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Canada marks Clean Air Day with worst air quality in the world as wildfires rage

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

OTTAWA — Hazy skies tinged with an eery yellow glow greeted millions of Canadians in Quebec and Ontario again Wednesday as the smoke from hundreds of wildfires continued to cause air quality warnings in Canada’s most populated corridor.In the morning, Environment Canada’s air quality health index listed Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., as the worst in Canada, followed closely by the eastern Ontario cities of Kingston, Cornwall and Belleville.Residents in those cities were encouraged to limit outdoor activities, and those most vulnerable to the smoke were told to avoid them altogether.The smoke was so thick in downtown Ottawa that Gatineau’s high-rise office towers were barely visible just a few hundred metres away across the Ottawa River.In a bizarre twist of fate, on a day when air quality was among the worst the country has ever seen, it was national Clean Air Day in Canada.“I want to recognize the air quality statements that have been issued by Environment Canad...

Wildfire roundup: What you need to know about blazes burning across Canada

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

Hundreds of wildfires are burning across Canada, prompting widespread evacuations and blanketing cities in smoke. Here’s a look at developments Wednesday:Ontarians urged not to start campfiresAs smoke from wildfires degraded air quality for millions of people across the province, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging everyone to refrain from lighting campfires. Fifty-four wildfires are burning in Ontario and 29 are out of control.Ford says half of the fires were started by lighting strikes and the other half were caused by human activity, such as not properly extinguishing campfires.Officials say a lot of the smoke blanketing Ontario also is coming from wildfires in Quebec.Record Quebec fires lead to more evacuationsOfficials say Quebec’s wildfire season is the worst on record and the number of evacuees is expected to rise to more than 15,000. More than 150 forest fires are burning in the province, with just under 100 considered out of control.Premier François Legault says about...

Actor known for ‘Bob’s Burgers’ character arrested on Capitol riot charges

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

An actor known for his roles on the comedy television shows “Bob’s Burgers” and “Mr. Show with Bob and David” was arrested Wednesday on charges that he joined a mob of Donald Trump supporters in confronting police officers during the U.S. Capitol riot, court records show.Jay Johnston was arrested in Los Angeles on charges including civil disorder, a felony. He is expected to make his initial court appearance in California on Wednesday. An attorney for Johnston didn’t immediately respond to a telephone call and text message seeking comment.Video footage captured Johnston pushing against police and helping rioters who attacked officers guarding an entrance to the Capitol in a tunnel on the Lower West Terrace, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit. Johnston held a stolen police shield over his head and passed it to other rioters during the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, the affidavit says. Johnston “was close to the entrance to the tunnel, turned back and signaled for other ...

White Sox-Yankees Wednesday night game in New York postponed due to poor air quality

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

NEW YORK — The deteriorating air conditions in New York due to smoke from Canadian wildfires have forced the cancellation of a few events, including one for a Chicago team.The White Sox contest against the Yankees set for 6:05 p.m. central time on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx has been postponed due to poor air quality. Earlier in the afternoon, skies around New York City turned orange as smoke continues to blanket the area.Because of that, the White Sox and Yankees will play a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 3:05 p.m. central time. Fans will need just a single ticket to see both of the contests.Along with the White Sox-Yankees game, Major League Baseball has also postponed the Phillies-Tigers game in Philadelphia due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires.This marks the first time that MLB has called off a game due to the quality of the air since September 2020. That's when a Giants-Mariners series scheduled to be played in Seattle was moved to San Francisco due to f...

Search underway for missing Bronzeville teen

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Police Department is seeking the public's help locating a missing 14-year-old who was last seen Monday.Aubrey Mosley, 14, was last seen in the area of the 4400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood on Monday, June 5. Search underway for missing Chicago teen who may need medical attention Mosley is described as 5-foot-3, weighing 160 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing black shorts and a white shirt.Anyone with information regarding Aubrey Mosley's whereabouts are asked to contact the Chicago Police Department at 312-747-8380.

Which mask is best for wildfire smoke?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

(KDVR) — With smoke from over 400 Canadian wildfires drifting south and blanketing much of the U.S., Americans are looking for ways to cope with a haze of very unhealthy air. Dr. Anthony Gerber said the people most at risk in smoky conditions are those with lung disease, older people, and the very young. He said if those people have symptoms outside, they may benefit from wearing a well-fitted mask.But keep in mind, surgical and cloth masks do not help in these conditions. "Really, N95s are the only masks which are really proven to be effective," Gerber said.N95 masks filter particles as small as 0.3 micrometers, a fraction of the width of a human hair, according to the California Department of Public Health. Still, masks are not an ideal solution for wildfire smoke. San Francisco health officials previously told SF Gate that sealed buildings with filtered HVAC systems are preferable to mask use. “If you have filters on your home HVAC system, you should make sure they’re up to ...

Lawmakers form renter's caucus to tackle U.S. affordable housing crisis

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (Nexstar) – A newly formed group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill say they’re focused on tackling the rental crisis as the United States falls behind in available and affordable units.On Wednesday, members of Congress announced the new Renter’s Caucus. Congressmen Jimmy Gomez and Dan Goldman say they’ll focus on finding solutions to the crisis.Gomez noted that unaffordable rents ultimately hurt the U.S. economy and productivity. “For the first time since data started being recorded 20 years ago, the average American renter is now considered rent burdened, meaning they pay more than 30% of their income to rent,” Rep. Jimmy Gomez (R-CA) said.“We can make sure that we have very robust renter protections so that landlords cannot dramatically increase the rents and ultimately kick renters out,” Rep. Danny Goldman (D-NY) added.Advocates and lawmakers want to tackle issues like rental housing discrimination and affordability.“This caucus is launching in the midst of an ongoing ...

Hot, stagnant weather with isolated showers and thunderstorms

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Light winds and hot temperatures are leading to higher than normal pollution levels in the Austin Metro area through the rest of the week. Those with sensitive respiratory conditions may consider limiting outdoor exercise. Another Ozone Action Day is in effect on Thursday. Consider limiting your pollution footprint by carpooling, turning up your thermostat 1-2 degrees, or waiting to fill up your gas tank until after sunset.Ozone Action Day in effect again ThursdayWhile rain remains isolated overnight, a weak disturbance swings in on Thursday leading to a higher 30% chance of afternoon/evening showers and thunderstorms. Some storms may be strong to severe, with a 1-out-of-5 threat of severe thunderstorms expected areawide.Second day outlook from the Storm Prediction CenterAs a few isolated late-day storms continue through the weekend, heat becomes the dominant weather story. A building ridge of high pressure sends high temperatures to the upper 90s this weekend -- th...

Yankees-White Sox game postponed due to Canadian wildfire smoke causing air quality issues in New York

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

UPDATE: The Yankees announced that Wednesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium has been postponed because of the poor air quality due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires.The two teams will play a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday.Major League Baseball had been monitoring the hazy situation in New York City and above Yankee Stadium, a major league source told the Daily News earlier in the day.The league consulted medical and weather experts on Tuesday night, when smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted south into the United States. New York City was among the impacted areas, and the Yankees and White Sox played beneath the smog at Yankee Stadium as fans watched — despite the air quality index (AQI) reaching levels deemed “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” by the Environmental Protection Agency.Per the EPA, an AQI in the 0-50 range is considered “good.” The 101-150 range is considered “unhealthy for ...

Peter Chin-Hong: We’ve made huge advances against COVID. Why is it still killing so many people?

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:16:34 GMT

Many immunocompromised and older people are still terrified of COVID. As a transplant infectious disease doctor on the front lines, I understand why.In the first five months of 2023, COVID caused more than 37,000 deaths in the U.S., a typical toll from the flu in an entire year. Scientists estimate an annual U.S. COVID death rate of at least 100,000, dwarfing other infectious diseases. And the virus continues to evolve: The highly transmissible XBB.1.16 subvariant (Arcturus), currently making up about 15% of cases nationally, is expected to be the dominant strain by summer. Wastewater surveillance is also showing an uptick in the virus in New York City and elsewhere.Meanwhile, the federal public health emergency ended last month, and across the country the pandemic has moved to back of mind. It’s not surprising that the most vulnerable feel left behind.Yet at the same time, health professionals are optimistic about today’s anti-COVID arsenal.Biomedical advances have revo...