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Rare mammoth fossil found by coal miners in North Dakota

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) -- Coal miners in North Dakota made an incredibly rare find earlier this year: a well-preserved, seven-foot-long tusk of an ancient mammoth.The North Dakota Geological Survey (NDGS) said in a press release on Monday, Dec. 18, that the miners discovered the fossil at the Freedom Mine near Beulah over the Memorial Day weekend. A team led by paleontologists from the NDGS recovered more than twenty bones from the mammoth skeleton, including ribs, a shoulder blade, a tooth, and parts of the hips. The team spent 12 days excavating the old streambed where the skeleton was buried. “Most of the mammoth fossils known from North Dakota are isolated bones and teeth,” said Clint Boyd, a senior paleontologist for the NDGS. “This specimen is one of the most complete mammoth skeletons discovered in North Dakota, making it an exciting and scientifically important discovery."Photo courtesy of the North Dakota Geological SurveyAfter being stabilized in protective plaster jackets, ...

Keto Diet may protect against epileptic seizures — and more

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

Medical Watch Digest for Dec 18Keto Diet & Protecting Against Epileptic SeizuresUCLA researchers say a high fat, low carbohydrate diet protects against epileptic seizures.The ketogenic diet is often adopted to shed pounds but now doctors say the way it alters the human gut microbiome helps control seizure activity in the brain.The Keto Diet can have certain negative implications like low blood pressure, nutrient deficiencies and kidney stones. So doctors say instead they hope to harness the knowledge of the improved gut microbiome, through the Keto Diet, to develop better therapies to incorporate beneficial gut changes helpful for epilepsy management while avoiding the drawbacksOpioids and cancerRelieving cancer pain is a top priority for patients but the current regiment may not work.Currently doctors prescribe opioids to those battling cancer to minimize painful episodes. But a new study by University of Warwick, including the world's largest review of opioid medications, reve...

Marvel, Disney drop actor Jonathan Majors after he's convicted of assault

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors was convicted Monday of assaulting his former girlfriend after a two-week trial that he hoped would restore his status as an emerging Hollywood star, but did just the opposite with Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Co. dropping him immediately after his conviction.A Manhattan jury found Majors, 34, guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge and one harassment violation. He was acquitted of a different assault charge and of aggravated harassment.Majors, who was asked to stand and face the jurors as the verdict was read, showed no immediate reaction, looking slightly downward. He declined to comment as he left the courthouse.Marvel and Disney immediately dropped Majors from all upcoming projects following the conviction, said a person close to the studio who was granted anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.Majors had earlier planned to be a central figure throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the antagonist r...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar broke hip ahead of tribute to vocal group: business partner

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

(KTLA) – Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was on his way to pay tribute to the Manhattan Transfer at a concert in Los Angeles when he fell and broke his hip Friday, Variety reported Sunday night.The 76-year-old NBA Hall of Famer, now recovering from surgery, was supposed to speak about the vocal group at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Friday during what was billed as their final concert, according to Variety. Instead, he ended up releasing a statement to the outlet (via his business partner Deborah Morales) on his connection to the group. Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski crash trial is being adapted into a musical “The Manhattan Transfer first took the stage the same year I first took the NBA court. I’ve been listening to their unique blend of R&B, jazz, blues and pop ever since. Their artistry has lifted me when I needed lifting, soothed me when I needed soothing, and gave me joy when I needed to be joyful. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” the statement read.In 2009, the...

Austin Police say 47-year-old woman found safe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- The Austin Police Department said a 47-year-old woman was found safe after she previously reported missing Sunday.The woman was last seen in northwest Austin and was previously believed to be endangered. However, APD said on social media Monday that she was found safe.No other details were released Monday.

Man sentenced to six months in jail, probation in deadly shooting outside Martindale home

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

CALDWELL COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — A Martindale man who was found guilty of manslaughter in a deadly shooting outside of his home was sentenced in Caldwell County Monday.Terry Turner was sentenced to 180 days in jail, starting Monday, and 10 years of probation. A jury recommended that Turner serve 10 years in prison, according to a Judge Chris Schneider, who oversaw the case. However, Schneider decided on a lesser sentence. Starting Monday, Turner is now serving142 consecutive days, per Schneider's ruling. He'll also have to serve four days in jail on dates coinciding with the date of Adil Dghoughi's death and his birthday for the next 10 years. Turner will have to pay a $10,000 fine as well as do community service and counseling. Verdict reached in driveway shooting of Austin man Turner was indicted in February 2022 in connection with the shooting, and convicted of manslaughter in November 2023. Terry Duane Turner (Caldwell County Sheriff's Office)Turner was sentenced nearly two mon...

Gov. Abbott signs border security bills into law at wall construction site

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (Nexstar) — Gov. Greg Abbott visited the Rio Grande Valley Monday, where he signed several border security bills passed during the third and fourth special legislative sessions.Earlier this month the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 3, a measure that will send $1.5 billion toward further construction of a border wall along the 1,200 mile Texas-Mexico border. In November, state lawmakers also approved Senate Bill 4, which makes it a state crime to enter Texas illegally, giving state and local law enforcement the ability to arrest those who cross between ports of entry. SB 4 will also allow Texas police to effectively deport those who cross illegally, through an order obtained by a state judge. Currently, that is a power solely reserved for federal authorities.Abbott added his signature to both SB 3 and SB 4 into law, as he previously indicated on social media, calling it “historic progress for border security.”Supporters of the bills say they are necessary step...

Airbnb using AI to crack down on NYE house parties in Austin

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Airbnb is poised to use new artificial intelligence-powered technology in Austin this holiday season to crack down on rowdy house parties.Airbnb officials said in a release Monday the rental company plans to put restrictions on certain bookings during the New Year's holiday "to reduce the risk of unauthorized and disruptive parties." Last year, some of the company's anti-party measures on New Year's Eve resulted in thousands of people blocked globally from booking entire home listings on the platform, the release added.Those blockings included more than 63,000 people in the United States, roughly 5,600 people in Texas and 600 guests in Austin, the release added.The AI technology being deployed will block certain one-to-three-night full home bookings "identified as potentially higher-risk for a party incident, the release added." Those guests making local reservations will be required to acknowledge they understand Airbnb's party ban policy and that they risk suspensi...

Golf: Frankie Capan III finishes 64th at PGA Tour Q-School, will return to Korn Ferry Tour

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

A year after a magical PGA Tour Q-School run elevated Frankie Capan III from no status to a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour, the North Oaks native finished in a tie for 64th in the final stage of the Q-School for 2024 after a 1-over round of 71 on Monday at Dye’s Valley Course in Florida to finish 2-over for the week.The top five golfers earned PGA Tour cards. Those went to Harrison Endycott — the Q-School champion at 15-under par — Trace Crowe, Blaine Hale Jr., Raul Pereda and Hayden Springer. Pereda and Springer nabbed the final two cards with 8-under par finishes.Capan entered the week in a bit of an all-or-nothing position. His strong rookie season on the Korn Ferry Tour secured himself a spot back on the primary PGA Tour feeder tour in 2024, at minimum. So anything outside of a top-five finish this week was largely moot.The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour schedule opens in mid-January, with consecutive events played in the Bahamas.Wayzata grad Van Holmgren finished the week at 3-over pa...

Dane Mizutani: We don’t need to fire Kevin O’Connell every time the Vikings lose

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:10:13 GMT

There’s a world in which the Vikings lose every game the rest of the season. They will likely be underdogs both times they play the Detroit Lions, including at home on Christmas Eve, and the matchup with the Green Bay Packers on New Year’s Eve feels like nothing more than a coin flip.That doesn’t mean every result should be a case study on whether somebody deserves to lose his job.The following needs to be said because a large portion of the fan base has forgotten: Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is darn good at what he does.He proved that last season by leading the Vikings to a 13-4 record in the name of situational mastery. He proved that this season by keeping the Vikings competitive through a tumultuous stretch that included losing franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins, then being forced to pick up the pieces with a combination of three quarterbacks — veteran Nick Mullens, rookie Jaren Hall and journeyman Josh Dobbs.The fact that the Vikings still have a ...