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How Jimmy Carter has changed the conversation around hospice

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

(The Hill) -- Former President Jimmy Carter’s public disclosure in February that he was entering hospice care — where he remains nearly six months later — is shifting the perception of end-of-life care for patients and their families.Many assumed the 98-year-old former president was on his deathbed, but his family says he has continued to enjoy ice cream and stay up to date on the work of the Carter Center.Ben Marcantonio, interim CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, told The Hill this week that the belief that hospice care is a short-term situation “can be a very common understanding.”“The main marker identified in the benefit [of hospice care] is six months or less,” said Marcantonio. “Yet it also says that’s if the course of the illness or illnesses run their normal course. And so, it's not like a definitive marker.”The average length of hospice care is roughly 90 days, which Marcantonio notes includes situations where it only lasts a few days o...

Dean's Weekender: Tacos Y Tamales Festival, Southside Summer Fest and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

Check out Dean's Weekender for the latest events coming to the Chicagoland area this weekend from the 'Tacos Y Tamales' festival in Pilsen to the Southside Summer Fest and more.Get Dean's reviews and A-List interviews delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for Dean's Downloads weekly newsletter. You'll also get his Dean Cooks recipes too!

Bus monitor was wearing earbuds while child suffocated on bus, prosecutors say

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (WPIX) – A 27-year-old school bus monitor in New Jersey has been charged in connection with the death of a 6-year-old student on the way to an extended school year program.On Monday, Franklin Township police responded to a call for an unresponsive 6-year-old child with special needs. The child was in a wheelchair in the back of the bus, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. At some point on the bus ride to school, bumps in the road caused the child to slump, causing a four-point harness to become tight around her neck and restrict her breathing, the prosecutor's office said.Amanda Davila, the bus monitor, was seated near the front, on the phone, with earbuds in both ears, according to the prosecutor's office. "The investigation revealed that this was in violation of policies and procedures," officials wrote.Franklin Township Police transported the child to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Cops investigating possible link between Gi...

APD: Officer shoots, kills man in south Austin after he reportedly chased woman through apartment complex

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department is investigating after a man was shot and killed by an officer in south Austin Thursday morning. APD Chief Joseph Chacon said during a briefing the department responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in the 3600 block of Menchaca Road shortly before 5 a.m. That area is near the intersection of South Lamar Boulevard. The caller reported that a woman was knocking on their door asking for help. Chacon said three officers arrived on the scene within five minutes and spoke with the woman, who said she was being chased by a man through the complex and feared for her life. Chacon said the man approached police minutes later and it appeared he had a knife in his hand. Officers told the man to drop the knife then drew their guns and started trying to de-escalate the situation, Chacon said. According to Chacon, the man yelled at police to shoot and kill him. Officers stunned the man to try to stop him but he kept approaching, Chacon said. O...

LIVE: Travis County leaders talk about wildfire dangers, preparations

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Travis County emergency responders are meeting Friday morning to talk to the public about wildland fire dangers and how residents can prepare. The Travis County Emergency Services Districts will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. to talk about fire dangers and preparations. The conference will be livestreamed in a video player at the top of this story and on KXAN's Facebook page. Travis County Fire Chiefs will provide insights, statistics and firsthand experiences to emphasize the importance of preparedness and vigilance in safeguarding communities against the impact of wildland fires, according to a release. Aircraft playing critical role during wildfire season The conference aims to raise awareness about the risks posed by wildland fires and provide valuable insights into how individuals, communities and organizations can effectively prepare and prevent these devastating incidents, the release said. Just this week, there have been two wildfires in Central Texas...

Austin businesses could be eligible for grants to help with their employee commutes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- An Austin-based transportation management association is working to help local businesses combat the costs that come along with commuter employees by offering grants and other incentives. KXAN Traffic Anchor Erica Brennes sat down with the new Executive Director of Movability to talk about the ways the organization is trying to help. According to its website, Movability works with employers and individuals to improve the region through commuter options that save time and money.Brennes: "Joining me today is Lonny Stern. He is the new Executive Director of Movability. Tell me a little bit about what this new role means."Stern: "Well, a lot of the work that we do serves our local businesses that may be struggling with the cost of parking, maybe if they're downtown, also the struggles of getting people back to work in the office. Or maybe there's just a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday problem now that we're all virtual officing. And so we help businesses, whether it's thin...

F.D. Flam: The Earth is dancing too close to a temperature tipping point

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

Between this summer’s biblical floods, apocalyptic fires and life-threatening heat domes, people are starting to wonder whether we’ve lurched over some sort of climate tipping point.Climate scientists and ecologists who study tipping points say what we’re seeing are merely extreme events amplified by global warming. But they’ve been warning about the risk of climate tipping points for years. Now people are listening.Research published last year in Science suggests the risk of a global tipping point that triggers accelerated climate warming starts to become significant once average worldwide temperatures rise 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. That’s likely to happen in the 2030s.In popular usage, tipping points refer to anything that changes suddenly. In science, it usually refers to a straw-that-broke-the-camel’s-back phenomenon, where a small change in input makes a big difference in outcome.When climate scientists talk about tipping points, they...

The Loop 2023 Fantasy Football Preview: The Rookies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

These days it’s pretty easy to get paid the big bucks. If you’re a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Or a seasoned medical professional. Or Taylor Swift.But if you’re a star NFL running back, not so much.While meal-ticket runners are still vital to winning football, standouts such as Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are finding it impossible to get suitable long-term contracts. There are just too many affordable options at the position.Another influx of prospects is heading into training camps this week. And fantasy mavens will find two blue-chip running backs, and a handful of other rookies who may post solid numbers for cost-conscious teams at an affordable price.The draft day spotlight back in April was fixed on the top quarterbacks. But it is highly likely that the year’s top rookie will be among these running backs and receivers: :1. Bijan Robinson (Falcons RB)This Texas standout was the highest running back draft pick since Saquon Barkley in 2018, which means Robinson may have a lot ...

Trump’s classified documents trial reset for May despite pleas to wait until after election

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Florida has scheduled a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents.The May 20, 2024, trial date, set Friday by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, is a compromise between a request from prosecutors to set the trial for this December and a bid by defense lawyers to schedule it after the 2024 presidential election.If the date holds, it would follow close on the heels of a separate New York trial for Trump on dozens of state charges of falsifying business records.It also means the trial will not start until deep into the presidential nominating calendar and probably well after the Republican nominee is clear — though before that person is officially nominated at the Republican National Convention.Trump could yet face additional trials in the coming year.He revealed this week that he had received a letter informing him that he was a target of a separate Justice ...

Cohoes man arrested for child pornography and weapon charges

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 13:17:51 GMT

COHOES, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Cohoes man has been arrested for weapon and child pornography possession, according to state police. Kevin Bruno, 33, faces multiple charges. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The investigation that led to Bruno's arrest stemmed from a tip provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The investigation yielded that Bruno allegedly possessed images of the sexual exploitation of a child as well as an illegally owned firearm and ammunition feeding device. Bruno was arrested and charged with possessing a sexual performance by a child and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was processed at SP Latham and arraigned at the Cohoes City Court, where he was released on his own recognizance.