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Thousands of free HIV self-test kits distributed across Canada to mark World AIDS Day

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

As over 6,000 Canadians live with undiagnosed HIV, the federal government plans to give away roughly 200,000 free self-test kits with the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.Friday, Dec. 1, marks World AIDS Day and the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week in Canada. According to public health data, 18 per cent of new cases in Canada are among Indigenous people. An Ontario study found that African, Caribbean and Black people living with HIV were less likely to know their status (85 per cent) than the general Canadian population (90 per cent).“For Indigenous peoples, we’ve been struggling with the social determinants of health, lack of funding for housing, employment and the mobility of Indigenous peoples from roll-on reserve communities to urban,” said Albert McLeod, a consultant specializing in HIV/AIDS and Indigenous peoples.Public health group CATIE is part of the federal government’s strategy to distribute 200,000 HIV self-testing kits...

Iran sends a hip-hop artist who rapped about hijab protests back to jail

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran sent a popular rapper back to jail less that two weeks after his release from prison on bail, an Iranian news website reported Thursday. Mizanonline.ir, an online news outlet affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, said authorities arrested Toomaj Salehi on a new charge of “spreading lies and violation of public opinion.” Salehi was released from prison in mid-November after spending more than a year in custody on charges that his supporters said were based on the hip-hop artist’s music and participation in the protests that broke out in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, 22. Amini died in the custody of the country’s morality police after being detained for wearing her hijab too loosely. Earlier this week, Salehi said in a video message that he was tortured after his arrest in October 2022, when state media released a video showing him blindfolded and apologizing for his words, a statement likely made under duress. A court sentenced Salehi i...

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele granted leave to campaign for reelection

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Congress granted President Nayib Bukele leave for six months Thursday to allow him to campaign for reelection despite a constitutional prohibition on reelection.Bukele will seek a second five-year term for the New Ideas party in the Feb. 4 national elections. Vice President Félix Ulloa also requested leave to campaign again as Bukele’s running mate.Lawmakers voted 67 in favor to 12 against to approve Bukele’s request for leave.Bukele was expected to present a list of two options to Congress the body to select his interim replacement. If he does not present options, Congress will select the interim president.Constitutional lawyers maintain that Bukele’s reelection bid violates at least four articles of the constitution. But the Supreme Electoral Tribunal ruled earlier this month that Bukele’s candidacy met the legal requirements.While highly popular in El Salvador for his aggressive war against the gangs that long terrorized ...

'Mass casualty event' halted after man makes threats towards Tesla event

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Just one day before Tesla’s Cybertruck delivery event a man was arrested for making online threats aimed at the company’s big day.According to the arrest report, Paul Ryan Overeem, from Orlando, Fla., was arrested for making threats on Instagram.Court documents said Nov. 10, the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC) received an email notification for a suspicious activity report from Tesla.That report highlighted messages sent in a group chat from an Instagram user.  Some of the messages in the report said phrases like “I sure am crazy though,” “I plan on killing people,” “I wanna die,” “I need to be stopped” and “If I’m saying I’m gonna kill people then you should take this seriously.”According to the report, law enforcement used the Flock Safety camera search to confirm a sighting of the 2015 black Chevy Tahoe registered to Overeem, which confirmed a sighting on Nov. 28 on Highway 290 in Sunset Valley.Cellular data was also used to locate Overeem’s cell p...

Texas Longhorns fend off Texas A&M 3-1 to remain perfect in NCAA volleyball first round

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns moved to 36-0 all-time in the opening round of the NCAA volleyball tournament after taking out a feisty Texas A&M squad 3-1 Thursday at Gregory Gym.Texas, the No. 2 seed in the region, rebounded after hitting .024 in a 25-21 first-set loss to pound the Aggies 25-13 in the second set. Texas won the next two sets 25-20 to clinch the match and berth in the second round against seventh-seeded SMU at 7 p.m. Friday.MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters"I knew this would be a tough matchup because they're a really good blocking team," Longhorns head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "I thought we battled really hard and got our rhythm going in Game 2."After the tough first set, the Longhorns' dynamic duo of Madisen Skinner and Asjia O'Neal carried them to victory. Skinner had a match-high 20 kills and O'Neal notched a double-double with 14 kills a...

No. 16 Texas rides roller coaster to beat Texas State 77-58

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Max Abmas scored a season-best 26 points and No. 16 Texas beat Texas State 77-58 on Thursday night in a game the Longhorns dominated early before falling behind.Abmas made a season-high five 3-pointers, one of them completing a 13-0 push that gave the Longhorns a 12-point lead with 8:18 left after they trailed by four earlier in the half. He also had a season-high six assists.Texas forward Dillon Mitchell (23) loses control of the ball as he drives to the basket against Texas State forward Brandon Love (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Max Abmas (3) moves the ball up court against Texas State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Texas guard Max Abmas (3) drives past Texas State guard Elijah Tate (15) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Austin, Texas, Thur...

Driver, 17, killed when his pickup crashes in southern Dakota County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

A teenage motorist was killed in a single-vehicle crash during wintry road conditions Wednesday morning in southern Dakota County.According to the Minnesota State Patrol, Tayven Matthew Geiger, 17, of Goodhue, Minn., was driving a pickup truck near Randolph shortly after 8 a.m.Geiger’s 2000 Ford Ranger was northbound on Minnesota 56 near 292nd Street when the truck left the road, entered the right ditch and rolled over.Geiger was ejected from the truck and killed. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the State Patrol, which noted that the road was covered with snow and ice at the time of the crash.An investigation is continuing.Related ArticlesLocal News | As another DQ closes, Dave’s Hot Chicken moves into Highland Park (thanks to Kris Humphries and family) Local News | Mandalay Kitchen brings traditional Karen and Burmese flavors to Frogtown Local News | Climbing gym workers at Vertical Endeavors unionize across Minnesota ...

DMV requiring eye exam retakes for some motorists

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

CAPITAL REGION, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Thousands of drivers could potentially have suspended licenses after a Covid-era rule is set to expire on December 1, 2023. Drivers who self-certified their vision test from March 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021, have to retake the free exam."Once it started out, there was about 82,000 motorists. As the month went out, the initial letter was sent out and a lot of people came back. It is now down to about 50,000 motorists," stated Rensselaer County Clerk, Frank Merola. Westland Hills decorating trees for passed family The Department of Motor Vehicles says letters were sent out to these individuals. Rensselaer County has about 300 people who still need an updated eye test.At the Rensselaer County DMV, Francis Bossolini passed the exam and shared his opinion. "It's just part of the process. One would think that if it wasn't necessary for in-person certifications then why is it now?" Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to...

Missouri kids to be enrolled in Medicaid for 12 months starting next year

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - In the last seven months, more than 135,000 Missourians have been removed from the state's Medicaid program, and nearly half of them are children.Until April of this year, states were prohibited from removing anyone from Medicaid due to the COVID public health emergency. Now, as Medicaid renewals are once again required, they come at a time when the federal government will soon mandate yearlong coverage for kids."I think there's a lot of security for families in knowing that their child is going to have coverage for 12 months," communications director for the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) Caitlin Whaley said. "It allows the ability to confidently schedule therapies and schedule any procedures that they might need."Starting in January, all states will be required to cover Medicaid recipients under 18 for a full year."It was common practice before this that you would have to be re-certified perhaps every three, four, six months, depending on the st...

Making sure military families get in the holiday spirit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:00 GMT

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ill. – Scott Air Force Base and the Christmas Spirit Foundation are showing their appreciation to military families through their Trees for Troops program, spreading holiday joy to military families as they give away Christmas trees.To see where Trees for Troops will be held this year, visit www.treesfortroops.org.