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Wildfire smoke returns to St. Louis, orange alert

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

St. Louis Air Quality ForecastST. LOUIS -- We've got a couple of nice days of weather ahead when it comes to temperatures and humidity. The one hiccup is that we're going to get some of that wildfire smoke back into our atmosphere. There is an orange air quality alert again for the St. Louis area and much of southern and central Illinois.The orange level alert means that the air may be unhealthy for some, especially those with heart and lung conditions. You may want to limit your time outside. A thin layer of smoke will be in the metropolitan St. Louis area Thursday and Friday.Much of the northeast United States is under a purple and brown air quality alerts. There is a higher concentration of smoke, leading to near blackout conditions. Smoke will continue to be over the northeast with haze across the region.In a view toward Brooklyn, a boat maneuvers the East River near the Manhattan Bridge, left, and Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Wednesday, June 7, 2023. Smoke from Canadian wildf...

SSM Health Medical Minute: Effects of smoking marijuana on the heart

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - With the legalization of recreational marijuana in both Missouri and Illinois, and in many other states across the U.S., doctors want to warn about the impact of smoking marijuana.A recent study looked at how smoking marijuana effects the heart.Dr. Ali Ziaee, a cardiologist with SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital in St. Charles, says the study reviewed the risks associated with smoking marijuana.“Unfortunately, that hasn't been tied to a public education push,” he said. “As a result, I think patients may underestimate the potential toxic effects of marijuana on the heart.”Ongoing studies show moderate use of marijuana may lead to an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular events.“There are lung function tests, there are chest x-rays, there are CAT scans of the lungs,” Ziaee said. “There are stress tests that we can perform, and that'll give us a little bit more objective evidence in terms of whether marijuana is affecting their heart.”Young a...

Denver weather: Cloudy with possible afternoon thunderstorms that could help clear pollution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

Sunny skies with patches of blue were changing as clouds wafted over metro Denver Thursday morning, leading to scattered afternoon rain and thunderstorms that could bring wind gusts and possible lightning, according to the National Weather Service.The anticipated hotspots for storms included northern mountain canyons and foothills, the Palmer Divide between Denver and Colorado Springs, and the far northeastern plains.State health officials have issued an air quality alert, effective through 4 p.m. Thursday, warning that ground-level ozone pollution levels are rising and that, while afternoon rain clears the air, a build-up of pollution before storms hit threatens sensitive groups — the elderly, children, and people with respiratory ailments.The high temperature in Denver Thursday will be 78 degrees — a bit below normal for June — increasing to around 80 degrees Friday, weather service forecasters said. At night, the temperatures will decrease to around 55 degrees. ...

Gov. Newsom proposes constitutional amendment to curb gun violence

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed a 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution in what he describes as an effort to end America's gun violence crisis. “The gun lobby says we can’t stop the carnage America now experiences every day without violating the 2nd Amendment – that thoughts and prayers are the best we can do... that’s a lie,” Newsom said in a statement. The amendment "permanently enshrines” four gun measures that Newsom claims have broad support.This includes raising the minimum age to purchase a firearm to 21. "Because if you can't buy a beer, you shouldn't be able to buy a gun," Newsom said in a video posted to YouTube.It would also mandate universal background checks, institute "reasonable" waiting periods for all gun purchases, and ban civilians from buying assault rifles. "Those weapons of war our founding fathers never foresaw," Newsom said. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the U.S. House of Represent...

2 fatally shot by robbers at Lancaster motel, LASD says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

Two men are dead after they were robbed and shot by a group of thieves in Lancaster Wednesday night, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.At about 9 p.m., deputies responded to reported gunshots at a motel in the 44100 block of Sierra Highway. In a motel room, deputies found one man who was declared dead at the scene, the LASD said in a news release. Another man suffering from a gunshot wound was found in the parking lot, and he was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "The investigators believe there were multiple suspects and the motive was robbery," the release said. The investigation is ongoing.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500.To provide information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visit lacrimestoppers.org.

Eels at the Fonda

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

Eels at the Fonda: The man known as E formed Eels way back in 1991, though the Beautiful Freak debut album and “Novocaine for the Soul” breakthrough single didn’t arrive until 1996 (recorded over two years prior to that). Their fourteenth and most recent album, Extreme Witchcraft, dropped last year and it continues their trend for wonderfully offbeat, quirky but not silly alt-pop-rock.May saw Eels release a reissue of the Blinking Lights and Other Revelations album. “When it was time to master the Blinking Lights reissue I needed to listen to the whole double album for the first time since it came out in 2005, and I was surprised by what I heard,” Mark Oliver Everett, aka E, said in a statement. “It was an intense and emotional experience for me and I felt proud of it and overwhelmed by how hard we worked on it. I’ll start mentally preparing to listen to it again when it’s reissued again in 10 years.”“A homemade epic, Blinking Lights… is an imaginative,...

Understanding the Potential of CBD for Erectile Dysfunction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent issue, impacting an estimated 30 million men in the United States according to the Urology Care Foundation. While medical interventions and lifestyle modifications are commonly used to address ED, an increasing number of individuals are seeking alternatives and more natural remedies to improve their sexual health. One such natural compound is cannabidiol (CBD).What is CBD Oil?CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that can be found in both cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is one of over 120 compounds found in these plants, known as cannabinoids. Many people use CBD for things like stress relief, pain management and improved sleep.Unlike delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another well-known cannabinoid, CBD does not induce intoxicating effects or a “high.” Instead, it communicates with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors present throughout the body that regulates various physiological processes like our moods,...

7 incredible Bay Area things to do this weekend, June 9-11

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

We just have a hunch it’s going to be grand weekend, but just to be safe, we’re serving up some great ideas to further the cause, from great plays and concerts to outdoor movies and mouthwatering muffins.As with everything these days, be sure to double check websites for any last-minute changes in health guidelines. Meanwhile, if you’d like to have this Weekender lineup delivered to your inbox every Thursday morning for free, just sign up at www.mercurynews.com/newsletters or www.eastbaytimes.com/newsletters.1 SEE & HEAR: Great shows are going on all overFrom “In the Heights” to “Steel Magnolias” to a free performance by a beloved circus troupe, there are a lot of live shows to savor around the Bay Area.Sarah Kieffer’s new cookbook has the recipes for these Rhubarb Cream Cheese Swirl muffins. (Chronicle Books) 2 READ & BAKE: Welcome to morning deliciousnessSarah Kiefer, the Vanilla Bean Blogger and author of the revered “1...

Here comes El Nino: It’s early, likely to be big, sloppy and add even more heat to a warming world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

By SETH BORENSTEIN and ISABELLA O’MALLEY | Associated PressAn early bird El Nino has officially formed, likely to be strong, warp weather worldwide and give an already warming Earth an extra kick of natural heat, meteorologists announced.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Thursday issued an El Nino advisory, announcing the arrival of the climatic condition. It may not quite be like the others.It formed a month or two earlier than most El Ninos do, which “gives it room to grow,” and there’s a 56% chance it will be considered strong and a 25% chance it reaches supersized levels, said climate scientist Michelle L’Heureux, head of NOAA’s El Nino/La Nina forecast office.“If this El Nino tips into the largest class of events … it will be the shortest recurrence time in the historical record,” said Kim Cobb, a climate scientist at Brown University. Such a short gap between El Ninos leaves communities with less time to recover from damages to infrastructure, agriculture, an...

Quick Cook: Blueberry Ginger Bran Muffins start your morning deliciously

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:49 GMT

These hearty bran muffins are sure to satisfy your morning craving for something mildly sweet, blueberry-spiked and lightly spiced. The addition of molasses and applesauce makes these extra moist, and the bits of candied ginger bring a little zing. Packed with fiber and whole grains, these muffins make a great breakfast or snack. Sneak them straight from the cooling rack or pop them in the microwave from the freezer for an easy grab-and-go snack.I usually double the recipe and freeze them to have an easy breakfast or after school snack for a couple of weeks. They can also be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.Blueberry Ginger Bran MuffinsMakes 12 muffinsINGREDIENTS1 large egg¼ cup molasses1/3 cup honey1/3 cup sunflower or other vegetable oil1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract¾ cup milk1½ cups whole wheat flour1 cup wheat bran1 teaspoon baking powder½ teaspoon baking soda½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon ground cinnamon½ teaspoon groun...