โThat listening ear:โ 988 teams provide help, support in mental health crises
For more than 15 years, people across the nation have connected to suicide prevention and mental health crisis care by calling the national suicide prevention lifeline. Last summer, the 800 number was simplified to 988 โ making it easier for people to access immediate care.
Military places restive areas of Myanmar under martial law
Martial law has been declared in several areas of military-run Myanmar, a day after authorities announced that a state of emergency has been extended throughout the country, which is wracked by violence that some U.N. experts have described as a civil war.
Study: Vaccinated people can carry as much virus as others
In another big setback for the nationโs efforts to stamp out the coronavirus, scientists who studied a big COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts concluded that vaccinated people who got so-called breakthrough infections carried about the same amount of the coronavirus as those who did not get the shots.
Reversing Trump, Pentagon releases new transgender policies
Stephanie Miller, director of ascension policy at the Pentagon, left, speaks during a briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON โ The Pentagon on Wednesday swept away Trump-era policies that largely banned transgender people from serving in the military, issuing new rules that offer them wider access to medical care and assistance with gender transition. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then gave the Pentagon two months to finalize the more detailed regulations that the military services will follow. AdMiller also said that medical costs associated with treatment and gender transition is very small, โa handful of million dollars per year." Four of the military service chiefs told Congress in 2018 that they had seen no discipline, morale or unit readiness problems with transgender troops serving openly in the military.
4-year-old girl among 3 dead in Volusia crash on I-95, troopers say
Troopers said the 2000 Ford passenger van drifted off the road around 5:30 a.m. near Ormond Beach and overturned in the northbound lanes. The van had 10 people inside who are residents from another state, according to the FHP. The roof was ripped open during the impact and the van occupants were ejected, according to investigators. The crash is the third deadly wreck investigated by FHP this weekend in the Central Florida area. An 18-year-old man died Saturday in Brevard in a single-vehicle crash on I-95 and a 63-year-old Marion County man died Saturday in a separate crash near Ocala.
Volusia deputies searching for man shot in backside during attempted motel break in
The two photos on the left show the man deputies say was shot during an attempted break in at a Motel 6 in Daytona Beach. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. โ A man trying to break into a Motel 6 room Saturday was shot in the rear end by the roomโs occupant, according to the Volusia County Sheriffโs Office. Volusia County Sheriffโs Office public information office Andrew Grant said a man and a woman attempted to break into an occupied Motel 6 room in Daytona Beach on West International Speedway Boulevard around 3 a.m. The pair were trying to enter the room through a window and woke up the occupant who responded by firing a gun at them. The man trying to get into the room was shot in the buttocks, deputies said.
Alabama, Georgia pick up the pieces after deadly tornadoes
Officials found โheavy, heavy damageโ in parts of the cityโs historic district, Newnan Fire Chief Stephen Brown told a news conference. One of the victims in the hard-hit town of Ohatchee, a small community of about 1,170 people in eastern Alabama, was Dwight Jennings' neighbor. AdBad weather wasn't limited to Georgia and Alabama. ___Chandler reported from Shelby County, Alabama. Associated Press journalists Kevin McGill in New Orleans; Desiree Mathurin in Atlanta; Jeff Martin in Marietta, Georgia; Butch Dill in Ohatchee, Alabama; and Rebecca Santana in New Orleans, contributed to this report.
US officials to hold talks in Mexico on migration
Mexican immigration agents stop people who crossed the Suchiate River, the natural border between Guatemala and Mexico, to see their identification documents as they enforce limits on all but essential travel near Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, Monday, March 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)MEXICO CITY โ Mexico announced Monday that several top U.S. advisers on border and immigration issues will meet with Mexican officials on Tuesday to discuss migration and development in Central America. The talks come as a surge of migrants has hit the U.S. southern border. AdU.S. border patrol officials had encountered more than 29,000 unaccompanied minors since Oct. 1, nearly the same number of youths taken into custody for all of the previous budget year, according to administration officials. Officials say migrant traffickers are encouraging people to make the trip by claiming the U.S. border is open to migrants, while Biden administration officials have stressed that the border is not open.
More than 1 million screened for 6th straight day, TSA says
Despite warnings from health officials, more people are taking to the skies to get where they are going. [TRENDING: How to celebrate St. Pattyโs Day at theme parks | Floridaโs texting-driving law rarely enforced | Massive manta ray photobombs surfer]The Transportation Security Administration has screened more than a million people at airports for six straight days. 5 million people have passed through U.S. airports since Thursday. But the bigger numbers are still only about half of what travel figures were before the COVID-19 pandemic. Airlines say passengers arenโt booking months in advance right now, instead, they are watching infection trends and only planning travel a few weeks out.
2 Apopka women killed in three-vehicle crash in Volusia County
The FHP says two people were killed in a three-vehicle crash near DeLand. DeLAND, Fla. โ Two Apopka women were killed Tuesday morning in a three-vehicle crash in Volusia County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fatal crash was reported around 7:10 a.m. on New York Avenue at DeLand Crossings Boulevard, east of DeLand. The van driver, a 58-year-old Daytona Beach man, suffered minor injuries, troopers said. Westbound lanes of New York Avenue, which is also State Road 44, were closed in the area.
Rescuers save 2 from pickup dangling over deep Idaho gorge
(Idaho State Police via AP)BOISE, Idaho โ Authorities say a set of camp trailer safety chains and quick, careful work by emergency crews saved two people after their pickup truck plunged off a bridge, leaving them dangling above a deep gorge in southern Idaho. Idaho State Police responded to the accident at about 2:45 p.m. Monday, said ISP spokeswoman Lynn Hightower. A trooper found a man and a woman inside the pickup truck that was dangling, nose-down, off the side of the bridge spanning the Malad Gorge. The gorge is narrow but is roughly 100 feet (30.48 meters) deep below the bridge, roughly the height of a 10-story building. The gorge reaches about 250 feet (76.20 meters) deep at its deepest point.
Fully vaccinated people can gather without masks, CDC says
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)NEW YORK โ Fully vaccinated Americans can gather with other vaccinated people indoors without wearing a mask or social distancing, according to long-awaited guidance from federal health officials. The CDC is continuing to recommend that fully vaccinated people still wear well-fitted masks, avoid large gatherings, and physically distance themselves from others when out in public. Officials say a person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last required dose of vaccine. About 31 million Americans โ or only about 9% of the U.S. population โ have been fully vaccinated with a federally authorized COVID-19 vaccine so far, according to the CDC. The CDC guidance did not speak to people who may have gained some level of immunity from being infected, and recovering from, the coronavirus.
UCF professors among those getting vaccine on busy day at Valencia College site
It was another busy Sunday at Valencia Collegeโs West Campus, with more people getting a chance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The site able to do 3,250 shots both on Saturday and Sunday, an increase from their 3,000 shots normally given out at the site, which will resume on Monday. But now, there could be more people who are eligible to get a vaccine after stories from people like Dr. Tim Brown. AdโAbsolutely, thatโs exactly what it said,โ said Morin, who was trying to get the vaccine. Attempts to reach out to the Governorโs office and the Department of Health on Sunday for further clarification were unsuccessful.
M&T Bank buying People's United in $7.6B all-stock deal
(AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)M&T Bank Corp. is buying Peopleโs United Financial Inc. in an all-stock deal valued at about $7.6 billion. Peopleโs United shareholders will receive 0.118 of a share of M&T common stock for each share they own. M&T had been active in acquisitions, but People's United would be the first major deal in almost six years. Peopleโs headquarters in Bridgeport, Connecticut will serve as the New England regional headquarters for M&T. AdShares of People's United rose 8.4% before the market open Monday.
โI put my life on hold:โ Disability groups plead for vaccine
People with disabilities have been pushed down the priority list in places like North Carolina and California, where the state reversed course after days of public pressure. With vaccine supplies limited and the rollout shaky in much of the United States, getting a shot is difficult. Groups like older people and essential workers are in dire need of the vaccine and state health departments say their plans are aimed at making the most of limited supplies. AdPeople with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often immunocompromised, putting them at greater risk for complications if they get sick. In Tennessee, officials said data showed people with those disabilities had a death rate three times higher than the general population, and put them higher on the priority list.
Fauci warns against Super Bowl parties to avoid virus spread
Raymond James Stadium, the site of NFL football Super Bowl LV, is shown Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)WASHINGTON โ The nationโs top infectious disease expert doesnโt want the Super Bowl to turn into a super spreader. Dr. Anthony Fauci, says when it comes to Super Bowl parties during the pandemic, people should โjust lay low and cool it.โHe said during TV interviews Wednesday that now isnโt the time to invite people over for watch parties because of the possibility that theyโre infected with the coronavirus and could sicken others. Big events like Sundayโs game in Tampa, Florida, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are always a cause for concern over the potential for virus spread, Fauci said. โYou don't want parties with people that you havenโt had much contact with,โ he told NBC's โTodayโ show.
Fauci: Donโt let Super Bowl parties become super spreaders
WASHINGTON โ The nation's top infectious disease expert doesn't want the Super Bowl to turn into a super spreader. Dr. Anthony Fauci, says when it comes to Super Bowl parties during the pandemic, people should โjust lay low and cool it.โHe said during TV interviews Wednesday that now isnโt the time to invite people over for watch parties because of the possibility that theyโre infected with the coronavirus and could sicken others. Big events like Sundayโs game in Tampa, Florida, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are always a cause for concern over the potential for virus spread, Fauci said. โYou don't want parties with people that you havenโt had much contact with,โ he told NBC's โTodayโ show. "You just donโt know if theyโre infected, so, as difficult as that is, at least this time around, just lay low and cool it.โThe NFL has capped game attendance at 22,000 people because of the pandemic and citywide coronavirus mandates.
Worldโs largest car auction returns to Kissimmee with new safety measures
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. โ Itโs known as the worldโs largest collector car auction. Mecum Auctions is back at Osceola Heritage Park for the 16th year in a row, but things are looking different this year. โAs people come to the auction, I hope they fully expect that things are not gonna be the same as theyโve seen before,โ Dave Magers, CEO of Mecum Auctions said. Here's the link to all the details: https://t.co/1mdym8KBp2#MecumKissimmee #Mecum #MecumAuctions #WhereTheCarsAre pic.twitter.com/dvUtJ6S7ox โ Mecum Auctions (@mecum) January 7, 2021โWe just ask that everybody adhere to those safety standards that weโve set up. The Mecum car auction show ends next Saturday, January 16th.
1 killed, 1 injured while checking on trailer in Orange County
Four people were struck by a vehicle in Orange County. ORLANDO, Fla. โ One man was struck and killed and another was injured Monday morning after getting out of a pickup truck on an Orange County road, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash was reported on Chickasaw Trail at Scarborough Court near Liberty Middle School in Orlando. The FHP said the pickup was pulling a trailer on northbound Chickasaw Trail when the driver stopped in a portion of the travel lane. The other man suffered critical injuries, an FHP report said.
โSurviving Covid-19:โ leaders urge Black community to take pandemic precautions
โI donโt want anyone to have to go through what I went through this Christmas by not having my brother,โ said Commissioner Hill. Overall in Orange County Thursday, there were 59,791 positive cases. The Parramore zip codes make up less than 2% of cases in the Orange County population. There have been several mask-up campaigns and a big push in black communities to take Covid-19 seriously. Itโs being hosted by the Central Florida Regional Housing Trust, The Central Florida Urban League, the Parramore Community Engagement Council and other organizations.
Biden's beach hideaway has political sun shining on Rehoboth
People enjoy the boardwalk, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, in Rehoboth Beach, Del. This resort town known for Atlantic waves that are sometimes surfable, fresh-cut French fries and a 1-mile wooden boardwalk that dates back to the 1870s has long prided itself on being the Nation's Summer Capital. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Three go on trial for deadly 2017 Barcelona terror attacks
MADRID โ Three people went on trial Tuesday in Spain for their alleged roles in terror attacks around Barcelona that killed 16 people and injured 140 others in 2017. The six people who carried out the attacks were later shot and killed by police. Several members of the cell carried out a similar vehicle attack in the nearby resort town of Cambrils before they were shot dead by police. Houli Chemlal told authorities after his arrest that he had been told what to say during the video and that he did not agree with what they did. Houli Chemlal was injured in the blast.
AdventHealth explains rising cases of COVID-19 among younger age groups
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ Dr. Michael Keating, chief medical officer at AdventHealth for Children, explained Thursday how COVID-19 is now impacting younger people more than before. Keating explained that even though younger people have a more robust immune system, they should still wear a mask to avoid a spread. On Wednesday, Orange County Public Schools announced the temporary shutdown of Timber Creek High School after reporting 14 positive cases. Ron DeSantis said that school closures should not happen and that only symptomatic students should stay at home. According to OCPS, students and staff should be able to return to campus on November 5th.
Did you meet your significant other and fall in love during the pandemic? We want to hear your story
Weโve said it before and weโll say it again: Itโs ... been quite a year. But we all know, too, that there has been plenty of good thatโs come out of this year. That includes all the people who have found love. Authorโs note: As someone who is married, the dating scene doesnโt cross my mind a lot, but Iโve wondered: How do people meet others, romantically, during such a strange time? If youโve gone through this during a pandemic, Iโd love to hear your story, if youโre willing to share.
Type O blood may mean lower COVID-19 risk
Itโs starting to look like people with the O blood type may have an advantage in the global pandemic. A Danish study found among more than 470,000 people tested for coronavirus, only 38% with blood type O tested positive, even though 41% of the population have type-O blood. [TRENDING: Woman stranded from home for 8 months | Video shows mountain lion stalking hiker | Moon rules: Must come in peace]A Canadian study found among 95 patients critically ill with COVID-19, a higher proportion with blood type A or A/B needed mechanical ventilation compared with patients with blood group O or B. The research gives further evidence blood type may play a role in someoneโs susceptibility to infection and just how serious their illness is. The reasons for this link arenโt clear and experts say more research is needed.
How long could I be contagious before a positive virus test?
How long could I be contagious before a positive virus test? Studies have shown that people may be contagious for about two days before developing COVID-19 symptoms. But thereโs a more complicated part to this question: What if someone knows they were exposed but their virus test comes back negative -- could they still be contagious? A negative test within less than seven days after exposure "is a very, very poor indicator of whether you have virus on board,โ said Dr. Alan Wells of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A negative test between seven and 10 days of exposure is a better indicator, Wells said, but even then some people might not test positive until later.
Cocoa Beach will no longer require face coverings
COCOA BEACH, Fla. โ Leaders in Cocoa Beach announced on Friday that the city will no longer require the public to wear a face covering starting Monday. A mask mandate was put into place by city officials on June 30 as cases of COVID-19 began to erupt in all parts of the Sunshine State. Deleuil said heโs spoken with other business owners in town, and many are planning to still require a mask in order to enter their establishments. โAgain, we have zero ability to regulate it.โThe governorโs executive order doesnโt specifically address mask mandates because a statewide mask mandate was never issued. Cocoa Beach officials said while the city can no longer enforce a mask mandate, private owned businesses can continue to have mask policies as they see fit.
Donโt drink it: People are dying after drinking hand sanitizer, CDC says
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says people are getting sick and even dying from ingesting hand sanitizer. Since the coronavirus pandemic, hand sanitizer is much more prevalent. The CDC says some children might drink hand sanitizer by mistake and some people might think itโs a substitute for alcoholic drinks, but itโs not. The CDC said 15 adults in Arizona and New Mexico were hospitalized between May and June for methanol poisoning after consuming alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Four of them died, six developed seizures while in the hospital and three were discharged with new visual impairments.
โItโs a despicable, despicable scamโ says man lured in Ocala Powerball scheme
ORLANDO, Fla. โ More people have come forward claiming they were targeted by others online pretending to be an Ocala Powerball winner. Since the story was first reported, people have contacted News 6 saying they were approached by someone online using Goedertโs picture and name. โSupposedly, this lottery winner said that I had won $30,000,โ said one man, who wanted to remain anonymous. โWe need your name, your address and your phone number,โ he said. In the meantime, heโs warning people to beware of any solicitation online that bears Goedertโs name, face and promise of fortune.
Can you get the coronavirus twice?
Can you get the coronavirus twice? Its still too early to know whether thats also possible with the coronavirus. ___The AP is answering your questions about the coronavirus in this series. Is it safe to go to the gym during the coronavirus pandemic? Can a pregnant woman spread the coronavirus to her fetus?
Osceola Heritage Park offers more COVID-19 testing as demand increases
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Health officials in Osceola County said they are continuing to offer coronavirus testing because the demand for it is high. Osceola County Health Department Assistant Administrator Bret Smith said people were lining up hours before testing began during the week. We've had to shut the lines off at 7:30 because it already had that many people in the line," Smith said. Health department officials said turnout at the park shows the demand for testing is high and that is why they extended their hours to offer free testing on Saturday. The health department is continuing to offer free testing Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
2 injured in crash at SR 417, Orange Avenue
Two people were rescued from their vehicles Tuesday after a crash on State Road 417, according to Orange County Fire rescue. Fire rescue officials said two patients were extricated from a crash involving two cars with heavy entrapment. Both patients were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in unknown condition. Check back for updates on this developing story.