden, 20th; Gomez Ares, Argentina, 45th+4.Referee_Salima Mukansanga. Assistant Referees_Queency Victoire, Mary Wanjiru Njoroge, Adil Zourak. 4th Official_Kim Yujeong.A_17,907.___Source

Ashford Hospitality Trust: Q2 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — DALLAS (AP) — Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. (AHT) on Tuesday reported a key measure of profitability in its second quarter.The real estate investment trust, based in Dallas, said it had funds from operations of $28.5 million, or 78 cents per share, in the period.Funds from operations is a closely watched measure in the REIT industry. It takes net income and adds back items such as depreciation and amortization.The company said it had a loss of $30.3 million, or 88 cents per share.The hotel owner posted revenue of $375.7 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on AHT at https://www.zacks.com/ap/AHTSource

UK minister denies barge housing asylum seekers is a ‘potential death trap’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

LONDON — Cabinet minister Grant Shapps rejected claims Wednesday that the Bibby Stockholm, a barge the U.K. government is planning to use to house asylum seekers, represents a fire safety “death trap.” The stark warning over the 222-bedroom ship — currently moored at Portland Port in Dorset — came from the Fire Brigades’ Union, which has written to the U.K. Home Office outlining its safety concerns over the vessel.The ship is part of U.K. government plans to reduce its reliance on temporary hotel accommodation for asylum seekers, which currently costs the government £2.3 billion a year. But the FBU’s assistant general secretary Ben Selby told the Guardian Tuesday that “firefighters believe the Bibby Stockholm to be a potential deathtrap,” and warned that the barge, which can accommodate 500 people, has “not been properly risk assessed.” Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Selby said the union’s “main concerns are focused around thos...

Beset by fire and heat, Meloni’s government flirts with climate denial

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

On the world stage, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni talks up the dangers of climate change. But at home, even in the face of record heat, fires and floods, her government is far from convinced.“It’s hot, yes, without a doubt. In summer it’s hot, in winter it’s cold,” Transport Minister Matteo Salvini joked on Sunday evening in response to a question about mounting climate anxiety among young people.  Last week, Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin said “if the climate is changing, it is because of the climate … I do not know how much climate change is due to man and how much to the Earth’s [natural] climate change.”Fratin on Wednesday addressed accusations of climate denial against the government, explaining Italy was “in favor of achieving environmental objectives” but opposes “bombastic and inapplicable rules” handed down from Brussels to “penalize Italy.” The country has the right to “defend its national interests,̶...

Howie Carr: It’s a Bizarro World in Massachusetts now

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

On Monday afternoon, the Legislature approved yet another handout for the illegals swarming into Massachusetts for a free ride forever – in-state tuition at public colleges, which after all the scams will in fact amount to free tuition.This latest boondoggle will cost the working-class, law-abiding citizens of this state millions of dollars, on top of the billions in welfare that we already lavish on the ungrateful, vacationing Third World freeloaders.But hey, we can afford it, right? Just make the “millionaires” pay!A few hours later, after this latest welfare bonanza for foreign criminals, the official religious tract of the Massachusetts Democrat party, the Boston Globe, ran a lead editorial with this headline:“Massachusetts can’t handle the influx of migrants on its own.”Huh?!? Surely some mistake here. You mean we’re running out of pesos for our new undocumented Democrats?If there’s a burden somehow with providing upwards of five billion dollars a year to import hundreds of tho...

Mass & Cass runoff triggers appeal to CDC to test Fort Point Channel water

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

Concerns that untreated stormwater runoff from the needle-strewn Mass and Cass is polluting the Harbor has prompted the city to apply for a grant from the CDC to monitor for communicable diseases.Catch basins in that notorious encampment drain into the Fort Point Channel where fishing and kayaking remain popular right across from the Children’s Museum — a sobering fact that has lawmakers and advocates alarmed.“We have recently learned that catch basins in the area known as Mass & Cass dump right out into Boston Harbor via the Fort Point Channel without any filtration,” a group of lawmakers said in a letter sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.That letter, obtained by the Herald, adds: “Due to the public health concerns that illicit narcotics, including fentanyl, and infectious disease (pose) we believe this grant is an essential part of understanding how severe the public health and environmental impact and risks are.”Both th...

Patirots extra points: Potential cause for Hunter Henry’s training camp breakout

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:32:44 GMT

FOXBORO — Tight end Hunter Henry has been a favorite target of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones this summer overall but especially within the red zone.Henry caught another touchdown pass from Jones in practice Tuesday. It’s been a return to form this summer for that red-zone connection between Jones and Henry. They combined for nine touchdowns in 2021, their first season playing together. They connected for just one touchdown last season.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Patriots training camp Day 7: Mac Jones’ best practice yet, a rising linebacker and more WR woes New England Patriots | Patriots claim rookie wide receiver from Bears, place Jalen Hurd on retired list New England Patriots | Patriots must get creative replicating Devin McCourty’s range at free safety New England Patriots | Patriots’ O-line already dealing with injuries, load management early in training camp New England Patriots | ...