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Do you really need ‘morning coffee?’ It may be a placebo, researchers say

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

New research is trying to determine whether the effects of a first cup of coffee are dependent on caffeine, or if the experience of sipping coffee is what makes drinkers ready to tackle the day.While many people say they’re not able to function until they’ve had the caffeine in their morning coffee, Portuguese scientists set out to learn whether the wakefulness comes from the caffeine itself, or the physical action of drinking coffee.“There is a common expectation that coffee increases alertness and psychomotor functioning,” said Professor Nuno Sousa of the University of Minho, corresponding author of the study in “Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience.”According to the research, based on MRI scans, participants who drank a cup of coffee and those who ingested caffeine in other methods, were equally alert.However, the portions of the brain that control “feeling motivated” — including working memory, cognitive control, and goal-directed behavior — w...

Storm Poly lashes the Netherlands and parts of Germany, causing 2 deaths and canceled flights

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A powerful summer storm lashed the Netherlands and parts of Germany on Wednesday, killing at least two people, blowing trees onto houses and forcing one of Europe’s busiest airports to cancel or delay hundreds of flights.The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute issued its highest-level alert in three provinces as Storm Poly hit the country with heavy rain and powerful winds. One gust, on the coast west of Amsterdam, was recorded at just over 145 kilometers per hour (90 mph), the institute said. The alert level was scaled back early in the afternoon as the storm headed northeast and weakened.Dutch media showed pictures of uprooted trees and wind-blown debris littering streets in Amsterdam, The Hague and the city of Haarlem as the storm barreled through during the normally busy morning rush hour.A woman was killed in Haarlem when a tree fell on a car, police spokesperson Nina Moers said. In Amsterdam, a tree fell on a houseboat moored in one o...

The unsung pawpaw is a delicious, low-maintenance, native N. American fruit tree

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

Looking to plant something unusual, easy to grow and exotically delicious? Let me introduce you to Asimina triloba, the pawpaw tree. Also known as Hoosier banana, poor man’s banana and false banana, the sadly underused fruit tree will transport you to the tropics, its 12-by-5-inch, droopy, dark green leaves swaying in the breeze. Except it isn’t tropical at all. The pawpaw is a North American native.Found growing wild from southern Ontario and Michigan east to western New York and south to Texas and Florida, pawpaws are hardy in horticultural zones 4-8 or 5-9, depending on the variety. The small, pyramid-shaped trees top out at about 25 feet tall, love humidity and are highly frost-tolerant.Odd-smelling maroon blossoms reminiscent of fermented grapes cover the branches in spring, followed by clusters of heavy, 3-to-5-inch-long fruits that look like mangoes. In autumn, the trees’ vibrant yellow or gold foliage will brighten your landscape. And deer tend to avoid them.The pawpaw is ab...

Person wanted for killing, dumping body of large bull elk

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working to identify a person connected to a poaching case. The suspect allegedly killed a bull elk and dumped the carcass in Park County.CPW said the large bull elk was shot sometime between June 24-26 in the area between Como and Hartsel. The small communities are south of Breckenridge and Keystone. Originally, CPW rangers were called about a bull elk carcass that had been dumped alongside Pike National Forest Road 146, which is east of the Buffalo subdivision. According to rangers, the elk had been shot with a high-power rifle. ‘Nuisance’ mountain lion relocated after multiple incidents in Pagosa Springs Only the meat along the spine had been removed from the elk before it was dumped. One of the elk's antlers was cut in half and left next to the body.CPW said the elk was killed outside of hunting season, and most of the meat was left to waste, both of which violated state hunting regulations. According to CPW's website, elk can be h...

Surveillance video captures man stealing, causing over $400 in damages at resident’s home in Opa-locka

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

Opa-locka homeowners took precautions by adding locks and covering the shed with their vehicles in order to stop robberies, but that wasn’t enough for a thief who was caught on surveillance video. The unidentified suspect took vital tools that helped neighbors in need, Tuesday morning. Jacqueline Perez said her husband woke up around 7 a.m. to check outside and they noticed the handle on one of their sheds was broken.“At 4:10 a.m. one guy riding a bicycle, passing by the house and he made a U-turn right at the corner and came back to our house and jumped the fence,” said Perez. Perez added that the thief hopped onto their property and headed straight to the sheds. “Every night he parks the car right next to the shed of the door so that nobody can get in,” said Perez. When the thief came back the second time, he had to work harder to get the shed open and he came prepared.“So he decided to get a bag that he had on his bicycle and bring like a big s...

Lauderhill teen hospitalized after firework ignites following cleaning up

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

A teenager was transported to the hospital after a firework ignited while his family cleaned up the street following the 4th of July celebrations. According to Lauderhill Fire Rescue, they transported a 13-year-old to Broward Health around 1 a.m., Wednesday. His grandmother said while they were cleaning up after igniting fireworks, he did not realize one of the explosives was still lit. The explosive ignited and injured the teen. Officials said the teen suffered a partial amputation of fingers on his left hand and burns to his face. Fire rescue officials said the family appeared to have been attempting to light mortar-type fireworks when the incident occurred. Please check back on WSVN.com and 7News for more details on this developing story.

Judge blocks Florida legislation restricting voter eligibility, deems it unconstitutional

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

Tallahassee, Fla. (WSVN) – A United States District Judge declared unconstitutional the Florida legislation supported by Governor Ron DeSantis that aimed to impose restrictions on voter eligibility. The law, which sought to prohibit individuals convicted of certain felonies and non-citizens – including those who have permanent legal residency in the US – to collect or handle voter registration applications, was blocked by Judge Mark E. Walker on the grounds that it violated the Constitution.Third-party organizations could have face fines of up to $50,000 for each ineligible person involved in collecting the applications.The ruling comes as a significant blow to the supporters of the legislation who argued that the measures were necessary to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process. Critics, however, argued that the law would disproportionately impact minority communities and potentially disenfranchise eligible voters.

President Biden, Republican politicians celebrate Independence Day with patriotic events

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSVN) — As the United States marked its 247th Independence Day on Tuesday, President Joe Biden and Republican politicians seized the occasion to celebrate the nation’s freedom and share their visions of independence. From fireworks illuminating the night sky to heartfelt speeches, politicians across party lines honored the significance of the day.During his speech inthe nation’s capital, President Biden emphasized the crucial role played by the military in protecting America’s position as a global powerhouse. He delivered his address at a White House barbecue attended by military personnel.“You are the sinew, the backbone, the reality of why we’re who we are,” said President Biden.Meanwhile, Republican presidential challenger and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took part in a parade in New Hampshire, using the opportunity to emphasize the responsibility of each generation to uphold freedom. “Each generation has got to step u...

Taylor Swift fan disguised herself as ‘Anti-Hero’ video ghost after calling in sick to work to line up to buy concert merchandise

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

(CNN) — Taylor Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, have proven that they’ll do whatever it takes to get to an Eras Tour concert, even if it means playing hooky from work.One Swiftie in Cincinnati did just that, telling WKRC on Thursday that she called in sick from work to get in line early for merchandise ahead of a show on Saturday – and she dressed in a full on disguise in an attempt to conceal her identity.Seemingly inspired by Swift’s “Anti-Hero” music video, the Swiftie’s disguise mirrors the costumes worn by the ghosts who appear throughout the music video.Footage of the segment circulating on social media shows the Swiftie hilariously wearing a blanket over her head with a pair of sunglasses on top of it for the entirety of an on-camera interview with WKRC Local 12’s correspondent Annie Brown.“There are two Swifties here, who shall remain anonymous, who called in sick to work,” Brown said, explaining they traveled to Cincinnati from Louisville days early to wait in line overnigh...

Germany faces €31 billion budget cut, triggering coalition infighting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:31:26 GMT

BERLIN — The fat years are over.After a decade of spending increases, the German government on Wednesday adopted plans to cut its budget for next year by €30.6 billion, affecting areas from health to childcare and public transport — sparking fierce political battles within the governing coalition and across the political divide.Ballooning public debt from the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine meant that drastic cuts were now unavoidable, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said. He insisted the country would return to stricter fiscal policies that respect the country’s constitutionally enshrined debt brake that limits spending.“We are only at the beginning of the fiscal turnaround,” Lindner said. “We need to free the state from debt without burdening people and businesses with more taxes.”Declining tax income and data last month showing that Germany has fallen into recession have further reduced Lindner...