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Extremely rare white alligator is born at a Florida reptile park

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — An extremely rare white leucistic alligator has been born at a Florida reptile park.The 19.2-inch (49 cm) female slithered out of its shell and into the history books as one of a few known leucistic alligators, Gatorland Orlando said Thursday. “This is beyond rare. It is absolutely extraordinary,” Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Gatorland, said in a statement.The park is asking for the public’s help in the naming the alligator, which is descended from a nest of leucistic alligators discovered in the swamps of Louisiana in 1987. The blue-eyed newborn is the first solid white alligator ever recorded to have descended from those original alligators. Of the seven remaining alligators from the nest, three are at Gatorland, McHugh said.Leucistic alligators are the rarest genetic variation in the American alligator. They differ from albino alligators, which have pink eyes and a complete loss of pigment, according to Gatorland.Park visitors will be able to see...

Baltimore’s light rail service suspended temporarily for emergency inspections

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

BALTIMORE (AP) — Transportation officials in Maryland temporarily suspended light rail service in the Baltimore area Friday to perform emergency inspections of the whole fleet.The Maryland Transit Administration announced Thursday afternoon that the suspension was due to a potential problem uncovered during a recent inspection, and the agency will initiate an accelerated inspection and correction plan. Shuttle buses will be provided at all stations. Inspections and repairs for the agency’s 53 railcars, which are 24 to 31 years old, will begin immediately, MTA administrator Holly Arnold said at a news conference Thursday. Once at least eight railcars are available, limited service will be restored, and full service will resume once all repairs are complete.Inspections performed after a Oct. 21 fire revealed that high-voltage conduits on the vehicles have been punctured, Arnold said. The agency also found problems with the cables that connect cars, which have caused six smoke ev...

Can you answer these US immigration test questions?

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- When applying for U.S. citizenship, applicants are required to take a naturalization test. The answers are harder than you think.The test is composed of an English and civics test.During the test, applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the English language including the ability to read, write and speak basic English as well as questions about the American government and history. US citizenship test changes are coming, raising concerns for those with low English skills There are 100 possible civics (history and government) questions, which are split up into 10 different categories. Applicants are only asked 10 questions and must answer six correctly.Here are 10 questions chosen from the naturalization test. One question was chosen from each category.Can you answer these 10 questions on the naturalization test?When you highlight the black area with your mouse, the answer will appear.What is the “rule of law”?Everyone must follow the law.Leaders must ob...

Cutting your own Christmas tree: Do’s and don’ts

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

CONIFER, Colo. (KDVR) -- There is nothing like going out into the woods and cutting down your own Christmas tree. That’s exactly what FOX31's Dan Daru did with a friend.Back in the 1800’s there was not a fancy tree store where you could buy a pre-cut, pre-shaped and prepared Christmas tree. You had to go get it yourself.That’s why I invited my pal Jay Judd to join me. Coincidentally, Judd is a certified arborist for Davey Tree in Denver.Immediately upon arrival to “Danland,” my property, Jay took a look around and declared that all trees are not created equal. “Right here we have a pretty classic tree for the mountains," Judd said. "It’s the ponderosa pine, and what’s unique about this tree is its butter-scotchy smell.” Take a whiff and you’ll see, or actually, smell, that Judd was right. It smelled like the sweet, yellow, buttery candy. It didn’t taste like it, however.Many species of evergreen trees would make for a fine Christmas tree. Fraser fir, blue spruce, balsam fir and do...

Hot air balloon makes hard landing in Phoenix neighborhood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

PHOENIX (KPHO, KTVK) — No one was hurt after a hot air balloon made a hard landing in a north Phoenix neighborhood Thursday morning.The incident was reported just before 9 a.m. Thursday near 22nd Avenue and Dove Valley Road, just east of Interstate 17. Aerial video shows the balloon caught on a street light in the neighborhood and draped over a backyard wall. Capt. Todd Keller with the Phoenix Fire Dept. says nine people were onboard and that no one was hurt.Michael England, a pilot with Hot Air Expeditions, told Arizona’s Family that the balloon was getting low on fuel and attempting to land in a nearby open field when the wind shifted. Even with the slightly changed trajectory, he says the basket was already on the ground when the balloon snagged the street light.“Everyone had fun, and everyone stayed safe,” England said, in spite of the unexpected circumstances.APS also responded to shut off power to the street light, and the FAA has been notified.

BSO seeks help from public in locating 43-year-old woman reported missing from Tamarac

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit is seeking help from the public in locating 43-year-old Cassandra Simone Metzger, who was missing from Tamarac.Detectives said that Metzger was last seen on Wednesday, Sept. 20, in the 2900 block of Northwest 53rd Terrace.She stands at 5 feet 5 inches, weighs approximately 120 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. According to BSO, family members said that Metzger suffers from mental illness and requires medication.Anyone with information on Metzger’s whereabouts should contact BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or the BSO non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).

Republican National Committee officially allows candidates to participate in unsanctioned debates

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

(CNN) — The Republican National Committee said Friday that it has no party-sponsored presidential debates scheduled for January and that GOP candidates are free to participate in any forum or debate of their choosing.“We have held four successful debates across the country with the most conservative partners in the history of a Republican primary. We have no RNC debates scheduled in January and any debates currently scheduled are not affiliated with the RNC,” the RNC’s Committee on Presidential Debates said in a statement. “It is now time for Republican primary voters to decide who will be our next President and candidates are free to use any forum or format to communicate to voters as they see fit.”CNN announced Thursday it will host two Republican presidential primary debates next month in Iowa and New Hampshire – the states that hold the first contests in the race for the 2024 GOP nomination. ABC News and WMUR-TV will also hold a Republican presidential primary debate in Manchest...

UNLV students won’t return for in-person classes this semester after shooting that killed 3

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Students and faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas will not be returning to campus this semester for in-person classes after a gunman killed three professors, the university’s president announced Friday, saying final exams next week have been canceled.“Given the physical and emotional trauma that the university community has endured, and because of the impact to campus facilities, we have decided that faculty and staff should continue to work remotely through the end of the calendar year,” President Keith Whitfield said in a letter to students and staff.Police have said that 67-year-old Anthony Polito walked into UNLV’s business school around lunchtime Wednesday and fired shots as he roamed the top three floors, where faculty offices are located.A fourth victim, a 38-year-old visiting professor, was wounded and hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.After police killed him in a shootout, Polito was found to be carrying nine magazines for a ...

BSO search for missing 17-year-old girl in Tamarac

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Missing Persons Unit is seeking the public’s help in finding a missing 17-year-old girl. Kaelah Tyndale was last seen on Monday, at around 6:30 p.m. near the 7600 block of Westwood Drive in Tamarac.She was last seen wearing a purple shirt, black leggings and brown sandals.Tyndale stands at 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighs around 150 pounds, has brown hair and black eyes.Anyone with information on Tyndale’s whereabouts is urged to contact BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or at the BSO non-emergency number 954-764- HELP (4357).

Massachusetts to get pounded by strong storm: Heavy rain, damaging winds, flooding, power outages possible

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:55:04 GMT

A strong December storm is expected to blast the region at the end of the weekend, likely causing some headaches for the Monday morning commute.But you won’t need to bust out your snow shovels and snow blowers quite yet.The multi-hazardous system from Sunday night through Monday will likely pound Massachusetts with strong winds and soaking rains during the unseasonably warm storm. Power outages will be possible.Coastal flooding is also a concern, along with dangerous marine conditions.“It will be a rather strong system coming into the region Sunday into Monday,” Kyle Pederson, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald on Friday.“Right now, it’s looking like it will be a pretty strong wind event for eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” he added.Wind gusts could hit 60 mph along the coast, with 40 mph wind gusts for inland areas.The potential for thunderstorms could lead to more damaging wind gusts, spa...