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Zeynep Tufekci: Why the science is clear that masks help

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

The debate over masks’ effectiveness in fighting the spread of the coronavirus intensified recently when a respected scientific nonprofit said its review of studies assessing measures to impede the spread of viral illnesses found it was “uncertain whether wearing masks or N95/P2 respirators helps to slow the spread of respiratory viruses.”Now the organization, Cochrane, says the way it summarized the review was unclear and imprecise, and that the way some people interpreted it was wrong.“Many commentators have claimed that a recently updated Cochrane Review shows that ‘masks don’t work’, which is an inaccurate and misleading interpretation,” Karla Soares-Weiser, the editor-in-chief of The Cochrane Library, said in a statement.“The review examined whether interventions to promote mask wearing help to slow the spread of respiratory viruses,” Soares-Weiser said, adding, “given the limitations in the primary evidence, the review is not able to address the question of whether mask-wearin...

Wisconsin Republicans float bill to designate a state rifle

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

MADISON, Wis. — Republican lawmakers began circulating a bill Thursday that would designate a lever-action rifle produced in northwestern Wisconsin as the state’s official rifle.The bill from state Reps. Dave Armstrong, Treig Pronschinske and James Edming and Sen. Romaine Quinn would designate the Henry All-Weather .45-70 as Wisconsin’s official state rifle.The bill is symbolic only. The state rifle designation would not force anyone to purchase or use the weapon. But it would give the rifle and its manufacturer, Rice Lake-based Henry Repeating Arms, plenty of publicity and help the bill’s authors score points with gun supporters.Armstrong is from Rice Lake; Quinn is from Cameron, about seven miles south of Rice Lake. Edming’s district includes Ladysmith, home to a Henry Repeating Arms factory.The company’s Big Boy All-Weather Rifle won the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” contest in 2019. Wisconsin Manufact...

Women’s basketball: Gophers Rose Micheaux will enter NCAA transfer portal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

Alanna Rose Micheaux, who made an incredible leap between her freshman and sophomore seasons under coach Lindsay Whalen and her staff, announced Thursday evening that she is entering the NCAA transfer portal.Whalen stepped down after five years coaching her alma mater on March 2. Micheaux made the announcement on her Instagram account. She is the first player to announce her intention to leave.“The University of Minnesota will always have a special place in my heart,” Micheaux wrote. She thanked her coaches and Minnesota fans before finishing, “With that being said, I will be entering my name into the transfer portal, to further my academic and athletic career.”A 6-foot-1 post from Detroit, Micheaux was honorable all-Big Ten as a sophomore this season after averaging 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds and shooting a team-high 51.9 percent from the floor.A four-star high school recruit, Micheaux averaged 4.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 30 games as a freshman.Related ArticlesCollege Sports |...

Walz signs bill aimed at curbing catalytic converter thefts

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

It will soon be illegal in Minnesota to possess a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless it has the vehicle’s identification number written on it.That’s the thrust of a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Tim Walz that aims to curb the dramatic rise in catalytic converter thefts. Thieves can strip the pollution control devices from vehicles in minutes, leaving owners with an average bill of $2,600 to replace it.Catalytic converters are a sought after because they contain rare earth metals that are more valuable than gold. The legislation also creates new rules for scrap yards where the devices are often sold.“Catalytic converter theft has hit thousands Minnesotans, costing them thousands of dollars — and substantial time — to replace,” Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, said in a statement. “Enactment of this new law will help reverse the explosion in thefts.”Theft of the devices has skyrocketed over the last few ...

Damar Hamlin 'has every intention to play' this season, Bills GM says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Bills safety Damar Hamlin is "dialed in" and intends to play this coming season, Bills general manager Brandon Beane said Thursday, two and a half months since Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin said around the time of the Super Bowl that he would like to return to football "eventually." Beane's comments were the strongest to date indicating Hamlin could suit up for the Bills in 2023."Had a great visit with him a couple days ago and he's in great spirits," Beane said. "He's off the 'world tour' that he and I laughed about with all the sporting events [Hamlin was invited to] and everything else. He's dialed in. He definitely has every intention to play." 26 Shirts raises record-breaking amount for Hamlin design Hamlin was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing during the first quarter of a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals. The game was canceled. Hamlin was held in intensi...

Mishandled evidence leads to murder case dismissal

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Defendant Levi Henning is no longer charged with the first-degree murder of former Parkway student Carieal Doss.FOX 2 asked the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office on March 14 why the case is not in court records. We found out the reason Thursday when we showed up to court.We originally reported on the murder behind a Baptist church in 2020. Doss was found shot in the head on a Franklin Avenue sidewalk in April of that year. The 18-year-old student was about to graduate from Parkway West High School. FOX 2 has now learned the murder charges against the accused were dropped after allegations the Circuit Attorney’s Office failed to turn over evidence. Third teenage boy arrested in killing of Lake St. Louis girl “There’s only two ways that can happen; one is gross negligence," said W. David Mueller, Henning's attorney. "It’s willful denial of my client’s constitutional rights.”Mueller was in court with the intention of arguing his motion to dismiss until the case was drop...

Iron County sheriff, deputies charged in criminal conspiracy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

POTOSI, Mo. - Iron County Sheriff Jeffery Burkett has been charged in a criminal conspiracy involving a kidnapping plot. Two of Burkett's deputies and an Iron County resident were also charged. The Washington County Prosecuting Attorney's Office is handling the case. IBurkett and deputies Chase Bresnahan and Matthew Cozard are accused of aiding Donald Gaston to allegedly kidnap his children from their mother.The Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control arrested the four men on Thursday. Third teenage boy arrested in killing of Lake St. Louis girl Burkett, 46, was charged with knowingly participating in criminal street gang activities, conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felonies or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years, first-degree attempted kidnapping - facilitating a felony - inflicting injury - terrorizing, first-degree accessory to stalking, second-degree stalking, obtaining criminal history record information under false pretense, misusing 911, and ma...

March Madness: Previewing NCAA Tournament games at Ball Arena in Denver

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

A look at the NCAA Tournament matchups set for Friday at Ball Arena in downtown Denver.No. 3 Baylor (22-10) vs No. 14 UC Santa Barbara (27-7)Time/TV: 11:30 a.m., TNTBaylorUC Santa BarbaraKenpom ranking14103Adjusted off. efficiency (rank)121.8 (2)111.2 (71)Adjusted def. efficiency (rank)101.8 (105)104.8 (168)Schedule strength12.84 (5)-2.65 (225)Players to watch: Adam Flagler, Baylor, 6-3, sr. — Freshman Keyonte George might be the NBA Lottery pick, but Flagler is the steady hand for the Bears. A dead-eye shooter from 3-point range (40.3%) and perimeter playmaker (4.7 apg), the all-Big 12 pick could be a second-round steal. Ajay Mitchell, UCSB, 6-4, so. — The Belgium national was named Big West player of the year after averaging 16.4 points and 5.1 assists on a hyper-efficient 50.9% shooting from the field. His 3-point stroke is average, but his decision-making, ball control and finishing ability are exceptional.About Baylor: Two years removed from winning a national title in th...

Kiszla: We need to see Gonzaga hoops in Colorado on the regular, as member of Pac-12 Conference

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

With the cool kids in California bolting the Pac-12 Conference, the CU Buffs need a new buddy to keep the conference relevant and solvent.Enter Gonzaga. Please. The Pac-12 needs to make the Zags a membership offer they can’t refuse.During a time of crazy upheaval in college athletics, where it’s all about the Benjamins and brand names rule, why hasn’t the ailing Pac-12 scooped up the Gonzaga hoops program to restore luster to a conference that has seen better days?“That’s a question for them, not for me,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said Thursday when I asked about the possibility of the Zags moving on from the West Coast Conference to a league desperately in need of an injection of a big-name brand after losing UCLA and USC to the Big Ten.OK, consider this a direct plea to Commissioner George Kliavkoff and self-righteous presidents of the universities remaining in a league formerly known as the conference of champions:Are you too good academically for Gonzaga? Are the Huskies and Cougar...

No. 15 seed Princeton uses late run to stun 2 seed Arizona

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:53:37 GMT

By The Associated PressSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Ryan Langborg lifted Princeton to its first lead with 2:03 to play and the Tigers used a late-game run to earn their first NCAA Tournament win in 25 years, topping No. 2 seed Arizona 59-55 on Thursday.The 15th-seeded Tigers (22-9) scored the final nine points, holding the Pac-12 Tournament champion scoreless over the final 4:43.Tosan Evbuomwan scored 15 points in Princeton’s first tournament victory since beating UNLV in 1998 when current coach Mitch Henderson was a player for the Tigers.Princeton advanced to play seventh-seeded Missouri in the second round of the South Region.Azuolas Tubelis scored 21 points for the Wildcats (28-7), who haven’t won a tournament game in consecutive years since 2014-15.It marked the third straight year and 11th time overall that a No. 15 seed won a first-round game. Arizona is the only school to be on the wrong end of one of those upsets twice, also losing to Steve Nash and Santa Clar...